Samuel Glickman, a fifth-year mathematics PhD student at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, participated in the Catalyzing Advocacy in Science and Engineering (CASE) Workshop in Washington D.C. in April 2025, where he learned about the federal policymaking process and advocated for research funding.
Sponsored by the American Mathematical Society (AMS), Glickman was one of three AMS fellows nationwide who attended the workshop. The program equips STEM students with the skills to effectively communicate the importance of their research to policymakers. Glickman, whose dissertation focuses on the mathematical foundations of artificial intelligence, computational science and data science, saw the CASE workshop as an opportunity to combine his passion for mathematics with practical policy work.
“The workshop was much more dynamic than I expected,” Glickman said, noting the blend of practical communication strategies with insights into the federal government’s structure.
Connecting with policymakers
During the final day of the workshop, Glickman and other fellows visited Capitol Hill to advocate for research funding. He met with representatives from the offices of Sen. Mazie Hirono and Rep. Ed Case.
“It went very well,” Glickman said. “We discussed my research and how it relates to national priorities, and we talked about how scientists can advocate for STEM research and education in our communities.”
Glickman is mentored by UH Mānoa Department of Mathematics Professor Monique Chyba. Chyba explained the importance of Glickman’s visit to the nation’s capital.
“Mathematics has much to contribute to the policymaking process. After all, Abraham Lincoln’s fascination with Euclidean geometry helped shape the logical framework of his reasoning,” Chyba said. “Yet mathematicians remain rare in government, which is why it is so important to inspire this interest in the next generation of scholars.”
‘Anyone can be an advocate’
Reflecting on his experience, Glickman emphasized the accessibility of advocacy.
“Anyone can be an advocate for STEM research and education,” he said. “Legislators represent their constituents, so if a constituent wants to see something emphasized, they can simply give their legislator a call or send them an email.”
Looking ahead, Glickman intends to maintain contact with his legislators’ offices and explore ways to further advocate for STEM. He even envisions a future career in public service.
The Department of Mathematics is housed in UH Mānoa’s College of Natural Sciences.
