Research!America seeks to empower early-career researchers to become articulate spokespersons for science and research to public officials and their communities alike.

For more information about student civic engagement initiatives, check out our blog post on student advocacy or contact us microgrants@researchamerica.org.

Civic Engagement Microgrant Program

Learn more about Research!America's civic engagement microgrant program for student and postdoc-led science policy groups. Click here to learn more about our 2021-2022 virtual microgrant program! 

Click here to learn more information about the 2021-2022 Microgrant recipients. 

Click here to learn more information about the 2020-2021 Microgrant recipients. 

Click here to learn more information about the 2019-2020 Microgrant recipients. 

Click here to learn more information about the 2018-2019 Microgrant recipients.

Resources for Student Advocacy

Students may also wish to explore the many resources on our website designed to support your advocacy and civic engagement:

• Program Planning and Execution: Tips and guidelines for planning and executing your civic engagement events.
• Participate in a Science Society Hill Day
• Research Funding and Economic Impact State by State: When advocating for research, it's helpful to have statistics about the impact of research on your state. 
• Science Communication Toolkit: Tips for making your voice heard for science, including meeting with elected officials, messaging, and working with the media.
  • Why Science Communication?
  • Talking to Your Representatives
  • Social Media for #SciComm
  • Community Events
  • An Overview of Op-eds
  • All About Infographics
  • Giving a Good Elevator Pitch
  • Blog Writing

eARLY CAREER SCIENTIST SPOTLIGHTS

To learn more about the work the early-career scientists are doing, check out these spotlights:

• Neuroscience saved my life and gave me a vocation
• Early Career Spotlight: Engaging the Next Generation of Health Professionals at The Ohio State University
• Microgrant Spotlight: The Activist Lab at the University of South Florida College of Public Health
• Making the case for Research on Zoom: Report from a Successful Virtual Hill Day
• Early Career Spotlight: Rutgers University Environmental Health Researcher Showcases the Experiences of Young People in a COVID-19 Pandemic Hotspot
• Early Career Spotlight: Early Career Scientists at Michigan State University to Host Virtual SciComm Conference

REACHING THE PEAK: A SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CAREER SUMMIT

Research!America will host the Reaching the Peak: A Science & Technology Career Summit on Wednesday, June 15, 2022. During this one-day virtual event, early career researchers had the opportunity to explore an array of career paths, network with fellow researchers, participate in professional development workshops, and engage in meaningful discussions around issues critical to the success of the R&D ecosystem. 

Previous voter and civic engagement initiatives

Research!America has also led initiatives promoting civic engagement and non-partisan voter education. Follow the links below to learn more!

• Vote Science Strong: This national candidate engagement campaign led by Research!America during the 2020 presidential election season aimed to elevate the importance of research and innovation in the national conversation. Through strategic grassroots activities, and communications initiatives, Research!America raised awareness about the importance of research in ensuring a science strong future.

• Raise the Caps: This campaign centered on the annual return of budget caps under the 2011 Budget Control Act, placing science funding in jeopardy. Each year since then, Congress must pass- and the president sign- a bill raising the budget caps. Without this measure, cuts to science agency budgets are inevitable.

• Your Candidates. Your Health.: In this initiative during the 2018 midterm elections, Research!America worked to educate voters on their candidates’ views on health and research and equip them with the information to become advocates, urging candidates to make scientific, medical and health research a higher national priority.

• Campaign for Cures: This national voter education initiative led by Research! America during the election season promoted medical research and innovation.Through strategic grassroots activities, communications initiatives and partnerships with preeminent voter education groups, Research!America raised awareness about the importance of sustaining medical progress.