The MOST Policy Initiative connects Missouri scientists and policymakers during the development of new legislation. The initiative also runs the Missouri Science and Technology Policy Fellows Program, placing Ph.D.-level scientists in the Missouri General Assembly. Director Rachel Owen recently spoke to ESAL about MOST and its importance in Midwestern politics.

The CivicSpark fellowship program has engaged over 200 fellows and some 35,000 California residents on projects concerning sea level rise, affordable housing, climate action planning, and sustainable transportation. Scheuer told ESAL about the program’s new “resilience” focus as they prepare to select their latest cohort of fellows.

The Eagleton Institute of Politics – part of Rutgers University-New Brunswick – recently launched a science and politics fellowship that will allow PhD-level scientists and engineers to work on policy problems in New Jersey’s state government. Leaders from the Institute talk with ESAL about how fellows will support state policy-making efforts.

After more than a decade conducting research in neuroscience labs, Julianne McCall received a California Council on Science and Technology Policy Fellowship, where she worked with the state senate and assembly to advise policymakers on key issues. After her Fellowship she accepted a full-time position with the Senate Office of Research. Her work now focuses on scientific research administration policy and public health policy.

The Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) is a nonprofit public-service institution that provides expert guidance to the state of Connecticut, fosters STEM education, and promotes discourse among the state’s technical communities. This year it launched a new Policy Fellowship that provides a scientist or engineer the chance to work on critical issues in the state’s executive branch.