Nine members of Virginia Tech’s Science Policy Education and Advocacy Club (SPEAC, pronounced “speak”) are working with the Town of Blacksburg as they explore how to use their science and engineering knowledge and skills to advocate for and influence science-based public policy.
The project the group is working on involves the problem of food security in the New River Valley and what role climate change plays in that insecurity.
The club was formed at Tech two years ago when Kathryn Lopez, a Ph.D. student studying Environmental and Water Resources Engineering, wanted to explore how to use her science and engineering knowledge and skills to advocate for and influence science-based public policy.
“I was looking for ways to connect to the Capital Region in a policy role. Universities across the country have similar programs, but Virginia Tech didn’t,” she said.
Her timing was fortuitous. The club’s advisor suggested Lopez talk to Carol Davis, Blacksburg’s sustainability manager, to see if there was something they could help with. Blacksburg had signed onto the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and had conducted a climate vulnerability assessment that noted several threats to the region, one of which was food insecurity.
The club members “decided to tackle food systems and food insecurity and the concerns related to climate vulnerability in a multi-disciplinary way,” said Davis. “They have outlined some rough policy steps,” Davis said of SPEAC’s work thus far. “We want to develop a food resiliency group.”
Lia Kelinsky-Jones, one of Lopez’ colleagues involved with the project, said the group’s work thus far has been to examine the literature on food insecurity and climate change and to survey other communities that also signed the Mayors Agreement to ask what they are doing and if they are willing to share their documentation.
“We’re doing a deep dive into the responses,” she said.
Davis said Blacksburg already is talking with Winston-Salem, N.C., based on that community’s work and the policies developed to address food security.
They also plan to survey local organizations for their recommendations. Then Kelinsky-Jones and SPEAC member Sarah Derrick will write the policy memo advising the town to adopt food insecurity as an action issue.
“This is local science policy work,” Derrick said. “We can’t influence the national agenda, but we can work at the local level. I’m excited because we are putting a lot on the docket for the general public.”
Davis said the group’s work has been invaluable and she looks forward to continuing efforts together. “I think what I like about them is that this is a durable relationship,” she said. “I’m always blown away by the professors and students at Virginia Tech.”
Lopez said she is delighted with SPEAC’s growth over the past two years. “The most exciting thing is that it started as an idea. I struggled to get five people, and now we have closer to 50,” she said.
The club now boasts members from at least four colleges across the university. Most are graduate students, but a few undergraduate students also have joined.
