Talking Past Each Other: Connections and Disconnections Between States and Social Scientists

While social science research can and does influence state governments, too often the process is indirect, the science is misinterpreted, and the impacts are unclear. What's more, it's not clear that social science research is answering the kinds of questions that state governments need answered. We will discuss the disconnects between social science and the states, and how to bridge the gap to make government better at absorbing the lessons of social science and to make social science better at talking to state government.

Eric Luedtke's career has bridged the worlds of governmental theory and practice. A popular former Clinical Professor at the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, Eric helped train and equip students to serve in a range of roles state and local government and the nonprofit sector. He has also worked in a number of prominent positions in state government, from elected office in the Maryland House of Delegates, where he rose through the ranks to serve as Majority Leader, to the executive branch, where he was one of Governor Wes Moore's day one hires. His unique perspective on  is shaped by being an insider in both the world of state government and the world of academia.