Politics Aside Workshop: Government Efficiency

Live on YouTube: the Future of Science and Technology Ecosystem Panel and Data Briefing  
Tune in to watch from 7 am - 8 am PT / 10 am - 11 am ET

If you have any questions, please reach out to info@scipolnetwork.org

NSPN and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) are teaming up for a one-of-a-kind opportunity to reimagine the future of government. Join us for a highly interactive workshop designed to explore how our public systems can work more efficiently.

We’ll explore what it means to build public systems that are adaptive, trusted, and fit for purpose.

At Politics Aside, we believe that shaping a better world isn’t a spectator sport—it’s a shared responsibility. This design-thinking workshop invites you to move beyond observation and into collaboration. Together with fellow participants, you’ll tackle real challenges and prototype new approaches to public systems that work smarter, faster, and more equitably.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and help imagine what government could be, this space is for you.

Event Details & Agenda

Workshop Information
Workshop Day: September 18, 2025
Time: 9:30 am - 4 pm (Doors open at 9 am)
Location: Federation of American Scientists Headquarters (1150 18th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20036)

What to expect

  • Team-based design sprint and collaborative solution building activity

  • Insights that translate into actionable policy solutions and directly feed into the Day One Project - FAS’s initiative to turn bold ideas into implementable federal policy

Event Program (time listed in Eastern Time)

9:00 am - 9:30 am: Arrival & Check-In (coffee, tea, pastries provided)

9:30 am - 10:00 am: Welcome & Agenda Overview

10:00 am - 11:00 am: Future of Science and Technology Ecosystem Panel. Tune in to watch live on YouTube!
Featured Speakers:

  • Cole Donovan, Associate Director of S&T Ecosystems, FAS

  • Loren Schulman, Senior Fellow, Government Capacity, FAS

  • Layne Scherer, Program Director, STEMM Ed and Workforce, AAAS

  • Panel Facilitator: Erica Goldman, Director of Day One and Policy Entrepreneurship, FAS

11:00 am - 11:30 am: Data Briefing: Gold Standard Science Survey Insights.
Featured Speaker:

  • Erica Kimmerling, Senior Director, Future of Science Strategies, Association of Science and Technology Centers

11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Worldbuilding Workshop: Part I

12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Lunch

1:00 pm - 2:30 pm: Worldbuilding Workshop: Part II

2:30 pm - 3:00 pm: Break

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: Group Discussion & Adjourn

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Happy Hour Reception