Posts in: Policy Tips

By Chad English. Published Feb. 11, 2014 Categories: Policy Tags:advocacy, congress, credibility, culture, funding, government, hearing, informing, know your audience, navigating, policy, So What? You’ve just hung up the phone after a call with a Congressional staffer. After a wide-ranging conversation and some probing questions, the staffer invited you to be a ...

Last week, Erica shared a quotation by Stephen Schneider that lays out three simple guidelines for scientists who want to share their knowledge and perspectives with the wider world: Know thy audience. Know thyself. Know thy stuff. As Erica explained, we use this quote during our policy and communications workshops to start discussions about roles scientists can...

“Know thy audience. Know thyself. Know thy stuff.” We offer this quote by the late Dr. Steve Schneider in COMPASS’ communication trainings as a guiding principle for scientists preparing to share their science with the wider world. Schneider, one of the first climate scientists to work as an active adviser to policymakers in the White House and federal age...

"Should this dollar go to the NSF or to the FBI? It can’t go to both. You have to respect the people who make that decision.” David Goldston of the Natural Resources Defense Council made this comment in front of a full room at the AAAS annual meeting last month. This is a very real choice, and it’s being set up right now through the federal budget process....

Most of us have had our fill of the “fiscal cliff,” are glad that we’re (technically) past it, but dread the next round of this fiercely political debate. In the midst of this—in two weeks time—the President is supposed to present his proposed budget to Congress and the next federal budget cycle will start. That’s been delayed, but not likely by mor...

When Chad and I prep scientists to participate in policy briefings, we often share our own experiences of entering the policy arena for the first time as Knauss Marine Policy Fellows.  Chad talks about finishing his dissertation on a Friday in 2005 and showing up the following Monday in the Senate Commerce Committee, bright-eyed, bushy tailed, and expecting to ...