Applied Policy Research

Science and Technology Legislative Landscape

Project Start Date: 01/01/2008

This is a 50-state survey of legislative activity in science and technology issues. Begun in Spring of 2008, OPAR has worked through four phases of methodological development and research to reach the data collection stage for the 2009 legislative sessions. Legislative data collection will culminate in a comparative report published biannually, with the first report expected in Spring 2010.

Status: Ongoing. Currently we are in the fourth phase, collecting data for the 2009 legislative session for all states. Please note that data is only collected for states which have concluded their 2009 Regular Legislative Session, and legislation from Special Sessions is not included. (Summer 2009)

Technology to Policy

Project Start Date: 01/01/2007

Technology to Policy (T2P) is research tool created to forecast the public policy impact of newly invented or developed emerging technologies. Using T2P, a research is capable of predicting the likely policy effects of an emerging technology (ET) based on the policy impact that a similar preceding technology (PT) had. The methodology assumes that if an ET is similar to a PT, then an ET will have a policy impact similar to the PT.

Status: Ongoing. Currently testing the T2P Framework by conducting case studies on broadband power lines. Fall 2009

Congressional Testimony

Project Start Date: 06/01/2006

This project studies the role of university faculty in the national science and technology policy debate.

Status: Complete. The next phase (Fall 2008) will repeat the analysis looking at testimony from industry.

Policy Analysis Tool

Project Start Date: 07/01/2004

This research explores the potential of a decision support tool for policymakers and their staffs.

Status: Conceptual prototype complete.