Our Principles

Follow the science. Our role in the advocacy community is to serve as objective scientists. In preparing our reports, we write as if preparing a manuscript for peer-review.

Be inclusive. We are a group from all backgrounds, both personally and professionally. We welcome all who value our mission. We ask members to choose words thoughtfully, and respect the V-SCI code of conduct.

Listen to our community partners. Our projects are guided by the expertise of our advocacy partners. We abide by the principle of accompaniment, in which we support and respect the needs of the community without imposing our own ideas about community needs. We do assert our scientific opinions freely.

Only agree to do what you are able to. Membership requires that you join Slack and attend weekly meetings for the team(s) you choose. It’s okay to miss some meetings with notice. Otherwise, we try not to put pressure on members to add extra hours of project work unless you are comfortable doing so!

Make decisions by consensus. Rather than voting by simple majority, we discuss issues as a group to arrive at a decision. That means everyone should feel that their voice is heard in group decision making (choosing new projects, assigning roles, selecting approach…).

Make the most of meeting times. We all like efficient meetings, so please try to be considerate of others’ time and stick to the agenda. Don’t hesitate to ask relevant questions, that is what meetings are for!

V-SCI Members gain experience:

• Working with lawyers and other advocates on an interdisciplinary team

• Learning about a diverse range of policy issues

• Communicating science for public, legal, and government agency audiences

• Discovering how your own science can be applied in a policy setting

• Practicing leadership on real-world advocacy issues

• Networking with a diverse group of scientists, engineers, and community members from across the region