Summer Scholars Overview
Colorado Science & Technology Policy Program
About the Summer Scholars
The Colorado Science & Technology Policy Program (STPP) Summer Scholars is a nonpartisan professional development program for current Colorado STEM students interested in state-level public policy. Summer Scholars spend eight weeks learning about science and technology policy through seminars and site visits, culminating in a capstone policy research project and presentation at the Colorado State Capitol.
Summer Scholars work with legislative sponsors, Senator Cleave Simpson and Representative Sean Camacho, throughout the summer to develop their policy proposals.
Timeline and Schedule
The 2026 Summer Scholars Program will run from June 15 to August 7, 2026. Summer Scholars are expected to be at the Colorado State Capitol building Monday through Friday, approximately 32 hours per week. Scholars will receive a stipend of $5,000.
The Summer Scholars program consists of:
- An introductory policy boot camp, during which Scholars will learn about the policy-making process at the Capitol and acquire the skills they will need to be a part of it.
- Site visits to engage with stakeholders and gain firsthand experiences learning how technology, science, and policy intersect.
- Seminars and presentations from expert guest speakers.
- Scholars will also be provided with the time, space, and resources necessary to research, design, and write their own capstone policy proposal, which they will present to legislators and other stakeholders during the final week of the program. Scholars will have the opportunity to meet with the legislative sponsors to discuss their policy proposal ideas and receive feedback.
The application period for 2026 Summer Scholars is currently open. All application materials must be submitted by 5:00 pm MDT on Monday, March 16, 2026.
Read our FAQ for more information on eligibility requirements, application questions, and more.
Sponsors and University Partners
The Summer Scholars program is supported in partnership with colleges and universities across Colorado, including:
Adams State University, Colorado College, Colorado Mesa University, Colorado School of Mines, Colorado State University, Fort Lewis College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, University of Colorado Boulder, University of Denver, and Western Colorado University.
History of the Summer Scholars Program
The Summer Scholars program was originally founded in 2018 by former State Senators Chris Hansen and Bob Rankin as the Colorado Science & Engineering Policy Fellowship (CSEPF), when the two legislators found common ground as policymakers with engineering backgrounds.
The program was designed to offer policy-making experience to undergraduate and graduate students with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), to increase the presence of individuals in public policy roles with a science and engineering background.
More than 100 alumni have completed the program and seen the value of this experience for their career trajectories and their capacity to engage with topics outside their fields of study.
After participating in the program as an annual site visit for the students since 2019, the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science became the program administrator in 2025.
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