COPA-STEP highlights the roles that scientists can play in state and local government at the MetroLab Summit

COPA-STEP recently led a panel about the role of scientists and technologists in state and local government during the 2024 Annual Metrolab Summit in DC. The three panelists represented three different models of science advising at the state and provincial level. Dr. Tomy Granzier-Nakajima spoke about MOST Policy Initiative in Missouri where he was a fellow and provided "science notes" to the state legislature as requested. He talked about the importance of building relationships and trust with legislators. Dr. Simon Barnabé, Chief Scientific Advisor for the city of Victoriaville in Quebec, discussed how he works closely with the city's mayor and municipal manager to provide timely scientific advice. COPA-STEP's Director, Patricia Gruver-Barr talked about the PA Legislative Fellowship that we hope to launch in 2025 as well as the pilot Civic SciTech Traineeship project that will place STEM graduate students with the City of Allentown for six months to work on a S&T policy project. All three panelists discussed the importance of building bridges between the scientific and technical community and policy makers in order to improve evidence-based policymaking.