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| COVES fellows at COVES policy fellowship orientation and bootcamp |
This summer, I had the privilege of being selected for the Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Policy Fellowship, hosted by the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM). The fellowship was a 12-week program held over the summer. During the COVES fellowship program, I worked at the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) under the supervision of Staff Attorney Nikhil Edward and Delegate Cliff Hayes. I was also mentored by Dr. John A. Stankovic, a member from VASEM and a professor at University of Virginia, who provided guidance during this fellowship.
The VASEM is a nonprofit organization that brings together members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine who reside or work in Virginia, along with Virginians recognized as leaders in these fields. COVES Policy Fellowship is a science policy fellowship hosted by VASEM that aims to strengthen the ties between the scientific community and Virginia's government. The COVES fellowship started in 2019 and this is the fifth year of the program. This year, 40 graduate students from universities across the Commonwealth of Virginia have applied for the COVES fellowship, and 17 students were selected. COVES 2024 cohort included graduate students from the commonwealth’s universities such as Old Dominion University (ODU), Virginia Tech, University of Virginia, William & Mary, George Mason University, Norfolk State University, Virginia Commonwealth University, and Virginia State University. Jem Baldisimo and I, from College of Sciences at ODU, participated in the COVES fellowship this summer.
COVES fellows were placed in host offices in the Virginia legislative and executive branches, the policy offices of non-governmental organizations (NGO), and scientific industries in Virginia. Host office placement was conducted through an interview process. The interviews were conducted remotely from April 22 - May 8, 2024, and provided an opportunity for fellows and the host mentors to learn about each other. Each fellow was required to sign up for a minimum of eight interviews with potential host offices. After all the interviews were completed, the fellows were matched with their host offices through a mutual selection process.
I was placed at the JCOTS, a permanent legislative commission in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is tasked with studying all aspects of technology and science, and strives to encourage, promote, and assist in the development of sound technology and science policy in the commonwealth. JCOTS is composed of 12 members of the General Assembly of Virginia, 7 Delegates and 5 Senators.
COVES Fellowship Orientation and Bootcamp
The COVES fellowship program began with a science policy orientation and bootcamp that took place from May 23-24, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia. During this orientation, we were introduced to the fundamentals of science policy and communication, as well as the details of governance and policymaking within the Commonwealth of Virginia. A key focus of the bootcamp was the importance of clear and concise communication, particularly in the context of writing policy briefs and science and technology notes. Additionally, the bootcamp provided a collaborative environment where fellows could connect with one another. This networking opportunity was invaluable, allowing us to share ideas, exchange insights, and learn from each other's diverse experiences and perspectives.
I'm excited to be at the COVES Policy Fellowship Program(@COVES_Fellows) Orientation & Bootcamp hosted by Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine(VASEM) in Richmond, VA!@WebSciDL@oducs@ODUSCI@ODUpic.twitter.com/kRiDjtkUQj
— Yasasi (@Yasasi_Abey) May 23, 2024
Day 2 of the COVES Policy Fellowship (@COVES_Fellows) Program Orientation & Bootcamp kicked off with the Communicating Science and Technology session by @Deborah_D_Stine from @Sci_Tech_Policy.
— Yasasi (@Yasasi_Abey) May 24, 2024
📍Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine, Richmond@WebSciDL@ODUSCIpic.twitter.com/T0VMvBSmui
COVES Fellowship Experience at JCOTS
At JCOTS, my work primarily focused on providing background research on emerging science and technology issues studied by JCOTS. The main topics studied by JCOTS this interim include Artificial Intelligence (AI), online data protection, and blockchain. I prepared introductory write-ups on these topics and shared my perspectives on the issues addressed in bills assigned to workgroups at JCOTS, helping policymakers gain a clearer understanding of key technological concepts. Throughout this program, I attended weekly meetings with my JCOTS mentor, Staff Attorney Nikhil Edward to update him on my work and discuss the assignments.
The assigned tasks were related to AI bills (SB 487, SB 164, HB 747), children's online protection/consumer data protection bills (SB 684, SB 432, SB 252, SB 359), and blockchain bills (SB 339, SB 439). I conducted research and provided write-ups on topics such as AI integration in social media, issues and potential risks of AI integration in social media (in terms of data privacy, social media addiction, synthetic content, and misinformation), and AI disclosures (warning labels and watermarking AI generated content). I also examined cookie opt-out, mechanisms and tools for providing verifiable parental consent, and issues with existing verifiable parental consent and age verification mechanism and tools.
During this summer, I attended JCOTS full committee meetings which took place in General Assembly Building, Richmond, Virginia. I had the opportunity of presenting the background on types of AI tools at the JCOTS full committee meeting and AI subcommittee meeting. In this presentation, I discussed the different types of AI, such as generative AI, virtual assistants, recommendation systems, and creativity tools. I further talked about how AI is integrated into modern applications. I discussed how Meta AI and Apple Intelligence represent advanced integrations of AI in social media and personal devices, enhancing user interactions and productivity.
I was honored to present at the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) meeting yesterday. It is a fantastic experience to serve as the COVES fellow at JCOTS this summer, supporting the science and technology policy work in Virginia. @COVES_Fellows@WebSciDL@ODUSCIpic.twitter.com/s6lRSzjPrg
— Yasasi (@Yasasi_Abey) July 18, 2024
COVES Fellowship Experience at VASEM
Throughout the fellowship term, all the COVES fellows attended weekly meetings with the fellowship coordinator, Sarah Hall. During these meetings, we discussed our work at host offices, the challenges we have encountered, and the successes we have experienced. This provided a friendly space for the fellows to learn from each other, provide tips and advices, and collaborate with other fellows.
Additionally, we attended professional development luncheons organized by VASEM. These professional development luncheons featured a series of guest speakers, covering a variety of key topics. Dr. Kevin Rockmann, Professor at George Mason University Costello College of Business, led a session on negotiation strategies including how to negotiate for oneself, his or her opinions, and his or her employers. Sarah Huang Spota, Deputy Director at Virginia Department of Historic Resources presented on conflict resolution in public policy. Different policy experts such as Dr. Tepring Piquado, Executive Director at National Science Policy Network (NSPN), Nick Savelli, Program Organizing Manager at Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), and Darci Cherry, Director at Center for Results-Driven Governing at NCSL, introduced science policy resources available from their respective organizations.
I had a great experience attending the Virginia House of Delegates Special Session meeting at the Virginia Capitol, witnessing a special session meeting in action and important policy discussions. VASEM organized this incredible opportunity for COVES fellows to attend the special session meeting, which was followed by a tour of the Virginia State Capitol.
Had a great experience attending the Virginia House of Delegates special session as @COVES_Fellows. An incredible opportunity to witness a special session meeting in action and important policy discussions.
— Yasasi (@Yasasi_Abey) July 3, 2024
📍Virginia Capitol Building, Richmond 🏛️ pic.twitter.com/75huyUwaco
National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit 2024
One of the highlights of my fellowship experience is attending the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) summit. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) Legislative Summit 2024 took place from August 5 to August 7, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. NCSL summit gathers state legislators and legislative staff in the United States. It provides a platform for attendees to engage in discussions, gain insights from public policy experts, and develop skills relevant to their careers. I got the opportunity to be a part of the NCSL Summit 2024 with six other COVES fellows and the COVES fellowship coordinator, Sarah Hall.
I am thrilled to be a part of #NCSL2024 in Louisville, Kentucky, attending @NCSLorg Legislative Summit this week. Looking forward to learn about #AI and key state policy issues across the country. https://t.co/FJcipeWNGD@COVES_Fellowspic.twitter.com/XAe0AoamlI
— Yasasi (@Yasasi_Abey) August 5, 2024
There was a wide variety of topics discussed in the NCSL including but not limited to Education, Transportation, Health, Election, and Public safety. I attended sessions related to the AI track as my interest and my work at JCOTS align with that topic. This year, AI is one of the topics discussed the most and there were 8 sessions on the topic of AI in the NCSL summit. By attending the AI-related sessions at the NCSL summit, I learned about several key topics, including: the Credo AI platform, an AI governance tool that helps enterprises in Financial Services, Insurance, Health, and Education to build and adopt AI responsibly; and practical AI tools used by state legislatures, such as self-hosted AI models like Meta’s Ollama, which provide a secure, internet-segregated solution for handling sensitive legislative tasks.
Overall, what I learned from attending the AI sessions at the NCSL summit is that AI is not new; it has been used in public security and healthcare for quite some time. However, the introduction of generative AI and deepfakes has brought AI into the public spotlight, along with potential issues. Developers must take necessary steps to ensure transparency about their models and mitigate identified risks. Likewise, users should be responsible in their use of AI, much like with firearms—just because the technology enables certain actions doesn't mean they should be taken.
I had an amazing experience attending the NCSL summit this summer by hearing from policy experts and learning about AI and other key state policies across the country. NCSL has organized several social events that capture the essence of Louisville, KY. They include the Welcome Reception at the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts, the Closing Reception with a mock Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, a Young and New Professionals Reception, and the NCSL Science Policy Fellowship Reception.
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| COVES fellows at NCSL Summit 2024 in Louisville, KY |
Conclusion
I was motivated to apply for the COVES fellowship because, as a researcher and engineer with a background in computer science, I am interested in recognizing the impact of technology and scientific inventions on society and the public. I was inspired to explore how my technical expertise can contribute to shaping policies in science and engineering. During the COVES fellowship, I worked at JCOTS and I primarily focused on researching emerging science and technology topics such as AI, online data protection, and blockchain—fields that are rapidly evolving and have broad societal impact. I contributed providing briefs and sharing insights on the technological issues discussed in bills studied by JCOTS, helping policymakers better understand key technological concepts.
Being a COVES fellow allowed me to learn how science and technology policies are developed, debated, and enacted within a legislative framework in Virginia. The COVES fellowship experience provided me with invaluable perspective, particularly the importance of considering the policy dimensions of my work. A key takeaway is the need to always evaluate how my work impacts the public, ensuring that my contributions are not only scientifically sound but also socially responsible and aligned with broader policy goals.
Acknowledgements
I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor, Dr. Sampath Jayarathna, for supporting my COVES fellowship application and for his guidance. My thanks also go to Dr. Vikas Ashok for providing a reference for this application. I am grateful to NIRDS Lab, WS-DL research group, and Computer Science department for their continued support.
I would like to acknowledge Sarah Hall for coordinating the COVES fellowship and offering steadfast support throughout the summer. I am also thankful to VASEM, ODU, and JCOTS, for providing me this opportunity. A special thanks to my VASEM mentor, Dr. John A. Stankovic from the University of Virginia for his guidance on myfuture research and career plans, and to my JCOTS mentors, Staff Attorney Nikhil Edward and Delegate Cliff Hayes for their mentorship during the fellowship, as well as the opportunity to present at the JCOTS full committee meeting.
Lastly, I appreciate the NCSL Science Policy Fellowship program for funding the COVES fellows to attend the NCSL summit in person.