The Science Outside the Lab (SOtL) program has introduced hundreds of sciences and engineering graduate students to how the federal government impacts and is impacted by science and technology.  In 2025, NNCI SEI coordinator Jamey Wetmore will lead a special SOtL tailored specifically for university faculty.

During the 3-day workshop, participants will engage with decision-makers on science and technology, focusing on the US Federal Government. Participants will meet and interact with congressional staffers, funding agency officers, regulators, journalists, museum curators, and others to learn how and why nanotechnology and other emerging technologies are funded, regulated, and shaped.  The program will provide a unique introduction into how government influences and learns from the sciences and engineering, and how science and engineering can better promote the public good. The ultimate goal is to empower participants to extend the reach and impact of their research beyond their labs.

This program will be held in-person from May 28-30, 2025 at Arizona State University's Barrett and O'Connor Washington Center (1800 I St. NW) as well as at various locations around DC. Successful applicants will be receive a modest stipend to cover some of the costs of transportation and housing, thanks to the program's sponsors:  The National Science Foundation-funded Nanotechnology Collaborative Infrastructure Southwest (NCI-SW) and the NNCI Coordinating Office.