Hawkeye Caucus is a unique day where graduate students from the University of Iowa head to the state capitol to meet with legislators and discuss the impact of their research on the people of Iowa. This year, alongside Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education and Dean of the Graduate College, Dr. Amanda Thein, students from the School of Planning and Public Affairs, Computer Science, and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program presented research related to public safety, consumer data protection, urban and regional planning, housing and community development, and public health.
“Hawkeye Caucus is a great opportunity for graduate students to talk to our state legislators and share the ways that the complex research that they conduct has real world impact for people living in Iowa communities,” Dean Thein says.
Armando Bryson is a second-year graduate student in the Public Affairs program. This was his first year attending Hawkeye Caucus.
“It is extremely important for students to share their research with members of Congress,” Bryson says. “These legislators have a special love for students who are placing civic engagement at the core of their education.”
Affecting and advising policy
Ben Kreitlow is a sixth-year MD/PhD student in the Medical Scientist Training Program, earning his PhD in neuroscience. One point of interest for Kreitlow is communicating the scientific intricacies of his research to policymakers who might not be familiar with the medical field.
Kreitlow was able to speak with several representatives, including two alumni of the UI Carver College of Medicine. “Getting to talk to representatives with a medical background as well as representatives who are less familiar with the science was very rewarding,” Kreitlow remarks.
Specifically, Kreitlow’s research focuses on Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP). “Over 30,000 people in Iowa live with epilepsy,” Kreitlow explains. “Hopefully my work can help prevent epilepsy deaths so that people living with the diagnosis and their families can feel more comfortable.”
Alongside advocating for research which improves human health and prevents disease, students spoke to the importance of safeguarding one’s data. Maaz Musa is a doctoral student in computer science whose research focuses on consumer data protection.
“My research surrounds developing frameworks and tools that can facilitate lawmakers in auditing compliance of entities that consume user data,” Musa explains.
Musa’s research is integral in advising legislators on the Iowa Consumer Data Protection Act (ICDPA) that will become effective in 2025. One senator expressed particular interest in Musa’s research.
“One legislator I spoke with was on the same page as me regarding the privacy issue,” Musa says. “They were really interested in knowing what we do in the lab and how our work can act as an advisory to the Iowa data privacy law that's coming soon.”
While Kreitlow and Musa’s research has clear local impact, their work makes a global difference as well. “My research impacts everyone because it affects the privacy of all the users and how they can protect their data,” Musa says.
Into Iowa communities
Connecting with legislators is a pivotal skill for students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs (SPPA) as they conduct research in various cities across Iowa. Kaylynn Sieverding is a second-year graduate student in SPPA whose research focuses on urban and regional planning and housing and community development.
“My work attempts to bridge the gap for individuals and families burdened by housing costs by identifying strategies feasible for Dubuque,” Sieverding says.
Similarly, Bryson’s research is based in the city of Bondurant. “My current research focuses on public safety, examining alternative policy solutions for cities interested in establishing their own dedicated police force,” Bryson explains.
Sieverding and Bryson’s advocacy and community development projects highlight the tangible effects of student research.
“The research that students at Iowa conduct not only has implications for national and international issues,” Dean Thein says, “but it also has impact on our communities and the way people live every day.”
“Per my discussion with state members of Congress at Hawkeye Caucus, legislators find it extremely refreshing to talk to students who are utilizing their education to make a true difference in the world,” Bryson says.
Hawkeye Caucus continues to be an important day for graduate students to demonstrate that the research done at the University of Iowa has current and lasting impact.