Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett: A Public Talk on Science-Based Legislation

Senator Bennett (D-Champaign) will be giving a short lecture based on his experience working with scientists to craft legislation within the Illinois Senate. He will help explain how scientists are able to contribute their knowledge and research throughout the legislative process, followed by a short question and answer period. The public talk on the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign campus will be held on Thursday, July 13t h at 4:00 pm in the auditorium at the Beckman Institute, 405 N. Mathews, Urbana. The talk is open to the public.

Senator Bennett is the state senator from Illinois 52n d district representing Champaign and Vermillion counties. As vice chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee he has been a tireless advocate for protecting local farmers and the environment. He has passed legislation to help protect the Mahomet aquifer and maintain clean drinking water for the area. He also serves on committees striving to improve higher education in Illinois, and has sponsored legislation to increase agricultural education.

The event is sponsored by the UIUC Science Policy Group (SPG). The SPG is a bipartisan collective of graduate students who are interested in creating opportunities for scientists to engage in the public policy discourse. The group has previously hosted several invited speakers and lectures for the campus community, including their bi-annual Call a Representative Day event hosted every spring and fall. The event will co-hosted by the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. The Beckman Institute is a worldwide leader in fostering interdisciplinary research in engineering, and physical and biological sciences.

For more information, contact us at spg.uiuc@gmail.com

Publicity: Science Policy Group Hosts Brown Bag Luncheon About Diversity Initiatives in STEM

Check out a great article from I-STEM about our Diversity Policy Discussion: http://www.istem.illinois.edu/news/diversity.panel.html

On April 19th, a number of University folk interested in increasing diversity in STEM attended a brown bag luncheon, “Diversity Initiatives in STEM.” The featured speakers at the event were Ellen Wang Althaus, Director of Graduate Diversity in the Chemistry Department, and Jennifer Greene, a Professor in Educational Psychology. Sponsoring the event was a new RSO (Registered Student Organization), the Science Policy Group, which began in fall of 2016.

Publicity: Science Policy Group Seeks to Foster Careers in, Educate About, and Advocate for Science Policy

Check out this article from the I-STEM Education Initiative on SPG’s beginnings, recent efforts, & future goals!
http://www.istem.illinois.edu/news/sciencepolicygroup.html

“We are only as powerful as the people that decide to join.” – Libby Haywood, MCB Graduate Student and Chair of the SPG Professional Development Committee

While the Science Policy Group, which began in January of 2017, might be the new kids on the block when it comes to RSOs (Registered Student Organizations), they’re not hesitant to tackle some weighty subjects, like diversity in STEM or President Trump’s impact on science education. Their latest coup? They’ve invited Illinois State Senator Scott Bennett to drop by campus to participate in a dialog about Science Policy at 4:00 pm on July 13, 2017, at Beckman Auditorium…and invite everyone to attend.