The Environmental Science and Policy group at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) was created as a cross-disciplinary student initiative to promote the integration of student research into the policy process. The goals of the group are to:

provide a policy context for research being conducted at SIO

encourage students to apply their theses to policy issues

create a forum for communication across disciplines and with the public

expose students to non-academic career options

These goals are being achieved through a seminars series, coursework, publications, and workshops.

The Environmental Science and Policy seminar series provides a forum for topics not included in the traditional curricular-based seminar series. The seminar series includes speakers from a variety of disciplines who are involved in the sciences, government, non-profits, industry, law or journalism. It is designed to reach-out to students in all curricular groups, as well as faculty, staff, and the public.

The Environmental Science and Policy course allows for a more focused learning environment in which students learn to communicate across disciplines and to the public by presenting lectures and submitting an article to a non-academic publication on a policy topic that is relevant to their thesis work.

Workshops on specific topics, such as working with policy makers, public out-reach, and communication, will foster a mentoring relationship between students and experts in environmental science and policy.

The activities of the Environmental Science and Policy group will advance the awareness of policy issues relevant to the science being done at Scripps Institution of Oceanography and in the community. Student participants will create a network of scientists with a unique understanding of the policy context within which their studies are conducted.