Central to the contract of public funding for science is the belief that research findings should inform societal decisions, but this is often not the case. Communication processes are at the heart of “bridging the gap” between scientists and policymakers.
Funding
2017-2018 Akerlof, K, Lemos, MC, Cloyd, E, Heath, E, & Kempinski, R. Barriers and opportunities in communicating science to Congress. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration $37,400.00.
2018-2019 Akerlof, K, & Tyler, C. (RAPID) Legislative science advice: Formative research to develop an international research agenda. Science of Science Innovation and Policy, National Science Foundation $96,543.00. [Link]
2021-2023 Akerlof, K., Pfoser, D, & Goldman, E. LegisSciT: A cooperative longitudinal data tracking platform for the international study of legislative science advice. (Seed grant). Institute for Digital InnovAtion, George Mason University $37,233.50. [Link]
2023-2024 Akerlof, K. L. & Schenk, T. Bridging science and policy in the states: A study of emerging mechanisms to train scientists and engineers. 4-VA@Mason Collaborative Research Grant $19,820.
Journal Articles and Book Chapters
Akerlof, K. L., Schenk, T., Mitchell, K., Bankston, A., Syl, A., Eddy, L., Hall, S. L., Lad, N., Lake, S. J., Ostrom, R. B. J., Rosenberg, J. L., Sisti, A. R., Smith, C. T., Solomon, L., & Velez, A.-L. K.. (2025). Learning outcomes and evaluation metrics for training researchers to engage in science policy. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications , 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-025-05434-2. [Link]
Akerlof, K. L., Schenk, T., Bankston, A., Mitchell, K., Syl, A., Eddy, L., Hall, S. L., Lad, N., Lake, S. J., Ostrom, R. B. J., Rosenberg, J. L., Schwartz, M. R., Sisti, A. R., Smith, C. T., Solomon, L., & Velez, A.-L. K.. (2025). Training researchers to engage in policy in the U.S.: Mapping the growth and diversity of program models. Evidence & Policy 20(3), 300-319. https://doi.org/10.1332/17442648Y2023D000000013. [Link]
Akerlof, K. L., Lemos, M. C., Cloyd, E. T., Heath, E., Nelson, S., Hathaway, J., & Timm, K. M. F.. (2024). Science communication in Congress: For what use?. Evidence & Policy 20(3), 300-319. [Link]
Tyler, C., Akerlof, K. L., Allegra, A., Arnold, Z., Canino, H., Doornenbal, M. A., Goldstein, J. A., Budtz Pedersen, D., & Sutherland, W. J.. (2023). AI tools as science policy advisers? The potential and the pitfalls. Nature 622(7981), 27–30. [Link]
Akerlof K, Tyler C, Allegra A, Webler T, Heath E, Cloyd E, Washbourne CL. (2022). Global perspectives on scientists’ roles in legislative policymaking. Policy Sciences 55(2), 351–367. [Link]
Akerlof, KL. (2021). Beyond the sheltering academic silo: Norms for scientists’ participation in policy. In Bolsen, T. & Palm, R. (Eds.). Progress in molecular biology and translational science: Molecular biology and clinical medicine in the age of politicization Academic Press. [Link]
Akerlof K, Allegra A, Webler T, Heath E, Cloyd E, Washbourne CL, Tyler C. (2020). New methods in creating transdisciplinary science-policy research agendas: The case of legislative science advice. Science and Public Policy 47(4), 536-547. [Link]
Akerlof K, Tyler C, Foxen SE, Heath E, Soler MG, Allegra A, Yarime M. (2019). A collaboratively derived international research agenda on legislative science advice. Palgrave Communications 5(1), 1-13. [Link]
Other Publications
Akerlof, K. L., Schenk, T., Bankston, A., Rosenberg, J. L., Velez, A. K., Eddy, L. & Lad, N.. (2025). Training scientists for policy: mapping science-policy programmes in the United States. Evidence & Policy Blog . [Link]
Akerlof, K. L., Lemos, M. C., Cloyd, E. T., Heath, E., Nelson, S., Hathaway, J., & Timm, K. M. F.. (2025). Science communication poses barriers in Congress for evidence-based policymaking, but less so for science and engineering fellows. Evidence & Policy Blog . [Link]
Tyler, C, & Akerlof, K. (2019). Three secrets of survival in science advice (Commentary). Nature 566(7743), 175. [Link]
Akerlof, K.. (2019). Congress’s use of science: Interviews with energy, natural resources, and science personal office staff members. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University. [Link]
Akerlof, K.. (2019). Congress’s use of science: A survey of congressional science fellows. Fairfax, VA: George Mason University. [Link]
Akerlof, K.. (2018). Congress’s use of science: Considerations for science organizations in promoting the use of evidence in policy. Washington, DC: American Association for the Advancement of Science. [Link]
Akerlof, K.. (2017). Taking science to Capitol Hill: AAAS workshop explores opportunities—and challenges—in communicating science for policy in Congress. Science & Technology Policy Fellowships News American Association for the Advancement of Science. [Link]
Akerlof, K.. (2017). Blame Congress? Trying reaching out first. The Bridge: Connecting Science & Policy, American Geophysical Union. [Link]
Media
Gillooly, E. (Jan. 24, 2025). George Mason and Virginia Tech collaborate to build science policy connections. The George. [Link]
Kwon, D. (Sep. 01, 2020). Science and policy collide during the pandemic. The Scientist. [Link]
Scarfuto, J. (Feb. 17, 2019). Want to get a politician to listen to science? Here’s some advice. Science. [Link]
Landau, E. (Sep. 01, 2016). New AGU Congressional Science Fellows take the Hill. Eos. [Link]
