ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit

The ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit outlines a structured approach for scientists to introduce themselves to policymakers, emphasizing the importance of establishing credibility as both a technical expert and a constituent. It provides a specific script and strategic advice to ensure the 'ask' remains the central focus of the interaction, while offering indicators to measure the success of such engagements beyond an immediate commitment.

• An effective introductory pitch to a policymaker should last no more than one minute and include five basic elements: the person's name and residency in the district, their occupation, the networks or communities they represent, a specific and concrete request for action, and the personal or community reason for the request.
• Scientists should leverage their general technical background to establish credibility rather than focusing exclusively on a narrow field of expertise, as policymakers often value the general science affiliation over a specific specialty.
• Successful interaction with a policymaker is not always marked by an immediate 'yes' but can be indicated by follow-up questions, the issuance of a public statement on the topic, a cessation of previous opposition to a policy, or the staff's interest in maintaining a relationship.

APA

Kothari, Y. (2018). ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit. Union of Concerned Scientists. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/05/ucs-SNTK-pitch-5-18.pdf

Chicago

Kothari, Yogin. ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit. Union of Concerned Scientists, 2018. https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/05/ucs-SNTK-pitch-5-18.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Kothari |first1=Yogin |title=ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit |publisher=Union of Concerned Scientists |date=May 2018 |url=https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/05/ucs-SNTK-pitch-5-18.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{kothari2018scientist, author = {Kothari, Yogin}, title = {{ScienTIST advocacy Toolkit}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://www.ucs.org/sites/default/files/attach/2018/05/ucs-SNTK-pitch-5-18.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }