Skills Series

Science Policy

PhD Plus and the Science Policy Initiative at UVA will be hosting a three-part Science Policy Bootcamp (Jan. 9, 10, and 11). The program is free for graduate students and postdocs from across the Commonwealth. See the brief agenda below for details or click here to download a PDF copy. We will be sharing the guest speakers' and panelists' bios and more information on the event in the coming weeks, so stay tuned!

Upon successful participation in all three days of the 2024 Science Policy Bootcamp, and submission of the Science Policy Communication Workshop activity (Day 3) to PhD Plus, University of Virginia graduate students are eligible for a non-credit credential (PhDP 9510) on their academic transcript—at no cost to students.

 

2024 Science Policy Bootcamp

This multi-day event will include a Policy 101 overview, an introduction to how your science gets funded, a discussion centered on policymaking in the current hyper-partisan era, a science policy-focused communication workshop, and more. Participants will also have the opportunity to learn from professionals who have a wide range of science and technology policy experience. The program is free for graduate students and postdocs.

All interested participants are encouraged to register here before 12:00 noon on Wednesday, January 3. This will help ensure the coordinators have an accurate list of all dietary restrictions and that all participants receive information on how to participate prior to the start of the event.

PhD Plus Credential

Upon successful participation in all three days of the 2024 Science Policy Bootcamp, and submission of the Science Policy Communication Workshop activity (Day 3) to PhD Plus, University of Virginia graduate students are eligible for a non-credit credential (PhDP 9510) on their academic transcript—at no cost to students.

How to Participate

This hybrid event will be held in person in the New Cabell Hall Language Common (Suite 298) and virtually on Zoom. All registrants will receive detailed information on how to participate, including the Zoom link and password. 

 

Agenda

 

Tuesday, Jan. 9

8:45 am       Arrive or Connect via Zoom (snacks provided for in-person attendees)

9:00 am       Welcome & Introduction to the Bootcamp

9:10 am       Policy 101 – Daniel Player, Ph.D. | UVA, Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy

10:20 am     Break (10 mins.)

10:30 am     Federal Funding (aka Your Research Allowance) – Alessandra Zimmermann, Ph.D. | AAAS

11:50 am     Break (20 mins. lunch provided for in-person attendees)

12:10 pm     Passing Policy in a Partisan Era – Sally Hudson, Ph.D. | UVA, Batten School of Leadership & Public Policy

                    Moderator: Mark Schwartz, Ph.D. Candidate | SPI at UVA

1:00 pm       End of Day 1

 

Wednesday, Jan. 10

8:45 am       Arrive or Connect via Zoom (snacks for in-person attendees)

9:00 am       Welcome – Recap of Day 1 & Goals for Day 2

9:15 am       Panel: Policy for Science & How Science Engages Policy – Moderator: ­­­­­­Zach Dawson, Ph.D. Student | SPI at UVA

                    Laura Bellows, Ph.D. | RAND Corporation

                    Rosie Poling, M.Phil. | PIH Engage

                    Nabila Riaz, Ph.D. | Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

10:20 am     Break (10 mins.)

10:30 am     Panel: Science Policy at Different Levels of Government – Moderator: ­­­­­­Kylor Kerns, Ph.D. Candidate | UVA

                    Delegate Dawn Adams, Ph.D. | Virginia House of Delegates, Representative of the 68th District (State)

                    Courtney Hill, Ph.D. | U.S. Department of State, Office of Japanese Affairs (Federal & International)

                    Supervisor Ann Mallek | Albemarle County Board of Supervisors (County)

11:45 am     Break (15 mins. lunch/snacks provided for in-person attendees)

12:00 pm     Science Policy Opportunities – Networking Event (NCH, Suite 298 and Conference Room 236)

1:00 pm       End of Day 2

 

Thursday, Jan. 11

8:45 am       Arrive or Connect via Zoom (snacks provided for in-person attendees)

9:00 am       Welcome – Recap of Day 2 & Goals for Day 3

9:15 am       Communicating with Policy Makers

                    Guest Speaker: Julia Smith | UVA Executive Director of Federal Relations & Special Assistant to the President 

                    Moderator: ­­­­­­Emma Cook, Ph.D. Candidate | SPI at UVA

10:20 am     Break (10 mins.)

10:30 am     Science Policy Communication Workshop – Sam Lake, Ph.D. & Kelly Oman, Ph.D. | UVA PhD Plus

                    Guest Speaker: Victoria Rubin, Ph.D. Candidate | U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

                    Moderator: Zoë Robertson, Ph.D. Candidate | UVA

12:00 pm     End of Day 3

 

2024 CASE Workshop: Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering 

Each spring, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) hosts its Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop in person in Washington, DC. The workshop is an exciting opportunity for graduate students to learn about science policy and advocacy. The University of Virginia regularly participates as an institutional sponsor, with the goal of enabling a small cohort of graduate students to attend this entry-level workshop every year.

Selected students participate in the 3.5-day program in Washington, DC, and learn about the structure and organization of Congress, the federal budget and appropriations processes, and tools for effective science communication and civic engagement. In addition, students will participate in interactive seminars about policy making and communication.

The registration fees and travel expenses will be covered through the PhD Plus program. An internal review process will select the University’s participants. Click here to learn more about the eligibility requirements and review submission guidelines.