Blog from March, 2012

A policy immersion program in Washington, D.C., for science and engineering graduate students

www.cspo.org/outreach/scienceoutsidethelab

For STP, STS, and HPS Students:
Monday June 4 - Friday June 15, 2012 (arrival on Sunday June 3; departure on Saturday June 16)

For Science and Engineering Students:
Monday June 18 - Friday June 29, 2012 (arrival on Sunday June 17; departure on Saturday June 30)

What is it?
Science Outside the Lab, presented by Arizona State University's Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes (CSPO), explores the relationships among science, policy, and societal outcomes in a place where many important decisions about these things are made - Washington, D.C. During the two-week workshop, students will meet and interact with the people who fund, regulate, shape, critique, publicize and study science, including congressional staffers, funding agency officers, lobbyists, regulators, journalists, academics, museum curators and others.

Why?
With the intersections between science, politics and society making the headlines every day, it is more important than ever for scientists and engineers to know how the decisions that affect them are made. Washington, D.C., where the $140 billion of federal science money and countless policy decisions originate, is the perfect setting to delve into the complicated world of science policy. Junior scholars who understand the goals and implications of publicly funded science will likely have an advantage when seeking jobs and funding. This program also will explore numerous careers in the science policy realm.

Who should attend?
Doctoral students who are interested in how the decisions about science funding, regulation and policy are made will benefit from this program. Graduate students interested in careers in science policy also will find this to be an excellent opportunity to learn about important fellowships and meet current science policy professionals.

What to expect?
Arizona State University hosts the program at its Washington Center and meetings take place in locations throughout the Washington, D.C., area, which allow the students to experience many facets of the Nation's Capital. This is not a two-week lecture series. It includes discussions, hands-on experiences and on-location learning. It is designed not just to teach how decisions are made but to give the participants a chance to try their hands at them as well. The primary component of the program is the discussions the students will have with people throughout the District of Columbia. All presenters are asked to limit their opening comments to fifteen minutes. This leaves plenty of time for conversation. This opportunity, of course, comes with a significant responsibility. The success of the course will rest on the participants' ability to ask probing questions and explore the subtler facets of policy. The goal is to expose participating graduate scientists and engineers to as many different viewpoints as possible and help them understand how the people and institutions in Washington, D.C., both influence and learn from science. Participants live in dormitories at George Washington University - walking distance to Georgetown and a Metro ride away from all the major sites in D.C.

Cost?
Option 1 (with lodging): $3,500, includes all program activities and materials, shared lodging for 13 nights in the George Washington University dorms, 13 breakfasts, 10 weekday lunches, and local transportation via the metro while in Washington, D.C. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Washington, D.C., as well as their own lunches during the weekend and all dinners.

Option 2 (no lodging): $2,500, includes all program activities and materials, 10 weekday lunches, and local transportation via the metro while in Washington, D.C. Participants are responsible for making their own travel arrangements to and from Washington, D.C., and making their own lodging arrangements for the duration of the program, as well as their own lunches during the weekend and all dinners. Note: Hotels in the Washington metro area can run $200+ per night during the early summer.

How do I apply?
Applications will be accepted January 15 - April 2, 2012.
download application PDF
download application DOC

Questions?
Contact Andra Williams at Andra.Williams@asu.edu