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

Expert Voice Q&A – Jenifer Martin

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.

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.