STEP at Virginia Tech

“In my time as a graduate student studying the ecology of invasive plants, I’ve had several great opportunities to glimpse the world of policy. One experience was a field course in Washington D.C. that featured discussions with federal agency administrators, conservation NGOs, industry advocates, and legislative staff—all of whom shed light on the tremendous complexity of their professional responsibilities. This direct contact allowed my classmates and I to appreciate the range of political forces that act on the findings provided by invasion science in the process of crafting policy. Considering invasion biology from the perspective of policy has allowed me to reflect on the frameworks that motivate my basic research. It would be great for all students to have these opportunities, regardless of their intended professional trajectory. Understanding science as an endeavor integrated in human systems has been an invaluable part of my student experience at Virginia Tech.” Vasiliy Lakoba PhD Candidate in the VT School of Plant and Environmental Sciences and Global Change Fellow