GradFUTURES Science Policy cohort: 4. Science Communication with policy-makers: crafting a one-page memo

Session Description: Talking to policy makers about our research challenges us to synthesize and compress complex ideas while navigating social and political contexts. Yet these conversations are exactly where we can make the most impact. Luckily there are known pitfalls to avoid and learnable techniques to help your message cross the last 5 feet. In this workshop from Ardon Shorr, faculty in PWP and Writing in Science and Engineering, we’ll work towards crafting a one-page disillation of your work. This document can serve as a policy memo, or something to leave behind after a meeting; it can be adapted to a presentation, or to prepare for an important conversation. In the process, we’ll develop techniques for distilling your message, differentiating among four different kinds of risk communication, and discuss how the metaphors we choose can hurt or help our message.

Guest Instructor: Ardon Shorr, Princeton Writing Program. 

Series Overview: This cohort is in partnership with Center for Policy Research on Energy and the Environment (CPREE). Co-developed by Faculty Fellows in Professional Development Innovation and graduate students, this learning cohort leverages expertise of Princeton’s faculty, graduate students, staff and alumni, and external partners.
Through guest speakers, case studies and immersive capstone, students will learn, discuss and investigate landscape and careers in science policy, at the federal and state levels. 

Learning Objectives

Participants of the GradFUTURES-C-PREE Science Policy Learning Cohort will learn and discuss the following:

• The landscape of science policy- how scientific evidence informs and influences policy making, and how policies impact scientific research.
• The systems, people and process policymaking at the federal and state levels including agenda setting and budget allocations.
• How stakeholders or constituents can inform or influence policy agendas. 
• Role of researchers in informing evidence-based science policy.
• Pathways into science policy for scientists and scholars across public or private sectors. 
• Visualizing ideas to actions through case studies, bills or acts passed (or failed to pass) at the federal or state level, and factors influencing outcomes. 
• Imperative for interdisciplinary collaboration between scientists, social scientists, public and policy makers for successful science policy.
• Effective communication skills to engage policy makers and constituents shaping science policy