From NASA to the Senate: Bridging Science and Policy with Natasha Dacic

On this episode of Go! For Launch, science policy fellow Dr. Natasha Dacic joins hosts Audrey and MacKenzie for a compelling look at how scientific research intersects with government decision-making—and how young scientists can help shape the future.

Dr. Dacic shares her journey from a small liberal arts college in Idaho to earning a PhD in environmental science at the University of Michigan, with research stops at NASA and fieldwork deep in the Idaho wilderness along the way. Now serving as a science and technology policy fellow through the AAAS on Capitol Hill, she offers an inside view of how science informs legislation—and why it often doesn’t.

Together, they explore the difference between fellowships and internships, how to communicate science to policymakers, and what it was like to help pass her first piece of legislation recognizing World Migratory Bird Day. This episode is a must-listen for anyone curious about using science for public good, bridging policy and research, or just wondering how to make an impact without having it all figured out at once.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. What a science and technology policy fellowship actually is—and what fellows do on Capitol Hill

2. How Natasha navigated an unconventional path from physics and fieldwork to policy and politics

3. Why science often doesn’t drive policy, and how that can (and should) change

4. Practical advice for students and early-career scientists who want to make a difference

5. What it takes to pass a bipartisan piece of legislation—about birds

Timestamps:

00:00:34 – Natasha’s background and introduction to the AAAS fellowship

00:02:09 – Her journey from Idaho to NASA and the University of Michigan

00:08:21 – Discovering the NASA Student Airborne Research Program

00:14:25 – What drew her to science policy: environmental philosophy and beyond

00:16:35 – What science policy really means—and why it’s not all about data

00:20:39 – Why relationships, politics, and timing shape legislation more than science alone

00:26:41 – The role of science communication in influencing policy

00:29:21 – Internships vs. fellowships: what’s the difference?

00:34:17 – Natasha’s two NASA internships and how she landed them

00:36:46 – What it’s really like working in the Senate as a science fellow

00:41:00 – How she helped pass legislation for World Migratory Bird Day

00:46:51 – What’s next after the fellowship—and why it’s a tough time for science jobs

00:48:55 – Advice for young people wanting to use science to change the world

00:54:43 – Do phone calls to Congress matter? (Yes!)

00:55:08 – Natasha’s final reflections and what she’s most curious about today

Helpful Links:

• AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships – https://aaas.org/programs/science-technology-policy-fellowships

• NASA Student Airborne Research Program – https://science.nasa.gov/earth-science/early-career-opportunities/student-airborne-research-program/

• U.S. Congressional Research Service – https://usa.gov/agencies/congressional-research-service

• World Migratory Bird Day – https://migratorybirdday.org/

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