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.

 

“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

 

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.

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