Council of State Governments Midwest and Science is US Team Up to Host Science Policy Academy
The Inaugural ELEVATE Workshop Aims to Help Policymakers Better Utilize Science in Addressing Nation’s Pressing Issues
St. Paul, MN (Nov. 14, 2021) – This week, twenty-one legislators from across the Midwest attended the first-ever policy academy designed to help state policymakers better utilize science and evidence to address key issues impacting the Midwest region’s economic growth.
The Council of State Governments Midwestern Legislative Conference and Science is US are collaborating on “ELEVATE: Growing the Economy” with focus areas including cybersecurity, surface infrastructure and workforce preparedness. The workshop comes as Congress works on infrastructure legislation.
Key Speakers:
- Hani S. Mahmassani, Director, Northwestern University Transportation Center, Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, McCormick School of Engineering & Applied Science
- Dietram A. Scheufele, Taylor-Bascom Chair in Science Communication, Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor at the University of Wisconsin
- Thomas C. Tubon, Ph.D., Chief Workforce Development Officer, BioMADE
- Aaron Warner, Chief Executive Officer, ProCircular Cybersecurity
The program will help better equip state legislators to address complex issues by developing the tools and strategies to create innovative, evidence-based approaches to policymaking. “The ELEVATE Academy provided me with real world policy work and focused on real solutions to issues of great importance to my district and the state of Iowa,” says Senator Annette Sweeney, one of the attendees.
“It is becoming increasingly important for policy makers to tap science and engineering as they make decisions. But, evidence can help make better policy across the board, not just on topics obviously related to science or medicine. We’re thrilled to work alongside policymakers who are rising up to meet the challenges their states are facing,” said Rachel Kerestes, Executive Director, Science is US.
About CSG Midwest
CSG Midwest focuses on meeting the needs of state policymakers and leaders in the nation’s heartland, including 11 Midwestern states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. In addition, four Canadian provinces — Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan — are members or affiliate members of CSG Midwest’s Midwestern Legislative Conference.
About Science is US
Science is US is a foundation-supported effort that brings together a diverse group of science, engineering, industry, higher education and labor organizations to galvanize a broad, bipartisan political base of support for science and technology.