Encourage people follow us on twitter and Facebook and to live tweet using @AAASFellowships, so if you hear something interesting during our time together, tweet it! The American Association for the Advancement of Science, (AAAS), is an international non-profit organization dedicated to advancing science around the world by serving as an educator, leader, spokesperson and professional association. AAAS publishes the journal Science, as well as many scientific newsletters, books and reports, and spearheads programs that raise the bar of understanding for science worldwide.
GOAL: Foster scientifically informed, evidence-based policy and practice.
STRATEGY: Engage scientists and engineers from a broad range of disciplines, backgrounds and career stages to:
Contribute knowledge and analytical skills to the federal government
Learn first-hand about policymaking and implementation at the federal level
Build S&T leadership equipped to address complex societal challenges
OUTPUT: Policy-savvy scientists & engineers
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Why do we operate science policy fellowships? Because good scientific and technological information is critical to developing good policies we need leaders from a broad range of sciences and technical realms who can accurately assess and effectively communicate the importance and implications of science The Science & Technology Policy Fellowships are mutually beneficial opportunities. Host agencies and offices gain access to talented scientists and engineers, across a range of career stages and backgrounds, who want to apply their skills to policy. Fellows gain first-hand experience in how the federal policy system operates (and sometimes doesn’t!) and an understanding of how science can support decision-making and implementation.
• Project management, ability to focus and multi-task
• Objectivity, ability to consider other positions, alternate options
• Technical expertise coupled with interdisciplinary and systems thinking
SCIENCE
• Develop hypothesis, test, analyze results
• Design, implement, manage experiments and studies
• Curiosity, analytical skills, investigate using different research methodologies
• Integrate information from disparate sources, generalize from data, ascertain patterns
Presenter
Presentation Notes
These are some examples of skills you develop in academia that translate and transfer to the world of policy, and beyond as well. Highlight a few key examples…
• Write: briefs, talking points, speeches, press releases, reports, text for regulations, websites
• Meet with stakeholders
• Prep for hearings
• Facilitate, negotiate regulations
• Program development, implementation and evaluation
• Interagency collaborations
Congressional Placements • Collect and analyze information
• Write: briefs, talking points, speeches, press releases, reports, text for bills, websites
• Meet with stakeholders
• Organize hearings
• Facilitate, negotiate legislation
• Oversight
• Caucus collaborations
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Fellows have been placed in over 30 Congressional office and 15 federal agencies. Here are some examples of the types of initiatives you may be working on during your fellowship year….
Serving Society: Congress
• Organized press conference to announce a proposed bill on early warning systems following the Asian earthquake and tsunami
• Wrote text for a bill on water quality restoration for the Colorado River
• Coordinated oversight investigation of food safety issues & handling of peanut product recall
Michael Oleyar ASA Congressional Fellow At a SuperChefs against Superbugs meeting with Chef Maria Hines and members of Senator Patty Murray’s (D-WA) staff.
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Science policy in Congress can include: Collecting and analyzing information from a range of sources and developing options Meeting with constituents and special interest groups Writing briefings, talking points, and text for speeches Organizing hearings: researching, selecting and prepping witnesses, developing questions, supporting the Member Drafting and negotiating legislation Monitoring policy implementation Photo Caption: Senator Murray's staff and the SuperChefs against superbugs, a group of chefs from Washington State who are committed to using antibiotic free food for concern of antibiotic resistance. On the left is chef Maria Hines from Washington. On the right is me and another staffer from Sen. Murray's office. �
Serving Societies: Federal Agencies
Jun Bando Executive Branch Fellow, U.S. Department of State Enroute to international discussions on piracy in Indian Ocean.
• Led Hurricane Sandy Science Coordination task force launch of Rebuild By Design -- a multi-stage regional design competition
• Coordinated a market study of watershed services and benefits in the Chesapeake Bay
• Orchestrated international distribution of more than $5 million in famine funds to provide rust resistant wheat seed
Yearlong Fellows (N=279)
2014-15 Placements
Presenter
Presentation Notes
And here you see examples of potential placement agencies. 2014-15 placement highlights: Federal Judicial Center- first fellow in the judicial branch
244 selected & administered by AAAS 8 selected & administered by partner societies
33 Congressional Fellows
2 selected & sponsored by AAAS 31 selected & sponsored by partner societies
1 Judicial Branch Fellow
Presenter
Presentation Notes
We are pleased that this year we placed our first fellow in the judicial branch- at the Federal Judicial Center Read numbers.
Fellows’ Discipline
Presenter
Presentation Notes
AAAS S&T Policy Fellows represent a broad array of science and engineering disciplines… Focus on statistics for the discipline represented at the informational session…
Fellowship Areas
Judicial Branch
Big Data Analytics
Congressional
Diplomacy, Security & Development
Health, Education & Human Services
Energy, Environment & Agriculture
Roger Revelle Fellowship in
Global Stewardship
Presenter
Presentation Notes
The AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships has placements in 7 main program areas: Diplomacy, Security and Development - Infuse scientific and technical expertise into policy development and program planning, implementation and evaluation in the areas of: Foreign policy and international trade, treaty engagement, and multilateral cooperation Disaster preparedness and response Infrastructure, environmental, cyber and health security, terrorism and warfare prevention, and nonproliferation International aid, capacity building, and development assistance Energy, Environment and Agriculture - Engage in projects, policies, risk assessment, evaluation, and outreach initiatives to: Protect animal, plant and environmental health Address ecosystem degradation, pollution, and biological threats Tackle challenges and opportunities in agriculture, fisheries, climate change, and energy Safeguard air, water, land, wildlife, and natural resources Congressional - AAAS Congressional Science & Engineering Fellows® spend a year on Capitol Hill helping to research, develop and draft legislation and provide input to policy review and oversight. AAAS sponsors two congressional placements. Additional congressional placements are available through approximately 30 scientific partner societies. Individuals are encouraged to apply to a AAAS sponsored Fellowship as well as to any partner societies for which they qualify. Health, Education and Human Services - Support improved programs, policies, planning, risk analysis, regulation, monitoring and evaluation for a broad range of initiatives in: Preventive and community health, disease identification and response, and medical research Individual, family and community social services, systems and support Food, processing and distribution safety Science education, research, and innovation Big Data & Analytics 5-15 placements (Pilot program for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fellowship years) Address a broad range of policymaking and implementation challenges by applying your analytical skills to data and trend analysis issues from infrastructure, technology, quality control, and presentation to security, integrity, and ethics. ��Anticipated placement opportunities: Any federal agency in Washington, D.C. that partners with AAAS Judicial Branch 1-2 placements (Pilot program for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 fellowship years) Spend a year contributing scientific and technical expertise to judicial administration, operations, education programs, protocol and discovery, or courtroom technology while learning first-hand about contemporary policy issues facing the judiciary. ��Anticipated placement opportunities: Federal Judicial Center * This program area is open to applicants with a minimum of three years of post-doctoral professional experience. Applicants who also hold a J.D. degree or have legal experience are preferred.� You may apply to up to two areas See information sheet for placement offices within each area More information about the Big Data & Analytics & Judicial Branch fellowships can be found on the fellowships website Roger Revelle The Roger Revelle Fellowship in Global Stewardship was established in 1997 in recognition of Roger R.D. Revelle, who was an internationally renowned statesman of science. His interests were broad, and he excelled across numerous fields of study. The Revelle Fellow will engage with professionals in the public policy arena to strengthen his or her understanding of the intricacies of environmental policymaking and make practical contributions to the more effective use of scientific and technical knowledge in federal decision-making. The Revelle Fellowship is designed to provide a unique opportunity for an accomplished scientist to address global stewardship issues by applying his or her broad, multidisciplinary background toward solutions to important societal problems, including: •ecosystems •population •sustainable development •global climate change Anticipated placement opportunities: •Any federal agency •Congressional office or committee •Any environmental or sustainability oriented non-profit organization in Washington, DC Note: This fellowship is open only to applicants with three years of post-doctoral degree professional experience (or six years of post-degree professional experience for applicants with an MS in engineering).
• Show a commitment to apply scientific or technical expertise to serve society
• Exhibit good communication skills, especially to non-scientific audiences
• Demonstrate:
problem-solving
initiative
maturity, good judgment
leadership qualities
• Match to fellowship program area
Presenter
Presentation Notes
A competitive applicant for the fellowships will demonstrate strong communication and leadership skills as well as the ability to be flexible in juggling multiple initiatives. Candidate Data: Indicate which fellowship(s) program area and degrees, institutions and discipline(s). Provide your areas of scientific specialty, areas of policy interest, brief bio. Candidate Statement: Reasons for applying for a AAAS Fellowship. summary of your background and expertise – what you can bring to the fellowship. Outline the policy areas or issues that you are particularly interested in addressing in a fellowship. Describe how you imagine you might apply your science in the particular fellowship program area to which you are applying. State your goals following the fellowship and into the future, and how you envision the fellowship supporting those goals. Curriculum Vita: highlight your education, expertise, achievements and honors, publications. Extracurricular activities: brief examples of your activities beyond the lab, classroom or office include activities with community groups, professional associations, advisory and editorial committees, nonprofit organizations, outreach and teaching to non-scientific audiences, etc. References: From individuals who can comment on your professional competence and other qualities that make you especially qualified to serve as a Fellow.
• Orientation
• Skill Development & Career
Workshops
• Educational Events
• Affinity Groups
• Networking
Professional Development
S&T Policy Fellows at Orientation
Presenter
Presentation Notes
Fellows are provided with a variety of professional development opportunities during their Fellowship year Fellowship year begins with an intensive two week orientation focusing on civics and policy Professional Development workshops focus on three main tracks: policy, communications, and leadership/career pathways
Alumni Fellows
Frances A. Colón Deputy Science and Technology Adviser to the Secretary of State at U.S. Department of State
Rosina Bierbaum Dean, SNRE, U. Michigan; Member PCAST
Kohl S. Gill President and Founder, LaborVoices
Jessica Tuchman Mathews Carnegie Endowment for Peace
Presenter
Presentation Notes
IN GOVERNMENT Staying in D.C., in government or in political office isn’t AAAS’s goal as an outcome of fellowships. Nor are any specific follow-on careers. After working in science policy, you’ll look at the world with a new perspective—you’ll have a new understanding of the policymaking and decision-making processes of the federal government, and of the challenges and opportunities for science and technology to inform policy. And what might you do with this new insight? The list of titles of alumni Fellows indicates that there are many options across all sectors. Statistics from the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships show that in the year after the Fellowship 40-50% Remain in public policy 20-25% Return to work in the same sector 20-25% Do something completely different
• Opportunities, challenges, rewards • Types of projects, work flow and environment • Skills needed, stakeholders engaged • Trends in the sector or field • Salary ranges • Paths to current position
Experiment with assignments
• Societies Policy committees Congressional Hill visits Government relations offices
• Sci on the Fly http://www.aaaspolicyfellowships.org/sci-fly
AAAS Mass Media Science & Engineering Fellowships www.aaas.org/programs/education/MassMedia ELISS: Emerging Leaders in Science and Society www.aaas.org/page/eliss-overview California S&T Policy Fellowships www.fellows.ccst.us Christine Mirzayan S&T Policy Graduate Fellowships http://www.aaas.org/program/aaas-mass-media-science-engineering-fellows-program ScienceCareers.org Professional Association Career Resources Engaging Scientists & Engineers in Policy www.aaas.org/esep
Presenter
Presentation Notes
As you begin to explore the world of science policy, here we a list of resources available to you. The fellowships website provides information not only on the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships but also a number of other fellowship opportunities available to individuals at all different academic and career stages. You can also view our partner societies and learn more about their fellowship opportunities. The AAAS S&T Policy fellows have recently launched Sci-on the Fly, an open access science policy blog. This is a great way to connect to the world of science policy, learn more about what the fellows are doing and how they’re working to develop connections between their disciplines and science policy. The AAAS Mass Media fellowships places senior undergraduate or graduate students at mass media organizations throughout the country to focus on science communication for the public. The California S&T Policy Fellowships is a state level fellowship modeled after the AAAS S&T Policy Fellowships. At sciencecareeers.org you can find resources and tools to help you draft an Individual Development Plan to determine what career paths would best fit your skill set and interest.
