Wed March 9,  4pm, The Broad Institute – 5 Cambridge Center
RSVP at www.stpcrossroads.org or http://goo.gl/r9mR5

• Do you think scientists should be more engaged in public policy ?
• Are you worried about the miscommunication of science to the public?
• Are you interested in policy issues directly related to science, like nuclear security, alternative energy, climate change,  health reform,  biotechnology and  science education?
• Did you ever have the feeling that there are others out there who share your interest in science and technology policy, but who you barely and only incidentally meet?
• Join us for the second annual Science, Technology, and Policy Crossroads – as we bring together the greater the Harvard and MIT academic communities interested in science and technology policy issues and their impact on society

This year’s symposium will include:

• A panel of science policy experts (focusing on biotechnology as an example)
  
• Student break-out sessions on different policy topics
• Free food & drinks
• Lots of opportunity for interaction, conversation, and networking

For more information, or to contact us, please go to http://stpcrossroads.org/ orhttp://www.fb.me/stpcrossroads. See our attached poster!

With student representatives from:

MIT Technology and Policy Program
MIT Science Policy Initiative
Harvard Kennedy School Program on Science, Technology & Society
Harvard Kennedy School STP Professional Interest Council
Harvard GSAS Science Policy Club

With support from:

MIT Engineering Systems Division
Harvard Provost’s Office
MIT & Harvard GSCs
Kennedy School Student Government
Harvard Integrated Life Sciences

Briefing

Thursday, October 21st

6pm, Starr Auditorium

Belfer Building, Harvard Kennedy School

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit policy institute that provides a collaborative, innovative environment for people who want to see ideas put into action. Started in 1946 to perform research for the U.S. Air Force, today RAND conducts policy analysis on issues ranging from obesity in America to Middle East stability. With over 1,300 employees in locations across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East, RAND is a leader in research and analysis

They will be recruiting for full-time research positions and summer internships.

RAND has 3 U.S. Offices: Santa Monica, Washington, DC, and Pittsburgh

RAND Representative:  Beth Ann Griffin, PhD (Harvard), Statistician

STANDING UP FOR SCIENCE

Do you think it is important for good science and evidence to be communicated to a wider audience?

What happens when research announcements go wrong; statistics are manipulated; risk factors are distorted; or discussions become polarised? How do journalists approach stories? Balance the need for news and entertainment with reporting science?

Speakers: Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Sense About Science ;Julia Wilson, Voice of Young Science coordinator, Sense About Science; Karen Weintraub, freelance health and science journalist; Chris Reddy, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution; Marshall Thomas, Science in the News

WHAT’S UP WITH PEER REVIEW?

Should peer review detect plagiarism, bias or fraud? What does peer review do for science and what does the scientific community want it to do for them? Should reviewers remain anonymous? Does it illuminate good ideas or shut them down?

Speakers: Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Sense About Science; Adrian Mulligan, Associate Director, Research & Academic Relations, Elsevier; Emilie Marcus, Senior Editor, Cell.

a Boston-wide Science & Technology Policy mixer
Wednesday, October 20, from 7pm to 9pm
Dudley House, Harvard Yard
Food and drinks provided

STP Crossroads is a network of student groups in the Boston area committed to the intersection of the science, technology and policy (STP) communities.  Our primary goal is to bring together those groups, foster connections between them, and encourage the Boston STP community to become more open, visible, and cooperative.  Last spring STP Crossroads started an annual symposium, and we are interested in recruiting new groups and individuals to participate in this inter-discplinary and inter-institutional initiative.

For the fall mixer, we’re hoping to get a couple representatives from each group.  The mixer will be low-key: no panels or guest speakers, no fancy dress code, just some food, a few beers, and fascinating people from throughout the Boston STP community.  During the mixer, attending groups will have the opportunity to share with everyone who they are, and what they do, and
there will be plenty of time for mingling and networking.  In addition, we at he coordinating committee with take a few moments to share with you our thoughts for our next symposium in February, which we’re very excited about putting together. For more information about STP Crossroads, or to RSVP for the mixer (not required, but suggested), please visitwww.stpcrossroads.org.

When? Wednesday, April 21st, 2-3:30p
Where? Whitehead Institute Auditorium (1st floor, Whitehead Institute)

A pre-lecture luncheon will be held from 12:30-2p for students to meet and chat with Dr. Frumhoff.  If you are interested in attending this luncheon, please RSVP to Dan (drchavas@mit.edu)

Career Chat: From Science PhD to Science Policy

Wednesday, April 14^th at 4:00pm

Dudley House Common Room

Reception to Follow

Are you interested in applying your scientific background to policy issues, but not clear on the available opportunities or how to make the transition from science Ph.D. to science policy?   Join us for a panel discussion that will include local science policy experts speaking on their role in the public policy process and how they entered careers in science policy.

Panelists include:
Audrey Lee,Ph.D., Energy Technology Innovation Policy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government
Kimberly Durniak, Ph.D., Program Officer for Science Policy; Hellman Fellow
at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Susan Cibulsky, Ph.D., Chemical Science Branch Chief at U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Lisbeth Gronlund, Ph.D., Senior Scientist & Co-Director, Global Security Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists
Melanie Fitzpatrick, Ph.D., Climate Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists

Co-sponsored by Harvard Graduate Women in Science and Engineering, a GSAS organization, the Office of Career Services, Harvard Integrated Life Sciences Program, and the Graduate Student Council.

Do you find yourself excited when describing scientific principles or research to friends and family? Does communicating complex information in an easily digestible format appeal to you? Do you want to talk about science to policy makers in ways that will influence public decisions? Then you’ll want to come to this program to hear from experts who communicate with government and the public about science in their daily jobs. Panelists will discuss science communication career opportunities in settings as varied as scientific societies, museums, magazines, and movies!

About the speakers:

• Chris Mooney is a contributing editor to Science Progress, senior correspondent for The American Prospect magazine and author of The Republican War on Science, and Storm World: Hurricanes, Politics, and the Battle Over Global Warming.
• Rhitu Chatterjee is Science Reporter for Public Radio International’s “The World” program.
• Rashid Shaikh is Director of Science at the Health Effects Institute, where he works on setting standards for air pollution. He has also worked in the Public Outreach department of the New York Academy of Sciences.
• Susan Heilman is Podcast Producer and Education Associate in the Current Science & Technology Program at the Museum of Science, Boston.
• Nicole Davis is Director of External Communications at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard