Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group

A student organization creating opportunities for students at UPenn to get hands-on experience in Science Policy, Diplomacy, and Communication.

Our 2023 trip to the *American Association for the Advancement of Science* (AAAS) Conference in D.C. where members attended workshops and lectures on Policy, Diplomacy, and Communication in Science. Many attended lectures in fields external to their own to expand their breadth of knowledge and networked for post-grad policy fellowships.

Our Mission

Most students in science receive little to no training in how to communicate science to non-scientists, how to advocate for the continued role of science in policymaking, or how science contributes to global diplomacy. To address this gap, the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group creates opportunities for students and other early-career scientists at the University of Pennsylvania to get hands-on training and experience in the fields of science communication, policy, and diplomacy.

Tweets by UPennSciencePol

“Humanity's greatest challenges – and some of its most promising opportunities – are regional and global. Increasingly, the world requires effective partnerships between scientists, policymakers, and diplomats.”

— The World Academy of sciences

Diplomacy Project - Lithuania

Povilas Kučinskas and Aaron Tatad in Lithuania for our science diplomacy project with the Lithuanian Embassy

Diplomacy Project - North Korea

North Korean and Korean-American scientists exchanging ideas in the DPRK

Policy Event -- AAAS Conference

Students and postdocs in Washington D.C., attending the AAAS Conference

Policy Event -- Advocacy

Students preparing to meet with PA Senator Pat Toomey in Washington, D.C.

Policy Event -- Student Talk for Congress

Penn student giving a briefing to Committee about the impact of proposed legislation on graduate students

Diplomacy Event -- AAAS Science Diplomacy Conference

PSPDG President Erin Reagan meeting with sister organizations to discuss climate change and other diplomacy-related topics at the 2018 AAAS-SEPA SciDipEd workshop at the AAAS Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Policy/Diplomacy Event -- Visit to State Department

Students visiting the US State Department

NSPN Symposium 2019

PSPDG Leadership members at the National Science Policy Network Symposium at University of Wisconsin: Madison in 2019. From left: Shannon Wolfman, Co-Chair of Policy; Krystal Haislop, Deputy Communications Officer; Tori Lovins, Chair of Diplomacy; Erin Reagan, President.

Science Diplomacy

PSPDG members, Stephen Mell, Diplomacy Chair Tori Lovins, and Treasurer Alex Maldonado-Lopez, visit the Embassy of Sweden in Washington, D.C. to celebrate a successful collaboration in the 2019-2020 academic year. Also pictured: Professor Henric Johnson and Ms. Maria Lonnberg of the Office of Science and Innovation at the Embassy of Sweden.

Our History

The Penn Science Policy Group (PSPG) was founded in 2013 by a group of dedicated graduate students and post-docs, led by Michael Allegrezza. Within the first few years they hosted numerous distinguished speakers, held several focused discussion groups, and made yearly trips to Capitol Hill. The Penn Science Diplomacy Group (PSDG), founded in 2015 by Enrique Lin-Shiao, had formed numerous partnerships with international entities, resulting in the exchange of scientists and scientific knowledge across borders. In 2017, PSPG and PSDG joined forces and merged to become the Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group. PSPDG caters to the entire student and post-doctoral community at Penn, with a special emphasis on students pursuing science-related fields.

Alex (Treasurer), Erin (President), Tori (Diplomacy Chair), Krystal (Communications Officer), and Shannon (Policy Co-Chair) at the 2020 AAAS General Meeting in Seattle, Washington. — Alex (2020-21 Treasurer, 2021 Diplomacy Chair), Erin (2018-21 President), Tori (2019-21 Diplomacy Chair), Krystal (2019-20 Communications Officer), and Shannon (2019-21 Policy Co-Chair, 2021-21 President) at the 2020 AAAS General Meeting in Seattle, Washington.

Get Involved

If you’re a student or trainee at Penn, get involved to stay in-the-loop about our upcoming projects and events. You don’t need to have experience; we’re happy to train and educate people from the ground-up! Have an idea for a new initiative? Contact us and we’ll start strategizing together.

Not affiliated with Penn, but still want to get in touch? From student groups like ours around the nation, to professional scientific organizations, to local community groups and NGOs, we’re always looking for like-minded organizations to partner with.

Learn More →