Sociologists Take the "Science of Science Policy" to Capitol Hill
Annual science fest exposes legislators and policymakers to range of NSF-supported research
ASA sponsored a poster presentation by
sociologists
from the University of Maryland:
(from left to right)
Jonathon Mote, Aleia Clark,
Jerry Hage, and Gretchen Jordan
(Sandia National Laboratories).
Sociologists Jerald Hage, director at Maryland’s Center for Innovation, and Jonathon Mote, an assistant research scientist also at the center, displayed their NSF-backed research exploring the science of managing innovation in public research laboratories. For background on NSF’s "Science of Science & Innovation Policy" (SciSIP) initiative, see the March 2007 and January 2009 Footnotes (p. 2 and 3, respectively).
Hage and Mote, joined by University of Maryland graduate student Aleia Clark as well as Gretchen Jordan of Sandia National Laboratories, are currently in the process of data collection to identify best practices for promoting scientific innovation. The research also seeks to ascertain whether best practices vary among disciplines; the study examines chemistry, biology, material sciences, alternative energy, and geo-physical sciences. The team expects the final results of the research to be available in 2012, following the completion of two preliminary reports on three labs each, expected in 2010 and 2011.
NSF-funded sociologist Jerry Hage listens as
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses attendees
at the Coalition for National Science Funding Exhibition.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addressed the assembled crowd, highlighting her commitment to science.
"If you want to know the agenda for this Congress, think of four words: science, science, science, science," said Pelosi. Her prepared comments for the event are online at www.speaker.gov/newsroom/pressreleases?id=1069.
The CNSF event highlighted a total of 34 research projects supported by the National Science Foundation. Projects covered topics as diverse as climate change, technological literacy, income dynamics, and the earth’s interior. A complete listing of the posters is available at www.asanet.org/cs/press/view_news?pressrelease.id=531.
CNSF, of which ASA is a member, is an alliance of more than 120 organizations united by a concern for the future vitality of the national science, technology, engineering, and mathematics research enterprise as well as the related kindergarten through graduate educational base. For more information on CNSF, visit www.cnsfweb.org. Search for "CNSF" at www.asanet.org for online coverage of sociology posters at past CNSF exhibitions. 
