POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS •
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Meet the Policy Subcommittee’s ECS members Whether you are just starting your career or enjoying retirement, SfAM’s Policy Committee needs your perspective and skills to ensure our work is robust and reflective of all SfAM’s membership. Hear from two early career members sharing their experiences of what it is like to participate in SfAM’s Policy Subcommittee (PSC), and the different opportunities it has provided them. Jacob Hamilton Member of the SfAM Policy Subcommittee I applied to SfAM’s Policy Subcommittee (PSC) because the relationship between science and politics is something I’ve been interested in for quite some time. Although I had a fair amount of policy experience, both solo and with SfAM’s support, I had applied as much to express an interest in greater involvement with the Society than with any expectation of being awarded a position. Like many other early career scientists, I thought that governance of a learned society was the realm of elderly white professors in the end stages of their careers with a wealth of experience and contacts to draw upon. So, when I was offered a position on the PSC a year into my PhD I was quite surprised. Now, after a year of sitting on the Subcommittee, I see how much of a misconception this was. The PSC is comprised of a diverse group of scientists, in a variety of career stages and specialisms, from a range of backgrounds. This range is a refreshing change in science and I have really enjoyed hearing everyone’s journey into microbiology. This diversity is key to the PSC’s effective response to the wide range of policy issues we tackle and our ability to consider the possible implications for various groups of people. It also makes for a welcoming environment where I feel empowered to speak up and voice my opinion. Moreover, I feel like I’m listened to, which is great because otherwise there wouldn’t be much point me being there! As a member of the PSC, I’ve considered many significant policy challenges. One of the PSC’s responsibilities is to contribute to the Society’s responses
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microbiologist
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March 2021
to government consultations. Some consultations can be quite daunting, as they are often outside my area of research. During my time on the Subcommittee, we’ve worked on waste water treatment, antibiotic use in livestock and the ocean microbiome to name a few – all far beyond my own work on insect/microbe symbiosis. PSC members also frequently work with the Policy Team to produce briefs for politicians and other stakeholders who themselves are new to the topic in question – so obviously there isn’t a neat summary available to us from the start! While I found this especially hard and felt out of my depth when I first joined the PSC, the need to pivot between topics I have little prior knowledge on has helped me to think more dynamically in the lab. This is especially useful when trying to balance three different experiments before going into a seminar. Despite these challenges, I enjoy working with the PSC, and have volunteered do more with SfAM. Just recently, I was added to SfAM’s COVID-19 Task and Finish Group (TFG) on ‘Future Preparedness’, which is currently looking into vaccine hesitancy – a personal interest of mine and an opportunity to work on my public engagement skills. It’s also a great way to meet more people in the policy world and build up my contacts for when I finish my PhD. I’m looking to do more work with the policy team and the TFG – and maybe even getting to meet them in person again soon!
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