History
Planning Process
In November 2023, The Institute for Science & Policy received one of five grants from the National Conference of State Legislatures State Science Policy Fellowship Planning Grant Initiative, supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The award supported a year of planning and development for a Colorado Science & Technology Policy Fellowship program to support the state legislature.
The planning process involved participation from legislators, legislative staff, and key partners and stakeholders from across the state. Collaboratively, we designed the structure, network, and the sustainable funding plan needed to support a three-year pilot program for the Colorado legislature.
The fellowship is designed to provide legislators with direct access to scientists. Simultaneously, the program builds the capacity of scientists, engineers, and technical experts, empowering them to actively participate in policy discussions and public service. With this bi-directional approach, the Institute for Science & Policy aims to help the development of resilient, evidence-based policies while also creating robust engagement opportunities for scientists.
A special thanks to our Planning Grant Advisors:
Senator Chris Hansen, Senate District 31, Colorado State Senate
Senator Cleave Simpson, Senate District 6, Colorado State Senate
Curtis Esquibel, Sr. Director of Communications & Community Engagement, Boettcher Foundation
Dan Powers, Executive Director, CO-Labs
George Sparks, President & CEO, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
Hallie Thompson, Consultant, Radicle Consulting / Interim Executive Director, MOST Policy Initiative
Jocelyn Hittle, Associate Vice Chancellor, Colorado State University
Jon Samet, Former Dean, Colorado School of Public Health
Kate Stoll, Project Director, AAAS Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues
Lisbet Finseth, Advocacy Manager, National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Mark Silberg, Special Advisor, Climate and Energy, Colorado Governor’s Office of Policy and Research
Matthew Druckenmiller, Research Scientist III, Colorado Local Science Engagement Network, CU-Boulder
Max Boykoff, Department Chair, Colorado Local Science Engagement Network, CU-Boulder
Steve Pearson, Owner & Founder, The Pearson Group, LLC
Sundari Kraft, Principal, Ascent Strategies, LLC
Tom Gougeon, President, Gates Family Foundation
About The National Conference of State Legislatures
The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) represents the legislatures in the states, territories, and commonwealths of the U.S. Its mission is to advance the effectiveness, independence, and integrity of legislatures and to foster interstate cooperation and facilitate the exchange of information among legislatures. Learn more at ncsl.org.
Further Reading
PRESS
In Science We Trust: Denver Museum Gets $100K Grant to Connect Scientists to Legislators. Read an interview with Institute director Kristan Uhlenbrock on the goals for the grant.
Scientists in the Statehouse: NCSL Awards Science Policy Fellowship Grants. An overview of the fellowship process and the five states that received grants to bring science, technology and engineering expertise into the policymaking process.
RESOURCES
Developing Science and Technology Policy Fellowships in State Governments without Full-Time Legislatures. A white paper that gives an overview of the benefits of science fellowships in state governments with successful case studies from the Journal of Science Policy & Governance.
Integrating Evidence and Data in the Policymaking Process through Science Policy Fellowships. An overview of science policy fellowship models.
NCSL Center for Results-Driven Governing. Resources and tools for helping states use data and evidence to inform policy and budget decisions.
