A two-day, hands-on workshop for scientists and researchers ready to turn their expertise into action

November 2–3, 2026 | University of Calgary | Calgary, Alberta
9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. each day | Doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Room details to be announced

Do you want to get involved in science policy or advocacy but don’t know where to start? Then this workshop is for you!

You care about an issue. You have knowledge and expertise that could contribute to better decisions. But figuring out where you fit, who to talk to, what to ask for, and how to actually make an impact can be much harder. Over two interactive days, Evidence for Democracy (E4D) will help you develop a concrete, realistic plan for engaging in science policy and advocacy.

By the end of the workshop, you’ll have a practical guide to take your next step into advocacy.

Finding Your Role in Advocacy

Scientists and researchers can contribute to public policy in many different ways: as experts, advisers, communicators, knowledge brokers, advocates, or engaged members of their communities. The challenge is finding the role where what you care about, what you can contribute, what decision-makers need, and what is sustainable for you come together.

On Day 1, we’ll help you find that intersection.

You’ll explore:

• what issues you care about and the change you want to contribute to;
• the skills, expertise, relationships, and perspectives you already bring;
• how evidence is actually used in government decision-making;
• where decisions are made in the Canadian policy system;
• who holds power, who has influence, and who is affected;
• the different roles experts can play in advocacy and policy; and
• how to choose an approach that fits your capacity, comfort level, and goals.

You’ll bring these pieces together to identify your own advocacy Sweet Spot and begin translating it into a concrete goal:

What is the problem? What needs to change? And what are you actually asking for?

Putting It Into Practice

On Day 2, we move from understanding and designing your approach to communicating and acting.

Through practical exercises, discussion, peer feedback, and realistic policy scenarios, you’ll learn how to:

• communicate complex evidence clearly to different audiences;
• frame an issue and tell a compelling story without sacrificing scientific accuracy;
• develop a clear, 60-second advocacy message;
• approach and build relationships with policymakers and other decision-makers;
• prepare for meetings and make an effective policy ask;
• understand what makes a useful briefing note;
• work through evidence, options, trade-offs, and recommendations in a hands-on Briefing Note Challenge;
• identify opportunities to participate in consultations, committees, regulatory processes, budgets, advisory processes, and other policy channels;
• turn a stakeholder map into an engagement strategy; and
• build an advocacy plan you can realistically begin implementing after the workshop.

Participants will be encouraged to think beyond their own expertise and consider affected communities, lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, reciprocity, and perspectives that may be missing from policy conversations.

Who is this workshop for?

This workshop is designed for scientists, researchers, graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and other members of the research community who want to better understand how they can contribute to policy, public debate, and advocacy.

You might be wondering:

• How do I get involved in science policy?
• How can my research actually reach decision-makers?
• Can I advocate while maintaining my credibility as a scientist?
• Who should I talk to about an issue I care about?
• What does an effective meeting with a policymaker actually look like?
• How do I move from raising awareness to asking for a specific change?
• Where do I even start?

You do not need to arrive with all the answers. The purpose of these two days is to help you work through those questions.

Event details

Dates: Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3, 2026
Time: 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. each day
Arrival: Registration, coffee, and informal networking begin at 8:30 a.m.
Location: University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta
Room: To be announced

Participants should plan to attend both full days, as the activities build on one another throughout the workshop.

About Evidence for Democracy

Evidence for Democracy (E4D) is a national, non-partisan, not-for-profit organization working to ensure that governments and policymakers use the best available evidence when making decisions that affect Canadians.

Through research, advocacy, training, and public engagement, we help strengthen the connections between science, evidence, policy, and democracy.