From a Ph.D. to a Congressional Staffer

Transcription

1 From a Ph.D. to a Congressional Staffer Libby O Hare Legislative Aide Office of Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ) Society of Women Engineers Capitol Hill Day March 21, 2012 Agenda Background on AAAS Program My path to science policy and working as a House Energy & Environment LA Tips on effective science communication for Congress 1

2 Society faces complex scientific and technical challenges on local, national, and international scales. Climate Change Nanotechnology Stem Cells Energy Production and Consumption Genetic Privacy Infectious Diseases Health Information Technology Education (early, elementary, higher, STEM) Too often, scientists lack the skills and opportunity to apply their scientific and technical knowledge in support of policy making. The AAAS serve two functions: Scientists, engineers, and physicians learn how federal policy is created and modified Policymakers benefit from the technical expertise of Fellows 2

3 4 Tracks: -Health, Education, and Human Services (HEHS) Energy, Environment, and Agriculture (EEA) Diplomacy, Security, and Defense (DSD) Congressional Congressional Fellows: Sponsored by partner societies House or Senate personal offices House or Senate Committee staff 3

4 Partner Societies: Over 30 scientific and professional societies American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Many more! Health, Education, and Human Services: HHS, NIH, NSF, VA Energy, Environment, and Agriculture: DOE, EPA, NSF, NASA, NOAA, USDA, USGS Diplomacy, Security, and Defense: USAID, DOD, DHS, State Dept. 4

5 Application Cycle: Application materials due: early December Notification of Interview: mid-february Placement Week: mid-april Fellowship starts: September 1 Two week intensive orientation to public policy, science policy, and fellowship life Year-long professional development program My Path from the Lab to the Hill Neuroscience? Research? 5

6 Office of Rep. Rush Holt Transferable Skills: Problem definition Strategic thinking Research and analysis Project Management Written and Oral Communication Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy & Mineral Resources Energy development on public lands and the outer continental shelf Oversight Hearings Legislative Hearings Bill Markups 6

7 Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy & Mineral Resources Agencies: Budgets, Hearings, Reports 7

8 Legislative Initiatives Science Communication on the Hill 1) Good science communication starts with good communication Make it personal Can you explain your technical concept to your neighbor? To a teenager? To a child? Interpersonal skills are key 2) To be effective your message must stand out among a crush of information Create a story using universal values Explain the science or technical concept Put the science/concept in the context of the costs and benefits to society 8

9 Science Communication on the Hill 3) Know your Staffer Workload Time pressure Information saturation (hundreds of s, 4-10 phone calls, magazines, online news, clips, 2-5 meetings, hearings, briefings, Floor coverage) Brevity and Clarity make you stand out from the crowd! Provide concrete suggestions Be willing to collaborate with staff and Congressional offices Science Communication on the Hill 4) Know the Nature of Congress -policy -politics -procedure -legislator -representative -district and state The U.S. system of government was designed to place a premium on compromise and careful deliberation. Science isn t a democracy (thankfully!) but we live in one. 9

10 Summary We do not suffer from a lack of information here on Capitol Hill, but from a lack of ability to glean the knowledge and to gauge the validity, credibility, and usefulness of the large amounts of information and advice received on a daily basis. -Rep. Rush Holt A Ph.D. gets you five minutes of someone listening to you because you are smart. -heard in the halls of Congress Resources AAAS Center for Science, Technology, and Congress AAAS Science and Technology Policy 10

11 Other Science Policy Programs -National Academies Mirzayan Fellowship -Hellman Fellowship, American Academy of Arts and Sciences -Presidential Management Fellowship -California State S&T Policy Fellowship -Belfer Center, Kennedy School of Government -Research! America -Many, many, many more! 11