Events

UVA’s Science Policy Bootcamp is an opportunity for graduate students to learn about science policy, and meet people who have engaged in the process. It is designed to introduce concepts and skills, as well as expose participants to career paths in science policy. In 2021, the Bootcamp will be held online due to COVID-19 from Jan 11-15. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. If you are a UVA student seeking a PhD+ credential, you must attend 4 out of 5 days. Students from other Virginia universities and colleges are welcome! Register here for the 2021 Science Policy Bootcamp. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, January 6 by 8:00AM. If you have any questions, please contact Marlit Hayslett at marlit@virginia.edu. AGENDA 9:00AM Networking and Open Discussion (optional) 9:30AM AAAS Workshop on Engaging Policymakers Description: This session illuminates the policy landscape, illustrating where and how policy happens and the many roles scientists and engineers can play in decision-making. Using the AAAS Public Engagement framework as a guide, participants develop an individual engagement goal, strategically identify a target audience and identify key ideas around which to center conversations. Facilitators guide participants through thinking critically about mechanisms for engaging policymakers, encouraging dialogue and evaluating their activity to inform future engagements. Participants analyze a real-world example that informs their engagement plans. 10:45AM The COVID-19 Vaccine: A Policy Simulation Description: Attendees participate in a policy simulation in which they have to take on specific roles and collaborate towards a collective policy decision. This year, the topic will be related to the COVID-19 vaccine. Attendees will consider scientific evidence as well as political implications as they negotiate an outcome.

UVA’s Science Policy Bootcamp is an opportunity for graduate students to learn about science policy, and meet people who have engaged in the process. It is designed to introduce concepts and skills, as well as expose participants to career paths in science policy. In 2021, the Bootcamp will be held online due to COVID-19 from Jan 11-15. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. If you are a UVA student seeking a PhD+ credential, you must attend 4 out of 5 days. Students from other Virginia universities and colleges are welcome! Register here for the 2021 Science Policy Bootcamp. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, January 6 by 8:00AM. If you have any questions, please contact Marlit Hayslett at marlit@virginia.edu. AGENDA 9:00AM Networking and Open Discussion (optional) 9:30AM Where does Science Policy happen? Local, State, Federal and International Perspectives Description: How does policy reform actually happen? The answer depends on a confluence of local, state, and federal institutional powers. In this session, we will discuss what happens at each level of government and provide insight into how science is used to inform policy decisions. 10:45AM Science in Community Advocacy: Working with Nonprofits and Grassroots Groups Description: Nonprofit organizations often play a key role in advocating for science-based policy reform on issues from vaccines to climate change. In this session, you’ll learn how scientists use their skills to support community- based initiatives through data analysis, literature review, and comment writing. We will discuss real-world examples and opportunities for early-career scientists to engage with nonprofits in Virginia and beyond.

UVA’s Science Policy Bootcamp is an opportunity for graduate students to learn about science policy, and meet people who have engaged in the process. It is designed to introduce concepts and skills, as well as expose participants to career paths in science policy. In 2021, the Bootcamp will be held online due to COVID-19 from Jan 11-15. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions. If you are a UVA student seeking a PhD+ credential, you must attend 4 out of 5 days. Students from other Virginia universities and colleges are welcome! Register here for the 2021 Science Policy Bootcamp. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, January 6 by 8:00AM. If you have any questions, please contact Marlit Hayslett at marlit@virginia.edu. AGENDA 9:00AM Welcome and Introductions 9:30AM Introduction to Science Policy Description: This session will introduce you to the basics of science policy: What is it? Where does it happen? Who is involved? 10:45AM Science Policy Career and Fellowship Panel Description: Panelists will share their experiences in various science policy roles. Invited panelists include Nicole Jefferson (COVES); Matthew Diasio (AAAS/ACS STPF, AAAS Mass Media); Ans Irfan (Mirzayan); Kat Montgomery (NOAA Sea Grant)  

Register for the 2021 Science Policy Bootcamp. The registration deadline is Wednesday, January 6 at 5:00PM. If you have any questions, please contact Marlit Hayslett at marlit@virginia.edu.

 

Daily agendas are tentative and will be finalized in early January.

Day 1: Monday, January 11

9:00AM Welcome and Introductions 

9:30AM Introduction to Science Policy

10:30AM Break

10:45AM Science Policy Career Panel and Fellowships 

Day 2: Tuesday, January 12

9:00AM Reflection and Looking Forward

9:30AM Where does Science Policy happen? Local, State, Federal and International Perspectives

10:30AM Break

10:45AM Working with Non-profits and Other Organizations

Day 3: Wednesday, January 13

9:00AM Reflection and Looking Forward

9:30AM AAAS Seminar: Engaging Policymakers

10:30AM Break

10:45AM  Science Policy Simulation

Day 4: Thursday, January 14

9:00AM  

9:30AM Science Policy Writing 

10:30AM Break

10:45AM How can you get involved? Introduction to UVA's Science Policy Initiative and National Science Policy Network

Day 5: Friday, January 15

9:00AM Reflection and Looking Forward

9:30AM Equity in Science Policy

10:30AM Break

10:45AM  To be detemined 

Calling UVA graduate students! We’re still thinking about 2020, but it’s never too early to think about next year. Applications are now open for the 2021-2022 Praxis Program cohort. Applications are due March 1st, 2021. Consider spending some time with us next year!

The Praxis Program is a radical re-imagining of the annual teaching and training we offer in the Scholars’ Lab. This fellowship supports a team of University of Virginia PhD students from a variety of disciplines, who work collaboratively on a shared digital humanities project. Under the guidance of Scholars’ Lab faculty and staff, Praxis fellows conceive, develop, publish, and promote a digital project over the course of an academic year. Praxis is a unique and well-known training program in the international digital humanities community. Our fellows blog about their experiences and develop increased facility with project management, collaboration, and the public humanities, even as they tackle (most for the first time, and with the mentorship of our faculty and staff) new programming languages, tools, and digital methods. Praxis aims to prepare fellows with digital methodologies to apply both to the fellowship project and their future research.

If you’re interested in learning more about the fellowship or have questions about anything you read below, please consider attending the information session for the 2021-2022 cohort - February 2nd, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 on Zoom. Please register to attend.

RSVP

The application deadline for fellowships to be held during the 2021-2022 academic year is Monday, February 15th, 2021. More details on how to apply at the end of this page.

If you’re interested in learning more about the fellowship or have questions about anything you read below, please consider attending the information session for the 2021-2022 cohort - January 19th, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 on Zoom. Please register to attend. You are, of course, welcome to write to Brandon Walsh separately and/or sooner for an individual meeting to discuss your application so that you can get working.

The Digital Humanities Fellowship supports advanced doctoral students doing innovative work in the digital humanities at the University of Virginia. The Scholars’ Lab offers Grad Fellows advice and assistance with the creation and analysis of digital content, as well as consultation on intellectual property issues and best practices in digital scholarship and DH software development. The highly competitive Graduate Fellowship in Digital Humanities is designed to advance the humanities and provide emerging digital scholars with an opportunity for growth.

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Please note that this is the same workshop as the Nov. 11 session at 4:00PM and the Nov. 18 session at 12:00PM. 

In this one-hour workshop, we will practice four basic principles of writing in plain language.

You may be wondering, what is plain language? Good question. "Plain language" is way of communicating information simply and efficiently to your audiences. By using plain language, you relieve your reader (or listener) of the extra effort required to interpret jargon or process long sentences. 

As a scholar, when would you use plain language? Another good question. Plain language principles are key to successful grant proposals, executive summaries, cover letters, policy memos, and other writing formats. Most of the principles will even make your academic writing stronger. 

Register here. 

International Perspectives on Science Communication is a PhD+ discussion series about how science is communicated around the world. Our topic for December is the role of English as the primary language in science. But English is not a native language for the majority of scientists in the world. What challenges do scientists face while writing in a language that is not their native tongue? What does it mean for citizens interested in science who do not speak English? Should we increase the diversity of languages in which science is communicated, and if so, how? 

Readings and a Zoom link will be sent to registered participants on Nov 30. 

Register here to join us for this provocative conversation!

 

Graduate and Postdoctoral scholars develop skills in academia that can support fulfilling careers in a diverse array of sectors. Many nevertheless dread pursuing non-faculty positions. For these individuals, even exploring jobs beyond the library, lab, or classroom can feel like a betrayal of their discipline, sparking a dual crisis of professional and personal identity.

In this talk, Chris Caterine, will discuss his current work as a communications strategist and proposal writer for a global consulting firm – as well as the path that led him there since earning his PhD in Classics from UVA. Chris is excited to share his insights on the value of humanities training in other sectors, how his approach to work differs from those without academic experience, and the ways his professional identity has evolved since he ventured to a non-academic career path in 2017.

Author Bio

 In addition to his day job as an internal “communications consultant,” Chris Caterine is the author of Leaving Academia: A Practical Guide. Earlier in his career he served as Chair of the Contingent Faculty Committee for the Society for Classical Studies, as Visiting Assistant Professor of Classics at Tulane University, and as a member of the Grad Student Council at UVA. You can find him discussing career and higher education issues on Twitter at @clcaterine.

Registration Link

In this 60-minute workshop, we will learn a systematic approach for thinking about your research narrative. The Message Tool is a schematic that guides you to distil the key elements of your research narrative so you can clarify what you want and need to communicate.This session will work best for you if you have a defined research project.  

This session will take place via Zoom on Thursday, Oct 22 from 12:00 to 1:00PM.  All are welcome, but registration is required to receive the Zoom link and preparatory information. 

Registration here by Monday, Oct 19 at 8:00AM. Zoom Link will be shared Oct 20.