The 2017 PEP Faculty Fellows traveled to Beacon Hill on May 9th to share their research and explore synergies in meetings with 16 state representatives, senators, and other policy leaders. In their meetings with lawmakers, the PEP fellows shared research relevant to a range of policy areas, including urban cultural policy, newborn screening and public health, energy policy, policy responses to rising sea levels, and media literacy education. "We hope that these initial meetings can be springboards for ongoing collaborative relationships through which UMass researchers can share their expertise with Massachusetts lawmakers," said PEP Director, Amy Schalet. From left to right: Jonathan Wynn (Sociology), Erin Baker (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering), Erica Scharrer (Communication), Julie Brigham-Grette (Geosciences), and Scott Garman (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From left to right: Senator Michael Barrett (Senate Chair of Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy) and Erin Baker (Mechanical and Industrial Engineering)