We train students to write persuasively about science policy, and to advocate for evidence-based policy to their state, local, and national representatives. Below, find selected science policy publications from PSPDG members, and a listing of recent events and projects!
Tentative List of Events 2024-2025:
2024-2025 Science Policy Programming Overview
If you have any interest in these events, please watch out for emails from us, or reach out to get involved!
Ongoing Projects - (1) Memo writing and legislative meetings, (2) Local advocacy
September - (1) Science Policy 101
October - (1) Local Advocacy Kickoff, (2) SciPol Get Out the Vote, (3) How to Write a Memo
November - (1) Memo Team Brainstorming (2) Harrisburg SciPol Symposium
December - (1) SciPol Social Event
January - (1) How to write a one-pager
February - (1) Penn Science Policy Symposium (2) How to meet with Legislators
March - (1) Advocacy Trip to Harrisburg
April - (1) SciPol Simulation
Selected science policy publications from PSPDG members.
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Accepted into Day One Policy Accelerator
Authors: Sonia Roberts, Shane Rozen-Levy, Matt Malencia, Aja Carter
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Article Link
Authors: Walker Gosrich, Jacob A. Parker, Hersh Sanghvi, Tuhina Srivastava, and Shannon L. Wolfman
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Authors (alphabetically): Marine-Ayan Ibrahim Aibo, Lindsey R. Fernandez, Kaeri M. Medina, Stefan T. Peterson
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NSPN-JSPG Policy Memo Competition Second Place Winner
Authors: Karl Schmeckpeper , Sonia Roberts, Mathieu Ouellet, Matthew Malencia, Divya Jain, Walker Gosrich, Val Bromberg
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Education Sciences Special Issue: Diversity and Equity in Higher Education
Authors: Sonia Roberts, Elana Pyfrom, Jacob A. Hoffman, Christopher Pai, Erin K. Reagan, Alysson E. Light
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Authors: Zakaria Hsain, Alissa Johnson, Erin K. Reagan
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NSPN-JSPG Policy Memo Competition Second Place Winner
Authors: Kyla Mace, Wisberty J. Gordián-Vélez, Aerin Wheeler, Victor Acero, Emily Cribas
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Authors: Varun Gupta, Joel Hypolite, Stephen Mell, Hersh Sanghvi
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Authors: Virginia Wardell and Katherine Mossburg
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NSPN-JSPG Policy Memo Competition Winner
Authors: Anne Fosnocht, Jacob A. Hoffman, Shannon L. Wolfman
Selected science policy workshops, trainings, and advocacy projects.
Groups of 3-6 PSPDG members held virtual visits with Congressional, Pennsylvania General Assembly, and Pennsylvania executive branch agency staff on topics ranging from the regulation of AI algorithms to the impact of lead from ammunition in donated game.
Legislative Meetings
Summer 2021
Teams of PSPDG members wrote four page policy memos, concisely yet comprehensively outlining a vast array of topics, such as the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and the regulation of prescription drug prices. These memos were submitted to the 2021 NSPN-Journal of Science Policy and Governance Memo Competition, where our submission on regulating AI algorithms that control housing access won 2nd place.
Policy Memo Competition
Spring 2021
Groups of 3-6 PSPDG members, joined by visiting members from the University of Rochester Science Policy Group and the Allegheny Science Policy Group, held virtual visits with Congressional and Pennsylvania General Assembly staff on topics ranging from election security to nuclear energy.
Legislative Meetings
Summer 2020
Teams of 3-5 PSPDG members, joined by members of Penn’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy, wrote four page policy memos, concisely yet comprehensively outlining many topics. These memos were submitted to the 2020 NSPN-Journal of Science Policy and Governance Memo Competition, where our partnered submission with Penn SSDP on the regulation of drug-testing kits won 2nd place.
Other memos, such as those on election security, were published through JSPG’s standard issue, or through the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy as a policy digest.
Policy Memo Competition
Spring 2020
Congressional Lobby Day
SPRING 2019
Members of PSPDG met with Congressional staffers and a Representative to discuss the findings of a policy memo written by PSPDG members Shannon Wolfman, Jake Hoffman, and Anne Fosnocht on the topic of safe consumption facilities. PSPDG members lead the meetings and effectively communicated the results of their literature surveys, explaining the data on issues like impact on drug use rates and frequency, entry into treatment, public injecting, syringe littering, safe injection methods, and crime. Their findings showed that SCFs are effective at preventing opioid overdose deaths, increase treatment rates, reduce public injecting and syringe littering, increase use of safe injection practices, without increasing the number of users or crime in the surrounding area.
Philadelphia City Hall, City Council meeting
2018
Members of the PSPDG Leadership team met with Anjali Chainani, Director of GovLabPHL, in furtherance of a collaboration between our organization and the initiative. GovLabPHL aims to use data and scientific methodology in the design and implementation of government programs and services to maximize benefit to the community.
Congressional Lobby Day, student speaker at House Committee
2017
Brenda Salantes, PhD candidate and Chair of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) committee of External Affairs, spoke before the Democratic members of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. She discussed a proposed tax on tuition waived for PhD students and the negative impact it would have on America’s scientists of tomorrow. PSPDG members Erin and Julianne joined Brenda and GAPSA’s President, Miles, in meeting with their representatives in Congress to deliver personal stories of the impact the proposed tax would have on themselves and their colleagues.
Congressional Lobby Day
2015
Members of the Penn Science Policy Group, the precursor to today’s Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, joined with PhD candidates from around the country in the National Science Policy Group (now the National Science Policy Network) to meet with their members of Congress.
Congressional Lobby Day
2014
Members of the Penn Science Policy Group worked with members of Penn’s Graduate and Professional Student Association’s External Affairs committee to bring Penn students and postdocs to Congress to meet with their representatives.
