The Science Policy and Diplomacy Group at Johns Hopkins
Our story
The Johns Hopkins Science Policy and Diplomacy Group (JHSPDG) was founded in 2016, with the mission to advocate for evidence-based policies that advance science and safeguard public health. Our participants include graduate students, postdoctoral researchers, healthcare professionals, and faculty.
Our Mission
Develop science policy and diplomacy coverage and commentary that promotes civic engagement and policy literacy in early career scientists
Create training, tool-kits, and science communications resources for our research advocates
Coordinate advocacy events around the STEM legislative agenda at both the local and federal level in the US as well as internationally
Engage with science policy, diplomacy, advocacy, and communication professionals via an invited speaker series
Provide career development opportunities for trainees in science policy, diplomacy and advocacy
What We've ADVOCATED FOR
Federal research funding (NIH/NSF)
Ethical considerations of gene-editing technology
21st Century Cures Act
Opposition to the ‘grad tax’
Climate change
Expanded healthcare access
Transition to sustainable agriculture through pesticide use reduction and alternative protein products
International STEM graduate students
Women’s health research
Hill Day - Advocating for Alternative Protein Products and Support for Farmers Harvesting Protein-Rich Crops
OUR PARTNERSHIPS
We are an official chapter of the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP), a coalition of early-career scientists dedicated to mobilizing for large-scale initiatives and bridging gaps between scientists, their communities, and the general public.
We also partner with the Science Diplomacy Grid, a global network of individuals and organizations who come together to exchange ideas, share initiatives and best practices, and strengthen the science diplomacy ecosystem. Members of the Science Policy and Diplomacy Group have been speakers at previous Grid events.