Abstract

The Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP) is a trainee-led grassroots coalition founded to empower early-career researchers to engage meaningfully with science policy, advocacy, and public-facing science communication. Our mission is to equip scientists with the tools, networks, and confidence to translate their research and expertise in service of their communities. In this Special Report, we share how SNAP’s initiatives, spanning from local community conversations to national policy debates, are reimagining and transforming the multifaceted role of scientists in communities. By investing in coalition-building and centering early-career voices, SNAP is creating scalable models for civic engagement and science advocacy to advance equity, democratize science policy, and strengthen the relationship between science and society.

Keywords: science policy, civic engagement, graduate STEM education, early-career scientists, evidence-informed policymaking

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Recommended citation: Arnett, M., Boufidis, D., Dant, C., Davis, B., Di Tomassi, I., Fernandez, K., Finn, A., Flores, J. P., Flores, S. J., Lando, A., Morrow, E., Patel, D., Groves, A. R., Ramotowski, D., Rich, A., Scales, E., & Tran, L. (2026). The Scientist Network for Advancing Policy (SNAP): Building Infrastructure for early-career scientists in policy and public engagement. BioScience, 0(0), 1–7. DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biag053