“It Comes Down to Communication”: Science Communication Skills are Key for Scientists Supporting Evidence-Based Policymaking Through the Coves Fellowship

Virginia’s Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine’s (VASEM) Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship program places scientists and engineers with state agencies, General Assembly member offices and committees, and non-profit organizations. As other states look to begin their own similar fellowship programs, assessments of models like COVES may be instructive. Previous research has established that scientists providing evidence to support policymaking face many challenges: motivation to enter the political arena, effective communication of the science, understanding of their role, and avoiding unethical engagement. Through support and training, fellowships such as the COVES program are in a unique position to address these challenges. Is the COVES Fellowship program effectively addressing them and facilitating evidence-based policymaking? If so, how can the success be replicated and if not, how can the program be improved? Through a narrowly focused, three-phase interview study, this paper establishes the program’s background, objectives, capabilities, challenges, and successes. Focused exclusively on former Fellows who were placed in member offices and committees in Virginia’s General Assembly, it explored how Fellows described their experiences in communicating evidence and what they understood their role to be. This study provides insights to support policymaking in Virginia as well as establishment of new fellowship programs elsewhere. In addition, this real-world example of support for evidence-based policymaking explores how science communication is used in the process.

Author

• Saylor, Katherine

• Evidence-based policymaking
• State Fellowship program
• Science communication
• COVES Fellowship

Identifier

hdl:1920/14610

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:MARS:1920/14610