ACS Public Policy Fellowship

For more than 30 years, the American Chemical Society (ACS) has been working to bridge the gap between science and public policy through its Public Policy Fellowship Programs. These programs provide a unique opportunity for ACS members to gain practical experience and insights into public policy by working on Capitol Hill or at the ACS offices in Washington, DC.

The ACS Congressional Fellowship Program places two Fellows each year as staff members in the office of a Senator, Representative, or Committee. As part of a broader effort administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) that places more than 30 scientists per year in Congress, this program has two main goals: to provide policy-makers with high quality information on science-related issues and to educate scientists on how government works and how science policy is made. Fellows join the Congressional staff of their choice, with placement support provided by ACS and AAAS. Fellows typically serve as legislative assistants, advising staff and members of Congress on a range of science policy issues and interacting with constituents. Former ACS Congressional Fellows have worked in the both the Senate and the House of Representatives—on the staffs of individual members (including key committee chairs and the Office of the Majority Leader) and for committees in both the House (for example, the Homeland Security and Armed Services Committees) and Senate (e.g., Energy & Natural Resources and Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committees). The Fellows have had assignments in important science-related areas as diverse as environmental issues, science education, health policy, energy policy, and federal funding for scientific research.

The ACS Science Policy Fellowship Program places one Fellow in the ACS Office of Legislative & Government Affairs (OLGA) for one to two years. The Fellow works with experienced OLGA staff to provide information to policy makers on the role of science in public policy, advance specific recommendations on issues affecting the chemical enterprise, and inform ACS members and involve them in the policy process. In past years, Science Policy Fellows have played an important role in organizing ACS’s “Science & the Congress Project,” a highly acclaimed program that provides expert panel briefings and educational information to Congressional staff on subjects ranging from “Science & Technology in the Intelligence Community” to “Partnering for Results in Science, Technology, Engineering & Math Education.”

Applications are due December 31, 2008

for Public Policy Fellowships

beginning in September 2009.

All ACS members with a sincere interest in the public policy process are encouraged to consider applying. More information on the program, qualifications, and application content are available online or by contacting the ACS Office of Legislative & Government Affairs at (202) 872-4387.