Rachel Bronson at the July March for Science Inaugural S|GNS Summit

Update: Can’t make it to the #SIGNS2018 summit this weekend? No worries! Catch the morning plenary sessions LIVE! Use this link and join us at 9am central: https://slideslive.com/the-march-for-science/live

NEW YORK, NY – The March for Science, a global organization that advocates for equitable evidence-based science policies, has announced the inaugural S|GNS (Science | Government, Institutions & Society) Summit and Student Advocacy Summit, taking place on July 6-8 in Chicago. The global retreat will bring together emerging and established leaders across science, education, and advocacy communities to share knowledge, build community, and develop their skills as science advocates, educators, and organizers.

In partnership with the Field Museum and Hilton Chicago, the weekend retreat will feature three session tracks and workshops on topics such as grassroots organizing, STEM advocacy, and effective outreach strategies, as well as panel discussions designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration across public, political, and scholarly spheres. Registration for the S|GNS Summit is now open. Bulletin president and CEO Rachel Bronson will present at a panel discussion on the future of science advocacy.

“The future of science advocacy depends on coordinated action and diverse perspectives, so it’s essential that we prioritize spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue,” said Stephanie Fine Sasse, Director of Special Projects, March for Science. “This is an opportunity for everyone — satellite organizers, educators, artists, scientists — to come together and learn from scholars, experienced activists, and each other. S|GNS will provide tools to support current and future leaders as they advocate for informed change in their communities.”

Each day of the summit will include workshops, panel discussions, and talks that cover a wide range of topics relevant to the S|GNS mission, such as science communication, civic literacy, and inclusive coalition-building. The program will focus on critical current issues from across perspectives, as well as actionable skills and opportunities for attendees to connect. The full schedule of the Summit program will be announced by the beginning of June. In addition to centralizing partners and resources, all workshops will be recorded and synthesized into freely available resources after the Summit.

The S|GNS Summit will continue the momentum of the second March for Science this past April, by providing resources that support impact at the local, federal, and institutional levels. Science outreach and advocacy events – hosted by individuals, satellite organizers, and partner organizations – are already happening around the world on both a local and national scale are searchable on the newly launched March for Science Event Calendar.

The Student Advocacy Summit, hosted the same weekend, will bring together passionate young advocates ages 13-25. Young people are not just our leaders of tomorrow – they are the leaders we need today. Reiser Award winner Yangyang Cheng, a particle physicist who lobbies regularly for science funding and support on Capitol Hill, will participate in Student Advocacy Summit to help empower young people as leaders in their communities and advocates for our shared future.

For more information on the S|GNS Summit, visit https://www.marchforscience.com/summit.

For more information on the Student Advocacy Summit, visit marchforscience.com/studentsummit.