Pilot: Public Policy Analysis for Scientists, Engineers, and Health Professionals

Introduction to Public Policy Analysis for Scientists, Engineers, and Health Professionals

Note:  This is a pilot course (i.e., the first time this course has been offered through this online mechanism).  By participating in the pilot, you understand that the course is in development.  In exchange for helping co-create the course by providing feedback that will improve the course for students in the future, the cost for the course is heavily discounted. In addition, there may be observers for the class who are considering it for their program participants.

Description:  A 6-week intensive course designed to help scientists, engineers, and health professionals be more competitive for fellowships and jobs in science and technology policy by learning how to conduct a public policy analysis.

Educational Outcomes:  

During this class, students will learn:

• What policy analysis is and why it is important
• The eight step process to do a public policy analysis based on the 4Es (effectiveness, efficiency, equity, and ease of political acceptability)
• An overview of ways to communicate that message through 1-pagers, op-eds, presentations, videos, and infographics.

In 6 weeks, you will be able to:

• Be more competitive for public policy related fellowships and jobs because you can demonstrate your abilities through a vetted product produced during the class.
• Participate more actively and with great impact in dialogues about public policy during the interview process or during meetings with policymakers through a better understanding of public policy decision-making criteria.
• Develop the core information of most interest to policymakers as a foundation for your discussions and the communication products.

Schedule: The pilot will begin on Saturday, July 18 and end on Sunday, August 30. You can work at any pace that works for you.  The focus of the Q&A each week will be the topics outlined below.  The date and time for the weekly Q&A session will be determined by vote of the registered participants.  Evening and weekend options will be offered.

Week 0

• Introduction to People & Technology
• Individual Goal Call with Instructor

Week 1

• What is policy analysis and why is it important?
• Eight step process to do a public policy analysis
• Communicating your message

Week 2

• Step 1.  Define the problem in the form of a question
• Step 2. Assemble some evidence

Week 3

• Step 3. Construct the Alternatives
• Mid-Program Individual Check-In with Instructor

Week 4

• Step 4. Analyze the Alternatives based on the 4E Criteria (Effectiveness, Efficiency, Equity, Ease of Political Acceptability)
• Step 5: Project the Outcomes

Week 5

• Step 6: Confront the Tradeoffs
• Step 7:  Decide

Week 6

• Step 8. Tell Your Story
• Individual Coaching Call with Instructor

How You Will Learn:

• Short videos that teach you the key principles of public policy analysis that you can do at your own pace.
• Micro-assignments to practice those principles with peer and instructor feedback.
• Those micro-assignments will build up into a writing sample, presentation, infographic, or video on the topic of your choice.
• Live weekly group coaching calls via Zoom (with recordings available in case you can’t make it).
• Weekly written check-ins to identify your wins and challenges with instructor feedback as well as the ability to ask questions via email
• Community interaction and support via Slack, plus job and fellowship listings
• Three individual calls with instructor: Personal goals, Mid-Program Check; Final 30-minute “ask me anything” coaching session
• Bonus: Independent study option providing an Introduction to Science & Technology Policy
• Certificate of Completion from the Science and Technology Policy Academy if you complete all assignments successfully.

Pricing: In the future, this course will cost $297 for professionals and $197 for students, postdocs, and the unemployed.  However, you can become part of the 20 people for this pilot for only $47 for students, postdocs and unemployed or $97 for professionals.  And, if you recruit a friend for the class, the two of you can split this cost in half! This also provides the benefit of “buddy accountability”!  To get the friend discount, one person copying their friend should email deborah@scitechpolicyacademy.com.

With such a great offer, this class will fill up quickly, so be the first to sign up!  Your only obligation for this low price is to actively participate and provide great feedback so I can optimize the class for future students.

Registration Deadline: The deadline for registration is Monday, July 13.

Satisfaction Guarantee: We take the success of our students seriously.  So as long as you fully participate in the course (watching all the videos, doing all the assignments, participate in the Q&A calls and the one-on-one meetings) and work collaboratively with your instructor yet are still not satisfied with the results, I’ll refund your money no questions asked.  And, if you are unable to complete the course in the class timeframe, you will continue to have access to the course material so you can work on your assignments after the class ends

Long-Term Community Support: You can remain part of the course’s slack S&T Policy Academy community for as long as you wish!

Please join us on this new adventure into science & technology policy!