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Howard Garrison Advocacy Program

It is increasingly important for scientists to engage directly with elected representatives, policy makers, and the broader public. Skills development in this area is not included in graduate school curricula and is unlike most scientific communication. The Howard H. Garrison Advocacy Program offers a cohort model experience that provides instruction in advocacy, science policy, science communications, leadership development, and career exploration outside academia. The program will provide approximately 60 hours of content and curriculum designed to develop the next generation of leaders for FASEB and other professional scientific societies.

The Howard H. Garrison Advocacy Program is comprised of three core learning and professional development experiences:

Science Policy and Advocacy Course

  • FASEB’s Introductory Science Policy course - an approximately 20-hour course that reviews key players in policy and legislative development and uses case studies and stepwise assignments to assess comprehension of course information

Communications and Advocacy Training

  • Participation in FASEB’s annual Capitol Hill Day; meeting with the offices of various Congresspeople in the House and Senate
  • Support and coaching to communicate with elected officials in DC and in home districts
  • Support and coaching to submit an Opinion Editorial to a local or national media outlet
  • FASEB Member Society Science Communications course – Optional

Leadership and Professional Skills Development

  • Discussion sessions with Howard Garrison and/or other science policy and advocacy experts including individuals who have transitioned to careers in policy and advocacy
  • Non-voting, observer status for Science Policy Committee meetings (pending SPC charter alignment)
  • Participation in the annual FASEB Science Policy Symposium – virtual participation if offered

The program admits participants supported by and from FASEB member societies up to an annual cohort of up to 15 participants. If adequate financial and personnel resources are available, the program may be offered twice per year. Member societies may choose to fund participants directly if there is space available within a particular cohort; only direct costs will be billed back to the sponsoring societies.

Applications for the inaugural class of Howard Garrison Advocacy Fellows open on June 1, 2023.

FASEB is dedicated to increasing diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusivity within the life sciences. As part of this effort, we highly encourage applications from individuals from historically underrepresented groups within the life sciences community.

Program Timeline

June 1 to July 15   

Online application period (Portal opens on June 1. Applications due by July 15)

Late July / Early August

Committee review of applications and selection of cohort participants

Mid-August

Notifications to cohort participants     

September to Mid-October

Introduction to Science Policy & Advocacy Course (6 weeks)

October

SPC Symposium (participation)

November

Submission of final assignment (policy memo) for course; peer-to-peer review option (tentative)

December

Instruction on advocacy strategy (Midwest Academy Strategy Chart and other tools)

January to February

Participation in advocacy training for those attending FASEB Capitol Hill Day (CHD)

March

FASEB CHD and follow-up activities (coaching to continue communication with elected officials in home districts)

April

Career exploration sessions (featuring career talks from policy/advocacy professionals); discussion sessions with Howard Garrison and other senior policy/advocacy experts)

May

Showcase of Society and other Fellowship Programs (Mirzayan, AAAS, FASEB  society sponsored fellowships) and tips on preparing competitive applications

June

Exit assessments and next steps for cohort participants (e.g., seeking volunteer leadership positions in their society/FASEB)