Science & Technology Policy
I am strongly motivated about public policy in the science and technology (S&T) domain. I am specifically interested in effective science communication/writing, and the use of scientific consensus and literature for public policy framing.
During the Spring of 2021, I had the honor of attending an S&T policy class that was taught by Prof. Rosina Bierbaum and Prof. Jim Gates, both members of President Obama’s PCAST. Through this class, I had the opportunity to interact and discuss U.S. S&T policy with numerous renowned experts, including Dr. John Holdren, President Obama’s OSTP Director.
I have then gone on to take part in a number of S&T policy activities, including policy workshops, case competitions and grassroots-level advocacy groups. Below is a brief list:
In the Summer of 2021, through the National Photonics Initiative, I had the honor of communicating the research that I do at UMD and advocating for increased Federal funding for optics and photonics R&D to numerous members of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives.
In the Spring of 2021, I was part of UMD’s first team to participate in the prestigious Emory Global Health Case Competition. See the blog article that I wrote on my experience here.
During the Spring of 2021, I underwent the annual training by the Climate Reality Project’s to join their U.S. Leadership Corps.
For nearly two years now, I have been a member of a voluntary committee at UMD’s Institute for Research in Electronics and Applied Physics (IREAP), advocating for addressing systemic racism within STEM institutes such as UMD and IREAP. Read more about the committee and our activities here.
More information on my S&T policy experience available upon request.