Claire Cody
I pursued a Ph.D. in science as a result of I like drawback-fixing, diving deep into how and why issues work, and utilizing information to serve a broader social good. Yet throughout grad faculty, whereas learning the essential science of supplies to transform daylight into fuels, I couldn’t assist however really feel that my day-to-day within the lab was distant from the social influence I wished to have. I grew to become more and more conscious that scientific and technological growth occur inside a social, political and financial context, and that to deal with huge issues like local weather change (my private ardour), we’d like sensible folks engaged on all of these points.
Out of the lab
Through a sequence of informational interviews whereas I used to be a grad scholar, I discovered concerning the Optica Congressional Fellowships, which offer scientists with the chance to spend a yr on Capitol Hill shaping federal authorities policymaking. I didn’t actually know what science coverage was or what a profession path in it might appear like, however it appeared like the right technique to join my technical background with my greater-image objectives.
I used to be excited to be chosen because the 2023-2024 Optica Congressional Fellow, and I moved to Washington, D.C., to hitch an unbelievable cohort of fellow scientists within the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program. I spent a tremendous yr on the vitality and environmental coverage workforce for Senator Chris Coons from Delaware, the place I labored on subjects similar to decreasing industrial emissions, advancing sustainable chemistry, addressing meals waste, enhancing vitality effectivity and lots of extra.
A profession path in clear-vitality coverage
The fellowship launched me into the world of fresh vitality coverage, the place having a scientific background offers me a novel perspective on the right way to resolve immediately’s robust challenges. After my yr on Capitol Hill, I did one other fellowship on the US Department of Energy, the place I used to be on the stakeholder engagement workforce within the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, a brand new workplace created to assist deliver rising vitality applied sciences from R&D to industrial scale.
Claire Cody
I just lately completed that comradeship and began a brand new place engaged on vitality innovation coverage at Clean Tomorrow, USA, a assume tank that champions coverage options to advance vitality innovation and clear vitality deployment to deal with emissions and defend the local weather. I might not have gotten my present job with out the community that I constructed throughout my congressional fellowship.
The street forward
I’m not going to lie and say that it hasn’t been a troublesome yr to work in or close to the federal authorities. Many lengthy-time civil-servant scientists engaged on all the pieces from protecting our meals secure to learning climate patterns have been compelled from their authorities jobs. This administration has focused larger training and academia and frozen funds for analysis grants and graduate college students.
But from my perspective, this solely emphasizes the influence that coverage has on science and that science has on coverage. Science doesn’t occur in a vacuum. We scientists have to proceed to elucidate how what we do impacts society, construct public belief and advocate for the scientific enterprise.
As somebody who went from the lab to DC, I discovered so much concerning the worth of the connections you make and the folks you work together with alongside the best way. Through the fellowship, I’ve met a number of the most devoted, sensible, passionate folks.
My recommendation for anybody looking for their path: Follow your curiosity, be real with the folks you meet and keep resilient throughout troublesome occasions. You by no means know what doorways will open!
Claire Cody is a senior innovation coverage analyst with Clean Tomorrow, USA, and was a 2023-2024 Optica Congressional Fellow.
Apply for the Optica Congressional Fellowship Today
Inspired to transition your scientific experience to Capitol Hill? The Optica Congressional Fellowship is at present accepting functions. This is your alternative to transition your scientific experience to Capitol Hill, form coverage and speed up your profession. Bring your voice and your technical abilities to the forefront of US science coverage.