Recommended Policy Program Process

Building a Sustainable Science Policy Program

A successful program is built over time through consistent, focused effort.

Start Small and Scale Up

You do not need to tackle every issue at once.

• Learn more about the important issues in your state legislature, state agencies, and other commissions across the state. Learn about the key processes, players, and policies relevant to the scientific community and your members. 

• Pick one or two priority areas that are important to your state and where you have strong member expertise.

• Start with a single activity: Host one legislative briefing per year, produce two fact sheets during the legislative session, or focus on building relationships with the chairs of two key committees. Executive branch engagement can also be a good place to start by writing one response to a public comment period or attending a state commission meeting. Success in one area will build momentum for future growth.

• Find scientists serving in your own state legislature: A simple but powerful first step is to identify elected officials with a STEM background. You can find this information in their official biographies on the state legislature's website.The Eagleton Institute at Rutgers maintains a database that includes scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals in U.S. State Legislatures. 

  • These individuals can be champions for your academy's efforts. However, you will want to consider the political aspects of the team of champions you engage.

Identify a Dedicated Point Person or Committee 

Consistency is key. Task a specific person or committee, a part-time staff member or a group of dedicated volunteer board members, with being the lead for your science policy activities. 

This individual or body can track legislation, maintain contact with policymakers, and coordinate the academy's engagement strategy. However, their role may need to be right-sized depending on the amount of time they have to dedicate to these efforts.

Document Your Efforts and Successes

Keep a simple log of your activities:

• Meetings held with policymakers or staff

• Briefing documents or testimony submitted

• Instances where your academy was cited or consulted
   

This record is invaluable for demonstrating impact to your members, board, and potential funders. It turns anecdotal success into measurable progress. If your academy already produces an annual report that is a good place to add science policy activities from the year. 

Seek Grants or Partnerships for Specific Initiatives

While your core activities can be run on a lean budget, new initiatives can be funded externally. Consider partnering with a state university's public policy school, a local community foundation, or a business association to co-host an event or co-author a report on a topic of mutual interest.

Resources

The below section spells out resources that may be helpful for academies looking to engage in science policy and/or to learn from other states. Please suggest additional resources if you represent an academy or organization that has relevant programming.

• Dashboard of R&D investments by State: Use this data to make a data-driven case to your state legislators about the economic impact of science funding.

• Tip sheet for visiting your legislator: A practical, step-by-step guide you can provide to your members to empower them to engage directly with their elected officials.

Learning from other academies and state-level science policy organizations

• Develop Your Own Training: Some academies offer their own training. You can start small with a 90-minute webinar for members on "How to Write a Policy Brief" or "Understanding the State Budget Process."

  • The Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM) is launching an Undergraduate Policy Program in 2025. 

  • The Kentucky Academy of Science hosts Science Policy Workshops to train its members each winter. 

• Topical convening

  • The Institute for Science & Policy located in Denver, CO, does this effectively and may provide a model for inspiration in your state.

  • The Washington State Academy of Sciences convenes stakeholder roundtables and produces commissioned reports on topic areas through their work modeled after NASEM.

• The Kentucky Academy of Science tracks legislation in the state directly, but there are shared resources such as the NCSL 50-state database that academies can draw from and build into even more valuable resources for their members. The Kentucky Academy of Science also maintains a speaker's bureau.

Other states are considering developing policy fellowship programs.