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A project of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
The Institute for Science & Policy is a catalyst for thoughtful dialogue, working toward solutions on society’s greatest challenges with scientific thinking, empathy, and inclusivity.
Our Story
Call for Essays: Climate Change & The Built Environment
Buildings, roads, sidewalks, and the future design of the spaces we inhabit will play a key role in global decarbonization efforts. In our 2022 call for essays, we want to know: What's next for green infrastructure, sustainability, and the built environment? Where will the next great innovations arise in construction, urban planning, or other related areas?
Pitches are due July 15. We pay $500 for accepted submissions and will publish the collection on the Institute's website in late September.
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Podcast Season 2: Now In Production
The Institute was recently on location in Colorado's San Luis Valley recording our second longform narrative podcast focusing on water policy. Stay tuned for updates and watch for the series premiere coming later this fall.
Go in depth.
Grasslands: The Path Ahead
Grassland conservation remains one of this century’s most pressing challenges. How do we turn the tide in order to ensure a healthy, sustainable future for these ecosystems? A discussion with Clint Evans, State Conservationist for the Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service; Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer for Audubon; and Kelsey Ducheneaux-Scott (Lakota), Director of Programs for the Intertribal Agriculture Council.
COVID-19: From Epidemic to Endemic
What will it mean to live with COVID-19 over the long haul? Dr. Jonathan Samet and Dr. Elizabeth Carlton of the Colorado School of Public Health join Scott Bookman, COVID-19 Public Health Response Incident Commander for CDPHE, to talk about the end of the Omicron wave and the ongoing need for preparedness around testing, therapeutics, and emerging variants.
The Marshall Fire Tragedy and the Changing Wildland Urban Interface
Last year's Marshall Fire in Boulder County was one of the most devastating blazes in Colorado history, destroying more than a thousand homes in predominantly suburban neighborhoods. What can science tell us about a sustainable approach to living with fire in the wildland urban interface?
Colorado's Food Landscape
Find out how Colorado farmers and ranchers are adapting to our changing climate and what steps they're taking to ensure the future of our food supply.
The Future of Energy: Colorado's Energy Roadmap
Will Toor, Executive Director of the Colorado Energy Office, stops by to chat about electric vehicles, renewables on the grid, the role of markets, and much, much more.
Cut, Paste, Delete: The Ethics of Gene Editing & Humanity's Hereditary Future
Gene editing's newfound ease and speed raises a host of ethical uncertainties. The question of how far this manmade evolutionary tool can - and should - go is one of today's most pressing scientific dilemmas. Our panel of nationwide experts discusses the peril and promise of this emerging technology.
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