Table of Contents
Are you a scientist looking for ways to use your expertise for the good of your community? If so, this toolkit is for you. Whether you’re an early career scientist just getting started in advocacy, or an experienced scientist/advocate looking for new ideas, we can help you up your game. The tips, tools, and other resources below will help you stand up against attacks on science, form productive community partnerships, communicate effectively to a variety of audiences, and expand your knowledge base.
Increase your impact with these tips and tools
Use these guides to strengthen your advocacy skills and ability to connect with decision makers and the media, and within your community.
- Engaging with policymakers
- Engaging with community groups
- Talking with the media
- Effective science communication
- Inside the federal rulemaking process
- How to participate in federal rulemaking
- How to testify at a government hearing
Spark local action
If you’re ready for more engaged efforts, UCS will provide the how-tos and tips for creating community and effecting change on the issues that are most important to you.
Design your own actions and campaigns
Want to create policy or social change, but wondering where to start? Use these tools to help you ask the right questions, do the research, and connect with others to chart out your pathways for effective action and stronger influence.
- Strategies and Tactics for Stronger Science Advocacy
- Beyond the Trend of Decolonizing Science
- Setting equity goals
- Building strategic local action
- Power mapping your way to success
- Ten questions for researching policymakers
- Strengthening your impact through collaboration
- Nuclear Weapons Campus Action Toolkit for Students and Faculty - Take Action on Campus
- Acting Locally to Prevent Nuclear War: A Back from the Brink supporter toolkit
Stay informed on the latest action opportunities
It’s challenging for the busy scientist to keep track of the many urgent issues and opportunities to get involved. Here are some resources for keeping up to date:
- Follow our science and democracy experts on the UCS blog at blog.ucsusa.org/scidem.
- Follow the Science Network on Twitter at @scinetucs.