CoE Grad Student Heather Aiken Represents UMass Amherst at Advocacy Conference in D.C.
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College of Engineering graduate student Heather Aiken, who is an M.S. candidate in Engineering Management, was one of four students from UMass Amherst selected through a competitive process to attend the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) workshop in Washington, D.C., held from April 6 to 9. As Aiken explained on her LinkedIn page, “Last week, I had the prestigious opportunity to represent [UMass Amherst] at the 2025 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) CASE Workshop. In just a few days, I gained a deep understanding of the role science plays in federal policy and how scientists can advocate for evidence-based policy.” See UMass News Office release.
Another one of the four participating students was Lucca Mancilio, who is a Ph.D. student in Microbiology. However, Mancilio is advised by Professor Caitlyn Butler of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and conducts research in her lab.
The AAAS website said that “The CASE workshop is an exciting opportunity to learn from science policy and advocacy experts about the role of science in policymaking and the federal policymaking process. It empowers participants with ways to become a voice for research throughout their careers.”
According to the UMass News Office article, “This workshop introduced students to the federal policymaking process and strategies to effectively communicate research to policymakers. On the final day, participants from UMass Amherst, Boston University, and MIT tested their skills in meetings with Representative Jim McGovern, the staffs of Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and the staff of Representative Ayanna Pressley.”
As Aiken said in the News Office piece, “My peers and I arrived equipped with passion for helping people through science, and we left with the knowledge and tools necessary to engage effectively with policy staff on Capitol Hill and advocate for evidence-based, meaningful change.”
On her LinkedIn page, Aiken also said that “From learning the power of storytelling in science communication to meeting with Massachusetts congressional offices (including Representative Jim McGovern!), my time at Capitol Hill was incredibly inspiring. I’m so grateful to AAAS, UMass Amherst, and the offices of Jim McGovern, Elizabeth Warren, Ayanna Pressley, and Ed Markey for making this opportunity possible and investing in the next generation of scientists!”
As Aiken concluded, “CASE affirmed my belief that scientists have not just the ability - but the responsibility - to direct their work toward serving their communities. I left feeling empowered, informed, and connected to a national network of researchers who care deeply about using their science to make the world a better place for everyone.”
The 2025 CASE Workshop attendees were selected through a highly competitive application process and sponsored by the UMass Amherst Graduate School, College of Engineering, and College of Natural Sciences.
Since 2014, the campus Office of Professional Development has helped 28 UMass Amherst graduate students attend the CASE workshop and subsequent meetings on the Hill, in collaboration with such partners at AAAS, Tremont Strategies Group, and Boston University Federal Relations. (May 2025)