Hello, fellow BPS members! I can’t believe my year as the Biophysical Society/AAAS Congressional Fellow has come to an end. I learned a lot about how the federal government works and how to advocate effectively, and I wanted to share a few tips with you:

 

1.      Know your audience.

This may sound cliché but is often forgotten. A Congressional staffer may not know the famous lab in your field or get much out of a detailed description of your methodology. They will more likely be interested in why you’re working on what you’re working on, the potential impact of your work, and how you can inform federal policy or how you’re affected by it. Meetings with Congressional staff last a maximum of 30 minutes, so get right to your message.

2.      Be courteous.

Congressional staff don’t usually have PhDs, but should be treated with the same respect afforded to any professional colleague. Unprofessional behavior like down-talking, missing handshakes, eyerolling, or saying “you look very young” doesn’t help an advocate’s case.

3.      Bring brief, clear materials.

For example, a one-page document outlining your main messages and any legislation you’re discussing at your meeting can be helpful. The best business cards are simple, standard-size, and are made of material that can be written on by the recipient.

4.      Do some research.

Before going into a meeting with or contacting the staff of a Member of Congress, find relevant information like the position that the Member has previously taken on the topic you want to discuss, what institutions or organizations in the Member’s district may be affected, or the status of the bills or appropriations you’re hoping to discuss. Common mistakes include asking the Member to sign on to a letter that has already been sent, cosponsor a bill that has been passed, or make an appropriations request after the appropriations committee deadlines.

5.      Making policy is often a long game. 

Bills often don’t advance through committee and the odds of a bill being enacted into law are lower than biomedical research grant proposal success rates. So approach your advocacy with optimism and patience for a system that isn’t designed for expediency.

 

Are you interested in becoming more involved in science policy? Depending on your career stage, you might consider these on-campus activities: Take a class from your university’s school of public policy, or classes in other departments on communication, leadership, ethics, or other topics of interest to you. Participate in campus “lobby days” to state government, and in BPS or other professional society advocacy activities. Get involved in student government and other academic policy bodies – some schools require student or postdoc representation on boards and faculty councils. Facilitate career exploration seminars.

Or you might engage in these off-campus activities: Participate in outreach activities, communicate with public audiences in person or through writing, and be generally involved in your community. Advocate directly to your representatives in Congress and in your state’s government, through visits to their offices or invitations to your workspace. Write an op-ed or public science communication piece. Serve on a local government advisory board or on public affairs committees. Apply for a science policy fellowship. VOTE.

You don’t have to quit your research job in order to be a great advocate for science. Some of the most powerful voices for research that I heard from this year were researchers like you who have scientific experience and credentials and also take the time to visit congressional offices to tell the stories of the broader impacts of their work and the stories of how their work is impacted by federal policy. But if you’re finding yourself more drawn to policy than ever, consider applying for the Biophysical Society Congressional Fellowship! Applications are due December 22.