We bring students from around the country to advocate for science directly to their local, state, and national representatives.
PSPDG is an Allied Group of the Union of Concerned Scientists and a Chapter of the National Science Policy Network.
Groups of 3-6 PSPDG members held virtual visits with Congressional, Pennsylvania General Assembly, and Pennsylvania executive branch agency staff on topics ranging from the regulation of AI algorithms to the impact of lead from ammunition in donated game.
Legislative Meetings
Summer 2021
Teams of PSPDG members wrote four page policy memos, concisely yet comprehensively outlining a vast array of topics, such as the Farmers to Families Food Box Program and the regulation of prescription drug prices. These memos were submitted to the 2021 NSPN-Journal of Science Policy and Governance Memo Competition, where our submission on regulating AI algorithms that control housing access won 2nd place.
Policy Memo Competition
Spring 2021
Groups of 3-6 PSPDG members, joined by visiting members from the University of Rochester Science Policy Group and the Allegheny Science Policy Group, held virtual visits with Congressional and Pennsylvania General Assembly staff on topics ranging from election security to nuclear energy.
Legislative Meetings
Summer 2020
Teams of 3-5 PSPDG members, joined by members of Penn’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy, wrote four page policy memos, concisely yet comprehensively outlining many topics. These memos were submitted to the 2020 NSPN-Journal of Science Policy and Governance Memo Competition, where our partnered submission with Penn SSDP on the regulation of drug-testing kits won 2nd place.
Other memos, such as those on election security, were published through JSPG’s standard issue, or through the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy as a policy digest.
Policy Memo Competition
Spring 2020
what
Congressional Lobby Day
when
Spring 2019
who
Erin Reagan, PSPDG President
Shannon Wolfman, PSPDG Policy Co-Chair
Anne Fosnocht, PSPDG Blog Director
Jake Hoffman, PSPDG
Mara Olenick, PSPDG
Krystal Haislop, PSPDG
Mike D’Orazio, LA for Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA 14)
Rachel Hugman, Senior LA for Rep. Conor Lamb (D-PA 17)
Rachel Feldman, AAAS Fellow for Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA)
Alex Davidson, LC for Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Michaela Yarnell, Senior LA for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Chandler Mason, LC for Rep. Dwight Evans (D-PA 3)
Kayla Primes, for Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA 6)
Corey Ensslin, LC for Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA)
Vic Goetz, LA for Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL 10)
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL 10)
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Members of PSPDG met with Congressional staffers and a Representative to discuss the findings of a policy memo written by PSPDG members Shannon Wolfman, Jake Hoffman, and Anne Fosnocht on the topic of safe consumption facilities. PSPDG members lead the meetings and effectively communicated the results of their literature surveys, explaining the data on issues like impact on drug use rates and frequency, entry into treatment, public injecting, syringe littering, safe injection methods, and crime. Their findings showed that SCFs are effective at preventing opioid overdose deaths, increase treatment rates, reduce public injecting and syringe littering, increase use of safe injection practices, without increasing the number of users or crime in the surrounding area.
what
Philadelphia City Hall, City Council meeting
when
2018
who
Erin K. Reagan, PSPDG President
Reno Kriz, PSPDG Vice President
Ambika Natesan, PSPDG Communication Chair
Alex Salomon, PSPDG
Anjali Chainani, Director of Policy and GovLabPHL for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney
Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell
—
Members of the PSPDG Leadership team met with Anjali Chainani, Director of GovLabPHL, in furtherance of a collaboration between our organization and the initiative. GovLabPHL aims to use data and scientific methodology in the design and implementation of government programs and services to maximize benefit to the community.
who
Miles Owen, GAPSA President
Brenda Salantes, GAPSA Chair of External Affairs
Julianne Rieders, PSPDG
Erin K. Reagan, PSPDG
Bill Andresen, Penn Office of Government and Community Affairs Assoc. Vice President
Office of Pat Meehan, PA-07
Office of Dwight Evans, PA-02
Office of Bob Casey, PA Senator
Office of Pat Toomey, PA Senator
what
Congressional Lobby Day, student speaker at House Committee
when
2017
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Brenda Salantes, PhD candidate and Chair of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) committee of External Affairs, spoke before the Democratic members of the House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee. She discussed a proposed tax on tuition waived for PhD students and the negative impact it would have on America’s scientists of tomorrow. PSPDG members Erin and Julianne joined Brenda and GAPSA’s President, Miles, in meeting with their representatives in Congress to deliver personal stories of the impact the proposed tax would have on themselves and their colleagues.
what
Congressional Lobby Day
who
Penn Science Policy Group members
National Science Policy Group members
when
2015
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Members of the Penn Science Policy Group, the precursor to today’s Penn Science Policy and Diplomacy Group, joined with PhD candidates from around the country in the National Science Policy Group (now the National Science Policy Network) to meet with their members of Congress.
who
Penn Science Policy Group members
Penn GAPSA External Affairs committee members
what
Congressional Lobby Day
when
2014
—
Members of the Penn Science Policy Group worked with members of Penn’s Graduate and Professional Student Association’s External Affairs committee to bring Penn students and postdocs to Congress to meet with their representatives.