Greenhouse to Statehouse – My journey into a policy career as a soil scientist
Almost one year after defending my dissertation, I think I’m finally starting to get the hang of life after graduate school. On top of finishing grad school, I also decided to leap straight out of research and dive into a career in science policy.
Science policy… what the heck is ‘science policy’ anyways? Science can be used to inform policy (science FOR policy) and policy can influence how scientific research is conducted (policy FOR science). Regardless, effective science policy must involve both the scientific community and policy-makers, and often involves boundary spanners who can translate between these two groups.
As for me, I like to consider myself one of the translators, leading a boundary spanning organization. My friends and family are always asking me what exactly it is that I do, so I thought I’d try to give a quick(ish) summary. I hope that this may also be useful to other brave souls who venture into the boundary spanning space of science and policy. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions of R.K. Owen (including some I ask myself!).
Why did you decide to leave research and work in policy?
During graduate school, there were two major signs that pointed me away from a research career. First, people kept telling me that I needed to focus. “Pick your specialty, decide what you want to research for the rest of your career.” Not only did this always sounds a bit boring to me, but my brain just didn’t work this way. I wanted to have freedom to be a generalist and to be nimble in addressing societal problems as a scientist.
Perhaps the more important realization that I had in graduate school was that I enjoyed answering emails, convening meetings, building organizations, and creating opportunities for others far more than I enjoyed having my name as the first author on a research manuscript. My work in policy allows me to spend almost every day doing things that I absolutely love to do, which means that I wake up every morning excited about the work that I do and motivated to get sh*t done.
Are you still a scientist?
Ok, I’m not sure anyone has actually asked me this question, but it’s certainly something I personally question often. I am worry that I’m losing my scientific credibility if I’m not actively conducting research or publishing peer-reviewed manuscripts. However, I don’t believe I could effectively serve in my current capacity without the fundamental skills I’ve acquired as a trained scientist. I still maintain curiosity and doubt about processes and practices. I pose questions and seek evidence to make decisions about my program. And I’m often the only person in the room with a scientific background. So yes, of course I am and will always be a scientist!
Have you ever doubted this decision?
I am overwhelmingly pleased with my decision to leave a research career, but there are still days with uncertainty about what the future holds. Because I run a new organization, I rarely know for certain that I’m making the right decisions, and you better bet that I still feel severely under-qualified in some situations. Thankfully, I have an amazingly supportive partner at home and a great team of mentors that provide guidance through both the wins and challenges.
What does translating between science and policy look like?
Professionals working in scientific research and policy-making are experts in their respective fields. However, just as you may imagine that a scientist doesn’t understand the nuances of how a bill becomes a law, policy-makers typically don’t recall the scientific method. These two populations speak completely different languages, which leads to many barriers to incorporating science into the policy-making process. My job is to not only understand both languages, but also understand the motivations and limitations of scientific research and policy-making. I can then identify opportunities for more science to be added to the policy-making conversation at all levels, and work with both parties to make that happen.
For more information about Boundary Spanning, check out https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6086300/
I want to work in science policy, where do I start?
I remember asking this question to others a few years back, and I still seek advice from people with more experience in science policy. There are several different tactical ways to start a career in science policy (e.g., AAAS STPF Program, National Science Policy Network), but I’d like to emphasize one really important step.
Be an engaged citizen and scientist. Get to know the stakeholders of your research. Understand the decisions that are being made by your city council, county commission, etc. Be present in your community. Remember that you are not only a scientist, but also a citizen. A career in science policy is public service, and I think it’s incredibly important to focus on how your career can positively impact others.
Start there, and then apply to be a Missouri Science & Technology Policy Fellow! 😊
