Science Feature: Hopkins Science Policy and Diplomacy Group

In the context of changing political attitudes towards science, policy -making and advocacy has become important in the future of science. Science Policy and Diplomacy Group Hopkins is a fully graduate student group, which aims to ensure that science and policy are linked to advocacy, awareness and action.

Brandon Davis is currently serving as the Vice President of Science Policy after his former role as the group’s Science Policy Coordinator. The Davis is a fourth -year doctorate student in the Department of Biology, whose research focuses on using stem cells as a model in Drosopla to study the cell destiny method after DNA copy. Davis stated that his involvement with the group has created his fondness for the intersection of science and diplomacy.

“Scientists, I think it is appreciated how the expert’s opinion plays a role in policy making or diplomacy,” said Davis. “It aims to promote these types of measures and science-made policy-making, and beyond that, graduating students-and large-scale general students-help to learn about these fields.”

The organization focuses on pursuing science policy and diplomacy, which works through two subdivisions: science policy, which engages with domestic policy measures, and science diplomacy, which solves international implications of scientific work.

“[The fields of science policy and diplomacy] Especially when you talk about it as a carrier path, there are under -discs. So we help students acknowledge that these are the right paths to the career. And even if it is not a carrier, it is definitely a place to join it if you want to shape how science is used by policy makers, “Davis explained.

The group hosts various programs throughout the year, including Congress Hills, where students will prepare policy measures to discuss their views and schedule meetings with Congress offices. Last year, Hill Day of the group attracted international STEM graduate students to better ways to stay in the United States after graduating, promoted sustainable agricultural measures and advocated for increased financial support for women’s health research.

In addition to policy advocacy, they also run memo writing workshops, organizing public access efforts through one. Utube channel And a BlogAnd the host embassy visits in Washington, DC their Meetings at the embassy Series Science officials from countries like Rwanda, India and Japan have provided dialogue with them.

When asked about the reduction of federal research funding, Davis said that the development of science -related policy has been detrimental to science and the group is discussing changes and its effects.

He explained, “What we are seeing, including programming programs in Hopkins, are letters for acceptance for graduate programs, and the labs are being bothered about their financing and have to shut down.” “When those things happen, you lose scientists, you lose the labs, you lose data, you lose the model of the model and all of this is incredibly harmful to the future of science, not just now, but below the line of 10, 20 or 50 years.

Davis emphasized the importance of convincing science and talking about it, and shared that the group’s focus is on helping students join such communication, whether you write OP AIDS or just talk with friends and family.

“I think it is more important now that we are involved in it and are writing statements about how the government can be used effectively by the government,” he said.

Davis noted that due to the proximity of Hopkins from the country’s capital, the group aims to include itself in many cases of advocacy in the DC, including the recent science rally stance. The rally took place on Friday, March 7, under the Lincoln Memorial, and was attracted to thousands of people in protests in the Trump administration’s federal funding. Several members of the Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, including Davis, attended the rally.

When asked how he felt about attending the rally, Davis was surprised by his positiveness about the situation.

“It was positive in the sense that it felt that we can still be happy for science, we can talk about science, we can get the hope that science can bring and love what science and research can do for us. Obviously, the negative action of all of them is still going on, but it is a pleasure to see it.”

Davis further highlighted that the feeling of the community truly praised the rally on Friday and provided hope for the future of science despite uncertainty.

“From a personal level, all people are talking about their experiences and others, who are very excited about their research – clearly upset – but they are really excited about their actions, it is a matter of hope. He said,” It encourages me to join, just for the sake of the community and science, “he said.

For students interested in joining the Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, Davis advised them to be aware, engage in advocacy efforts and join it. Mailing list To be notified of the events. The group’s plans to host upcoming events include informative workshops on the National Institute of Health situation, the day of the Congress mountainous visit and the Australian Embassy. Davis also recommended interested students to go Science Diplomacy Center 555 Pennsylvania in Washington DC in Bloomberg Center in Avenue Science Diplomacy Summit 14 and 15 April.

Davis emphasized the importance of people of the scientific community, as well as all people talk about and acknowledge the current political progress, rather than being silent.

The main thing or someone who is not involved in science as a science student [is to] David said, “Be aware of what is happening and what is happening and share opinions with others, because public opinion is finally the one that removes politics,” David said. We should talk about all these things and continue the conversation. All these things are being cleaned.

Samhi Bappana contributed to writing in this article.