AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships

Did you know plants can affect the brain and nervous system? 🌿🧠

Join alum Dr. Terri Postma this Saturday, May 16, at the United States Botanic Garden Conservatory Medicinal House to explore the fascinating intersection of botany and neurology.

Learn how plant chemistry can serve as both life-saving medicine and potential neurotoxins and discover how our well-being is deeply rooted in the botanical world. This is a free drop-in program, no registration required.

Did you know plants can help prevent flooding? 🌿💧

Join alum Dr. Reshmina William tomorrow, Friday, May 1, at the United States Botanic Garden Bartholdi Fountain and Gardens to explore how rain gardens can make neighborhoods safer and watersheds cleaner.

Learn how they work and how you could plan your own. Free drop-in program, no registration required.

Curious about bees and pollination? 🐝 Join alum Dr. Alan Moss, tomorrow, Friday, April 24, from 1–3 PM in the Garden Court at the United States Botanic Garden.

Learn how bees pollinate flowers, how plants attract specific pollinators, and hear about his fascinating research on bumblebees of the Himalayas. This is a free drop-in program, and no registration is required.

Part of the 2025-26 AAAS STPF class, Swati Narasimhan is the Materials Research Society (MRS)/Optica Congressional Science and Engineering Fellow!

Swati brings her background in energy technologies to Senator John Hickenlooper's energy and natural resources team🥳
Congrats, Swati! https://bit.ly/4q271zL

Swati Narasimhan named 2025–2026 MRS/Optica Congressional Fellow - MRS Bulletin Home MRS Bulletin Article Swati Narasimhan named 2025–2026 MRS/Optica Congressional FellowAccepts assignment with Senator John Hickenlooper Society News Published: 23 November 2025 (2025) Cite this article Download PDF MRS Bulletin Aims and scope Submit manuscript Swati Narasimhan named 2025–202...

From her work studying air quality to leading an engineering school dedicated to equity and inclusion, AAAS STPF alum Donna Riley shows how science and empathy creates real world impact.

As Dean of the University of New Mexico School of Engineering, she’s committed to prioritizing student access and continuing to build a supportive environment. “Whether it’s the education we do or the research we do, that work is transformative to our state and the people in the state.”

https://bit.ly/4pWVCRN

Bridging the Gap Between Chemical Engineering and Social Justice | AIChE by Colby Kaimanu Tinsley November 11, 2025 COMMENTS (0) AIChE Share This Post If you grew up in the U.S. East Coast or Midwest regions, you may remember the childhood thrill of finding out school was cancelled due to a snow day. However, for Donna Riley — Dean of the School of Engineering at the U...

We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Dr. Joel Primack, AAAS committee member and distinguished emeritus professor of physics at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Primack's passionate advocacy for the role of science in society moved so many and also played a role in establishing AAAS STPF Fellowships. May Dr. Primack's memory continue to inspire the future of science policy.

In Memoriam: Joel Primack Distinguished emeritus professor was a towering figure in theoretical physics and cosmology, a visionary educator, dedicated mentor, and passionate advocate for the role of science in society

Bet you never imagined Duolingo, The Magic School Bus *and* James Bond to be related! The National Science Foundation (NSF) and its investment in STEM is the piece connecting these three distinct items, explains AAAS STPF alum Carlos Martinez.

"It’s a reminder that public investment in science yields public good. For three-quarters of a century, the NSF has opened doors for generations of curious minds, sparking wonder, nurturing knowledge, and investing in futures, just as it did for me." ~Carlos
https://bit.ly/44EDqUI

What Do Duolingo, The Magic School Bus, and James Bond Have in Common? The US National Science Foundation Public investment in science yields public good.

Sarah Ackenhusen and Marianne Meyersohn are the 2025-26 AAAS STPF Congressional Science & Engineering Fellows sponsored by the American Chemical Society. Sarah and Marianne will spend a year on Capitol Hill applying their scientific knowledge to policy. Check them out: https://bit.ly/4pBHZqQ

ACS welcomes 2025–26 public policy fellows The newly named fellows share a little bit about themselves and the work they hope to do

How do AAAS STPF fellows apply their scientific knowledge to shape US science policy?

Claire Cody, 2023-24 fellow at U.S. Senate and 2024-25 fellow at U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), had a passion to address climate change and clean energy. With her 2023-24 STPF fellowship sponsored by Optica & SPIE, Claire "spent an amazing year on the energy and environmental policy team for Senator Chris C***s from Delaware, where I worked on topics such as reducing industrial emissions, advancing sustainable chemistry, addressing food waste, improving energy efficiency and many more."

Read more about her fellowship experience: https://bit.ly/47y3CCs

Optics & Photonics News - My Congressional Fellowship: A Career Door-Opener Eager to work toward solving big societal problems like climate change, Claire Cody left the lab for the world of scientific policy.

Congratulations to William (Bill) Miller on his recent appointment as senior director for research computing and data at the University of Utah!

This new position "signals the university’s commitment to artificial intelligence, research and innovation at scale" where Bill works to connect "researchers with the tools they need to drive discovery." Bill was a AAAS STPF fellow at the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 2008-10

Read more:

Bill Miller brings national expertise to advance research computing and data at the U - @theU This pivotal appointment signals the university’s commitment to artificial intelligence, research and innovation at scale.