Making science second nature.
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
The Endless Frontier Film + Panel
The Endless Frontier documentary is an intimate, urgent portrait of three scientists working to solve some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from disease to climate change, while revealing the growing threat to the American research engine and what is at stake for us all if it falters. Join us at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science on October 21 at 6:30 p.m. for the screening followed by a panel discussion with one of the film’s executive producers, along with local researchers. Tickets are $15 for Museum members and $18 for non-members.
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Save the Date! 2027 Symposium
Mark your calendars on February 11th, 2027, for our annual Symposium at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. The theme, Shifting Ground: Rebuilding the Social Compact with Science, asks whether declining confidence in science is really a symptom of a deeper fraying of our social fabric, and how we begin to rebuild our relationships with each other, our communities, and our institutions. We'll have a stellar lineup of thought leaders and an opening keynote by world-renowned earth scientist, historian, and author of Merchants of Doubt, Naomi Oreskes. Last year our Symposium sold out, so save the date and stay tuned for registration opening November 9th.
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Coal at Sunset: Still Burning Podcast Series
In a new two-episode series, we're going back to Craig, Colorado, a story we took on in 2021 about the pending closure of a local coal plant that has served as the town’s financial backbone for half a century. Now, a federal emergency order is upending the plan to close the local coal plant. We examine the order itself, the economics underlying it, the decisions that drove the transition away from coal in the first place, and the community response.
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Liquid Courage: Water Solutions for a Drier West, Session 2: Agriculture examines water conservation innovations emerging within the agricultural community, from crop switching to producer-led conservation. These approaches push back against the assumption that agriculture and conservation are necessarily at odds, and raise the harder question of what it will take to scale these solutions across the region.
Liquid Courage: Water Solutions for a Drier West, Session 1: Cities, Suburbs and Mountain Towns brings together water leaders from three points on the river system to explore the range of innovations changing the calculus for water in our communities. From wastewater reuse and local policy to pricing and targeted social marketing, we’ll examine what it actually takes to shift how an entire community relates to water.
A new generation of nuclear technology promises safer, cleaner, and more flexible power that can operate in more places. But economic, regulatory, and waste disposal are still hurdles for the new wave of nuclear power. In Science at the Edge: Next Generation Nuclear, our panel discusses what makes this next generation of nuclear technology different, what is still unknown, and what it means for our energy future in Colorado and beyond.
With new laws and shifting public perceptions, Colorado is at the forefront of the conversation about the potential of psychedelics to transform mental health care. In Psychedelics and Mental Health, from the Science at the Edge series, we explore the growing field of research and evolving medical landscape around these drugs. The webinar features Dr. Scott Thompson, Director of the Center for Novel Therapeutics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry.
In AI and Energy, from our Science at the Edge series, we examine the emerging challenges and opportunities AI presents for our energy grid and the decisions facing Colorado utilities and decision-makers. The panel discussion features Chris Hansen, CEO of La Plata Electric Association, and Kyri Baker, Associate Professor of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Bird flu cases have been making headlines as cases continue to be diagnosed in cattle, wild birds, poultry, and even humans. In Bird Flu & Spillover Events, our expert panel discusses the latest findings on the spread of avian influenza, the conditions that allow for the transmission of diseases from animals to humans, and the impacts on public health, the food chain, and the economy.
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