University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Hawaiʻi Institute of Biology (HIMB) doctoral student Jacob Snyder explored the intersection of science and policy at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Summer Policy Colloquium in Washington D.C. in June. Snyder shared their experience with the UH community.
Snyder, who is also a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, was one of 40 early to mid-career earth and atmospheric scientists and professionals from academia, government and the private sector selected to participate.
Why did you apply for the 2024 AMS Summer Policy Colloquium?
At Penn State, I collaborated with fellow LGBTQIA+ students to translate our community’s needs into institutional change. These experiences inspired me to seek out opportunities to also translate my science into widespread change, like that achievable through policy.
Can you describe your experience at the colloquium?
My experience at the AMS Summer Policy Colloquium was eye-opening. We heard from speakers working at the science-policy interface about the structure of the U.S. government and how to integrate science into the legislative process effectively. While learning alongside my peers and collaborating with them for a mock legislative exercise, I was inspired by their stories and look forward to keeping up with their work!
What were some of the biggest takeaways?
Bring your most authentic self into your work. As a queer scientist, I aim to harness my new policy training to implement my enthusiasm for LGBTQIA+ advocacy and science into the political realm. The broader the diversity of life and thought actively engaged in decision-making processes, the more widely applicable solutions will be. Diverse national leadership is required to tackle the problems of the future.
For more information, see HIMB’s website.
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