CIVIC SCIENTIST PROGRAM

KEY PEOPLE

• Neal F. Lane, Senior Fellow in Science and Technology Policy
• Kirstin R.W. Matthews, Fellow in Science and Technology Policy

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The Civic Scientist Program aims to increase the engagement of scientists and engineers with society to increase knowledge as well as interest in science.

The Civic Scientist Program at the Baker Institute is based on the premise that a more informed and engaged public will lead to improved science policy in both the private and public sector. Neal F. Lane, senior fellow in science and technology policy as well as former director of the National Science Foundation and science adviser to President Clinton, describes the “civic scientist” as “a true scientist who uses his or her knowledge, accomplishments and skills to help bridge the gap between science and society.”

The program is composed of three separate but complementing initiatives:

• A collection of talks by the leading scientists and engineers who have impacted public policy.
• A community outreach initiative that send scientists and engineers from Rice University and the Houston community to local middle and high schools to talk about careers in science.
• A collection of short essays describing scientists and engineers and how they have impacted public policy.

The Civic Scientist Program is managed by the Science and Technology Policy Program at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.