The Public Policy Committee was formed in 2017, and advises the Council on issues of science and public policy. The Public Policy Committee monitors changes to policies and laws that impact evolution as a field, the support of scientific research, and/or the research of SSE members.

To bring issues of relevance to the attention of the committee, please contact the Public Policy Committee chair at policy [at] evolutionsociety.org.

Resources

United States

How to contact your Congress and House representatives:

• Democracy.io: Enter your address, compose an email to your representatives, and Democracy.io will send it for you.
• CallYourRep: Enter your address, and CallYourRep will give you the phone numbers of your representatives.
• Resistbot: Text RESIST to 50409 or message @Resistbot on Facebook and it will find out who represents you in Congress and deliver your message to them.
• GovTrack: Use GovTrack to research and track legislation in the United States Congress, including Members of Congress, bills and resolutions, voting records, and committee activity.
• Find your representative and see their stance on bills: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members
• Which Congressional committees there are, what they do, and who is sitting on them: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/committees/
• Search of upcoming legislation (can also set up e-alerts here): https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/#docket

Policy Training for Scientists:

The American Institute for Biological Sciences (AIBS) Public Policy Office works at the interface of science and public policy. The office, staffed by science policy professionals, works to promote the use of biological sciences knowledge in our nation's public policy, and to develop and advance science policy that serves the needs of the scientific research and education communities, particularly the biological sciences.

• The AIBS Congressional Visits Day: Meet with your members of Congress to help them understand the important role the federal government plays in supporting the biological sciences. Advocate for federal investments in biological sciences research supported by the National Science Foundation and other federal agencies.
• The AIBS Congressional District Visits event enables scientists to meet with their federal or state elected officials in their home state--not in Washington, DC--and allows policymakers to learn first-hand about the science and research facilities in their district.
• Sign up for AIBS public policy reports relating to biology: https://aibs.org/public-policy-reports/

The Fulbright Association organizes a policy day in DC to meet with members of the House and Senate to share their international experiences and urge support: https://fulbright.org/advocacy/fulbright-advocacy-day/

The American Association for the Advancement of Science offers the year-long AAAS Science Policy Fellowship, a great way to network and develop hands on experience: https://www.aaas.org/programs/science-technology-policy-fellowships/overview

The Ecological Society of America lists multiple science policy fellowships here: https://www.esa.org/policy/esa-policy-section/resources/

Canada

• Search for your Member of Parliament (by constituency) https://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/constituencies
• Learn what the Standing Committees are discussing (e.g., on Industry, Science and Technology or Environment and Sustainable Development) https://www.ourcommons.ca/Committees/en/List
• Current bills being considered: http://www.parl.ca/LegisInfo/LAAG.aspx?Language=E
• Evidence for Democracy: an organization which holds trainings, webinars, and has a listserv of science policy information
• Canadian Science Policy Centre: "an inclusive hub for connectivity, convening, capacity building, and catalyzing research in support of an efective science policy community"
• Mitacs Canadian Science Policy Fellowship: fellowship for postdocs and professors; "a 12-month immersion into the policy making process with participating government departments"
• Liber Ero Fellowship program: a post-doctoral fellowsihp which supports "early-career scientists to conduct and communicate world-class research that informs conservation and management issues relevant to Canada"

United Kingdom

Organizations engaged in science policy:

The Royal Society provides independent, timely and authoritative scientific advice to UK, European and international decision makers.

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is Parliament's in-house source of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of public-policy issues related to science and technology.

The Royal Society of Biology engages in policy work and offers policy resources.

The Alliance for Useful Evidence is a network, hosted by the UK’s innovation charity Nesta, that champions the smarter use of evidence in social policy and practice.

Public Policy Training for Scientists:

British Ecological Society Policy Fellowship: With funding of up to £20,000, The BES Policy Fellowship will offer a mid-career ecologist (at least five years post-PhD) the chance to spend up to six months on a placement embedded within Defra or one of its agencies.

Have useful links from the country you live in? Please send them to us! communications@evolutionsociety.org