MIT scholars, including students and a researcher, delve into the intricate mechanisms of Capitol Hill
Every bloomin' spring, a fresh batch of MIT scholars, coupled with a postdoc, troop off to the nation's capital, armed with their insights from research on critical issues like AI, health, climate, ocean science, energy, and industrial decarbonization. This yearly pilgrimage, dubbed the Science Policy Initiative (SPI), found itself in a turbulent situation as science agencies were facing severe funding cuts.
In a span of twowhacks, these trailblazers descended upon 66 congressional offices across 35 states and select committees, prodding for funding stability for key science agencies such as the Department of Energy, NOAA, NSF, NASA, and the Department of Defense.
This capitol-bound jamboree, known as Congressional Visit Days (CVD), has long offered students and researchers a hands-on introduction to federal policymaking, beyond the lab coat and the microscope. Alongside Capitol Hill meetings, participants rubbed elbows with MIT alums in government, mulling over prospective careers in science policy.
This year's tour de force was jointly helmed by Mallory Kastner, a PhD student in biological oceanography at MIT and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), and Julian Ufert, a PhD student in chemical engineering at MIT. Prior to the expedition, participants flocked to training sessions hosted by SPI, the MIT Washington Office, and the MIT Policy Lab. Expertise was shared on crafting policy-friendly translations of scientific jargon, devising effective advocacy strategies, and even staging mock congressional meetings.
Participants then shot a missive to their representatives' offices, tailoring their talking points to each office's committees and priorities. By initiating these policy chats with people actively wringing their hands over such issues, participants gained direct experience in shaping the conversation.
Audrey Parker, a civil and environmental engineering doc, astutely articulated the value of linking scientific research with congressional priorities: "Through CVD, I was offered the chance to contribute to conversations on science-backed solutions and advocate for the role of research in shaping policies that address national priorities - including energy, sustainability, and climate change."
New to this rodeo was Alex Fan, an electrical engineering and computer science whiz kid, who found the entire experience both enlightening and life-changing. He marveled, "It proved that student voices truly matter in shaping science policy. Meeting my own rep, congresswoman Bonamici, turned a distant politician into a relatable, inspiring figure. The whole shindig has me seriously pondering a future at the science-policy junction."
Ufert was downright astonished by the eagerness and determination he saw in participants, as well as their preparation for each meeting. He flash-froze with admiration as they blossomed into self-assured advocates, leveraging their scholarly wisdom alongside their knack for research to boil down policy conundrums.
Kastner added a pinch of salt to her perspective, emphasizing the stark disconnect between scientists and policymakers: "The lack of communication between scientists and legislators struck me as a monumental chasm. Most of the knowledge we scientists generate rarely finds its way onto the desks of congressional staff, let alone onto the desks of legislators themselves. CVD was a soul-stirring experience for me, affording me not only a new-found enthusiasm for broadcasting my research to lawmakers, but also bestowing upon me the skills to do so."
Research diapers federal funding serves as the backbone paving the way for scientific progressions and revolutionary breakthroughs in technology and manufacturing industries. In the good ol' US of A, congressional funds have enabled major strides in these sectors, and even played a significant role in setting important environmental protection standards. While diligence showed variance in the degree of support for science funding across political spectrums, it was comforting to see that many offices still grasped the gravity of science.
- The MIT scholars' annual visit to the nation's capital, known as the Science Policy Initiative (SPI), faced a challenging situation this year due to funding cuts for science agencies.
- During Congressional Visit Days (CVD), students and researchers met with congressional offices across multiple states to advocate for funding stability for key science agencies like the Department of Energy, NOAA, NSF, NASA, and the Department of Defense.
- Before the visit, participants received training on translating scientific jargon into policy-friendly language, devising effective advocacy strategies, and even staging mock congressional meetings.
- Participants tailored their talking points to each office's committees and priorities, gaining direct experience in shaping the conversation on issues like AI, health, climate, ocean science, energy, and industrial decarbonization.
- Civil and environmental engineering doc Audrey Parker described the opportunity to contribute to conversations on science-backed solutions and advocate for the role of research in shaping policies that address national priorities such as energy, sustainability, and climate change.
- Electrical engineering and computer science student Alex Fan found the entire experience enlightening and life-changing, realizing that student voices can significantly shape science policy.
- Julian Ufert, a chemical engineering PhD student, was impressed by the participants' eagerness, determination, and preparation for each meeting, which he described as self-assured advocates.
- Mallory Kastner, a biological oceanography PhD student, highlighted the disconnect between scientists and policymakers and expressed her newfound enthusiasm for broadcasting her research to lawmakers.
- Research and federal funding play a crucial role in driving scientific progressions, technological breakthroughs, and setting environmental protection standards in the United States.
- Efforts were made to bridge the gap between scientists and policymakers during Congressional Visit Days, with many offices recognizing the importance and gravity of science.
- The experience and skills gained during Congressional Visit Days encouraged some students, like Alex Fan, to consider a future at the science-policy junction, bringing together education-and-self-development, policy-and-legislation, and politics, contributing to general news and shaping climate, health, and the environment.
