To better prepare NSPN members and groups for effective engagement in the 2020 Election Initiative, groups are required to familiarize themselves with a science policy topic by conducting a meta-review. A meta review should cover relevant policies, people, and publications that will be useful for your outreach activities, as well as create a useful resource the community at large. We strongly encourage groups to start by working on their meta-review in a single event, similar to a hack-a-thon, in which groups meet together for several hours.
** PLEASE WAIT FOR CONFIRMATION THAT YOUR TOPIC IS NOT ALREADY BEING WORKED ON BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH META-REVIEW**
Download blank meta-review template
View example meta-review on California water policy
Coming soon: View completed meta-reviews
Some key considerations before starting your meta-review:
WHAT SHOULD WE DO OUR META-REVIEW ABOUT?
- Please review the NSPN list of available topics, but keep in mind this is not a final list! If there is a topic that interests you and is missing, feel free to suggest it in application form.
- If the topic on the list is broad, you might be requested to focus on a particular sub-topic.
- Your group is encouraged to choose topics that take advantage of the strengths and expertise within of your college, university, or parent organization.
WHAT SHOULD GO INTO A META REVIEW?
- Policy Resources: These might be published white papers, government or private reports, academic reviews articles, or other strategic documents that are related to your science policy topic. It is important to note the authors and affiliated organizations, as well as the intended audience and motivating factors for these publications (which may or may not be stated explicitly), in order to capture a full picture of the players and positions surrounding your topic. You might consider limiting your review to publications within the last decade or even past five years.
- Data Resources: These are sources of data that are relevant to your science policy topic– whether it be large surveys, data sets collected and maintained by government entities, or private industry or polling data. Data sources are often referenced or directly used to inform policy recommendations or decisions, and it is therefore useful to maintain a list of known, existing data sources. Some of these sources may be inaccessible to the public, or requirement academic or government credentials.
- Organizational Stakeholders: These can be authors of resources, legislation, grassroots campaigns, articles, op-eds, etc. that are included in the meta review. Having a compiled list of relevant stakeholders helps visualize the actors in this science policy topic. These are people who you might partner with for a lobby day, co-author an op-ed with, or address your policy memo to.
- Relevant Policies and Legislation: These should be any recent or ongoing policies or other initiatives related to your science policy topic– whether they be local, state, regional, national, or international in scope. Many of these should be the impetus, recommendation, or result of the Policy Resources that you found, and created or influenced by the Organizational Stakeholders.
WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO PREPARE?
- Look over the example meta-review for an idea of the depth of resources we are looking for.
- Engage with your Government Affairs office and inquire if they would like to help promote or support the meta-review.
- Coordinate teams to focus on different resources so that all areas are covered.
- Reach out to 2-3 experts in the field (ideally at your university) prior to the review and inquire about recommended resources. Would they be interested in stopping by, or being available by phone, email, or video call for questions?
HOW DO WE REGISTER FOR A META REVIEW TOPIC?
Groups should register their meta-review through the form here. If you know what topic you’re interested in, but are not sure how you want to apply your knowledge (Stage 2), don’t worry! You can sign up for a meta-review and decide on Stage-2 later.
Click here to view the complete 2020 Election Initiative FAQ.