The AAAS Annual Meeting is always an exciting and enlightening place to connect science with policy. This year’s theme, "Innovations, Information, and Imaging," attracted scientists and engineers from around the world to San Jose, CA to learn in sessions ranging from earthquakes to medical marijuana.
On the exhibit floor, current fellow Chad Jackson told us about his fellowship. | AAAS/Kat Song
The STPF program hosted two gatherings as well as an informational session, and an exhibit booth. Fellows attended in full force: 17 spoke with prospective applicants at our exhibit booth; 17 served as judges in a poster competition; and, 18 moderated or made presentations in a conference session.
Fellow Kate Himes spoke at the 2015 Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA. | AAAS/Kat Song
They were at the podium in sessions covering a wide range of topics. Justin Lawrence (2013-15 Executive Branch Fellow) and Elise Lipkowitz (2013-15 Executive Branch Fellow) spoke about novel ways to measure Broader Impacts in NSF portfolios.
Jennifer Yttri (2013-15 Executive Branch Fellow) and Meredith Lee (2013-15 Executive Branch Fellow) convened a panel that addressed big data as an example of an area where S&T policy analysis is likely to be quite different for future generations. A session on developing data-driven policies to cure and prevent age-related diseases featured Michael Simon (2011-13 Executive Branch Fellow) and Sharotka Simon (2012-14 Executive Branch Fellow).
Fellow Justin Lawrence addressed the audience at the 2015 Annual Meeting in San Jose, CA. | AAAS/Kat Song
Samantha White (2014-15 Executive Branch Fellow) helped run an all-day workshop on how to engage in policymaking at all levels of government. And, Kohl Gill (2006-09 Executive Branch Fellow) and Ashley A. White (2010-11 Congressional Fellow and 2011-13 Executive Branch Fellow) fielded lots of questions on a panel about the STPF program.
We look forward to next year when the meeting will be very close to home: DC!