Bringing Minnesota’s Voice to Science Policy
Through the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy, Madi is helping Minnesota voters understand where candidates stand on science and why those answers matter.
Science influences nearly every part of our daily lives, from the water we drink and the environment we protect, to the technologies we develop and the treatments that save lives. But scientific evidence does not always make it into public policy. That is where advocacy comes in.
Meet Madi. She is a PhD candidate in Dr. David Largaespada’s Lab. For her, this work began with an opportunity to attend the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop in Washington, D.C. The workshop introduces STEM students to the federal policymaking process and helps them build the skills to advocate for science.
While attending as a delegate, Madi connected with leaders of the Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP), a nationwide, nonpartisan coalition working to connect scientists, communities, and the public. Those connections led Madi to become Minnesota’s state lead for SNAP’s Stance on Science initiative.
She says, “I got involved in science policy advocacy because science informs so many issues we care about, but it can only make an impact if we bring that research into the public conversation and understand where politicians stand on it.”
Bringing science policy to Minnesota voters
Stance on Science was created to help voters understand where political candidates stand on science and technology issues before the 2026 midterm elections. Through this initiative, volunteer teams across the country ask candidates questions about issues that affect their communities, then publish the responses so voters can review them for themselves.
As Minnesota’s state lead, Madi helped bring this effort to life. Her team sent the survey to 426 candidates running for governor, the Minnesota House and Senate, and the U.S. House and Senate. Seventy-two candidates responded, sharing their perspectives on six science policy questions.
The questions focused on issues that matter to Minnesotans, including how elected officials use scientific expertise when making decisions, mining near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, PFAS contamination in drinking water, artificial intelligence and data centers, science research funding, and overdose prevention.
These are not just issues for scientists or policymakers. They affect our natural resources, our health, our communities, and our future. By asking candidates to explain their positions, Stance on Science gives voters another way to understand how science may shape the decisions made by the people they elect.
Your voice matters, too
Although Minnesota’s Stance on Science team is no longer accepting candidate responses for this election cycle, there is still time to use this resource as you prepare to vote.
Visit the Minnesota Stance on Science page to see which candidates responded and read their answers. You can also explore responses from other states through the national Stance on Science website. Want to help keep science part of the public conversation beyond this election? Follow SNAP on social media, sign up for its newsletter, and keep the organization in mind for the next election cycle. Madi and her team reached out to hundreds of Minnesota candidates this year, and they hope to hear from even more in the next election cycle. Every response creates another opportunity for voters to learn, ask questions, and engage with the issues that matter to them.
The University of Minnesota’s UMN Advocates program empowers students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters to engage with elected officials and advocate for state funding that strengthens the University’s research, education, and outreach across Minnesota.
Science, while not partisan, is political. Policy decisions affect science, and science informs the policies that affect our lives. If science matters to you, it deserves your voice.
