The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET) grassroots congressional education effort informs ASPET members how to become effective public advocates for biomedical research. As a scientist, you are the most effective advocate for the biomedical science research enterprise - and the most credible too. Legislators, media and the public need to hear from you that the investment in biomedical research is a national priority.
To create scientist-advocates of the future, ASPET has developed the Advocacy Outreach Program to help develop informed and effective public advocates for biomedical research. The purpose of this outreach effort is to educate and train graduate students, post-docs and faculty in pharmacology departments on the importance of grassroots advocacy in support of increased funding for the NIH. The ultimate goal of the outreach program is to 1) develop a cadre of interested individuals who will more effectively advocate on critical issues of science funding and science policy and 2) provide individuals the skills needed to become informed and proactive participants in these issues at whatever institution the may find themselves in the near future. ASPET has visited UT Southwestern, Emory University, Wayne State for Michigan's Annual Research Colloquium, University of Louisville, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and Drexel University College of Medicine. If there is an opportunity for ASPET to make a presentation at your institution, or for information on how to arrange a successful meeting with your Members of Congress, contact Jim Bernstein, ASPET's Director of Government and Public Affairs at 301-634-7062. ASPET assumes all travel expenses for this effort.
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Summary of ASPET 2011 Graduate Student Colloquium and Capitol Hill Day