The Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy
As part of the Initiative for Science, Engineering, and
Technology, the American Academy is pleased to announce the establishment of
the Hellman Fellowship in Science and Technology Policy for an early-career
professional with training in science or engineering who is interested in
transitioning to a career in public policy and administration. While in
residence, the Hellman Fellow will work with senior scientists and policy
experts on critical national and international policy issues related to
science, engineering, and technology.
The focus of the work will be on one or more of the
ongoing projects (see below) under the Academy’s Initiative for Science,
Engineering, and Technology to which the Hellman Fellow will contribute
substantively. The mission of the Initiative is to examine, in broad terms, how
the world of science and technology is evolving, how to help the public
understand these changes, and how society can better adapt. The Initiative
brings together scientists and public policy experts in a neutral setting,
outside of the constraints of the political process.
The overall objectives of the Hellman Fellowship
Program are as follows:
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To provide a setting and resources for an early-career professional to develop expertise on issues of science,
engineering and technology policy;
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To increase the cadre of young science-policy professionals who are engaged in substantive discussion of science and
engineering research questions with a broad understanding of their social
implications; and
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To increase the scale of American Academy projects and studies on science, engineering, and technology.
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Fellowship Eligibility: Applicants must have a Ph.D. in an area of
science or engineering and have some experience or a demonstrated interest in
an area related to science and technology policy. Masters degrees may be
considered in the fields of engineering and computer science. Strong writing
and organizational skills are desired. Candidates must be U.S. citizens,
permanent residents, or current employees of an academic or professional
organization in the United States.
About the American Academy: Founded in 1780, the
American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center
that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The
Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts,
business, and public affairs.
With a current membership of 4,000 American Fellows and 600 Foreign Honorary
Members, the Academy has four major goals:
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Promoting service and study through analysis of critical social and intellectual issues and the development of practical
policy alternatives;
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Fostering public engagement and the exchange of ideas with meetings, conferences, and symposia bringing diverse
perspectives to the examination of issues of common concern;
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Mentoring a new generation of scholars and thinkers through the Visiting Scholars Program; and
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Honoring excellence by electing to membership men and women in a broad range of disciplines and professions.
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The Academy's main headquarters is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. With its
geographically diverse membership, it has active programming around the United
States and abroad.
Terms: The appointment is for a
one-year term (with the possibility of a one-year renewal) to begin on
September 1, 2007 or earlier at the American Academy in Cambridge,
Massachusetts. Stipend is competitive and commensurate with experience.
Application: Send a cover letter indicating interest in and experience related
to one or more of the topics listed below, curriculum vitae, and 3 letters of
reference to:
By Email:
hellmanfellow@amacad.org
By Regular Mail:
Hellman Fellowship Program
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
136 Irving Street Cambridge, MA 02138
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Initiative for Science, Engineering, and Technology Projects:
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Alternative Models for the Federal Funding of
Science and Their Potential to Nurture the Next Generation of Scientists.
This study group will examine current funding policies, mechanisms, and
processes, and will recommend strategies for maximizing the impact of science
funding. The study will consider, for example, the effects of boom and bust
funding cycles, the proper balance of capacity-building versus merit in funding
considerations, the proportion of funds set aside for high-risk versus
incremental research, and whether the current system of distributing funds is
effective in supporting and retaining early-career scientists.
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Scientists’ Understanding of the Public.
Public attitudes about science and technology are
complex, informed by a variety of sources, anchored by ethical considerations,
religious beliefs, and cultural norms and values. In certain fields—for
example, nuclear research, genetic engineering, research on dangerous
pathogens, and nanotechnology—scientific progress and public policy concerns
may come into conflict. The capacity of scientists to gain adequate funding for
their work and to provide sound advice to policy makers depends crucially on
their understanding of the social implications and likely public responses to
their research. The project will convene scientists to discuss means of
addressing this problem.
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Science and the Liberal Arts Curriculum.
The Academy is undertaking a study to examine the role of science education in
the liberal arts curriculum. More than two-thirds of enrolled students at
colleges and universities do not major in the natural sciences, engineering, or
mathematics. For these students, the science courses they take in college
represent their last formal science education. The primary objectives of the
study are to: 1) examine philosophies behind science requirements for
nonscientists in the liberal arts curriculum, 2) determine how non-science
majors fulfill their science requirements, and 3) disseminate findings to
enrich discussions of curriculum reform at higher education institutions.
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Global Nuclear Future. The
objective of the project is to provide a comprehensive evaluation of ways in
which present trends—toward more widely distributed nuclear power, more nuclear
weapons, more nuclear-weapon-states, and less arms control and international
regulation of the world’s nuclear affairs—can be deflected to reduce the
likelihood of conflict involving fissile materials. The project is addressing
issues such as managing the nuclear fuel cycle, improving nuclear safety and
security,
US
nuclear weapons policy, and challenges of disarmament.
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Securing the Internet as Public Space.
This study examines the social, political,
economic, and legal bases of Internet security. The fundamental social building
blocks of Internet communication—i.e., trust, power and control, and
identity—are mediated by the technical protocols that underlie the Internet’s
basic operation. By bringing together perspectives on both the social and
technical requirements for Internet security, the project will offer
recommendations for effective policies and design choices.
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