RESOURCES FOR
SCIENCE POLICY PROGRAMS
What should program leaders know about funding, training curricula, evaluation, and other topics? Find helpful resources and suggest ones to be shared with the community! (Click here to add resources)
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
| Name | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| National Science Foundation: Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI) | The Science of Science: Discovery, Communication and Impact (SoS:DCI) program is designed to advance theory and knowledge about increasing the public value of scientific activity. Science of Science draws from multiple disciplinary and field perspectives to advance theory and research about scientific discovery, communication and impact. | https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/sosdci-science-science-discovery-communication-impact |
| William T. Grant Foundation: Research Grants on Improving the Use of Research Evidence | This program supports research on strategies focused on improving the use, usefulness, and impact of evidence in ways that benefit young people ages 5-25 in the United States. | https://wtgrantfoundation.org/funding/research-grants-on-improving-use-of-research-evidence |
TRAINING AND CURRICULAR RESOURCES
| Name | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Book on engaging in policy for researchers | From Expertise to Impact is an essential guide for scientists, engineers, and health professionals aspiring to make significant societal contributions by using their scientific and technical knowledge to inform and influence policymakers. Based on her real-world experiences at Congress and the White House, Dr. Deborah D. Stine demystifies the journey, bridging the gap between research, analysis, and public policy. She provides a roadmap for navigating the complex intersection of science, technology, and society, offering practical tools, strategies, and examples. | https://a.co/d/036uFgUL |
| TrestleLink Trainings | Our trainings are designed to engage attendees in learning new skills. As such, trainings are intended to involve highly interactive sessions. Trainings are also adapted to different disciplines and policymaking contexts (e.g., states). Recordings and materials from prior live trainings are provided below. | https://trestlelink.org/services/policy-training-and-workshops/training-library/ |
| Elements of a successful science and technology policy fellows program for state government, 2022 | In this guide, you will find information to help program planning partners understand the landscape of science and technology policy advising in your state and prepare for external conversations. | https://ctcase.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/STPF-Program-Elements-Guide-2022.pdf |
| Case studies on science advice (fictional, historical, simulations, etc.) | The International Network for Governmental Science Advice's case studies are free to use and adapt for training or teaching. | https://ingsa.org/knowledge-hub/ingsa-case-studies/ |
| Guides on sharing evidence with policymakers developed by the European Union | These two guides focus on sharing scientific evidence with policymakers and disseminating results. | https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/262605e4-4b23-11f0-85ba-01aa75ed71a1/language-en; https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/51daa317-afc0-11f0-b37f-01aa75ed71a1/language-en |
| Communicating science for policy training package, workbook, checklist, scenario, forthcoming textbook | Training materials on communicating science for policy are available for free download and use in conjunction with a forthcoming open-access textbook. | https://www.communicatingscienceforpolicy.org/ |
EVALUATION RESOURCES
| Name | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Example experimental program evaluation design with state legislators | This study sought to experimentally evaluate an enhanced research dissemination intervention, known as the SciComm Optimizer for Policy Engagement (SCOPE), implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic among US state legislators. | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37147643/ |
| Example of an experimental program evaluation design in Congress | The Research-to-Policy Collaboration (RPC) initiative is a randomized, dual-population outreach model designed to improve the use of scientific evidence in legislation, particularly focusing on child and family policy issues. An experimental trial (RCT) conducted in the 116th U.S. Congress demonstrated that this model successfully increased the value congressional offices placed on scientific evidence and boosted the inclusion of research-based language in legislation. | https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2012955118 |
| W.K. Kellogg Foundation's program logic model development guide | The W.K. Kellogg Foundation's logic model development guide provides guidance on how to create program logic models. | https://wkkf.issuelab.org/resource/logic-model-development-guide.html |
| Example of the SPIRIT-ME framework for program evaluation | This paper describes an evaluation of the Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) program. See Mäkelä, P., Boaz, A., & Oliver, K. (2026). The Capabilities in Academic Policy Engagement (CAPE) programme in England: a mixed methods evaluation. Evidence & Policy, 22(1), 2-22. | https://bristoluniversitypressdigital.com/view/journals/evp/22/1/article-p2.xml |
| Use of Research Evidence Methods Repository | The open access platform provides measures for studying use of research evidence. | https://osf.io/collections/uremethods/discover?page=1 |
| List of constructs and measurement of training outcomes and correlates (science communication, public affairs/lobbying, training researchers to engage in policy) | This collection of measures used across literatures is available in supplementary materials from Akerlof, K. L., Schenk, T., Mitchell, K., Bankston, A., Syl, A., Eddy, L., ... & Velez, A. L. K. (2025). Learning outcomes and evaluation metrics for training researchers to engage in science policy. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 12(1), 1-16. | https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05434-2 |
| SPIRIT Action Framework Modified for Academic-Policy Engagement Interventions (SPIRIT-ME) | This paper provides a modified action framework for the evaluation of academic-policy interventions. See Mäkelä, P., Boaz, A., & Oliver, K. (2024). A modified action framework to develop and evaluate academic-policy engagement interventions. Implementation Science, 19(1), 31. | https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13012-024-01359-7 |
OTHER RESOURCES
| Name | Description | URL |
|---|---|---|
| Science Policy: A Guide to Policy Careers for Scientists | This 2020 guide was developed by the Alumni Network of the California Council on Science and Technology. It provides an introduction to science policy, details the various types of policy practice, settings, and issue areas, lists academic programs, extracurricular activities, organizations, and fellowship opportunities, and highlights many career professionals and their paths to science policy. | https://ccst.us/reports/science-policy-a-career-guide-to-policy-careers-for-scientists/ |
| TrestleLink Insights Blog | This blog features practices that bridge research and policy for impact. | https://trestlelink.org/media/ |
| Evidence & Policy Blog | The journal of Evidence & Policy blogs about its latest research and practice articles. | https://evidenceandpolicy.home.blog/ |
| Civic Science Career Roadmap | This 2023 roadmap is intended to serve as a curated compilation of resources to support career-related decision-making for those with civic science backgrounds or inclinations. | https://civic-science-f.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com/app/uploads/2023/10/Civic-Science-Career-Roadmap.pdf |
| Transforming Evidence Network Blog | The blog highlights new research and practice on making and using research evidence, across disciplines and policy domains. | https://transforming-evidence.org/blog |