This award recognizes an elected government official (local, state, national, international) who demonstrates support for science related to protecting or advancing the health and safety of people, animals, and/or the environment.
For her strong advocacy for federal investment in scientific research and development and actions to improve research and public health in the state of Michigan, Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) has been awarded the SOT Science Policy Leadership Award.
Seeing environmental protection and public health as a bipartisan issue, Senator Slotkin has supported funding increases for federal agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. In Michigan, she helped obtain appropriations for initiatives such as the Next-Generation Anaerobic Digestion Testing & Standard Development Facility at Michigan State University and the Flint Lead Exposure Registry. She has visited Michigan’s top research universities to understand their needs firsthand to better advocate for strengthened infrastructure, interdisciplinary research, and competitive federal grants.
Through her actions and correspondence, Senator Slotkin has exhibited a true understanding of the long-reaching effect of investing in scientific research. In an email with a constituent about the importance of funding for the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Senator Slotkin expressed the detrimental effects of a funding decrease, stating “What life-saving treatment options will be delayed in discovery for years, leading to unnecessary harm to Michigander’s health and well-being? Whose family members will suffer from a disease that could have been solved had more research funds been available?”
Beyond her advocacy for research related to environmental protection and public health, Senator Slotkin recognizes the importance of the scientific disciplines in the next generation. She has championed policies to expand STEM programs in Michigan and supports science education and STEM workforce development.
Because of her dedication to using facts, evidence, and science to shape public policy and her understanding that investing in science is an investment in public health, Senator Slotkin exemplifies the qualities recognized by the SOT Science Policy Leadership Award.