Most scientists see government as one big, stingy, piggy bank. But beyond its obvious role as a source of funding, the Federal Government has an enormous impact on all aspects of American science. It influences what fields can or cannot be researched (witness controversies over stem cells, global climate change, and hydrogen-powered vehicles) and who can do that research (foreign student and researcher visa problems are a growing source of frustration to many). Yet despite this impact, almost no senior policy-makers have scientific or technical backgrounds, and the decisions they make often anger or confuse praciticing scientists.

Attempting to fill that void, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and other scientific societies have created a series of fellowships for scientists to work temporarily in Congress and Federal Agencies, including the Departments of State, Defense, and Homeland Security. I spent 2003-2004 as an AAAS Science Fellow in the House of Representatives, and worked on issues as diverse as nuclear nonproliferation, environmental policy, defense policy, and intelligence reform. In this talk I will discuss my experiences in science policy and give some concrete suggestions on ways in which scientists -- both those still in graduate school and those with PhDs -- can get involved in science policy.

Contact: Luis A. Orozco.