Approximately 45-50 people attended the symposium in the Purdue Memorial Union East Faculty Lounge. This symposium brought together Big Ten Jefferson Science Fellows (JSF) alumni  and Washington, DC, policy experts to discuss experiences and lessons learned for applying STEM expertise and research capabilities to address domain, functional, and regional challenges in international science and technology policy.

Attendees included previous Jefferson Science Fellows and speakers from non-Purdue institutions including the U.S. Department of State, the University of Maryland, Penn State University, Michigan State University, Indiana University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Kansas State University, Michigan Technological University, and Ivy Tech Community College.

This conference was the first-ever event that invited all the fellows to collaborate, share their experiences, and inspire and encourage research in areas that bring science, technology and policy together for the benefit of all of society. A goal of the symposium was to identify cross-disciplinary research gaps, connect knowledge experts to policy makers, highlight priorities, and bring about new ways of collaboration between academic institutions and government.

The conference included keynote addresses on:

• "Academia and Government: Experiences and Lessons Learned" - Steve Fetter
• "Mission Driven Careers" - Sue Ellspermann
• "What IF we could actually listen to each other?" - by Suresh Garimella
• "Post-State Adventures in Science Diplomacy" - by Nina Federoff
• "Engaging Jefferson Science Fellows and Alumni" - by Lee Schwartz

And discussion panels on these topics:

• "Data and Security Applications" - Meredith Gore, Esther Obonyo, and Melba Crawford
• "Policy Meets Reality: Sustainability and Response" - Michael Hamburger and Karen Lips
• "Changing the Codes: AI, Genes, and Global Food" - Concetta DiRusso, Curtis Weller, Daniel Oates

The event also included breakout sessions and workshops.

Participating Purdue faculty included three JSF alumni: Melba Crawford, Associate Dean of Engineering for Research, Professor of Agronomy, Civil Engineering, and Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Suresh Garimella, the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering, and Director of the NSF Cooling Technologies Research Center; and Barrett Caldwell, Professor of Industrial Engineering and Director of the Indiana Space Grant Consortium, who also served as event chair.

Dr. Sue Ellspermann, former Lt. Governor of Indiana, current President of Ivy Tech Community College, and Purdue IE alumna (BSIE 1982) also attended.

The event is a part of Purdue University’s Ideas Festival, the centerpiece of Purdue’s Giant Leaps Sesquicentennial Campaign, which is a series of events that connect world-renowned speakers and Purdue expertise in a conversation on the most critical problems facing the world.

Purdue continues to lead U.S. institutions in faculty participating in the Jefferson Science Fellows program, including faculty currently on assignment in Washington. Previous Jefferson Science Fellows in attendance were very enthusiastic for this event, and uniformly expressed appreciation for this Midwestern gathering of former JSFs.  

A number of follow-up "products" are already planned based on the discussions between JSFs and others in attendance, to help analyze and present data demonstrating the ongoing effects and benefits of the program. The PSC is already starting to consider opportunities for a 2020 Convocation of Jefferson Science Fellows, to be held at Purdue (or elsewhere) with a formal report to be disseminated. A prior convocation was held in 2010 at the National Academies in Washington, and another meeting of former fellows was held in 2013, but no formal report was produced.

The Jefferson Science Fellowship program was instituted in 2001 based on a report of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine with recommendations to the U.S. Secretary of State. Since 2004, 145 senior STEM faculty (including 11 Purdue-affiliated, current and past) have served in residence at the Department of State or the U.S. Agency for International Development, applying their knowledge to the societal challenges facing the international science and technology policy communities. Purdue, as a Big Ten land grant university, represents an exemplar of this form of national and international policy impact, born of the public land grant model of STEM research and engagement to serve society. Critical policy questions regarding environmental instability, global health, digital infrastructures and security, and others have been addressed by JSFs in their work with the Science and Technology Advisers to the Secretary of State, as well as critical policy organizations in Washington, DC. This symposium highlights some of these experiences and addresses models of collaboration to bring a stronger voice of STEM expertise into global policy discussions and implementations.

Writer/Photographer: DeEtte Starr, starrd@purdue.edu