Vanderbilt University welcomed regional policymakers, researchers and community leaders to campus early this month for Policy Innovation Days, designed to connect universities with state and local governments and highlight effective public policies based on research.听听
The event was presented by the in partnership with the , an independent nonprofit that helps connect research to public policy. The event was supported by , which funds research to improve policy and social outcomes.听
Photo: Harrison McClary/Vanderbilt University
Communities across Tennessee and the nation are facing urgent challenges related to artificial intelligence, educational outcomes and public health. 鈥淭ackling these challenges requires more than rigorous research,鈥� Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs C. Cybele Raver said to those gathered in the Student Life Center ballroom. 鈥淚t demands partnership鈥攔esearchers working hand-in-hand with policymakers, practitioners and community leaders.鈥�听
Building on that theme, Maya Chandrasekaran, SSRC presidential fellow and program director, said bottlenecks can stymie fruitful partnerships. Policy Innovation Days was created to overcome these bottlenecks, she said and 鈥渟potlight successful collaborations, bring researchers and agencies together in conversation and spark new projects that can lead to funded research and real-world impact.鈥�听
Representing Arnold Ventures, Andrew Bacher-Hicks, vice president of evidence and evaluation, underscored the importance of events like this one. 鈥淲e fund research, but it鈥檚 equally critical to bring researchers, practitioners and policymakers together to ensure lasting, durable change. Evidence can and should improve the lives of Americans, and convenings like today鈥檚 help make that possible.鈥�听
Vanderbilt faculty participants included:听
- Kristen Gilliland, Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery听
- Jason Grissom, Peabody College of education and human development听
- Erin Henrick, Peabody College of education and human development 听
- April Kapu, School of Nursing听听
- Cynthia Osborne, Peabody College of education and human development 听
- Analisa Packham, College of Arts and Science听
- Ganesh Sitaraman, Vanderbilt Law School听
- Jesse Spencer-Smith, College of Connected Computing听
- Michael Vandenbergh, Vanderbilt Law School听
Organizers said they hope Policy Innovation Days inspires similar events for university and government partnerships across the country.听
