JSPG & NSPN RELEASE 2020 POLICY MEMO COMPETITION SPECIAL ISSUE - WINNERS ANNOUNCED

​FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
​Media Contacts:

​National Science Policy Network
Caitlin Warlick-Short
[email protected]
(574) 238-6170​

Journal of Science Policy & Governance
Saheel Mehta
[email protected]
(434) 202-4232

​JSPG-NSPN Release Special Issue: 2020 Policy Memo Competition (Volume 17, Issue 02)

Washington, DC (October 12, 2020) – The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is proud to announce the release of Volume 17 Issue 02, the 2020 Policy Memo Competition Issue, which was co-issued and organized by the National Science Policy Network (NSPN).

Read the Full Issue

“In a world filled with rapidly evolving information, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for more trusted and transparent lines of communication between stewards of science and public policy. Policy memos are a primary example and an essential tool for scientists and engineers to provide analysis, evidence, and recommendations to legislators and the public. We are excited to co-sponsor this second annual Policy Memo Competition with JSPG because it provides an excellent opportunity for so many of our members to begin or continue to develop this skill of concise and effective communication,” said Holly Mayton, NSPN Director of Partnerships.
 
“This issue of JSPG, coming from a large group of authors from across the country, represents a high level of collaborative scholarship by many talented students. This competition regularly produces some of the best works of writing that JSPG is able to publish and this year is no exception,” said Madeleine Jennewein, JSPG’s Assistant Editor-In-Chief for Special Editions.

All memo submissions were reviewed by JSPG, with accepted submissions judged by a special committee formed by NSPN. NSPN provided monetary awards to three student science policy organizations who authored the top three policy memos. The prize money will be used to support and expand programming for the student organizations. Winners are from a number of universities, including: 

1. Emory University, Emory Science Advocacy Network: “Lowering Preventable Maternal Deaths in Rural Georgia”
2. University of Pennsylvania, Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group: “Decriminalize Drug-Checking Technologies in Pennsylvania to Prevent Overdose Deaths”
3. North Carolina State University, Science Policy Pack: “Paid Family Leave to Strengthen the STEM Workforce”

Honorable Mentions include:

• Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Science Policy Group: “Improving Healthcare Access Among the Newly Decarcerated”
• University of Michigan, Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program: “Amend Pandemic Preparedness Legislation to Prioritize Diagnostic Test Development and Deployment”
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, Catalysts for Science Policy: “Green Infrastructure Incentives to Mitigate Flooding in Madison, WI”

“In many ways the selection of articles presented here really broadens the scope of issues that could be traditionally thought as science policy, applying scientific reasoning and analysis to areas that previously may have been outside the purview of scientists. We are excited to be able to publish these memos at a time when science, and the world of science policy, must work to increase its own diversity and the diversity of areas that it reaches to most effectively improve the lived realities of average people,” said Jennewein.
 
All accepted memos are available to read on the JSPGwebsite. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to continuing this competition in future years to engage more early career researchers in policy.

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ABOUT JSPG
The Journal of Science Policy & Governance (JSPG) is an international nonprofit organization and open-access peer- reviewed publication that aims to serve as a platform for students and early career researchers to contribute to the widest range of policy and governance topics relating to science, technology and innovation. Since 2011, JSPG has been the premier journal for the next generation of science and technology policy leaders to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. Through innovative partnerships, podcasts and digital media engagement, JSPG aims to empower the next generation in policy debate. Visit sciencepolicyjournal.org and follow on Twitter @SciPolJournal to learn more. Sign up for the JSPG mailing list here. 

ABOUT NSPN
​The National Science Policy Network (NSPN) is a grassroots, member-based organization that catalyzes the engagement of early career scientists and engineers in policymaking by fostering community, training leaders, and empowering advocates for the role of science in policy. In addition to the policy memo competition in collaboration with JSPG, NSPN supports a variety of other activities, including grants, internships, externships, and webinars. Visit scipolnetwork.org and follow on Twitter @SciPolNetwork to learn more. Join NSPN to get our newsletter and more here.

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