Due to the impact Covid-19 has had on closures at universities/colleges, NSPN & JSPG have decided to extend the deadline for the Policy Memo Competition. THE NEW DEADLINE IS APRIL 15th.
We hope that this two-week extension will give groups the time they need to submit!

Following a successful run in 2019, The National Science Policy Network, in collaboration with the Journal of Science Policy and Governance is excited to launch its second international policy memo writing competition  

One of the main obstacles that scientists face when venturing into policy research, outreach or advocacy is the lack of training in non-scientific communication modalities.  Scientists can invest a significant amount of time and energy developing thoughtful, evidence-driven policy solutions only to communicate them in a way that’s inaccessible to those outside of the academic setting.

Of particular importance in policy and diplomacy is the preparation of memos (memorandums).

Memo writing is a distinct style that requires distilling complex concepts to a minimal space, while competing for the assured limited attention span of the reader. They are used to convey considerations, implications and actions on a topic of interest.

As part of our continued effort to provide support and resources for early-career scientists involved in policy and diplomacy, we are thrilled to announce a team competition to highlight and foster training in memo writing.

The competition is open to early-career science policy groups worldwide. These groups may be formal organizations of students or postdocs on university campuses or unaffiliated collaborations among students and postdocs. Groups of science policy fellows are also eligible to submit to the competition. The memos (2000-word limit) must be submitted at least 3 individuals. The deadline will be April 15th. 

For questions about submission guidelines, please email editors@sciencepolicyjournal.org.
For questions about awards, please email policymemos@scipolnetwork.org

“The breadth and depth of science and technology policy issues have grown significantly in recent years. The JSPG-NSPN Policy Memo Competition is a great way for student groups to collaboratively write compelling policy solutions addressing a wide range of salient topics around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and recent national elections.” 
Deborah Stine, JSPG Governing Board member; Former Executive Director of White House President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST); Former Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, Congressional Research Services

SUBMISSIONS:

All submissions should be completed through the JSPG submission page.

TOPIC AREAS

As the competition is accessible to teams of early career scientists worldwide, we encourage groups to submit on topics relevant to one of the two following categories: 

A Science and Technology topic relevant to a recent election (national or local) in your country. 

The UN Sustainable Development Goals 

AWARDS:

Memos will be reviewed by the JSPG editorial board, and monetary awards will be given to the top three submissions for use in their groups’ budget:

These funds are intended for the science policy activities by the winning groups. If a winning submission comes from university-affiliated individuals with no group at their university, the funds should be directed towards hosting a science policy related event, or supporting efforts to start a group. If the winning submission comes from policy fellows without a formal host entity, the funds should similarly be directed towards hosting a science policy related event, or supporting efforts to engage with others to create a groups focused on science policy engagement.

In addition to awards, the winning submissions will be submitted to JSPG for peer review and publication in a special Summer 2020 issue!

NSPN and JSPG will highlight and publicize the ways in which award money are leveraged.

Award levels:

Gold: $1000 + 3 registration fee waivers for the 2020 NSPN Symposium

Silver: $750 + 3 registration fee waivers for the 2020 NSPN Symposium

Bronze: $500 + 3 registration fee waivers for the 2020 NSPN Symposium

GROUP SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

–  PLEASE NOTE: Memos should have at least three authors. All authors should be early career scientists, as defined in our NSPN membership criteria

– Only memos collectively submitted by science policy groups will be considered*.

*If no policy group is formally assembled at the university, a minimum of 3 people is required for participation, or a collaboration with a group at another institute is acceptable.

–   A maximum of two  submissions per group is allowed.

— Citations are mandatory and will not be considered in the word count. All citation styles are welcome for submission, but Chicago author-date citation style will be required for accepted submissions.

DEADLINES:

November 2nd: Competition launch at the NSPN  Annual Symposium

April 15th: Extended deadline for submissions

May 2020: Winners announced

Formatting Guidelines

Maximum 2000 words. Submissions should be in 12 point Times New Roman font, 1” margins, and include page numbers.

Complete JSPG Submission Guidelines

For questions about submission guidelines, please email editors@sciencepolicyjournal.org.
For questions about awards, please email policymemos@scipolnetwork.org

All submissions should be completed through the JSPG submission page.

EXAMPLE Question Prompts for Topics:

  • Is there an area of science and technology in which we are under-investing relative to its importance?
  • What is an area of public policy where there is a large gap between current policy and what science would suggest? What might help close or reduce this gap?
  • In a given U.S. state (i.e. Colorado, Kansas, Wisconsin, etc.), what important policy issues would benefit from scientific and technical expertise?

RESOURCES

2019 memo winners
How to Avoid Common Pitfalls In Professional Writing. John Holdren
How to Write a Health Policy Brief. Wong et al. Families, Systems & Health, 2017.

Filmed reviews of memos:

During the workshop groups prepared 1-page memos that were later reviews be experienced members of the community.

3 reviews by Candace Vahlsing, Senior Advisor for Energy, Climate, and Environment for Senator Michael Bennet

3 reviews by Yvette Seger, Director of Science Policy, FASEB.

Lectures on memo writing:

Erin Heath, AAAS – “Communicating Science Through Policy Briefs”

Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures – “Getting Things Done”

About JSPGThe Journal of Science Policy and Governance (JSPG) is a 501-c3 non-profit organization and independent, open-access peer review publication managed by and for students, policy fellows and young scholars in science, technology and innovation policy. Since 2011, JSPG has served as a vehicle for students and early-career trainees to bolster their research and writing credentials in science policy. JSPG publishes high quality articles oriented towards policy and public audiences on an accelerated timeline. Visit www.sciencepolicyjounral.org and follow on Twitter @SciPolJournal to learn more.