Cultivating a Generation of Civic Scientists Through Science Policy
by Adriana Bankston and Jamie L. Vernon
The role of scientists is expanding beyond the bench. Many within the scientific community and beyond are calling for scientists to use their research knowledge and skills to benefit society in a multitude of ways, including through science policy. Opportunities to participate in science policy-related activities include providing science and policy education and training in and outside the classroom; writing science policy articles, books, and reports to guide knowledge in the field; engaging the public through science and civic actions; and contributing to legislative, executive, and judicial processes through advocacy, advice, and analysis. These applications require repurposing of scientific expertise towards translational skills that serve the public good. In addition, the dissemination of best practices for scientists to engage in policymaking will enable the next generation of researchers to broaden their impact outside the laboratory. In doing so, research culture and society will be positively transformed through civic science.
Science policy as a mechanism for developing civic scientists
Civic science, defined as broad public engagement around issues that arise at the many intersections between science and society, connects individuals and groups across a range of sectors. Cultivating civic science as a discipline allows for a collective re-envisioning of how we, as a society, can advance understanding of the universe and use this knowledge to develop solutions to societal challenges. Scientists who wish to embrace their role as citizens and engage in civic discourse will strengthen the social and technological frameworks built on established science and better prepare society for emerging science and technologies.
Organizations cultivate civic science skills through a variety of programs and activities. Some groups facilitate dialogue around emerging technologies, such as the Expert and Citizen Assessment of Science and Technology (ECAST) network, which brings together academic research and scholarship, informal science education, citizen science programs, and non-partisan policy analysis to engage citizens on science and technology issues. Others involve the public in the scientific process through citizen science or community science projects, such as SciStarter, which brings together millions of curious and concerned individuals to engage in real-world research questions. Similarly, the American Geophysical Union’s (AGU) Thriving Earth Exchange supports community science by finding resources, project managers, and experts to address local concerns that can benefit from scientific research. Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Honor Society (Sigma Xi) collaborates with the Association of Science Communicators to produce the #SciCommMake program, which connects scientists with science communicators and artists to develop high-impact public engagement projects. These types of activities create opportunities for scientists to develop confidence and expertise for civic activities.
Science policy is a promising avenue for civic engagement that allows scientists to leverage scientific knowledge for the public good. It is defined as the set of rules, regulations, methods, practices, and guidelines under which scientific research is conducted (Beyond Sputnik). Fundamental concepts in the field include “science for policy” (scientific findings used as the basis for the development of public policy) and “policy for science” (government laws, regulations and policies that affect the practice of science), in addition to advocacy, which usually advances the interests of an individual or group. Participation in each of these policy domains requires the sharpening of skills that tend to be underdeveloped in current research training programs. Ultimately, the competencies necessary for policy engagement are determined by the role one chooses to play.
Scientists can engage in the policy process in multiple ways (The Honest Broker). Four distinct modes have been described, including as an issue advocate (with a specific agenda or seeking a programmatic outcome), honest broker (providing an unbiased view of options to assist policymakers and stakeholders), science arbiter (more narrow focus on scientific research without directing policy), or pure scientist (not engaging with policy). The honest broker and science arbiter options serve valuable roles of providing objective and balanced information to policymakers and the public. Scientists in these positions can circumvent the politicization of science by building relationships primarily based on their expertise. Scientists who choose to be advocates are also part of the civic science system, however their role is to reduce policy choices usually based on group preferences and often by providing relevant information to legislators to advance a specific agenda. Advocacy relies on values-driven relationships and operates in concert with developments at the federal and state level dictated largely by the political landscape at any given time. Each role is important, and scientists should choose their approach with full knowledge of its potential effect on civil discourse and public opinion about science.
Scientists who engage in science policy will develop a set of competencies that prepare them for a variety of engagement scenarios, ranging from public outreach to informing scientists of research grant opportunities from government agencies, and including lobbying with a policymaker. A sophisticated approach to policymaking involves combining one’s research training with specific engagement skills at the proper times and in the appropriate settings. For example, in a meeting with a legislator and their staff, how federal funding has supported the work of those in the room often resonates best in a storytelling format, whereas government agency officials may be more receptive to data-driven conversations in the form of charts and graphics supporting the need to engage with particular groups of researchers for a specific funding opportunity. Knowing when to deploy the right set of skills requires preparation and experience. Regardless of the mode or domain in which one chooses to engage, those who gain policy experience often develop expertise that is useful in a variety of civic settings.
The need for new tools to help scientists navigate civic science opportunities
Recently, articles on the topic of science policy written by those invested in the future of science have emphasized the need for academic systemic change in ways that support the next generation of scientists. The authors focus on the empowerment of scientists, including early career scientists, to translate their research into societal impact, while advocating for increased federally funded research and thereby reforming the future STEM workforce. Many of these articles promote science policy training and advocacy opportunities. A few practical examples in this regard include relevant curricula and educational programs external to university training, as well as simulations and toolkits to facilitate engagement in policymaking.
Beyond the initial introduction to science policy and engagement opportunities, there is a growing demand for new tools and trainings to serve the needs of scientists from all career stages who are interested in participating in the policymaking process. Each scientist has a unique purpose for civically engaging through science policy. For example, many scientists wish to transform the culture of science into a more inclusive, collaborative, and overall, more effective system. Some wish to advocate for increased research funding, higher pay, and better working conditions. Others recognize the potential of their research to inform policy decisions and feel compelled to share their scientific findings with policymakers. All these motivations are valid reasons for seeking science policy training. However, each approach requires unique skill sets, advanced strategies, and different time commitments.
Many opportunities to gain experience in the policy process require scientists to postpone the pursuit of a career in research and make a full-time commitment to the science policy track. These opportunities can be attractive options for early career researchers, who feel that science policy might be more personally and professionally rewarding compared to an academic research career. In other cases, established or emerging researchers can remain in their research careers while dedicating a portion of their time to serve as an expert resource for policymakers, such as by joining advisory committees or participating in advocacy days, without permanently leaving the bench. These types of opportunities can be less widely advertised and are often found through convenience and serendipity, such as a mutual colleague or personal networking, rather than by undertaking a comprehensive discovery process. Scientists would benefit from advanced tools that connect them with resources and positions by which to achieve their individual goals.
Facilitating state-level science policy engagement
The landscape of international organizations involved in science policy is extremely broad and complex. The range of policy opportunities offered by organizations in the United States alone is similarly expansive and diverse. For example, the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) offers advocacy training through hands-on science policy activities. The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) offers numerous policy and communication workshops and seminars in addition to its world-class Science & Technology Policy Fellowship. The American Chemical Society (ACS) also hosts a Congressional Science Fellowship and provides advocacy training and engagement opportunities. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) builds and leverages connections between scientific experts and policymakers to follow-through on ideas that use science to better serve the public good. While these programs, and many others, are primarily directed at U.S. federal policy, state-level engagement is an emerging policy frontier that presents new and potentially unique options for the next generation in the field.
A few organizations are working to advance science policy at the state and local level. For example, the National Science Policy Network (NSPN) is a distributed network of individuals and local chapters across the United States that promotes science policy training and engagement. Engineers & Scientists Acting Locally (ESAL) is a national organization dedicated to increasing local civic engagement by individuals with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Additionally, in recent years, numerous state-level science policy fellowships have emerged to help early career scientists gain experience in state governments. The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) cultivates local and state-level advocacy networks through its Team-Based Organizing Initiative. Sigma Xi regularly partners with the North Carolina Sea Grant to provide a science policy bootcamp for Sigma Xi members, incoming North Carolina STEM Policy Post-Graduate Fellows, and other scientists interested in learning about state-level science policy. These organizations represent a growing capacity for local level policy training and participation across the United States.
Navigating the policy training landscape, whether at the federal or state level, requires a high degree of knowledge about scientific organizations and the types of policy work they conduct. Currently, there are few tools to untangle the civic science landscape and define the skills needed to succeed in each type of science policy setting or project. This complexity creates a barrier for scientists to engage in science policy. Therefore, a centralized tool that connects scientists with training and engagement opportunities is needed to accelerate the learning process and lower the barrier to entering the field. Efforts are underway to fill this gap, and scientists of all persuasions should be prepared to contribute to the development and dissemination of these tools. Broad distribution and use of these tools will improve understanding and decision-making around civic science opportunities and increase societal impacts of science.
Sigma Xi & The Rita Allen Foundation’s efforts to advance civic science
The Rita Allen Foundation’s Civic Science Program seeks to advance civic science by supporting fellows who are working to broaden engagement with science, elevate the role of science in policymaking, and encourage the use of science to develop solutions for societal challenges. Civic science fellows are hosted and funded by organizations that span the entire civic science network. Their projects reflect the diversity of ways in which scientists can engage in civic science. As a host organization within this network, we, at Sigma Xi, are developing a digital platform to connect policy players, showcase policy-engaged organizations, highlight training opportunities, and empower individuals from diverse backgrounds to successfully pursue their civic goals through policy engagement at the state level.
The platform aims to:
- foster effective, sustainable collaborations between scientists and policymakers to address the needs of communities in North Carolina and other states;
- connect scientists with policy engagement opportunities, including full-time and volunteer positions within North Carolina and beyond;
- help scientists understand the state-level policy process, and where and how they can participate;
- introduce scientists to organizations and institutions that offer the proper training for the type of policy work they wish to pursue;
- create a business model that enables partnerships with scientific organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, and private businesses to make their resources and tools visible and accessible through the platform.
For everyday users, the platform seeks to provide a simple, convenient, and tailored way to educate and guide them toward meaningful action. It will feature models and processes for discovering science policy training and crowd-sourced case studies for gaining insights into the policy process. The platform will also illuminate a wide array of policy touchpoints, including engagement opportunities within the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of the state government. Once launched, this tool will benefit scientists and researchers from all sectors and career levels who are curious about policymaking.
The beta-version of the platform is set to be launched in late 2023 and more information is coming soon
In conclusion, we aim to lower the barrier for scientists to participate in policymaking opportunities. This emergent platform, among other Sigma Xi efforts, will shed light onto the policymaking process, highlight training opportunities, and prepare scientists to engage with critical players in science policy at the state and local level. Tools such as this platform are vital to developing the next generation of civic scientists.
Bios:
Adriana Bankston is a senior fellow in civic science and public policy with Sigma Xi. She is also CEO and managing publisher at the Journal of Science Policy & Governance. She is a strong advocate for the research enterprise and supporting the next generation STEM workforce. She holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology from Emory University.
Jamie L. Vernon is executive director and CEO at Sigma Xi and publisher of American Scientist. For more than a decade, he has been an advocate for the use of science in decision making at all levels of government, business, and in our personal lives. He holds a Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology from The University of Texas at Austin.
