SPIE and OSA Announce Their 2020-21 Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellow
Bellingham, Washington — SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics, and The Optical Society (OSA) are pleased to announce the selection of Michelle Solomon as the 2020-2021 Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellow. She will serve a one-year term in Washington, D.C., USA, as a special legislative assistant for a member of the U.S. Congress or as a staff member for a congressional committee beginning in September. SPIE and OSA are co-sponsors of the fellowship.
"I am thrilled to have been selected as the Arthur H. Guenther Congressional Fellow, and I look forward to applying science-driven thinking in service to the public while learning about policymaking and the legislative process," Solomon said.
As part of her Fellowship, Solomon will attend a comprehensive science policy and communication training and orientation session facilitated by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). Upon training completion, she will interview with Senate, House of Representatives and congressional committee staff on Capitol Hill and then select which congressional office or committee she wishes to serve for her fellowship year.
The Congressional Fellowship's program mission is to bring technical and scientific backgrounds and perspectives to the decision-making process in Congress and provide scientists with insight into the inner workings of the federal government. Fellows have the opportunity to participate in a multitude of policymaking functions including conducting legislative or oversight work, assisting in congressional hearings and debates, preparing policy briefs and writing speeches.
Each year, following a formal application process, finalists are interviewed and Congressional Fellows are selected by a committee comprising volunteer members from OSA and SPIE. Complete information on the selection process and fellowship criteria can be found here.
Solomon will graduate with her PhD in Materials Science & Engineering from Stanford University, USA this summer, where she studied light-matter interactions in the group of Professor Jennifer Dionne. Her research concentrated on ways to use light to purify chemicals used in the pharmaceutical and agrochemical industries, with the goal of decreasing side effects. Before Stanford, she received a B.S. in Physics from Boston College, USA.
During graduate school, she also pursued an interest in science and energy policy, including a summer fellowship at the California Energy Commission in the Office of Vice Chair Janea Scott. While at the Energy Commission, she focused on electric vehicle infrastructure policy, particularly stakeholder outreach and mapping out charging programs across the state of California.
Solomon is excited to learn how scientists can be most useful in the process of developing policy and would love to work on issues at the intersection of energy and health, such as environmental justice.
About the Optical Society
Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.
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mediarelations@osa.org
About SPIE
SPIE is the international society for optics and photonics, an educational not-for-profit organization founded in 1955 to advance light-based science, engineering, and technology. The Society serves more than 255,000 constituents from 183 countries, offering conferences and their published proceedings, continuing education, books, journals, and the SPIE Digital Library. In 2019, SPIE provided more than $5.6 million in community support including scholarships and awards, outreach and advocacy programs, travel grants, public policy, and educational resources. www.spie.org.
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