Introduction to Science Policy: Communicating Your Values to Policymakers

The Scientific Citizenship Initiative at HMS (SCI) offers a nanocourse entitled: Introduction to Science Policy: Communicating your values to policymakers for Harvard STEM graduate students and postdocs.

This interactive course provides an understanding of the relationship between science and policy, the role of values in crafting policy recommendations, and the complex ecosystem in which policy is made. Participants engage in group activities designed to enhance professional skills needed for a variety of careers, including science policy. This hands-on experience culminates in a capstone communications assignment where students will apply the concepts learned throughout the course to develop a policy pitch.

Harvard graduate students are able to bundle multiple nanocourses together to receive course credit. Students who have taken a total of three nanocourses can register for CELLBIO300qc and receive a quarter course equivalent of credit on a pass/fail basis. Six or more nanocourses can be used to satisfy the requirements for the half course CELLBIO399.

Foundations of Science Policy

• Understand and identify core concepts at the intersection of science and policy.
• Learn how science and policy Interact.
• Understand your personal values.

Career exploration

• Discover the vast ecosystem of potential science policy careers.

Professional Development

• Gain practical skills relevant to all careers through a series of exercises concluding with a science policy pitch.

The course is not currently offered. Please check back for updates or sign up to our mailing list for updates.