Please join us from 12:00-1:00 PM on Friday, March 13th, 2026, for an informal lunch conversation with Angela Anderson, the University’s Director of Federal Government Relations, alongside a small group of fellows currently working with Senator Chris Coons of DE. This session is ideal for students interested in career opportunities in science policy, government, and translating research into real-world impact.

Featured Fellows:

• Megan Bankowski is a Climate Solutions Foundation Fellow, a program designed for graduate students interested in working in Congress after completing their degrees. She holds a BS and a Master of Public Affairs from Indiana University Bloomington, where she concentrated on Energy and Climate Policy.

• Vetri Velan is a AAAS Congressional Science & Technology Fellow and earned his PhD in Physics from UC Berkeley, where he designed and ran experiments to investigate the nature of dark matter. He also holds a BS from Rutgers-New Brunswick and was actively involved in science policy training initiatives at Berkeley. As a graduate student, he helped launch a similar science policy organization on campus.

• Nicola Ritsch is also a AAAS Congressional Science & Technology Fellow. She earned her PhD from Carnegie Mellon University, where her research focused on infrastructure equity. Her work includes a Fulbright in Rwanda studying hospital internet usage and several years assessing rural water systems in Alaska. She holds MS and BS degrees from CU Boulder, was a Rhodes Scholarship finalist, and previously consulted for the World Bank for seven years.

Registration is capped at 35 attendees. Please only RSVP if you are able to attend. Event location will be announced to those who RSVP closer to the date. RSVP link: https://forms.gle/EscFeqNcnykPbdtQ7 

Curious about how science and policy intersect, and where YOU fit in? 

Please join us from 12:30-1:30 PM on Friday, April 10th, 2026 for a series of rapid-fire talks from graduate researchers at UD working in the policy space. No prior knowledge of policy or politics required. Whether you're a first-year or a seasoned researcher, this event is designed to make science policy feel accessible, relevant, and urgent.

Talks include:

• How Scientists Can Shape Policy: Science doesn't speak for itself. Learn how the U.S. government works, where scientific evidence fits into the policymaking process, and — most importantly — how you as a student and early career researcher can make your voice heard.

• Infrastructure, Environment & the Role of Government: Government decisions about where to build highways, warehouses, and shipping hubs have massive consequences for surrounding communities and the environment. This talk explores how policy shapes infrastructure and what the environmental trade-offs reveal about the need for evidence-based decision making.

• Democracy, NGOs & Your Civic Responsibility: Democracy only works when people participate, but participation isn't equally accessible to everyone. This talk explores the vital role that NGOs play in supporting civic engagement, advocating for underrepresented communities, and connecting everyday citizens to the policymaking process. You'll leave with a clearer sense of your own democratic responsibilities and concrete ways to get involved.

Registration is capped at 50 attendees. Open to all UD students, staff, and faculty. Please only RSVP if you are able to attend. Event location will be announced to those who RSVP closer to the date. RSVP link: https://forms.gle/QnYu61QPVzDKq5ev5

[Planning for this event is underway, to get involved with planning please email eyao@udel.edu]

[Planning for this event is underway, to get involved with planning please email eyao@udel.edu]