National Academies Civic Science Fellowship
The University of Wisconsin with the support of the Rita Allen Foundation invites applications for a Civic Science Fellow to work with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, focusing on engaging a growing community of practice around collaborative engagement with communities around science and connecting research and practice in science communication. The appointment will be for a full-time fellowship for 18 months beginning in September, 2021 with an annual salary of $70,000 plus benefits, and support for Fellowship-related travel.
Fellowship Description
During the 18-month fellowship, the Fellow will work in close collaboration with the staff and members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication* to co-design two projects. First, the Fellow will co-design a project to engage the growing community of practice around collaborative engagement with communities around science, building on ongoing work of the Standing Committee. Part of this effort will include contributing to efforts within the National Academies to create mechanisms for greater dialog and information exchange between diverse communities and the National Academies. This project will involve:
- Network building and identifying mechanisms for connecting communities of researchers, practitioners, and community leaders around science;
- Identifying and sharing the research evidence base around community collaboration and the practice-based evidence of successful models of community collaboration;
- Identifying and increasing access to resources that support evidence-based collaborative engagement;
- Working with Standing Committee staff and experts on efforts to increase capacity, incentives, and careers in collaborative engagement with communities around science;
- Helping to plan sessions at Standing Committee-hosted events connected to Fellow projects
- Supporting efforts to increase community engagement to inform the programs and communications of the National Academies
Second, the Fellow will prepare 3-5 syntheses of the research on timely topics in science communication for practitioner audiences both within and outside of the National Academies, The Fellow will have opportunities to share the results of these syntheses through a variety of means, including presentations, meetings, and/or producing other digital resources to accompany the written syntheses. Part of the fellowship will involve learning about the work of the different divisions of the National Academies and meeting with staff to identify the topics and ways that the syntheses might be most useful. Standing Committee staff will also assist the Fellow in submitting any research syntheses for journal publication.
The Fellow will also work with a communications consultant to help develop creative ways for the National Academies to elevate the Fellow’s work on both projects across various media platforms.
The Fellow will spend approximately 75% of their time (~30 hours/week) carrying out the projects described above, and 25% of their time (~10 hours/week) on shared learning and networking outside of their direct work with the National Academies, including periodic convenings, typically on Tuesdays during the 18-month term. The class of Civic Science Fellows will connect as a learning cohort, including a civic science learning program to inform their activities and align their efforts to add to a growing body of knowledge about effective civic science.
Compensation
The Fellow will be hired as an employee of the University of Wisconsin to work at the National Academies with a salary of $70,000 per year plus benefits.
Location
The Fellow may work from any location in the U.S. If located in Washington, DC, the Fellow will work at the National Academies located at 500 5th Street, NW, Washington, DC. The Fellow will travel occasionally to participate in Civic Science Fellow program events and workshops in the United States. If the Fellow is not located in Washington, DC, the Fellow will travel to Washington, DC to attend up to 7 in-person meetings with the staff and/or members of the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication.
Qualifications
The ideal candidate for this fellowship has:
- A PhD in a social sciences discipline, such as science communication and related fields, formal or informal science education, psychology, sociology, or political science.
- Experience in effectively engaging people from communities that have traditionally been excluded or underrepresented in scientific fields and underserved by science outreach efforts
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, particularly the ability to communicate scientific information effectively with lay audiences
- Experience in program or project management
- Ability to work independently and in a team environment, and develop positive relationships with co-workers
- Interest in connecting science communication research and practice
- Savvy with social media platforms to engage public audiences
Application Instructions
Please submit a cover letter, résumé or CV, and contact information for 3 references in a single pdf file to Leticia Green at lgreen@nas.edu. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis beginning September 1 or until the position is filled.
Start date
September 13, 2021
About The National Academies
The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) are private, nonprofit institutions that have provided independent, objective advice since 1865 on a wide range of scientific topics to inform policy with evidence, spark progress and innovation, and confront challenging issues for the benefit of society. Within the National Academies, the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication is part of the Board on Science Education of the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, one of 7 programmatic divisions of the National Academies. The Standing Committee brings together the nation’s top experts and leaders in diverse disciplines of science communication research and practice to more effectively engage all communities with science. With an intentional focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion, the Standing Committee on Advancing Science Communication works to:
- expand collaborations between researchers and practitioners to build the evidence base and advance the use of research to address real-world challenges of communicators and communities
- increase institutional and systemic supports for evidence-based science communication and engagement with diverse communities to their benefit;
- build the capacity of individuals and organizations to communicate science effectively across a range of professional science communication roles; and,
- lead the field toward equitable solutions to science communication challenges.
The Standing Committee leverages the global reputation and convening power of the National Academies to serve as a catalyst for broader systemic change in the science communication ecosystem.
About the Civic Science Fellows
The Civic Science Fellows program is designed to catalyze new partnerships, practices, leadership, and knowledge to advance meaningful, inclusive engagement on issues at the interface of science and society. The program brings together an interdisciplinary network of journalists, bench and social scientists, community-facing practitioners, content creators, public-interest organizations, and funders to develop evidence-based, human-centered approaches to better connect science with diverse communities. Civic science goes beyond science outreach, seeking to create equitable frameworks and relationships so people of every background are part of creating emerging science and making choices to guide it, so its power benefits all.
About the University of Wisconsin-Madison
The University of Wisconsin is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: http://diversity.wisc.edu/
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
Read the full article at: https://lsc.wisc.edu/nasemfellow.html