Ecology and Evolutionary Biologist, La'Shaye Cobley, PhD, reflects on how her upbringing informed her path to science policy and how she considers public engagement in her current work with the California Air Resources Board.
Ecology and Evolutionary Biologist, La'Shaye Cobley, PhD, reflects on how her upbringing informed her path to science policy and how she considers public engagement in her current work with the California Air Resources Board.
On this episode of "Questions of the Day" on CivicSciTV (recorded on the sidelines of the 2025 Science Talk conference in Raleigh, North Carolina), Fanuel Muindi interviews Taylor Spicer, ESAL's executive director. Spicer provides a behind-the-scenes look at how ESAL fosters civic engagement among STEM professionals at the local level.
Senior researcher Micki Olson at the College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity at the University at Albany helps ensure emergency messages are complete and accessible to all by using social science research, improving messaging tools, and building relationships with government agencies.
ESAL's executive director, Taylor Spicer, speaks on a science policy podcast with Lisa Margonelli, editor in chief at Issues in Science & Technology, about the importance of local connections and engagement and her path to lead ESAL.
Andrew Hillman is a PhD candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a member of the Soil and Water Conservation Society where he engages with the public and advises on policy relating to soil and water conservation.
Ellen Bruno, a cooperative extension economists, uses applied research and outreach for economic and policy issues that impact California’s agriculture and natural resources.
ESAL is excited to welcome Al Licata as our new program manager. With a background in neuroscience and nonprofit administration, Al brings a deep passion for both STEM and local advocacy. In this Q&A, they share their journey, motivations, and vision for the role.
Learn more about what engineers can do to make a lasting change to their communities. Courtney Lawton explains the importance of prioritizing social-emotional engagement in making STEM more inclusive.
Changes in federal policies have had significant impacts on many engineers and scientists as well as the broader scientific enterprise. These changes have implications not just for federal agencies and programs but also for the ways in which science informs decision-making at all levels of government.
The National League of Cities, a non-profit organization which aims to be a voice for local policy leaders, has released the 2024 edition of the State of the Cities report. This annual report draws on mayoral addresses, surveys from city mayors, and insights from locals to define the top priorities of local leaders to improve the well-being of their constituents.
ESAL spoke with Trevor Odelberg who recently completed his Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan, where he also received a certificate in Science, Technology, and Public Policy from Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.
On Saturday, September 21, 2024, ESAL, in collaboration with Eden Youth and City of San Leandro Public Works hosted a community cleanup initiative, bringing together volunteers from San Leandro and surrounding cities to make a positive impact on the local environment.