Science in Washington D.C.
November 2016 in front of the Old Executive Office Building at the White House on a trip with the Entomological Society of America's Science Policy Fellows.
Science Policy
Just because a solution exists for a given problem doesn't necessarily mean it will be used or be successful. There are myriad considerations that should be taken into account when deciding about whether or not a technology should be approved for wide spread use. While we may have the ability to do many things, we need to carefully consider whether or not we should do them. This is as true for dealing with insect pests as it is with many fields. Policymakers and regulators take on these challenges regularly and rely on scientists and other experts to help them make decisions.
My experience in the science policy world has certainly helped inform the way I approach my research. The ability to have timely information available in a digestible and understandable format can be critical for policymakers in times of crisis, like during the Zika virus epidemic of 2015.