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PhDs 004: Science and Democracy – with Pallavi Phartiyal

October 11, 2014 By Michelle Erickson

PhDs 04 Science and Democracy - with Pallavi Phartiyal-B

Pallavi Phartiyal, Senior Analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, shares her thoughts on science-based careers in public policy and how scientific research and the sharing of information supports our democratic system.

QUOTES FROM PALLAVI

“There is a debate within the scientific community – it’s not a new debate, it’s happened over the course of centuries – which is, how should scientists engage or not engage in public policy and advocacy? And does that do something to the credibility they hold if they step out of their lab?”

“Public policy and advocacy doesn’t have the luxury of the academic time frame. You have to be much more cognizant of everything that is playing out politically around you.”

“What is the role of informed citizenry in making our system of governance a strong one? And how do we provide data to strengthen that relationship between the public and the people who govern them?”

“Most of our founding fathers were citizen scientists. In fact, a lot of laws that they wrote were derived by thinking about Newtonian laws, for instance, the system of checks and balances.”

“Science policy is a career which is not very well defined. A lot of opportunities that exist, you have to seek them out. There is no set way to get there.”

LINKS & RESOURCES

Union of Concerned Scientists

The Science Network

The Science Network Workshop Series

Tips and Tools for Science Communicators

PhDs 003: Open Access Publishing and Networking - with Adam Capitanio
PhDs 005: Job Search - with David Hardtke

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Pallavi Phartiyal, PhD

Senior Analyst and Program Manager, Center for Science and Democracy
Union of Concerned Scientists

PhD, Molecular and Cellular Biology

Molecular Determinants of Heteromeric hERG Channel Assembly and Trafficking

University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2007

Connect with Pallavi

My professional philosophy in a nutshell:

Put yourself in their shoes.

Which is more important: luck, smarts, or know-how?

Smarts with humility

Pallavi's "Week in the Life"

  • Pallavi Phartiyal | One Year Later
  • PhDs 004: Science and Democracy – with Pallavi Phartiyal
  • Pallavi Phartiyal (Fri)
  • Pallavi Phartiyal (Thurs)
  • Pallavi Phartiyal (Wed)
  • Pallavi Phartiyal (Tues)
  • Pallavi Phartiyal (Mon)
  • Pallavi Phartiyal | Union of Concerned Scientists

Best career advice I ever received:

Don’t shy away from unpaid internship as a stepping stone when transitioning from academic to another sector. As PhDs, we often believe we should be paid because we have a specific expertise (which is true) but when trying to get your foot in the door, you’re competing with non-PhDs, who are keen on (paid or unpaid) internship, especially in D.C. so be prepared to take on any and every relevant opportunity to get real-world work experience.

If I had to do it all over again, I would…

... take coursework in economics.

More Non-Profit Bloggers

  • Maria Lahuerta | ICAP
  • Hanna Griff-Sleven | Museum at Eldridge Street
  • Pallavi Phartiyal | Union of Concerned Scientists
  • Christopher P. Thornton | National Geographic Society
  • Tony Kireopoulos | National Council of Churches
  • Rosemary G. Feal | Modern Language Association
  • Joseph Shahadi | The Art of Brooklyn
  • Sara Ogger | New York Council for the Humanities
  • Sean Carson | Berkeley Art Museum

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