About the Science and Technology Policy Academy
In-depth Science and Technology Policy Analysis, Evaluation, Communication, and Education
The Science and Technology Policy Academy is for scientists, engineers, and health professionals who are serious about a career in science and technology policy. The Academy offers on-demand and live classes, workshops for organizations, executive coaching, and “done for you” policy analysis, program evaluation, and policymaker and public communication services.
We teach or coach students and professionals on the fundamentals of science and technology policy and careers, and how to analyze science and technology-related issues using policy analysis, benefit-cost analysis, and other techniques. Students and professionals can take classes independently or through organizations like universities, disclipinary societies, and student groups.
The Science and Technology Policy Academy’s “Done for You” services can develop science and technology policy-related analysis and communication products and services including gathering information from experts and stakeholders.
About Dr. Deborah Stine
Dr. Deborah D. Stine is the Founder and Chief Instructor of the Science & Technology Policy Academy.
She is a freelance consultant, policy analyst, writer, video producer, professor, teacher, trainer, and study director whose career has been dedicated to translating science and technology to policymakers, the public, students, and investors—AND translating policymakers, the public, students, and investors to the science and technology community.
She has taught classes at many organizations, including the Foundation for Advanced Education in the Sciences at NIH, Rutgers University, the University of Idaho, Notre Dame, Princeton, Penn State, Ohio State, North Carolina State, West Virginia University, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Virginia Tech, and the MOST (Missouri) Policy Initiative. She was also a visiting professor in engineering studiest at Lafayette College.
Consulting clients include the Energy Futures Initiative, Catalyst Connection (manufacturing), Cleaner Cooking Coalition, and West Virginia University, where she has acted as study director for two studies on the Waters of West Virginia and Carbon Dioxide Reduction.
She was Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) at the White House from 2009-2012, during the first three years of the Obama Administration. During that time, she was the study director on a wide variety of science and technology policy topics including advanced manufacturing, spectrum allocation, influenza vaccine production, nanotechnology, networking and information technology, ecosystems and the economy, and STEM education that led to Obama Administration initiatives.
At Carnegie Mellon, Dr. Stine was a Professor of the Practice for the Engineering and Public Policy Department and Associate Director for Policy Outreach for the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation from 2012-2018. Dr. Stine received the Carnegie Science Communication Award for her communication activities, particularly videos, for her work at Carnegie Mellon.
From 2007-2009, she was a science and technology policy specialist with the Congressional Reseach Service. There she wrote reports on many topics including a comparison of the Apollo program, Manhattan Project, and Energy Research & Development programs; science and technology diplomacy; a primer on science and technology policy, ARPA-E, and the America COMPETES Act.
From 1989-2007, she was at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine—where she was associate director of the Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy; director of the National Academies Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Program; and director of the Office of Special Projects. While there, she received the highest staff award from the National Academies. She was the study director for the Rising Above the Gathering Storm report that led to the America COMPETES Act and the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E).
Prior to coming to the Academies, she was a mathematician for the Air Force, an air-pollution engineer for the state of Texas, and an air-issues manager for the Chemical Manufacturers Association. She was also President of the League of Women Voters of Corpus Christi, and a member of the League’s Texas Board of Directors.
Dr. Stine holds a BS in mechanical and environmental engineering from the University of California, Irvine, an MBA from what is now Texas A&M at Corpus Christi, and a PhD in public administration with a focus on science and technology policy analysis from American University. She resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Thank you very much for all of your work on the Idaho Science & Technology Policy Fellowship orientation [Level 1: Intro to S&T Policy]. We are deeply appreciative of your ability to quickly develop a curriculum, create online learning platforms, author daily emails (with Idaho photos), and cover so many topics.
I truly learned so so much that will definitely benefit me and my career. You're a great teacher and I appreciate you being able to approach policy teaching from the scientific perspective." [Level 2: Public Policy Analysis
I'm glad I took the policy analysis course [Level 2] because I was having difficulty finding training opportunities for higher-level skills. I gained a lot from the process of developing my policy analysis question and options, and workshopping these through one-on-one calls.
The Level 3 [Public Policy Analytical Methods] course provided me with different ways to analyze policy options. I learned about benefit-cost analysis, cost effectiveness analysis, and risk analysis, all of which can be applied to a variety of policy topics. Debbie is extremely helpful in answering questions and providing feedback.
Debbie does a great job of helping you distill ideas into impactful statements and questions. The academy got me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to step back and bring new skills and new ideas to my research. And these results are tangible. I was awarded an internal seed grant from my university...
The Science & Technology Policy Academy helped me to see that I did not need to change my research to be more policy relevant, I needed to learn how to communicate the research I was already doing in a policy relevant way.
I valued receiving frequent feedback from Debbie on materials like logic models and policy briefs to produce products that are easy to understand, relevant to policymakers, and effective at communicating the policy relevance of my research.
The S&T Policy Academy helped me conceptualize a framework for writing about policy issues of interests, in a way that would be compelling to a legislator. As someone working in science policy and much of it is on the job, this structured learning environment has been a really helpful learning experience...
In considering the services of a coach/mentor or instructor, science and technology policy I recommend you consider Deborah Stine. I was a bit overconfident in what I thought I knew and could do. Her calm, patient, knowledgeable guidance on the development and use of logic models was invaluable.
I knew I wanted to engage with science in a new way, outside of the lab- but I wasn't sure where to start my career search. I loved how the course material was laid out in a logical way, and it was at your own pace. I was able to find a position that was a perfect fit for my interests in life sciences policy and biosecurity.
I took the "Public Policy Analysis" [Level 2] course with the Academy just after completing my PhD. While I had no formal policy training prior, I was passionate about using my science background to help inform public policy. The course was the perfect step to make that happen
