Monthly Archives: March 2011

GSPG Event: Science policy workshop with the Union of Concerned Scientists

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WHEN: Tuesday March 29, 4-6pm
WHERE: Dudley House Common Room 

Speaking Out and Speaking Up: The Critical Role of Scientists in Shaping
Sound Public Policy

Workshop and Discussion – Sean Meyer and Jean Sideris, Union of Concerned
Scientists

Featured Guest – Professor James McCarthy

You became a scientist because you care about the world, its future and its
inhabitants.  But how can you get involved and add your voice, expertise and
concern to the issues being debated at the local, state and federal level?
Please join two organizing and communications experts from the Union of
Concerned Scientists and learn and discuss these and other key questions.

 - What resources are available to get better informed about the issues
 you care about?
 - What ways of communicating with policy makers and the media have the
 greatest impact?
 - How can I balance my professional demands and my policy interests?
 - How can I find and engage with like-minded peers and faculty members on
 policy issues?
 - How can I protect my scientific integrity and career while being
 involved?

Sean Meyer is Manager of Strategic Campaigns for the Global Security Program
at UCS. Sean has worked as a public interest organizer and communications
expert for over 25 years. Jean Sideris is Outreach Coordinator for the
Climate and Energy. For over six years at UCS, she has worked with
scientists to educate the public and policymakers to help ensure science
informs our policy decisions. Professor James McCarthy is the Alexander
Agassiz Professor of Biological Oceanography at Harvard, and is an expert on
arctic climate change, serving on the Nobel Prize winning IPCC. He is the
chair of the Board of Directors for UCS and a former president of AAAS.
Throughout his career he has been a leader in communicating the science of
climate change to the public and policy makers.

GSPG Event: Discussion session on genetically modified foods

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WHEN: Thursday March 24 2011 7pm
WHERE: TMEC 446, Longwood Campus 

Alison Taylor will host a discussion session on the science, policy and ethics of genetically modified foods.  The following reading material is suggested:
   “Ethical arguments relevant to the use of GM crops”: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20850572
   If there’s time: “Food Security: The Challenge of Feeding 9 Billion People”
   http://www.sciencemag.org/content/327/5967/812.short

STP Crossroads Symposium

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WHEN: Wed March 9, 2011. 4pm
WHERE: The Broad Institute – 5 Cambridge Center 

The GSAS Science Policy Club invites you to attend to the 2011 Science,
Technology and Policy Crossroads – a student led symposium exploring ways to
analyze and participate in the intersection of science, technology and
policy.

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/ or http://www.fb.me/stpcrossroads.