Georgetown Scientists Face World's Grand Challenges
The Georgetown Science in the Public Interest program sponsored a series of public discussions titled "Science & Society: Grand Challenges" this fall. (Photo: Roland Dimaya)
The November 26 event featured Ambassador Linton Brooks, former Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration; Joseph Cirincione, Director for Nuclear Policy at the Center for American Progress; and University of California at Berkeley Professor Raymond Jeanloz. (Photo: Roland Dimaya)
The audiences at the discussions included many Georgetown students. (Photo: Roland Dimaya)
By Dayo Akinwande
Climate change, global energy demand and supply, emerging pandemics, containing the spread of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs)—these represent some of today’s most pressing issues at the interface of science and society. These topics were all part of a recent discussion series sponsored by Georgetown’s Science in the Public Interest (SPI) program.
In 2005 the departments of Physics and Biology founded SPI, under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Urbach, professor of physics at Georgetown College, and fellow physics professor Francis Slakey, who is also an associate director of public affairs for the American Physical Society. Drs. Urbach and Slakey conceived the idea to create such a program after the success of Shaping National Science Policy, a class seminar taught by Dr. Slakey.
“We thought that we could build on the success of that seminar to create a signature program for the sciences at Georgetown,” says Dr. Urbach. “The motivation was from the recognition that there is an increasing need for scientists who understand something about the policy process, and that Georgetown is uniquely positioned to meet that need.”
Through this program, students not only examine a variety of environmental, energy, health, and security concerns, but they also engage directly with the government on such issues. Georgetown University’s location in Washington, D.C., is particularly advantageous to the students, for it allows them to meet with people such as members of Congress, journalists, scientists, business leaders, and entrepreneurs—people who are instrumental in forming science policy.
One such opportunity occurred this past November, when SPI co-sponsored a four-part discussion series titled “Science and Society: Grand Challenges” with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Smithsonian. Hosted by award-winning NPR reporters Richard Harris and Joe Palca, the events featured scientists, economists, and politicians who are experts in the issues raised in each of the four discussions: “Climate Change” (November 5), “Meeting Global Energy Demand” (November 12), “Managing a Pandemic” (November 19), and “Containing the Spread of WMDs” (November 26).
Issues like these are of critical concern to scientists and non-scientists alike. The Energy Information Administration estimates that energy consumption will increase by 60 percent within the next three decades, thus causing a strain for supply to keep up with demand. Grand advances in world transportation and mobility can spread a flu virus much more quickly and with deadlier results today than the one that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. And the spread of nuclear weapons poses a great threat to global security and environmental health. These are just a few of the issues that demand urgent attention from society as a whole, more than ever before.
Dr. Urbach hopes that Georgetown students use events like the discussion series to develop creative and practical solutions of their own to the problems posed. It is an approach that is paying off handsomely. For example, this past spring, an SPI group from Dr. Slakey’s course advocated for a “green college campuses” initiative to support the institutions of higher learning that build green buildings, and had their proposal integrated into Senator Jeff Bingaman's (D-NM) Energy Efficient Promotion Act, which Congress passed in the fall of 2007. Allison Shapiro (SFS ’07), one of the five students involved in the lobbying at Capitol Hill, gained valuable experience as a promoter of science-based national policy.
“I increased my knowledge of the green building industry, and became increasingly convinced of the importance of green design and operation to goal of reducing the country's dependence on fossil fuels, greenhouse gas emissions, and building material consumption,” says Shapiro. “I would not be surprised if I end up in the green building industry some day, and if I do, it would be directly related to the knowledge I gained of the industry in Professor Slakey's course.”
A few SPI students have stood out in their individual endeavors, like Joseph Fusco, the first undergraduate ever to intern for the American Medical Association; Shoshana Avertick, a Presidential Management Fellow; and Slakey’s first-ever student, Dan Benson, an elected Councilman in New Jersey. Indeed 98 percent of SPI students graduate with their science degree—a sharp contrast to a recent New York Times report that has more than half the nation’s college students dropping out of science before graduating. It is such success from the students that Dr. Urbach finds “quite remarkable.”
SPI also intends to bring in a broader audience, not only from Georgetown, but from the larger community. Alan Leshner, CEO of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the opening speaker for “Meeting Global Energy Demand,” expressed his delight at the sheer number of people in attendance, noting that there were audience members left standing. It is such a mission—drawing more people into discussion of science and societal issues—that is enjoying tremendous success.
And Drs. Urbach and Slakey look forward to continuing to build on SPI’s successes.
“With our exceptional students and faculty and our many connections to the policy process in D.C., we are perfectly positioned to facilitate the development of citizen-scientists,” says Dr. Urbach. “Our students develop a deep understanding of science, have wonderful research opportunities, and, through SPI, now have an unparalleled understanding of the connections between science and public policy.”