learning from each other --- Vid, I think exposing researchers to the policy process and policy makers to the research process is extremely helpful. That was actually one of my duties as a Science Policy Fellow. It usually involved setting up meetings for scientists with their legislators (usually someone on their staff) on Capitol Hill, helping the scientist put together a one-pager about them and their research, training the scientist about how to have a constituent meeting, go to the meeting with them (so they don't get lost and to keep the meeting on track). Usually we'd have at least 3 meetings a trip because folks have 1 representative in the House and 2 senators. So that definitely helped the scientists get a taste of the policy world, and to turn that around I would ALWAYS recommend the scientist invite the legislator and/or their staff to visit their campus or lab or even field site. Can't say it always worked out, but hopefully it was a step in the right direction.

Source author: Ryan Haupt ryan.haupt@nysf.com