Institute Theme: Policy Sciences in Action In A Preview of Policy Sciences, Harold Lasswell explains that policy scientists are “concerned with mastering the skills appropriate to enlightened decision in the context of processes of public and civic order,” and that we are “searching for an optimum synthesis of the diverse skills that contribute to a dependable theory and practice of problem solving in the public interest.” In the preface to Jurisprudence for a Free Society (student edition), Myres McDougal asserts, “the highest calling of all is to enhance human dignity in appropriate systems of public order.” Clearly, Lasswell and McDougal intended for the policy sciences to be applied. They called on policy scientists to aid decision makers in clarifying goals, identifying trends relative to goals, analyzing the factors causing or contributing to specific trends, projecting the future, and inventing and evaluating policy proposals—alternative actions that may be taken related to the desired results. To ensure that policy scientists would be adequately equipped for these intellectual tasks, Lasswell and McDougal proposed educational training programs devoted to the knowledge and skills needed for better policy (decision) making: contextual thinking, problem orientation, and mastery of diverse methods. In this year’s Institute, we invite practitioners and academics to demonstrate the policy sciences in action, by sharing their research, practice and examples of how the policy sciences have been useful in applied circumstances to clarify and secure the common interest and enhance human dignity.

Continuing Education Seminar As in the past several years, the 2014 Institute will begin on the evening of Thursday, September 25th with a continuing education seminar.

Presentations and Panels The 2014 Institute will continue the format used at the Institute in past years to provide opportunities for discussion and feedback on scholarly and applied work. Proposals are invited for coordinated sessions or panels with named discussants. Individual presentations are also invited; these will be grouped into sessions with an assigned discussant. Discussants should coordinate with presenters before the Institute, enabling them to prepare remarks to present in session. Ample time for questions and discussion with the audience will be provided. All presenters are asked to incorporate the theme of the Institute in designing their presentations, and to explicitly address this theme in their concluding remarks.

Proposal Topics Submissions are welcome on any topic relevant to the objectives of the Society’s members. We encourage proposals that directly address the theme of illustrating how the policy sciences are put into action in various forms. This could also include presentations on how a policy scientist has shared the policy sciences with others or successfully worked with others using the policy sciences. Examples of topics: • Case studies where policy sciences have been used, either explicitly or implicitly; • Case studies that are explicitly multi-method and contextual in their approach to framing and analyzing a policy problem • Examples in which policy sciences have been taught, either explicitly or implicitly; • Examples in which policy sciences have resulted in policy change; or • Examples in which specific aspects of the policy sciences framework (e.g., problem orientation, social and/or decision process mapping) have refined an existing orientation to a policy context

Proposal guidelines and selection Members of the Program Committee would be pleased to work with individuals and groups in the development of proposals consistent with the goals and format outlined here. We welcome proposals of work completed, published, or in development. Society membership is not required to submit a proposal. The Committee is prepared to receive proposals immediately and will help develop these proposals as necessary or desirable.

We strongly encourage proposals from students or early career researchers.

Proposals should be no more than one page. We ask that they include a short description of the topic, the preferred format, and a list of participants with one of them designated as a point of contact. If participants are not yet known, please include anticipated number of participants and presentations. Proposals may nominate discussants.

Proposals will be reviewed for acceptance beginning on June 1, 2014, with final decisions for the program made by July 1, 2014. The Committee will continue to consider proposals until all presentation slots are allocated.

Please direct questions and send proposals to any of the Program Committee members:

Susan Iott, U.S. Government Accountability Office, iotts@gao.gov (program co-chair) Toddi Steelman, University of Saskatchewan, toddi.steelman@usask.ca (program co-chair) Nancy Li, Claremont-McKenna College, xli15@students.claremontmckenna.edu Siri Veland, Brown University, siri_veland@brown.edu Zac Bischoff Mattson, Brown University, Zachary_bischoff_mattson@brown.edu Murray Rutherford, Simon Fraser University, mbr@sfu.ca Amanda Lynch, Brown University (host) c/o Crystal Ceasar, crystal_caesar@brown.edu

Institute Location

Located in historic Providence, Rhode Island and founded in 1764, Brown University is the seventh-oldest college in the United States. Brown is located in Providence’s East Side on the picturesque College Hill, surrounded by dozens of historic homes and landmarks. Close to campus are the vibrant Thayer Street, Wickenden Street, and Wayland Square, where students and residents find ample shopping, dining and entertainment. Downtown, with its popular mall, many restaurants, concert venues, train station, hotels, and scenic riverfront, is just a short walk from campus. Providence is nationally known for its varied and high-quality restaurants. Information on Institute registration, hotel, travel, and the program will be forthcoming.

We would like to encourage students and recent graduates to present the results of their work during Institute sessions. With that in mind, as we did last year, the Society is pleased to be able to provide subsidies for students and recent graduates to help fund travel or other expenses; more details on eligibility and the application process will follow. Students or new policy scientists who are society members and are chosen to present at the Institute will receive highest priority for the allocation of travel funds.