AIBS Public Policy Office: Activities and Growth
The AIBS Public Policy Office (PPO) reorganized in 2003 with additional funding from AIBS member societies and organizations in order to address issues of concern to the membership. That reorganization provided the office with a clearer role within AIBS as more member societies sought assistance with various public policy activities. The broadly defined mission of the office became bridging the communication gap that exists between scientists and policy makers. The PPO works with the AIBS Board and the AIBS Public Policy Review Committee to engage in activities that contribute to (a) a policy-literate biological sciences community and (b) a biology-literate policy community.
The PPO actively seeks contributions from the AIBS membership to help continue building the capacity of the biological sciences community to engage successfully in the public policy process; to inform the development and implementation of effective science policy; to assist AIBS member societies and organizations with the development of their public policy agendas; and to communicate AIBS and AIBS member society and organization policy interests to the public, science community, and policy makers. AIBS is currently looking to add to its PPO staff: a vacancy exists for a Public Policy/Affairs Representative. Contact: AIBS Public Policy Director Robert Gropp, rgropp@aibs.org