The Science Policy Bootcamp is a 5-day course, designed to introduce participants to the 'nuts and bolts' of science policy making. The course provides an opportunity for young scientists and engineers interested in science policy issues to increase their understanding about and practical involvement with science policy. The bootcamp serves to both expose participants to the fundamental structure and dynamics of science policy and inform them of routes into a policy experience or career.
There are two versions of this course. The bootcamp is offered for credit during MIT's Independent Activities Period in January, taught by William Bonvillian (http://www.bonvillian.org/cv), former director of the MIT Washington Office from 2006-17, and now a Lecturer at MIT and Senior Director for a workforce education project at MIT’s Office of Open Learning. Due to popular demand, SPI also offers a 4-day, non-credit version of the course during the Spring semester, taught by David Goldston (http://dc.mit.edu/about), the current director of the MIT Washington Office (http://dc.mit.edu/).
Enrollment is limited and by application only. Applications are OPEN for the 2024 Spring Break Bootcamp. Applications for the 2025 IAP Bootcamp will open at the end of this year.
Apply here! Applications are due March 18th.
What: Science Policy Spring Break 2024
Instructor: William Goldston
When: Monday March 25th – Friday March 29th
Who: All MIT affiliates and members of the academic community in Boston.
Where: In person at MIT, except for 1 Zoom session.
Contact: spi-bootcamp@mit.edu
More about the bootcamp
The Science and Technology Policy Bootcamp are typically held during the last week of IAP and during MIT's Spring semester. The two bootcamps are taught by different instructors and each have a slightly different focus. Many people benefit by attending both bootcamps at different points during their time at MIT. Topics discussed typically include:
The drivers behind science and technology support: growth economics, direct and indirect innovation factors, innovation systems theory, the “valley of death” between R&D and public-private partnership models.
The organizing framework behind US science agencies, and the DARPA model as an alternative.
The way innovation is organized when it’s face-to-face, including "great group" theory.
The barriers and challenges to health science advance.
The energy technology challenge – how the science/tech innovation system needs to be organized to meet it within an existing and established complex legacy economic sector.
The challenges for advanced manufacturing and scaling-up startups.
The course consisted of lectures, readings, and extensive class discussions. The IAP bootcamp also features a panel discussion with guest speakers.
Bhavik Nagda, a former SPI Bootcamper, was featured in the MIT News! Read more about his take on Bootcamp and what he’s done with it here: http://news.mit.edu/2020/bhavik-nagda-1118
William Bonvillian’s free edX course (http://www.edx.org/course/policy-for-science-technology-and-innovation) on SciTech policy made the February 2021 Business Insider’s Top 13 list of free online MIT courses! (https://www.businessinsider.com/free-massachusetts-institute-of-technology-online-courses). The class is an abridged version of Bootcamp.
The IAP course is offered both for credit and not for credit. Credit is based on class participation and a short paper. All students taking the course for credit must indicate their intent prior to the start of the course. The Spring course cannot be taken for credit.
Those participating in the MIT Graduate Certificate Program in Science, Technology, and Policy (http://web.mit.edu/stp) are required to take the IAP course for credit.
There is no cost to attend, but accepted students MUST commit to attend all sessions to earn a spot. Class participants will have the opportunity to apply what they learn by participating in the MIT Science Policy Initiative (SPI) Congressional Visit Days (http://mitspi.squarespace.com/cvd/) in Washington, D.C. in the Spring of each year and Executive Visit Days (http://mitspi.squarespace.com/exvd/) each Fall.
Contact: spi-bootcamp@mit.edu