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.
2026 Politics Aside Events
Coming Soon!
New in 2026
Off The Record: The Science Policy Stories You Never Hear
Off The Record is a new national podcast series revealing the untold, unfiltered stories of how science actually shapes public policy. Produced collaboratively by NSPN chapters across the country, each episode is created by a different university science policy group—bringing diverse voices, experiences, and perspectives together under one project.
Each episode pairs early-career scientists with seasoned policy advisors for candid conversations about the challenges, breakthroughs, and behind-the-scenes moments of policymaking. Designed for students, community members, and anyone curious about how science shapes decisions, Off The Record brings transparency, trust, and real-world insight to the science–policy landscape. Stay tuned!
2025 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 • 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
August 7, 2025 • Boston University
Your Next Doctor Might Be an Algorithm: Should You Be Worried?
From diagnostics to treatment, intelligent tools are reshaping healthcare. But are our policies keeping up? This event dives into research on human-machine collaboration and precision medicine, highlighting how predictive models are transforming patient care. As “digital doctors” become more real than futuristic, we’ll explore critical questions around HIPAA, data ethics, and what responsible innovation should look like. Join experts and policymakers at the forefront of this healthcare revolution.
MA Senator Jacob R. Oliveira, Hampden, Hampshire, & Worcester District
MA Senator Michael O. Moore, 2nd Worcester District
MA Representative Meghan K. Kilcoyne, 12th Worcester District
Thomas A. Neyarapally, President & CEO, Archetype Therapeutics, Inc.
Adil Haider, MD, Founder, Boston AI
Kayhan Batmanghelic, PhD, Assistant Professor, College of Engineering, Boston University
September 18, 2025 • FAS Headquarters • Washington, DC
Is It Time To Keep, Tweak, or Reboot Government?
A participatory workshop to reimagine public systems and build what works.
Join NSPN and Federation of America Scientists. Rather than defaulting to calls for efficiency as code for cuts, we’ll explore what it truly means to build public systems that are adaptive, trusted, and fit for purpose. Through case-driven discussion and hands-on activities, participants will identify what to keep, what to refine, and where a full system reboot may be necessary. The outcome is a shared language and practical insights for improving government from the inside out. This workshop will engage policy entrepreneurs, practitioners, and early career scientists.
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
Erica Goldman, Director of Day One and Policy Entrepreneurship, FAS (Panel Facilitator)
Erica Kimmerling, Senior Director, Future of Science Strategies, Association of Science and Technology Centers
November 3, 2025 • Chicago, IL
AI and Your Health: The Promise and the Peril
Join NSPN and the Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST) for a conversation with policymakers, legal experts, and researchers as we explore AI’s influence on medicine and the crucial role science policy plays in shaping its future. You’ll have the chance to engage with the experts and share your own questions and insights. Panelists:
State Senator Robert Peters, Illinois 13th Senate District
Representative Bob Morgan, Illinois 58th House District
Amber C. Thomson, Partner at Mayer Brown
Maryellen Giger, Ph.D., A.N. Pritzker Distinguished Service, Professor of Radiology Committee on Medical Physics, University of Chicago
Roselyne Tchoua, Ph.D., Associate Professor, School of Computing, DePaul University
November 6, 2025 • Atlanta, GA
Can we innovate, integrate, and implement AI without burning out the grid or draining the well?
The Atlanta metro region is becoming a popular market for data centers, driven by the demand for digital storage and generative AI. This growth is reshaping local utility planning, environmental policy, and community development, while raising concerns about grid strain, water use, and long-term sustainability. This convening will focus on the policy implications of the rapid growth of data centers. Panelists:
Chris Manganiello, PhD, Water Policy Director, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper
Amy Sharma, PhD, Executive Director, Science for Georgia
William D. Bryan, PhD, Director of Research, Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance
Connie Di Cicco, Political Director, Georgia Conservation Voters
Danny Johnson, Managing Director Natural Resources, Atlanta Regional Commission
