Science Policy Symposium 2024
Pillars of Science Policy: Exploring Cross-Sector Spaces in Science Policy Issues
The Science Policy Society hosted its second annual Science Policy Symposium on January 24, 2024 on the 6th floor of the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub. This event featured talks exploring interesting cross-sector spaces in science policy relevant to academia, government, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Attendees heard from specialists in mineral resource management, health and technology ethics, tech diplomacy and AI, the psychology of facts as it relates to science communication, the origins of policy-for-science in the US, and climate risk. Registration was free and meals were catered by Tati’s Cakeshop and Webster’s Bookstore and Cafe.
Meet our 2024 Speakers
Amanda Wintersteen
Penn State | Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations
Amanda handles federal relations efforts from campus and enjoys traveling to Washington, DC, to share with Members of Congress and Congressional staff the University’s policy and funding priorities related to Penn State’s robust research portfolio and student aid programs that create access for students of Pennsylvania.
Sarah Ryker
USGS Energy and Minerals Mission Area | Associate Director
Sarah oversees the research and assessments conducted on the location, quantity, and quality of mineral and energy resources, including the economic and environmental effects of resource extraction and use.
Jennifer K. Wagner
Penn State | Assistant Prof. of Law, Policy, and Engineering
Dr. Wagner is a multidisciplinary expert whose research has been focused on the international human right to science, including human-centered design and matters of nondiscrimination, privacy, and equity with genetic/omic and mobile/digital health technologies.
Patricia Gruver-Barr
UPenn Innovation Ecosystems at Wharton | Associate Director
Patricia Gruver-Barr is the Associate Director of Innovation Ecosystems, where she facilities and builds local, regional, and global innovation ecosystems. She is the co-founder of the Tech Diplomacy Network and a Senior Fellow at New America.
Anne Toomey
Pace University | Associate Prof. of Environmental Studies and Science
Anne is an interdisciplinary conservation scientist who is interested in how people connect to their natural environment and the role of scientific research in supporting that connection. Her most recent research focuses on the links between citizen science, civic environmental stewardship, and sense of place along urban waterfronts.
Tobin Smith
American Association of Universities | Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy
Tobin oversees matters related to science and innovation policy, broader impacts of science, and AAU’s international activities. He shares responsibility for matters concerning research costs and other regulatory issues, including facilities and administrative costs, export controls, scientific openness and security, public access to research results, and technology transfer.
Nicolas Choquette Levy
Princeton University | Visiting Postdoctoral Research Associate
Nicolas is an interdisciplinary scholar investigating policy-relevant questions related to climate risk, environmental change and migration, and sustainable development. His research focuses on policy and governance frameworks for promoting resilient climate adaptation among the worlds’ 500 million smallholder farming households.
Christine Kirchhoff
Penn State | Associate Director of Law, Policy, and Eng.
Dr. Kirchhoff is a multidisciplinary expert whose research aims to understand the experience of water/wastewater/stormwater managers navigating internal/external stress and change to understand decision making around adopting new technologies, mitigation/adaptation to climate change, and building resilience.
Invited Guests
Penn State Public Policy Association
The purpose of the PSPPA is to promote the development of students as scholars and future professionals in the field of public policy. As part of this mission, the organization publishes the Penn State Public Policy Journal, a student-led scholarly periodical, which aims to give Penn State students an opportunity to publish original public policy research and share recommended policy approaches with a wider audience. More broadly, PSPPA seeks to provide a forum for discussion, scholarship, social networking, and the professional development of students interested in public policy. PSPPA will table during breaks and lunch at the Symposium.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Science and Technology Policy Fellowship (COPA-STEP) Working Group Members: Holly Maton, Ph.D. and Tomotaroh Granzier-Nakajima, Ph.D
Penn State | Associate Director of Law, Policy, and Eng.
COPA-STEP is seeking to bridge the gap between the scientific community and policy makers in Pennsylvania. The working group’s main goal in creating the COPA-STEP is to establish a non-partisan state-level science policy fellowship for advanced degree holders in science. Fellows will act as a trusted scientific
resource for policy makers as they make important policy decisions. The establishment of COPA-STEP follows trends around the nation as state science policy fellowships are established.
Symposium Organizers
Hanna Leapaldt | President
Emilee Fortier | Treasurer and SoT Co-Chair
Vikrant Sapkota | Vice President
Christopher Sala | Secretary
Dani Buccheister | Elementary Exploreres Co-Chair
Ella Do | Elementary Exploreres Co-Chair
Ryan Spangler | Advocacy Chair
Charlie Connelly | Science on Tap Co-Chair
Natalia Grube | Sciece Insider Chair
