Making well-informed decisions is becoming more and more important as the effects of climate change spread to other areas of policy making. Whether in national security, transportation, agriculture, or natural resource management, understanding the effects of climate change is crucial to developing effective policies. The goal of the Climate Crossroads Congressional Fellowship is to enable current Congressional staff members to make well-informed policy decisions by providing them with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific, engineering, and health aspects of climate change.
Concerning the Fellowship
The Climate Crossroads Congressional Fellowship, sponsored by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, offers Congressional staff members a unique opportunity to investigate the scientific underpinnings of climate change. During a nine-month training and networking period, fellows will develop relationships with colleagues from diverse policy disciplines, enhance their scientific knowledge, and receive access to cutting-edge insights.Program Objectives
- Building Capacity: Provide bicameral, bipartisan cohorts of fellows with a strong foundation so they can make science-based policy decisions.
- Community-Building: Promote cooperation and communication among peers with different backgrounds who have an interest in science-based policymaking.
- Enhanced Access: By utilising the National Academies’ resources, fellows will have easier access to the highest calibre of scientific, engineering, and medical knowledge.
Eligibility Criteria:
- The fellowship start date is September 2024, and applications must have worked for the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Congressional Research Service (CRS), or the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
- A minimum of two years of professional job experience is required of applicants.
- Early-, mid-, and senior-level employees are welcome to apply for this position. Advanced degrees or prior knowledge of climate change are not required. For the period of the fellowship, fellows are not required to continue working as Congressional, CBO, CRS, or GAO personnel. All changes in employment, however, will be subject to a case-by-case examination by the National Academies to avoid conflicts of interest and guarantee adherence to institutional ethics and norms. Fellows are required to make certain that their new employer is aware of and encourages their active involvement in the program.
- The majority of fellowship modules and associated events will take place in Washington, DC. Fellows are required to travel to and from in-person events in Washington, DC once a month, and they are responsible for making their own travel arrangements and costs.
- Applicants located in Washington, DC; those with relevant full-time job experience in science, policy, and/or science policy; and permanent staff members may be given preference. Those who don’t fit these requirements can still apply, nevertheless.
Benefits:
- The fellowship is free to apply for and is made in accordance with Senate and House ethics rules.
- Prominent institutions such as the BESI Fund, the National Academies of Sciences Arthur L. Day Fund, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and the Heising-Simons Foundation are sponsors of the fellowship.
Deadline: May 30, 2024
