Policy examination and assessment: implications and objectives
On May 3, 2025, the Policy Evaluation event took place at the NSPN Annual Symposium. The esteemed speakers included María Aránzazu Rodriguez (Research and Policy Manager at J-PAL Paris), Leonardo Zanobetti (Policy Analyst at the EU Commission), and Elena Cossu (Post-doc at Sciences Po's Centre for European Studies).
These speakers, who are at the intersection of the academic debate and the practice of policy evaluation, aimed to help students understand how impact evaluation affects the functioning of institutions. The discussion focused on the topic of democratic transparency and the rationalization of political decisions.
María Aránzazu Rodriguez, Leonardo Zanobetti, and Elena Cossu shared their experiences and insights from their respective roles in the field of policy evaluation. The speakers highlighted key principles discussed in political decision-making mechanisms, including efficiency, performance, and the balance between costs and benefits.
The added value of a scientific approach when defining notions such as efficiency and performance was a central theme of the discussion. The speakers emphasised the importance of understanding these issues for students who will design and implement policies in the future.
The event, which took place at the intersection of international, European, and national levels, was supported by partner organizations and oral presenters covering topics such as public health, environmental regulation, correctional healthcare staffing, sustainable farming, and maternal health. This broad and interdisciplinary approach to policy evaluation was evident in the diverse range of speakers and topics covered.
Senator Vandana Slatter and Representative Debra Lekanoff, policy makers involved in the political landscape, were also in attendance. Swaptik Chowdhury from RAND Corporation, who focuses on state-level AI regulation in the United States, and Sridevi Wagle from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, who specializes in visual analytics for AI classification, were also part of the event. Tepring Piquado from the National Science Policy Network, who has expertise in translating research evidence into legislative success through strategic tactics, was also present.
In conclusion, the Policy Evaluation event provided valuable insights into the field of policy evaluation and its importance in democratic transparency and the rationalization of political decisions. The speakers' accounts helped students understand the key principles of political decision-making mechanisms and the impact of impact evaluation on the functioning of institutions.
- The event at the NSPN Annual Symposium, which focused on democratic transparency and the rationalization of political decisions, underscores the significance of education-and-self-development for students who aim to design and implement policies in the future, particularly in the areas of policy-and-legislation and politics.
- The diverse range of speakers and topics covered at the Policy Evaluation event, including public health, environmental regulation, and maternal health, underscores the general-news value of understanding the key principles of political decision-making mechanisms and the impact of impact evaluation on the functioning of institutions.
