SPARC: SCIENCE POLICY & ADVOCACY FOR RESEARCH COMPETITION
Program Description
URA seeks to enhance awareness of the science policy engagement process for early career scientists to help bridge the gap between science and policy. Over a 10-week period, students engage virtually in active seminars with experts in science policy and communication. The program culminates in a competition with emerging SPARC Champions visiting Washington D.C. for the Science Policy Summit. The learning goals for this science communication and policy training program include:
Communicate science effectively to engage with different sectors of the public
Understand the policy-making process and identify stakeholders relevant to science policy issues
Advocate for policies based on scientific evidence and data
Apply skills to a variety of science policy career paths and cultivate a network of policy professionals
Spark a science policy portfolio to forge a path in science advocacy
Program Outcomes
Through seminars, workshops, and individual drafting sessions, participants developed research and communication skills to build their science policy portfolios. Students completing SPARC will have produced science policy op-eds, one-pagers for Capitol Hill discussions, and 3-min science policy pitches. Examples of student op-eds are listed at the link below. SPARC champions participate in the Science Policy Summit in Washington D.C. for experiential learning in science policy where they meet with federal and legislative policymakers to discuss policy implications of emerging science & technology
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