Author: Sean Koyama

Hi SPOT,

We’re back with another newsletter chock-full of news and opportunities for you all to take part in! Read on to learn more about what’s happening in the world of NU science policy!

SPOT News and Events

• Board updates: new SPOT President!
  Please join us in congratulating our new SPOT President Kavi Chintam! Kavi will be leading this year’s SPOT initiatives along with our Vice President Emilie Lozier. We’ve also been joined by several new board members – please give them a warm welcome!

 

• Special Joint Event with NETG: November Book Club
  The November book club will be in person with the One Book, One Northwestern book: The Story of More: How We Got to Climate Change by Hope Jahren (2020). We are excited to be co-hosting with Northwestern Energy Technology Group (NETG)! The book club will be held on Friday, November 19th from 4-5 pm in TGS Commons. Some snacks will be provided. RSVP to spotforcenu@gmail.com.

 

• Science with Seniors Annual Interest Meeting
  Are you interested in sharing your science with our greater Evanston and Chicago communities? Want to practice your science communication skills? Come join us for an interest meeting on our outreach program Science with Seniors on Friday, November 12th from 12-1pm where we will discuss the program, go over sample materials, and sign-up volunteers. The event is hybrid virtual/in-person at Tech M120 with food provided – register here!

 

• Book Club Discussion
  If you are interested in joining our regularly occurring Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet bimonthly! See above for details on November’s discussion.

 

Other Opportunities

• GEO Community Practicum – Apply Now!
  Interested in working with a scipol or advocacy organization this Spring? The Center for Civic Engagement’s GEO Community Practicum helps PhD students bridge the divide between academia and the wider world by combining a credit-bearing seminar on public scholarship with an internship at a Chicagoland non-profit. Driven by student interest and facilitated by CCE staff, we’ve placed students at more than 100 organizations across Chicagoland, including scipol and environmental justice organizations like Environmental Law and Policy Center, People for Community Recovery, Southeast Environmental Task Force, and Evanston’s Office of Sustainability. Register for a virtual information session on November 10 and apply by our priority deadline on November 14.

 

• City of Evanston Public Comments
  Want to learn about and contribute to policies affecting our local community of Evanston? Attend and participate in an Evanston City Council meeting, held every 2nd and 4th Monday of the month. Submit a public comment to be given in person, via video, or via phone here! Find the meeting agenda here to learn when to tune in.

 

• From NSPN: AACR Science Policy Fellowship 2022-2024
  Applications are open for the American Association for Cancer Research’s 2022-2024 Science Policy Fellowship. The two-year paid fellowship includes a rotation through the AACR’s government affairs office, a policy role at the National Cancer Institute, and a congressional office or committee. The application deadline is November 21, 2021. The fellowship is open to current or new AACR members who have earned an advanced degree (PhD, MD, DO, etc) within the past 5 years, or will complete an advanced degree before the March 2022 start date. Learn more here and email any questions to Dana.Acton@AACR.org.

 

• Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program
  The Future Leaders in Public Service Internship Program is recruiting students to join the federal workforce in support of two agencies. The program places students with critically needed skills into paid internships and aims to develop a diverse pool of talent for these agencies. Participants in the program will receive:
  • 10-12 week summer internship with a federal agency.
  • $4,000 stipend
  • Professional development sessions, including an orientation and networking events throughout the summer.

Applications are due January 14, 2022. Learn more about this opportunity here.

 

In the News

• The UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) is happening in Glasgow, Scotland October 31 through November 12, 2021. Over 100 world leaders will come together to set ambitious, albeit necessary, climate goals and discuss plans on how to meet them. Follow @COP26 to keep up with key moments and learn more about the conference here.

 

• The Biden administration’s EPA has announced a three-year plan to address the contamination of drinking water by PFAS, a family of “forever chemicals” ubiquitous in manufacturing and consumer products. Read more here.

 

• The Chicago City Council voted to approve the 2022 City Budget this past Wednesday. The budget includes $101.3 million towards climate investments and $77.8 million towards environmental justice initiatives. Read more here.

 

Get Involved with SPOT

• Looking for a fun way to help people in our local Chicago community understand your science? SPOT’s outreach program, Science with Seniors, needs more volunteers for 2021! You’ll have the opportunity to present science topics of your choosing to elderly residents in both Evanston and Chicago, and practice your science communication skills along the way. Engaging with our local communities helps fight science misinformation and build public trust and appreciation of research, so we need YOU! Email emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu to sign up.

 

• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!

 

• Interested in contributing to local policy? SPOT is collaborating with Indivisible Northwestern and the Center for Civic Engagement to develop policy recommendations for the allocation of Evanston’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for COVID-19 relief. Opportunities to contribute include taking part in community assemblies and writing memos and policies on areas such as climate change and health care. This is a great opportunity to practice your policy-related writing skills and contribute to local policy! Email colleenoaposbrien2024@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!

 

• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

 

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!

Happy New Year SPOTizens!

We have a LOT of new initiatives that we are excited to share with you this year. We may still be virtual, but that doesn’t stop us from hearing from experts in science diplomacy, engaging with senior community members, or learning together about the science of processed foods! Read on to find out how to get involved this January and check out the news section for the SciPol current events we’ve been reading and thinking about. Welcome back!

SPOT News and Events

• Science with Seniors
  Looking for a fun way to help people in our local Chicago community understand your science? SPOT’s outreach program, Science with Seniors, needs more volunteers for 2021! You’ll have the opportunity to present science topics of your choosing to elderly residents in both Evanston and Chicago and practice your science communication skills along the way. Engaging with our local communities helps fight science misinformation and build public trust and appreciation of research, so we need YOU! Email emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu to sign up.
• Science Diplomacy Series
  Our first event of the new year is coming up, featuring a science diplomacy talk from Dr. Fadila Boughanemi! Dr. Boughanemi serves on the European Commission as the Deputy Head of Unit for Asia, Africa, and Middle East and North Africa in the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation. In her talk, she will discuss the EU’s policies in international scientific cooperation. See more details and RSVP here!
• Writing Opportunity: Science – The Endless Frontier
  We will be forming writing teams to submit position papers for the JSPG Special Issue, The Endless Frontier: Shaping the Future of Science Polity! See here for the call for submissions and links to relevant webinars, and keep an eye out for more details from us in the near future!
• Book Club Discussion
  If you are interested in joining our Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet monthly! The January book is Salt, Sugar, Fat: How the Food Giants Hooked Us by Michael Moss.

Other Opportunities

• NSPN recently launched the Lifting Underrepresented Voices (LUV) grant, which supports groups in initiatives that give early career STEM professionals opportunities to explore the use of science in addressing local, state, national, and international policy challenges. This grant is open to all groups (not just policy groups)! See here for more details.

In the News

• Cell Press has begun inviting authors to submit diversity and inclusion statements in their papers. While not a mandatory practice, the publisher hopes to acknowledge those in science that have worked to improve on diversity and inclusion and to encourage others to do more – read more here.
• The New York Times’s “The Year in Climate” summarizes the major climate news from 2020, with links to great articles from their publications – read more here.
• In “How Science Beat the Virus,” The Atlantic’s Ed Yong examines the ways that science succeeded and failed in responding to COVID-19 – read more here.

Get Involved with SPOT

• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!
• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!

SPOT News and Events

• Student Group Liaisons
  SPOT is looking for liaisons from other student organizations at NU. Liaisons would be points of contact for discussions about collaborative events or initiatives with SPOT. If your student org is interested in collaborating with us in the future, please send us an email at spotforcenu@gmail.com.

• Memo Writing Opportunity with SustainNU
  We are writing policy memos to inform Northwestern’s next Strategic Sustainability Plan! We are looking for memo writers to draft policy recommendations for the University’s sustainability initiatives. This is a great opportunity to practice your policy-related writing skills! If you’d like to contribute or learn more about this initiative, please fill out the interest form here.

• Upcoming Science Diplomacy Talk
  We will be hosting Dr. Fadila Boughanemi for a talk on “EU International Cooperation Strategy in Research and Innovation – a contribution to  Science Diplomacy” in January! Dr. Fadila Boughanemi is Deputy Head of the Unit for Asia, Africa, and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) at the European Commission on Science and Innovation. Her talk will focus on the EU’s science diplomacy activities in Africa and MENA Countries. Stay tuned for more information about the event!

• Book Club Discussion
  If you are interested in joining our Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet monthly! This December, we will be reading from the Science of the People magazine with the overarching theme: Science Under Occupation. Specifically, we will discuss the topics “Decolonizing STEM Curriculum;” “STEM on Hold;” and “Indigenous Knowledge, Western Science, and the US Colonial Project.”

Other Events and Opportunities

• Join the Science Diplomacy Affinity Group on Wednesday, December 16th from 5:30-6:30pm for a conversation with Dr. E. William Colglazier, Editor-in-Chief of Science & Diplomacy, Senior Scholar at AAAS, and former Science and Technology Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State (2011 – 2014), about science diplomacy after COVID-19. Submit questions here; read a recent article by Dr. Colglazier here; and access the Zoom link (passcode: SciDip) and calendar event here and here, respectively.

• Join the Duke Initiative for Science & Society on Friday, December 18 at 12:00pm EST for a conversation between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Alan Alda: “Restoring Faith in Public Science Agencies”. RSVP here.

In the News

• The European Space Agency (ESA) announced it will launch the ClearSpace-1 in 2025, which will be the first mission of its kind to clear orbital space debris – read more here.

• The world’s largest study on research integrity is at risk of cratering after nearly two-thirds of invited institutions have declined to participate – read more here.

• The Arecibo Radio Telescope in Puerto Rico collapsed on Dec. 1, less than two weeks after the NSF announced the facility would be decommissioned – read more about the collapse here, and the events leading up to it here.

Get Involved with SPOT

• Do you want to share your research with the public? We are always looking for more ideas for programming for our science outreach program towards elderly populations, Science with Seniors. If you have an idea of a topic you would like to present on, please reach out to emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu.
• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!
• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!

SPOT News and Events

• Congrats to our new Science One-Pager Initiative (SOPI) Advisory Board: Elsa Koninckx, Peter Malonis, Carrie Schoeneberger, and Kelsey Wiles. Thanks to everyone that applied – we had to make difficult decisions and appreciate all of your thoughtful responses. We are looking forward to seeing this initiative grow!
• Book Club Discussion
  If you are interested in joining our Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet monthly! The November book is Algorithms of Oppression by Safiya Noble.

Other Events and Opportunities

• The National Science Policy Network (NSPN) will host its annual National Science Policy Symposium on November 13 and 14. The theme of this year’s symposium is “Science Policy and Racial Justice.” NSPN members can register to attend all sessions for free! If you’re not already a member, membership is only $20/year, so we encourage you to join.
• November 18th – Scholars Strategy Network Meeting. Monthly chapter meeting is always the third Wednesday of the month from 7-8pm CST. To join email Emily Hallgren (ehallg2@uic.edu) to be added to the invite list.
• The Union of Concerned Scientists is working with the Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition to bring scientists together to virtually advocate for the Clean Energy Jobs Act on Thursday, November 12. This is an opportunity to directly engage with Illinois legislators about policy – register here.
• EURAXESS North America interviewed Anouk De Bast, Head of the Science Office at the Swiss Embassy to the U.S., about what makes her country unique, Swiss knowledge networks, and the nation as a center of innovation. View the recording here.
  EURAXESS will also be holding a Science Diplomacy Webinar on December 3 – details are forthcoming, so save the date!

In the News

• A treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons has passed into international law in the UN, despite opposition from major nuclear powers including the US – read more here.
• The CDC will advise that the first COVID vaccines go to healthcare workers, who are among the highest-risk individuals – read more here.
• “How Decades of Racist Housing Policy Left Neighborhoods Sweltering” – read how structural racism, policy, and climate change intersect here.

Get Involved with SPOT

• Do you want to share your research with the public? We are always looking for more ideas for programming for our science outreach program towards elderly populations, Science with Seniors. If you have an idea of a topic you would like to present on, please reach out to emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu.
• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!
• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!

Upcoming Events

• Science with Seniors Interest Meeting and Info Session. If you want to learn more about giving science talks to senior citizens in the Chicago area, please RSVP here to attend our interest meeting on Friday, October 9th from 12-1pm via Zoom.
• Skills for Bridging the Divide Workshop. We are partnering with Braver Angels and the Community Deliberation Network to hold a workshop called Skills for Bridging the Divide: Grad Students and Communication Competence on October 17, 2-4pm. Please note that to be an active participant there is a 40-minute pre-course; otherwise, anybody can attend as an observer. More info and registration details can be found here.
• Book Club Discussion. If you are interested in joining our Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet monthly! The October book is Short Circuiting Policy by Leah Stokes.

Other Events and Opportunities

• The COVID-19 pandemic means that many usual election judge volunteers (senior citizens) no longer feel comfortable serving this role. Volunteer to be an election judge and serve your neighborhood! Find more information here. If you have questions, please contact emmazajdela@u.northwestern.edu.
• The Climate Science Legal Defense Fund is hosting a webinar titled How Scientists Can Engage in Political Campaigns and Activism on October 8, 5-6pm CT. Learn more and RSVP here. Only a few spots remain so register ASAP if interested!
• The 45th Annual AAAS Forum on Science & Technology Policy will be held on October 13-14. This year’s forum will focus on two issues: (1) research during the pandemic and (2) structural racism within the scientific enterprise. Learn more and RSVP here.
• Join Engineers and Scientists Acting Locally and the AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues on October 12, 2-3:30pm CT for an online panel discussion on Science Technology and the Vote. Hear how people with STEM backgrounds are working with local government to help ensure fair and free elections. Learn more and RSVP here.
• The DICE lab in Northwestern’s Psychology Department is calling for undergraduate students 18 or older to take part in a multi-phase study investigating identities, beliefs, and actions related to the current political climate. The first phase is a short, confidential survey, for which participants will be paid $10. Follow this link and use the password “Northwestern2020” to begin the survey. Submissions end Monday, October 19, or earlier if enough people participate.

In the News

• Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) has announced it will require the scientists it funds to make their papers open-access immediately upon publication – read more here.
• An Op-Ed in The Scientist offers advice on minimizing the divide between science and policy in the age of COVID-19 – read more here.
• Researchers in Mexico are protesting a bill that would slash 68 billion pesos ($3 billion) of government funding for science and technology and divert it to the country’s COVID-19 response – read more here.
• The Journal of Science Policy and Governance, in partnership with AAAS, published an issue which featured policy memos and analyses from early career scientists – including one memo from our very own board members Kavi, Olivia, and Suyog! Read more here.

Get Involved with SPOT

• Do you want to share your research with the public? We are always looking for more ideas for programming for our science outreach program towards elderly populations, Science with Seniors. If you have an idea of a topic you would like to present on, please reach out to emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu.
• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!
• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

 

Find us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook for more scipol news and updates!

Upcoming Events

• Picture a Scientist Screening and Discussion. SPOT has teamed up with University of Chicago’s Women and Gender Minorities in Physics (WAGMIP), Graduate Recruitment Initiative Team (GRIT), and the UChicago Science Policy group to screen Picture a Scientist on Wednesday September 16th. The film will be available to view at your convenience for 48 hours on either the 16th or 17th and there will be a follow up discussion on Thursday September 17th at 5:30 pm CST. To access the viewing link and discussion event, RSVP here by September 14th.
• Welcome Back Event. SPOT will be having a kickoff event on Friday, October 2nd at 12pm. If you’re interested in learning more about existing and new initiatives, as well as meeting other people interested in science policy, please RSVP here.
• Book Club Discussion. If you are interested in joining our Science Policy Book Club, please fill out this form. We meet monthly! The September book is On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal by Naomi Klein.

 

Other Events and Opportunities

• SACNAS (the Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science) will be virtually hosting their Annual Midwest Regional Meeting from October 2-4th. The title of the meeting is “Science and Equity: Allyship and Inclusion in STEM and Beyond”. Registration is now open and free!
• AAAS is hosting What’s It Like to Be a Fellow?, a virtual live chat with three AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows about what an S&T Fellow’s day-to-day life is like, at 4pm on September 16. Learn more and register at the AAAS website.
• The Ben Barres Fellowship is a $2000-$5000 award for professional development of trans, intersex, and non-binary graduate students and post-doctoral fellows in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The application deadline for the first round of awards is September 30, 2020.
• Election volunteering opportunity: The COVID-19 pandemic means that many usual election judge volunteers (senior citizens) no longer feel comfortable serving this role. Volunteer to be an election judge and serve your neighborhood! Find more information here. If you have questions, please contact emmazajdela@u.northwestern.edu.
• The Malta Conferences Foundation, a nonprofit which uses science as a bridge to peace in the Middle East, is looking for volunteers to help with website development, social media communications, newsletter publishing, and more. Click here for more details on how to apply for this professional development opportunity. For more information, visit their website or email malta@mychemist.net.

 

In the News

• Dr. Kelly Singel compiled an extensive list of science policy fellowships — see here for more.
• PNAS published an opinion piece on the science community’s obligation – and opportunity – to inform science policy — see here for more.
• The US will invest over $765 million in a dozen research centers studying AI and quantum information — see here for more.
• An international commission determined that gene-edited human embryos should not yet be used to create pregnancies – see here for more.

 

Get Involved with SPOT

• We are recruiting four people to join an all-new review board for our one-pager program. Responsibilities will include working with the other members of the board, the one-pager writers, and the Legislative Outreach Lead (Kavi Chintam) to ensure one-pagers we deliver to legislators are of the highest standard. Time commitment is dependent on when one-pager requests are received, and will generally entail two weeks of revisions. You will also be required to attend a brief training session. If you are interested, you may apply here by 9/30. Feel free to reach out to kchintam@u.northwestern.edu with any questions.
• Do you want to share your research with the public? We are always looking for more ideas for programming for our science outreach program towards elderly populations, Science with Seniors. If you have an idea of a topic you would like to present on, please reach out to emilyschafer2023@u.northwestern.edu.
• Do you think legislators could benefit from learning more about your research or scientific interests? We are currently looking for people interested in writing briefs for local representatives about scientific topics as part of our Legislative Outreach Team. Email kchintam@u.northwestern.edu if you are interested!
• Do you have any news/events/opportunities related to science policy that might be worth sharing? We welcome any items to add to the newsletter! Email spotforcenu@gmail.com if you want to share anything.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more scipol news and updates!