<p>I will probably major in chemistry and politics, and I want to know any opportunities I can apply scientific knowledge to social context. Plz tell me something other than community service. :)</p>
<p>Do you mean as part of school or a career afterwards? There is plenty of ways that scientific methods are applied to social context - purchase based targeted advertising being the first that comes to mind.</p>
<p>You should check out the Baker Institute. I attended a Civic Scientist Lecture ([Civic</a> Scientist Program — James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy Rice University](<a href=“http://www.bakerinstitute.org/programs/scitech/civic-scientist-program/program-overview]Civic”>http://www.bakerinstitute.org/programs/scitech/civic-scientist-program/program-overview)) earlier this week by the administrator of NOAA. Her talk was basically all about applying scientific knowledge to public policy. There are multiple other programs in the Baker Institute focused on similar things (energy, stem cell research, etc.).</p>
<p>^Right! Thank you so much!</p>
<p>@adamb529,</p>
<p>That looks really great. The OP seems want the same thing as I do.</p>
<p>Yes yes yes! The Baker Institute is good - I’m working with a few people there to improve cross-discipline programming right now. Some examples:</p>
<ul>
<li>Academic programs such as the global health minor, which is basically as rough as it gets when applying science to social settings</li>
<li>An annual policy journal accepting submissions from all majors (ex. I wrote an article about defense lab funding)</li>
<li>Translational research is always big here. In the chemistry department, Dr. Tour works on treatments for radiation sickness, which definitely has policy implications</li>
<li>Summer internships: the Baker institute sponsors some science students at the White House Science Tech Program in DC, and our engineering leadership program provides internships with the City of Houston on stuff like city planning, health programs, etc</li>
<li>This really awesome article was on the front page of the Houston Chronicle yesterday - one bioengineering senior design team is working directly with our Metro system to reduce disease transmission on specific routes [Metro-TB</a> link prompts search for solutions - Houston Chronicle](<a href=“http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Metro-TB-link-prompts-search-for-solutions-2395917.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter]Metro-TB”>http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Metro-TB-link-prompts-search-for-solutions-2395917.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)</li>
<li>Energy policy is a HUGE thing here. Dr. Jaffe is considered a national expert, and we have lots of student-run programs to improve green initiatives around campus</li>
</ul>
<p>The list goes on. Feel free to PM me if you’re curious about anything in particular :)</p>
<p>Edit: Oh, and also our former dean of engineering (Sally Keller McNulty) now works on science policy for the Obama administration. They tend to take a few Rice grads for two-year jobs after graduation. And she’s awesome.</p>
<p>^Love u, man!</p>
<p>I’m not sure if this is your specific policy interest but I know that Dr. Ecklund does a lot of work on science and religion.</p>