I am excited to introduce ASA’s Policy Outreach Program (POP) Fellowship, our new initiative designed to connect sociologists with the policy world. Fellows will partner with think tanks, policymakers, and legislators, gaining increased opportunities to access fellowships, learn about resources and funding sources, and, perhaps most importantly, share their work with those who can put it into action.
I am often struck by the fantastic work that fellow sociologists do. Our research touches on many areas, providing greater insights into immigration, criminal justice, access to health care, economic opportunity, and so much more. Yet, I think it is fair to say that, while sociologists do an excellent job communicating these ideas to one another, we could use some help sharing our work with those outside our disciplinary community. That’s where the POP Fellowship comes in, and why this program matters.
Over the course of a year, POP Fellows will receive training in effective ways to communicate with the lay public and have opportunities to learn from and engage with decision-makers in the legislative and policymaking worlds. Training will mostly occur remotely, although there will be optional chances to gather in person at the Annual Meeting and on Capitol Hill. You can read more about the program here.
Part of what makes the POP Fellowship unique is how external policymaking organizations are directly involved with fellows. When I approached various think tanks and legislators about partnering with ASA on the POP, they were excited, receptive, and enthusiastic. No one expressed hesitation, asked why we were doing this, or seemed doubtful about what they could gain from such a program. Instead, the unspoken response seemed to be, “What took you so long?”
These interactions made me realize that there is a real hunger for the type of work we do—rigorous, empirical scholarship that provides clarity and insight into a complicated world. Like many sociologists, our POP partners are dedicated to implementing solutions to society’s biggest challenges. The various think tanks and legislative offices that have agreed to collaborate with us want to find solutions to end homelessness, address the effects of climate change, preserve Constitutional principles and the rule of law, and more. They need the research and data that sociologists produce. The POP allows for synergistic connections that will bring both groups closer together, allowing sociologists to have a real impact in policymaking and legislative spaces.
To allow for a carefully structured, focused experience, the POP Fellowship will be a small, cohort-based program. I hope that many ASA members will apply. Although we will only be able to select up to 10 POP Fellows per year, I am hopeful that, in time, the ASA POP will produce a robust cadre of sociologists who are closely connected to the policy world. I would love to see our research have the influence it deserves, forming the basis of sound social policy. I look forward to seeing the POP Fellowship take sociology in that direction.