STM goes to Washington: The Scientific Method Meets the Political Process

Duration: 1 hr 1 min
Publication Date: May 2025

About the session

The first year of a new Congress, coupled with a new presidential administration, is an opportunity for advocacy, and ideally for progress. As a follow-up to previous "STM goes to Washington" SSP sessions in Portland and Boston, this year's panel will provide an update on the policy landscape for STM priorities in both the White House and the 119th Congress.

The panel features a mix of STM professionals and publisher-adjacent specialists with expertise in government affairs, public policy, and science advocacy.

Expected topics include the status of grants and agency funding; AI legislation; the implementation of public access plans; and the increasing degree to which lawmakers use science as a "culture war" topic.

Given the volume of breaking news, discussion points are subject to change. Overall, the session will cover the STM-related workings of the United States federal government and encourage participants to engage in the legislative process.

Collection

Annual Meeting (2025)

Speakers

Consultant, Smarter Learning

Tom runs Smarter Learning, a consultancy focused on relationship management, business development, communication strategy, and science advocacy. He’s also the creator of the "STM Goes to Washington" series of talks connecting the scholarly and academic publishing world to experts in government affairs and public policy. Tom is formerly head of Public Affairs in North America for Frontiers, overseeing government relations for the US and Canada; before that he was manager of Publisher Relations for Clarivate, where he coordinated communication and content strategy with the Web of Science Group from both the US and UK.
Chief Publishing, Open Science, & Research Integrity Officer, Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

Darla is the central business, operational, and thought leader for open science, research integrity, and publications. Recently, she led a science-first, scientist-centered response to public access plans across all FASEB member societies. Darla served in leadership positions at John Wiley & Sons and at the American Chemical Society as the first Head of Open Access. She is a frequent speaker at industry meetings and serves on multiple boards and committees. She holds a PhD in biological chemistry from Duke University and scholarly information works under her remit have earned 11 industry awards.
Manager, Emerging Technologies ,Federation of American Scientists

Karinna Gerhardt is a Manager on the Emerging Technologies team at the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), where she leads tech policy initiatives centered on tech equity, AI, and data privacy. In today’s increasingly complex world where new technologies can create as many problems as they solve, she is committed to advancing policy solutions that safeguard individual rights and dignity. Karinna previously consulted with Pyrra Technologies as a disinformation and extremism researcher, where she tracked the lifecycle of false narratives through online information ecosystems. Prior to joining FAS, she worked with the Public International Law & Policy Group to implement human rights and atrocity prevention programs in Bangladesh, Yemen, and Libya. Committed to a career in public service, Karinna is a Truman Scholar, and holds degrees in Political Science and International Studies from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Associate Vice President, Platinum Advisors

With over a decade of political and policy experience, Tony provides a breadth of tactical knowledge and expertise on a wide range of issues. Tony provides Platinum’s clients with real-time, in-depth analysis and updates on key policy and political discussions in DC and beyond. Prior to joining the Platinum team, Tony was the Legislative Director in the office of US Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter (NH-01). There, he directed the legislative efforts of the Congresswoman’s DC staff, formulated and implemented the Member’s legislative agenda, and managed an expansive legislative portfolio including appropriations, energy, labor, and financial services policies. Tony also has extensive experience in the political arena – directing the field efforts for successful congressional campaigns that involved massive voter outreach and volunteer coordination efforts.