Engineers and Scientists Shaping Policy

Catalog description

Policy influences and is influenced by science and technology. This course is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to integrate policy implications into their engineering and scientific research designs and to prepare students to become effective agents of change in both public and private policy as engineers and scientists. Students will explore policy for science and science for policy, examining position statements and guidance issued by the professional organizations and societies relevant to their engineering and scientific disciplines. Students will become familiar with theories of policy analysis, mechanisms that set science policy, and science policymaking bodies and influencers. Additionally, students will learn how to apply and communicate their technical expertise to address policy challenges at different scales (e.g., local, state, national, and global) and how to integrate ethical, legal, social, and policy considerations into their research. This course is designed to help engineers and scientists engage with the policymaking process and advance innovative research with a focus on its broad societal impacts.