Mission Statement & Purpose
The Science Communication & Policy Career Club will support graduate student and postdoc trainees who wish to follow a non-academic career path by creating a platform for leadership opportunities, hosting workshops to learn new skills, and generating a collaborative network that co-creates opportunities to gain in-field experience to bring science back to the public and out of the ivory tower and better help us serve as the communication bridge between researchers, the public, and policy stakeholders.
We aim to provide a safe space for budding and established research trainees to explore careers in science and health policy. Through guided workshops, trainees will engage in interactions that broaden their knowledge of policy and the role of scientists while providing practical skills to work in the science and health policy sphere. Participants and leadership will be a part of a collaborative network that co-creates opportunities to gain in-field experience to bring science back to the public and out of the ivory tower to increase the public good.
Outcomes & Goals
- To Build a writing portfolio on the topics of their interest
- To effectively Map out the key players on their topics of interest and (if possible) meet with one policy/ Sci Comm stakeholder
- Join Science Policy/ Health Policy Networks (e.g., AAAS LSEN Community) to build broader connections
- Provide at least two Practical Science Advocacy Experiences (One Environmental and One Health-focused)
Check out the new graduate student-led initiative Utah Science Communicators to see the published work of club members.
Upcoming Events
We host a monthly skills-building workshop for trainees. These workshops are hybrid and held weekly.
Past Events
- Exploring Careers in Science Communication
- Advocacy and Science Policy Stakeholders
- Engaging the Public
- Science Communication for the Public
- Informing Utah Policy with Science Using the Honest Broker Approach
- Taking Actions as an Honest Broker on Utah Science Policy Issues
- Science Communication and Engagement via Sci-Art
- How to Write and Publish an Op-Ed
- Best Practices of Science and Technology Notes with AAAS Utah LSEN Interns
- Writing a Policy Memo
Science Communication & Policy Leadership
Allie White, Grad Student, Neurobiology (Leader)
Sarah Brockway, Grad Student, Neurobiology
Sam Alper, Grad Student, Neurobiology
Gracie Sapp, Grad Student, Neurobiology
Nathan Johnston, Grad Student, Neurobiology
Annabel Anyang, Grad Student, Biochemistry
Wesley Warner, Grad Student, Neurobiology
