Science Outside the Lab
In 2026 the Nanotechnology Collaborative Infrastructure Southwest (NCI-SW) and the NNCI Coordinating Office will sponsor a one-week program for graduate students. This program brings a small cohort of scientists and engineers to Washington, D.C. to explore the relationships among science, innovation, and policy.
The program will investigate the context of science and technology decision-making with a focus on the US Federal Government. Participants will meet and interact with congressional staffers, funding agency officers, regulators, journalists, museum curators, and others to learn how and why nanotechnology and other emerging technologies are funded, regulated, shaped, critiqued, and publicized. Participants will also design and prepare engagement projects to share what they’ve learned with their home institutions. The ultimate goal is to empower participants to extend the impact of their research beyond their labs.
Graduate students affiliated with National Nanotechnology Coordinated Infrastructure universities are especially encouraged to apply to this program. We are looking for candidates interested in how decisions are made about science and innovation funding, regulation, and policy.
Deadline: February 20, 2026
More information: nnci.net/science-outside-lab
or contact Jamey Wetmore Wetmore@asu.edu