How to Effectively Make the Transition from Science to Policy
Nancy Holt, Ph.D
As a scientist by training who entered the policy world over fifteen years ago, and now helps other do the same, I generally see a number of barriers to that transition. Many are centered on professional norms that vary notably between the two spaces. Reframing upfront how interested scientists can more effectively take this professional leap would greatly benefit not just scientists, but also local policymakers and communities alike. Here I share twelve key lessons I learned along the way.
1. In policy — timing is almost everything. Science policy is not just about science and policy, but also politics. In many ways, politics is the “art of the possible.” It thrives on the right convergence of circumstances at a specific moment in time. Such alignment rises and falls in cycles. Pushing a policy idea that is not just great in theory, but also the focus of the moment, is your best chance to have an impact. In research, ideas often don’t have to be particularly timely to garner attention.
2. Ideas don’t have to be perfectly vetted to be relevant. Policy recommendations do not go through formal peer review. While you should still carefully consider them before raising them publicly, it doesn’t mean you need to weigh every nuance of an idea before discussing it with policymakers. If you don’t talk about them sooner rather than later, you’ll likely miss out on the key input and buy in from others needed to gain traction.
3. Policymaking is a social activity. Policy moves via people, whereas science moves more through discovery and academic achievements. Your ability to influence policy outcomes ultimately depends more on your professional network than your expertise and credentials, including citations and grant awards. The more you support others, the more “political capital” you acquire, allowing you to make “asks” that amplify your reach.
4. Keep in mind that your audience is policymakers. While academics generally publish in journals, I’ve never met a policymaker that reads peer-reviewed academic literature. Instead, they often read op-eds in newspapers. Policymakers also generally interact at hearings, public forums and, in places like NYC, at community board meetings. Ask yourself this, “If you have the best idea, but no policymaker hears it, how can it have real-world impact?”
5. Social media is important. When I ask scientists about social media, they generally say something akin to, “I don’t waste my time on Twitter.” Especially for local issues, but for all policy issues, social media is an invaluable source of information that is often hard to find elsewhere. It can also be an effective way to engage with policymakers, where “likes” and “constructive commenting” serve as a kind of “political currency.” This kind of interaction is generally less meaningful in academia, where publication citations and conference presentations matter more.
6. Cultivating your network is key for sustaining policy relationships. Seeing people at a scientific conference because you work on similar issues is one thing. Actively working to engage people you want to influence with policy ideas is another. Meaningful interactions can involve connecting in ongoing, substantive ways, i.e., sharing an op-ed you wrote or a data visualization you created to support their work, as opposed to just generally inquiring to meet.
7. Focus on issues that policymakers care about most, not your own policy interests. The most effective way to engage policymakers is by supporting the issues that they are most passionate about. In the lab, you often have leeway to set a research direction. Also, keep in mind the well-worn, but valuable phrase, “All politics is local.” Knowing what is going on in a policymaker’s proverbial backyard can go a long way. Think about it as wearing your citizen’s hat first and your lab coat second.
8. Learn about how policy works and where policymakers are coming from first, instead of telling them how things should “be fixed.” You can can’t effectively change anything if don’t understand how it works in the first place. The policy process operates by certain norms that are hard to understand with the untrained eye. Try asking, “How can I help?” instead of suggesting things to change. Also keep in mind that policymakers are the “experts” in this space, so your goal should be to learn as much from them as possible. After all, do you want a policymaker to walk into your lab and do your experiment? Conversely, why should a policymaker trust your input if you lack direct policy experience?
9. Communicate in plain, concise and direct language. Scientists often spend a lot of time discussing details, different scenarios, and abstract topics. In policy, nuances can play a role in establishing recommendations, but do not generally need to be debated in the briefing process. In fact, too much back and forth can make it hard for people make decisions. Since policymakers have many pressures on their time, providing an “abstract,” that focuses on one key idea is often sufficient. The more clearly this is presented, the better it will be received.
10. Adapt to the norms of policy instead of trying to mirror how the scientific enterprise operates. The culture and structure of policy varies quite a bit from that of academia, leaving many things “lost in translation.” While your goal may be to get policymakers to use scientific input and evidence in decision-making, recreating the tools used in academia toward this goal is unlikely to achieve the desired outcome. For example, most policymakers have limited research staff, so putting information in a searchable database is less effective than sharing a few quick points on how you recommend they proceed.
11. Be patient, adaptable, flexible, positive and proactive. Patience is key in policy, as progress is often incremental and slow. In addition, policymakers often like to work with easy-going, positive people that listen to their ideas and support their platforms. In the sciences, I heard “no” a lot, accompanied by explanations of what won’t work. Even if you think something is unproductive, trying to find a way to say “yes.” This can include pointing out what is good about the idea, how it might be tweaked, and ways you can contribute to the solution.
12. Show up! Proverbially “being in the room,” whether it’s in person, virtually, or via social media, allows you to continually learn, listen, observe and engage.
I often muse that all I really needed to know, I learned after graduate school. On a more serious note, I engage with policy very differently now than I did when I first entered the space directly from academia. Sometimes, understanding how your approach might be getting in your way is the best first step toward truly being effective.
Nancy Holt leads Science for New York (Sci4NY), an effort that aims to have policymakers and scientists work more closely together through project-based interaction in New York City. She holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley and was a former AAAS Diplomacy Fellow at the U.S. Department of State. On Twitter @Sci4NY
