Scientific Policy
Physics, political science undergraduate Jack Folwell combines interests to enhance connection among research, legislation and communities
Life can be a puzzle. The twists, turns, and unknowns make it an unpredictable path, and fitting seemingly unrelated pieces together is exactly what animates senior Jack Folwell about his journey at 糖心vlog.
鈥淭he idea of having a puzzle before me that I have to solve, like the Rubik鈥檚 Cubes I solved as a kid, is so exciting,鈥 Folwell said. 鈥淚 like to be challenged, so when I got to FSU, I needed to get involved with everything I could.鈥
Folwell is currently pursing dual degrees in physical science and political science through the in the College of Arts and Sciences and the through the , an extension of his two favorite subjects in high school.
Soon after arriving in Tallahassee in 2021, the Jacksonville native became interested in participating in FSU鈥檚 where he saw an opportunity to combine his studies with real-life applications to bridge public and policy that could yield real benefits on a community level.
SGA is an on-campus organization that helps students gain real-world experience in politics and develop leadership skills. It is composed of executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as a senate, multiple class councils, an elections office, and other entities with which students can become involved.
鈥淭his is the first time in my life that I was able to combine my science policy and political interests, and I realized this could have an impact,鈥 Folwell said. 鈥淚 knew I wanted to help people, but I couldn鈥檛 figure out how. Getting involved in SGA pointed me in the right direction and confirmed my career path.鈥
As SGA policy director, Folwell assisted in writing bills and managing crises, among other duties. Helping administer SGA鈥檚 legislative affairs activities solidified his plans for a career where he could help people via policies and politics. Throughout his term, from July 2023 to April 2024, Folwell networked, made important connections, and watched his own passion for the field grow.
鈥淛ack鈥檚 dedication to excellence and service sets him apart, and he has made a lasting impact through his advocacy work in student government,鈥 said Andy Johnson, program director for Student Governance and Advocacy in the . 鈥淏eyond his technical skills and policy expertise, Jack is a person of high character who genuinely cares about making a positive difference.鈥
In his work, Folwell emphasizes the importance of cultivating spaces where scientific knowledge and political policy can come together to help individuals better understand how legislation is created and how the findings of significant scientific research can be translated into policy. His project, 鈥淚nformation Literacy Skills and Beliefs,鈥 gave Folwell insights into how individuals process information accessed via the internet and best practices in determining what is true and what is false information.
鈥淲e need politicians who understand how to design policy based on scientific evidence and for the general public to understand how scientific discoveries are made,鈥 Folwell said. 鈥淭here was a lot of confusion from the pandemic that has continued, and people don鈥檛 realize that scientific discoveries are happening all the time and on a rolling basis 鈥 with a lot of them being a long time coming.鈥
Along with positions combining politics and science, Folwell has also held the role of Presidential Scholar. The is the university鈥檚 premier undergraduate merit scholarship program, and scholars are selected to inspire leadership, service, character, and wisdom in fellow students throughout their undergraduate years. The scholarship also supports awardees financially and provides a sizeable stipend for educational enrichment opportunities such as studying or conducting research abroad.
鈥淐oming into college, a daunting task is finding your social group,鈥 Folwell said. 鈥淭his program helped me find like-minded, driven friends early on in my freshman year and set me up for success. Presidential Scholars really gave me a home base.鈥
Folwell, who is presently finishing his broad-curriculum study abroad program in Valencia, Spain through FSU , plans to graduate in 2025 and looks forward to applying the tools he gained at FSU in a career in political and scientific policy.
鈥淚n the future, I hope to help citizens become more knowledgeable about policies affecting them on every level and about relevant scientific research,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 want to help people trust what scientists are saying, and bridging the connections among science, politics, and the public is my main goal.鈥
Lillian Gonda is a current FSU College of Business student working towards dual degrees in marketing and risk management/insurance with a minor in psychology.