Session Description: Science-based policy decisions are informed by effective communicators who engage in public policy at the federal, state and local level. How the process works may seem overly complex leading to the myth that citizens are powerless in the face of special interests and partisan politics—but, nothing is farther from the truth.Attend this workshop to learn the ins and outs of working with Congress in Washington DC and in their home state. This hands-on session will provide participants with an overview of national-level opportunities to participate in public policy, from weighing in on congressional legislation to advocating for federal funding for research. It will provide the ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘when’ and ‘how’ of participating in public policy, with a focus on the legislative branch at the federal level.An overview presentation will be capped by mock congressional meetings to give workshop participants an opportunity to test their communication skills.