Science Policy and the Media: Presentations and Workshops

Staffed by professionals with years of experience working with scientists, lawmakers, and opinion shapers, the AIBS Public Policy Office provides public presentations and small-group training programs that help scientists and educators become effective advocates for science.

A one-hour talk exploring a current science policy issue is usually available on relatively short notice. Themes for these talks include the politics and policy of evolution education, federal funding trends for scientific research and development, and an overview of ongoing science policy issues. These one-hour presentations provide the basic information required to understand the debate surrounding an issue, along with practical steps on how to engage in the public policy discourse.

The AIBS Public Policy Office also offers two-hour, interactive workshops for AIBS member organizations, academic departments, or similar organizations. These workshops afford participants the opportunity to interact with the instructor and others in the course. Participants learn basic skills and gain knowledge that will help them work productively with policymakers, administrators, news reporters, or the public. Depending on the interests and composition of the sponsoring organization, these workshops may be programmed to include a mix of advocacy and media training. Participants receive a tool kit of quick reference materials (e.g., a congressional directory and the AIBS publication Communicating Science: A Primer for Working with the Media).

The AIBS Public Policy Office periodically offers training courses of a half-day or longer that cover a mix of science and education policy issues as well as media relations.

The cost for a one-hour talk on a science policy issue is $1750, plus reimbursement of the speaker's travel expenses. An optional resource packet may also be purchased. Organizations contributing to the AIBS Public Policy Office at the participant level or higher receive a significant discount.

A two-hour workshop on science policy or media relations is $3000 plus travel expenses for the instructor and a per-participant fee for the materials (approximately $30 to $45 per participant). Organizations contributing to the AIBS Public Policy Office at the Participant level or higher receive a significant discount.

Estimates are available upon request for courses that run a half day or longer. For more information, please contact AIBS at publicpolicy@aibs.org.

University of California Press to Provide Publishing Services to AIBS for BioScience

AIBS has contracted with the University of California (UC) Press to provide the following publishing services for BioScience, beginning with the January 2009 issue:

AIBS retains full ownership, editorial control, page design and layout control, and approval of pricing for BioScience. AIBS continues to manage its individual members' subscriptions itself; procedures for AIBS members to access BioScience online via the AIBS Web site have not changed. Staffing levels at the BioScience editorial office in Washington, DC, remain unaltered.

In addition, UC Press will work with BioOne to ensure ongoing access by libraries to the online version of BioScience as part of the BioOne collection, a full-text, online package of essential biological science research journals. BioScience will also be available for purchase as a stand alone, online journal through UC Press and its online hosting platform, Caliber, beginning with the first issue of volume 59 in January 2009.

“AIBS is delighted to be a part of this innovative collaboration among nonprofit organizations that will allow AIBS to publish BioScience with the expertise, resources, and worldwide reach that UC Press and BioOne each bring to the table,” AIBS Executive Director Richard O'Grady said. “Our mutual goal is the broadest possible dissemination and accessibility of BioScience content in a sustainable manner. We look forward to the success of this venture.”

Susan Skomal, executive director and chief operating officer of BioOne, said: “AIBS is a founding organization of BioOne, and produces one of the collection's stellar journals. The fact that UC Press is able and willing to accommodate the needs of both organizations will enhance our joint commitment to provide concrete benefits for the entire community of bioscience students and researchers.”

UC Press is proud to be working with both AIBS and BioOne to enable a broad range of access to BioScience, said Rebecca Simon, associate director of UC Press and director of the Journals and Digital Publishing Division. “Such collaborations between nonprofit, mission-driven organizations help assure not only affordable access for libraries but sustainable models for the scholarly publishing community.”

For more information about BioScience at UC Press and BioOne, please visit  www.ucpressjournals.com or  www.bioone.org. For more information about AIBS, please visit  www.aibs.org.

Recent Executive Director's Blog Entries Online at  http://blogs.aibs.org/richardogrady/

Recent Articles Online at  www.actionbioscience.com

Recent Blog Entries on “Technology: An Educational Issue?” [Note: The  ActionBioscience.org blog can be accessed through the “Educator Resources” menu.]

Recent Education Reports Online at  www.aibs.org

Recent Public Policy Reports Online at  www.aibs.org