Strengthening the Role of Universities in National Science Policymaking
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A JEROME B. WIESNER SYMPOSIUM Strengthening the Role of Universities in National Science Policymaking March 30–31, 2015 Symposium Summary FEBRUARY 2016 SPONSORED BY The University of Michigan Office of Research Organizing Committee Homer A. Neal (chair) Deborah Ball Rosina Bierbaum Lennard A. Fisk S. Jack Hu Vasudevan Lakshminarayanan Gilbert Omenn Jason Owen-Smith Carl Simon James Wells Lois Vasquez More information is available at: Wiesnersymposium.umich.edu Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Introduction 3 Recommendations 5 Conclusion 16 Appendix A—Symposium Agenda 18 Appendix B—Speakers and Panelists 21 Appendix C—Biography of Jerome B. Wiesner 26 Executive Summary On March 30 – 31, 2015, a symposium on “Strengthening the Role of Universities in National Recommendation 12: Establish state-level Science Policymaking” was held at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Sponsored by the academies of science to foster improved U-M Office of the Vice President of Research, the meeting was convened to explore how interactions between faculty and the public universities can more productively inform and engage in the formulation of national policies at the local level. affecting the sciences and engineering as well as policies involving the effective application Recommendation 13: Conduct rigorous of science and technology to a host of societal challenges. An explicit goal was to develop studies of academia from a systemic and recommend specific action items encompassing education, research, and engagement to viewpoint to show qualitatively and present to the leadership at the nation’s universities. quantitatively where research funding comes An overarching theme that emerged was that campuses must cultivate a culture of public from, how it is spent, and what the returns service, encouraging both faculty and students to become “civic scientists” who engage in on investment are for individuals and society current issues related to science policy and science-based policy and draw on their special as a whole. expertise and perspectives to inform and shape its formulation. Below are summaries of the Recommendation 14: Foster better seventeen specific symposium recommendations: integration of STEM disciplines with social Recommendation 1: Promote science for Recommendation 7: Create a culture of and behavioral science disciplines on campus policy and policy for science by promoting openness and transparency that encourages to better address the human dimensions the model of “Civic Scientist” for all STEM proactive communication to stakeholders of emerging societal challenges and policy faculty and students. about the nature of university of research approaches. and other activities and the impact they Recommendation 2: Enhance science Recommendation 15: Encourage have on the economy and quality of life, both literacy for all students by integrating the the development of interdisciplinary regionally and nationally. issues and processes of science-based partnerships, programs, and centers that can policy into undergraduate and graduate-level Recommendation 8: Provide faculty and address the full complexity of challenges that curricula across all disciplines. students with training for high-quality and face our society. effective communication with non-scientist Recommendation 3: Create opportunities Recommendation 16: Enhance diversity constituents across campus and beyond for students to get involved in real policy in STEM fields by tapping the underutilized to promote broad understanding of new experiences at state and national levels. body of existing research in this area and initiatives as well as of goals and needs. studying in more detail the dynamics of the Recommendation 4: Assess the range Recommendation 9: Develop and publish pipeline in order to develop more effective of existing science policy activities and lists of faculty volunteers to advise local, and efficient interventions. programs on each campus and combine or state, and national policymakers on matters coordinate them for maximum impact. Recommendation 17: Commit to of science policy and science-based policy. developing national standards for teacher Recommendation 5: Restructure the Recommendation 10: Develop better education and certification. faculty evaluation process to explicitly methods to provide policymakers with access reward science policy service, outreach, and to reports and ongoing research relevant to mentoring, as well as quality of teaching. current policy issues. Recommendation 6: Launch a national Recommendation 11: Develop executive awareness campaign about opportunities to education programs at universities to provide serve in science policy positions in early-, government leaders and staff members with mid-, and late-careers. the perspectives of the scientific community on current issues. Strengthening the Role of Universities in National Science Policymaking 1 Introduction Science and technology are at the heart of many of the most pressing challenges facing The second day focused on identifying best society today, including climate change, health care, national security, energy, economic practices in the science-policy arena and competitiveness, and a variety of social issues. Over the last several decades, our nation’s ways to enhance research universities’ investment in scientific research, particularly at universities, has provided a stream of ideas, presence and impact in this space. In insights, technologies, and talent that has been central to our ability to address evolving particular, there was the desire to better challenges while ensuring the health of our economy and our quality of life. Never has it been educate the next generation of science- more important to sustain this investment and make effective use of the resources it funds. literate policymakers as well as the next generation of policy-literate scientists. To address these challenges and take The Organizing Committee asked the Attendees also called for more of our faculty advantage of the opportunities, a Jerome participants address the following and researchers to actively participate in B. Wiesner Symposium on “Strengthening questions: science-policy activities at the local, state, the Roles of Universities in National Science 1. What are the major policy challenges, national, and international levels. Policymaking: Education, Research, and e.g. climate change, pandemics, energy? Engagement” was held at the University of The purpose of this document is to Michigan, Ann Arbor, on March 30-31, 2015. 2. Is there a need for additional summarize the key recommendations Sponsored by the University of Michigan’s policymakers or science advisors? synthesized from the presentations and Office of Research, the Symposium brought discussions. A full agenda is included in 3. Should science policy be a part of every together national leaders to develop Appendix A. Appendix B lists the presenters undergraduate liberal arts program? recommendations for U.S. universities. The and panelists, and Appendix C includes a Symposium featured keynote speakers and 4. What is the role of graduate programs in biography of Jerome B. Wiesner, the man panels on topics of education, research, and science policy? who inspired the Wiesner Symposium engagement and had a live and webstream series. More background information and 5. How do we bridge the science-citizen attendance of about 400 people, including videos of the symposium are available at gap? graduate students, faculty members, Wiesnersymposium.umich.edu. administrators, policymakers, and more, from 6. What is the role of new technologies in 25 states and 14 countries. educating future policy makers, science advisors and the public? 7. Why have our interventions to increase diversity in STEM at all levels in all fields plateaued or failed? 8. What is the role of STEM in K-12 education in the science-citizen gap? The first day focused on the national picture, including science and technology challenges for the nation, and the role of the National Academies, PCAST (President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology), AAU (American Association of Research Universities) and professional societies in supporting strong and coordinated science and technology initiatives and budgets. Key needs and more detailed trends in the social, physical, biomedical, engineering, space, policy, and education fields were also discussed. Strengthening the Role of Universities in National Science Policymaking 3 Recommendations Recommendation 1: Promote science for policy to their neighbors about what they do. Faculty have a and policy for science by promoting the model of responsibility to consider the broader societal issues and “Civic Scientist” for all STEM faculty and students. the impact their research can have, as well as to train their students to do so. Almost all of the speakers referred to the idea of the You can be a civic “civic scientist.” Many agreed that every faculty member Faculty may also engage in the political scientist by engaging with should contribute a minimum of about 2% of their time process by running for office, going to town policy makers, or being to participate in the dialogue between scientists and hall meetings, or asking questions at election involved in the policy the public. There are many ways to do this, including rallies. Additional opportunities, as well making process. You can speaking to advocacy groups, teaching ethics and as resources and training for outreach, are be someone who’s very responsible research,