Politics Aside, Policy Forward Initiative

Politics Aside, Policy Forward is a nonpartisan initiative designed to foster meaningful dialogue between scientists, policymakers, and the public on critical science and technology issues.

Through discussions, workshops, and networking events, Politics Aside creates a space where science and policy intersect - free from political partisanship - to advance science-informed policymaking.

Upcoming Regional In-Person Events

  • Chicago, IL

    AI and Your Health: The Promise and the Peril

    Monday, November 3, 2025
    5 pm - 7:30 pm
    Harold Washington Library
    Chicago, IL

    Register

  • Atlanta, GA

    Can we innovate, integrate, and implement AI
    without burning out the grid or draining the well?

    Thursday, November 6, 2025
    9 am - 11:30 am
    Atlanta Tech Village - Buckhead

    * This is an invite-only stakeholder meeting.

    Register

  • PAST EVENT: Washington, D.C.

    Is It Time To Keep, Tweak, or Reboot Government?
    An interactive session to reimagine public systems and build what works.
    September 18, 2025

    YouTube Link Coming Soon

  • PAST EVENT: Boston, Massachusetts

    Your Next Doctor Might Be an Algorithm: Should You Be Worried?
    AI, Innovation and Healthcare
    August 7, 2025

    Watch Replay on YouTube

  • PAST EVENT: New York, NY

    From Underground to Mainstream:
    The Changing Landscape of Psychedelic Policy
    May 16, 2025

    Watch Replay on YouTube

2025 Sponsors

Past Events

May 3, 2025 • Rainier Club in Seattle, WA

Politics Aside: Policy Forward at the 2025 NSPN Symposium

We're excited to integrate Politics Aside into the 2025 NSPN Symposium. This Politics Aside event took a nonpartisan look at the evolving landscape of AI policy in recent years. The Symposium also showcased poster and oral presentations, hands-on skill-building activities, and engaging policy discussions with our distinguished guest, Washington State Senator Vandana Slatter and Representative Debra Lekanoff.

May 16, 2025 • 5 pm - 8:30pm • Rosenthal Pavilion at NYU

From Underground to Mainstream:
The Changing Landscape of Psychedelic Policy

This Politics Aside event will discuss, from a nonpartisan perspective, the changing landscape of psychedelic drugs in recent years, including its use in medicinal and mental health therapies, legal & policy perspectives, and ethical considerations. This is your chance to tell elected officials how you really feel. This rare nonpartisan event at NYU brings together researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss psychedelics’ journey from counterculture to clinic. Don't miss this chance to engage in a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of science, policy, and public opinion!

Speakers:

  • NY Senator Nathalia Fernandez, 34th Senate District of New York

  • Allison M. Hoots, Esq , Founder & Principal, Hoots Law Practice, Founder, Psychedelic Bar Association

  • Michael P. Gentile, MD, Board Certified Psychiatrist, Wyckoff Wellness Center

  • Amy Lehrner, PhD , Assist. Professor, Psychiatry & Associate Director, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

  • Brett Waters, Esq, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Reason for Hope