JSPG's Adriana Bankston Helps Coordinate New Science Policy Program
Chief Outreach Officer for the Journal of Science Policy & Governance, Adriana Bankston, helped coordinate and organize a new certificate program in Science Policy & Advocacy for STEM Scientists. Led and hosted by University of California, Irvine’s GPS-STEM Public Policy Prep (P3) program, this online course is organized in conjunction with The Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG) and UCI’s Ridge to Reef program with contributions from the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS).
Learn more about the program on the course website here.
Below is the course introduction and press release, more information can be found here.
As the world is struggling to navigate the COVID19 pandemic and trying to find the best ways to contain the viral spread by developing therapies and vaccines, scientific research funding discussions are at the forefront. For the past several years, a large part of the federal budget has been allocated towards defense & war preparedness. As a result, science-related policies and associated funding used to tackle disease outbreaks, climate change, healthcare and education issues, has suffered significantly.
Scientists must play a significant role in the post-COVID19 recovery process by educating policymakers and the public on the importance of evidence-based research, in order to ensure the development of comprehensive, effective and long-lasting policies. This can be encouraged by providing STEM scientists (PhD students and postdocs) with a better understanding of science policy and advocacy through specialized training. For the past two decades, we have seen increased collaborations between scientists and policymakers, however, recently, that trend is under progressive decline. As we plan to recover from the pandemic, we also need to develop effective and ethical policies to prepare ourselves in tackling its ripple effects, including a post-pandemic mental health crisis, a ramped up industrial production-induced climate change, a crippled and weak healthcare system, and a wounded educational system. To accomplish this, University of California, Irvine’s Public Policy Prep (P3) program is thrilled to unveil an online course in science policy and advocacy for STEM scientists (PhD students & postdocs) with a focus on learning basic skills and concepts, as well as identifying concrete ways to transition into careers in these areas. To showcase the value of science communication for STEM scientists in promoting effective policy change, this course is organized in conjunction with The Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG) and UCI’s Ridge to Reef program. Similarly, the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) will provide strategies for effective communication by which STEM scientists can engage in public policy and advocacy. Overall, the course will incorporate lectures on various topics in science policy and advocacy, workshops for developing communication skills, and peer-to-peer learning opportunities to sharpen skills in these fields. 
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