More About Us

We have many ways to be involved in TCSPN, from attending events, to advertising, to helping to plan workshops. We know everyone is busy, and all of our positions are designed to be flexible.

General Members

Anyone who subscribes to our google group or regularly attends events. Are able to help organize or plan events as they decide. Will help advertise events to their community.

NSPN Members

Anyone who joins NSPN and says they are affiliated with the Twin Cities Chapter. This is predominantly for Early Career Researchers, though there are affiliate membership options. Low cost, great benefits!

Board Members

The leaders of the group, the ones making decisions about what events to host and when. No application necessary to join. Should try to attend board meetings (about every 2 weeks) and meetings of working groups on an as-needed basis. Members are expected to be involved in helping to organize at least one event a year. Flexible time commitment. Will help advertise events to their community.

Chair of the Board

Responsible for conducting meetings when necessary and organizing the board members. Replaced via open elections every year. Responsible (right now) for communicating with UCS, NSPN. Responsible (right now) for finances of the group.

Mission Statement and Values:

The Twin Cities Science Policy Network (TCSPN) seeks to encourage participation in policy and legislative decision-making at both the state and federal level. We aim to advocate for the use of data in decision making, to raise awareness of the ways science can be used in government and to promote civic engagement. Our goal is to create an inclusive network of diverse individuals who can communicate the importance of using scientific knowledge in policy, create opportunities for more scientists to become involved in policy, and forge connections between science professionals, citizens and lawmakers.

To help create a welcoming environment, harassment and inappropriate conduct will not be tolerated. TCSPN will actively seek to amplify the voices of those who are systemically marginalized. When putting on events our aim is to be intentional in speaker selection, topic discussion, and bringing in resources from groups who are underserved and facing systemic discrimination or barriers to the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or policy.

Land Acknowledgement for the Twin Cities:

Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota (the Twin Cities) are situated on the traditional, ancestral, and contemporary homelands of Indigenous people. The Twin Cities reside on Dakota land ceded in the Treaties of 1837 and 1851, after which the US government did not uphold the terms of the treaties. Dakota, Anishinaabe, and Indigenous people from other Tribal nations reside in Minnesota, and we honor their history on this land, their sovereignty, and their continued contributions to our region. The Twin Cities Science Policy Network (TCSPN) recognizes that a land acknowledgement is only one way to stand in solidarity with Native nations, and is committed to ongoing efforts to recognize, support, and advocate for Indigenous peoples.

Expected Code of Conduct:

• Everyone has the right to determine their own identity, be called whatever name they wish, have that name pronounced correctly, and be referred to by whatever pronouns they wish.

• Listen actively and respectfully.

• Communicate openly and thoughtfully with everyone, and embrace the multitude of diverse backgrounds, views and opinions that are different from your own.

• Be aware of how body language and nonverbal responses can be or seem disrespectful.

• Work to create a collaborative and innovative environment for everyone.

• Speak from your own narrative and your own perspective, and do not speak for others.

• Be mindful of power dynamics that may arise from identity and position.

• Provide everyone the opportunity to talk during meetings when applicable.

• Compliance with the Union of Concerned Scientists code of conduct and the NSPN code of conduct.

• Violation of our code of conduct can be grounds for removal from the group, per a majority vote of the board members.

Questions?

Email us at twincitiesspn@gmail.com

To stay up-to-date on news and events, join our mailing list by clicking the button below, or sending a message to twincitiesSPN+subscribe@googlegroups.com from the email you would like to subscribe (no text necessary in the email body). If you are having trouble joining the group, email twincitiesspn@gmail.com to ask for an invite.