Stand up for Science: Practical Approaches to Discussing Science that Matters

Information about Jenifer Martin:

What is your name, title, and role at the University of Michigan?

Jenifer Martin, Director, Government Relations, University of Michigan School of Public Health. My role is to liaise between faculty and student interests, and policymakers/stakeholders in Lansing, MI and Washington, DC to share research findings and inform relevant policy debates. I also frequently lecture and provide workshops in “effective advocacy” and “policy writing.”

Why are your public engagement efforts in education and/or outreach important (to you and/or to the cause you’re working to promote)?

My goal is to educate policymakers about current SPH research findings to inform policy debates on population health issues. Currently, I am working to share “stories of impact” to illustrate how the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts in the NIH and other federal agency budgets would affect the important work of SPH faculty.

Jenifer Martin on Audience

Who do you interact with when working in policy and advocacy? What makes this audience different from other groups that you might interact with?

I interact with all of these groups in the policy and advocacy space on a regular basis. (State and federal legislators, other agency policymakers, staffers, legislative bodies, advocacy organizations, non-profits, etc.) What distinguishes these audiences is that all of my interactions are strategic – I tailor my communications depending on the topic, pending issue or idea, etc.

What suggestions do you have for making interactions with policymakers, legislators, and/or advocacy groups as effective as possible?

I frequently lecture and give workshops on the steps in effective advocacy strategies; these steps make interactions with policymakers/legislators effective. The steps include:

• Identification of issue/problem, and advocacy goal (including acceptable compromises), and development of arguments for and against that goal
• Identification of decision makers/target audiences
• Selection/cultivation of a policy champion
• Effective coalition-building, including a professional network of colleagues
• Message development, including both substantive and political context
• Use of various types of media, including social/building a grassroots campaign
• Executing the strategy/conducting effective advocacy meetings
• Effective follow-up and relationship-building

What is the biggest challenge you face when trying to work with policymakers, legislators, and/or advocacy groups? What is the biggest reward?

The biggest challenge is the current partisanship in both Lansing and DC, particularly an ideological resistance to science and research. The biggest reward is being able to bridge that partisanship by finding common ground. 

What are you trying to accomplish when you write to or speak with policymakers, legislators, and/or advocacy groups?

It depends entirely on the goal – as noted above in the steps. The most important step in any effective advocacy strategy is clarity of the goal. Typically, I am educating policymakers about research findings that could inform a debate. For example, we are currently sharing research findings that could improve efforts to address the opioid epidemic in Michigan and nationwide.

Jenifer Martin on Messaging

When you’re planning to interact with policymakers/legislators, how do you decide what you want to focus on?

Typically, I focus on issues that are important to that individual legislator/policymaker. Or, I focus on the issues that the legislator/policymaker will be voting on in the near future, or will be considering as part of some type of imminent action on that issue.

If a scientist wanted a single idea to “stick” in the mind of a policymaker/legislator, what advice would you give them as to how best to shape/pitch that idea?

It needs to be action-oriented, and it needs to emphasize how many people are affected by that issue. The idea needs to be tied directly to an “ask” or action (such as cosponsoring a bill, a vote, etc.). I would tie the idea directly to the legislator’s constituents, to an issue important to him or her, or to something going on in the district/state that person represents. Everything must be strategic.

Jenifer Martin on Narrative

Do you use stories or narratives as a tool to communicate with policymakers/legislators? If so, what kinds of narratives?

Yes, absolutely.  I use both statistics/data, and anecdotal stories to illustrate the point and bring it to life.  I am currently highlighting a couple of examples/narratives that will illustrate how the potential cuts in research funding will impact research efforts in Detroit and Flint.  These examples bring the budget numbers to life by highlighting real people and communities that would be affected.     

What kinds of documents or presentations are most effective at capturing and maintaining a policymaker’s/legislator’s attention?

Certainly.  I am attaching a Healthy Michigan Fund advocacy piece that is woefully lacking in many ways; I’m also sending a one pager about the sustainable growth rate, which is an excellent  example.  I am also attaching the “combined Jen Martin readings” that include examples of effective written advocacy tools, including helpful one pagers.