Science-for-Policy Research Projects
Purpose
It is widely acknowledged that policymakers struggle to make effective use of scientific research. One reason this occurs: many questions prioritized in academic publications lack immediate relevance in the context of government action. While this disconnect is expected in the case of basic research, it can also arise in contexts where scientists are providing seemingly practical information. For example, according to the EU Commission's working group on evidence-informed policymaking, "Scientific knowledge often does not reach the right policymakers in the right time, or in the right format. Likewise, policymakers may not always know how to use the input they receive." As a center dedicated to effective collaboration between science and public policy, an important part of LCSSP's mission is to support the creation of usable knowledge for decision makers.
Fall 2025 Awardees
Recycled Biosolids as Fertilizer Alternatives: Friend or foe of state regenerative agriculture goals?
Prof. Smruthi Karthikeyan, Environmental Science and Engineering
Dr. Tristan Caro, Geological and Planetary Sciences
The case for recycling agricultural and municipal organic wastes as soil fertilizers in California is theoretically aligned with several policy goals, including GHG emission reductions, decreasing reliance on synthetic fertilizers, and diverting excess organic matter from landfills. However, a great deal is unknown about (1) the actual composition of these amendments and (2) what exactly happens to microbial biodiversity, biogeochemical cycling, and overall ecosystem functioning when they are applied to soil. Informed by conversations with the California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Office of Agricultural Resilience and Sustainability (OARS), this project will create a novel foundation for evidence-based regenerative agriculture practices for California's working lands.
Measuring the Models: Benchmarking to Inform the Governance of Frontier Methods for Studying Early Mammalian Development
Prof. Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz, Biology and Biological Engineering
Dr. Ninadini Sharma, Biology and Biological Engineering
Over the last decade, embryology researchers have turned to pluripotent stem cells to create models of the phases of embryo development that are otherwise impossible to observe in a lab setting. In a relatively short period of time, stem-cell based embryo models (SCBEMs) have become remarkably effective at mimicking a growing number of the specific phenotypic features of development, opening the door to a dramatic expansion of scientific knowledge. To ensure the continuation of this work, entities like the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) have publicly recognize the need for new frameworks for governance. In alignment with agency goals, this project will put forward a system to quantitatively define and compare salient characteristics of SCBEMs developed in labs around the world.
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