RST student brings equity-focused research to national science policy advocacy workshop 

For Malaika Bigirindavyi, science has never existed in a vacuum. It lives in communities, in policy decisions and in the lived experiences of the people her research aims to center. That belief guided her to the AAAS Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering Workshop, a national program hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C. 

The workshop, commonly known as CASE, brings together graduate students from across the country to learn how federal policy shapes scientific research, and how scientists can shape policy in return. 

Bigirindavyi, a first-year doctoral student in the Department of Recreation, Sport and Tourism in the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign working with Assistant Professor Yannick Kluch, said the opportunity immediately aligned with her academic and personal interests. 

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working on policy co-creation, implications and developing communal accountability measures,” she said. “This opportunity sounded like a perfect chance to expand my understanding of how policy can be used for social justice and equity-oriented work.” 

Her research focuses on the lived experiences of Black women student-athletes and how they build community within their institutions—work she describes as deeply rooted in a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. That connection made the workshop especially timely, as many researchers grapple with shifting federal priorities and increased scrutiny of DEI-related funding and scholarship. 

At CASE, Bigirindavyi joined students from a wide range of disciplines, from engineering to public health. Despite their varied fields, she said a common thread quickly emerged: concern over federal funding and the role of advocacy in protecting research. 

“The larger scientific community has experienced alienation and funding cuts,” she said. “That was one of the main unifying concerns across disciplines.” 

One of the workshop’s central goals is to demystify the federal budget and appropriations process, a system that can feel opaque even to seasoned researchers. For Bigirindavyi, that clarity was one of the most valuable takeaways. 

“There are a lot of misconceptions and confusion about how the federal government is structured and run,” she said. “The presenters made sure everyone was on the same page before diving into the budget process.” 

She described learning about the intricate network of stakeholders, timelines and decision points that determine how federal research dollars are allocated. Understanding those details, she said, is essential for scientists who want their work to be heard. 

“There are specific times in the fiscal year that are more effective for connecting with policymakers,” she said. “There are also relationships, like how leadership at agencies is appointed, that can signal future priorities.” 

For graduate students, particularly those early in their careers, that knowledge can be empowering. 

“It gives you a roadmap,” Bigirindavyi said. “You’re not just doing research and hoping it matters. You’re learning how to advocate for it in spaces where decisions are actually made.” 

Beyond the policy lessons, the workshop also offered something less tangible but equally important: community. 

Bigirindavyi said she was most excited to meet other graduate students and learn about their work, and that those conversations became a highlight of the experience. 

“Everyone was super welcoming and friendly,” she said. “It’s always great when you can find connections between your work and others.” 

Those connections reinforced another key message of the workshop: that science and policy cannot afford to remain separate. 

“There’s often this idea that science and policy are siloed,” she said. “But when there’s a disconnect, there can be catastrophic outcomes.” 

She pointed to issues such as climate change, vaccination and gender and sexual health as areas where gaps between scientific evidence and policy decisions have already had real-world consequences. 

“A lack of engagement can lead to misinformation or false information spreading,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important for scientists to be part of those conversations.” 

Now back on campus, Bigirindavyi is already thinking about how to apply what she learned. 

One goal is to share her knowledge with peers, particularly when it comes to navigating the federal system. 

“I want to help demystify the budget process for others in my department,” she said. “Knowledge is extremely powerful. The more researchers understand the system, the more effective our advocacy can be.” 

She also plans to continue integrating advocacy into her own work, both in research and in the broader academic community. 

“Advocacy is a key component of my approach,” she said. “The research I want to publish is grounded in transforming systems and policy for racial and gender equity and justice.” 

That vision extends beyond academia. Bigirindavyi hopes her work will not only inform policy, but also empower the communities she studies. 

“I want participants in my research to develop an understanding of advocacy for themselves and their communities,” she said. 

For other graduate students interested in science communication or policy, Bigirindavyi offers a simple but direct message: use your voice. 

“Student voices have been the pillars of so many social and political movements,” she said. “There are endless ways to communicate and advocate—speaking, writing, signing petitions, showing up.” 

Her experience at CASE underscored that advocacy does not require abandoning science; it requires strengthening it. 

As debates over funding, equity and the role of research continue at the national level, programs such as the CASE workshop aim to prepare the next generation of scientists not just to conduct research, but to defend and advance it. 

For Bigirindavyi, that mission feels personal. 

“Science impacts people’s lives,” she said. “If we care about our work and the communities it serves, then we have to be willing to advocate for it.” 

Editor’s note:

To reach Malaika Bigirindavyi, email mjb18@illinois.edu 

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