Colorado Science & Engineering Policy Fellowship

The Colorado Science & Technology Policy Program (STPP) Summer Scholars is a nonpartisan professional development program for current Colorado STEM students interested in state-level public policy. Summer Scholars spend eight weeks learning about science and technology policy through seminars and site visits, culminating in a capstone policy research project and presentation at the Colorado State Capitol. 

Summer Scholars work with legislative sponsors, Senator Cleave Simpson and Representative Sean Camacho, throughout the summer to develop their policy proposals. 

The Colorado Science & Technology Policy Program Summer Scholars was originally founded in 2018 by former State Senators Chris Hansen and Bob Rankin as the Colorado Science & Engineering Policy Fellowship (CSEPF), when the two legislators found common ground as policymakers with engineering backgrounds.  

More than 100 alumni have completed the program and seen the value of this experience for their career trajectories and their capacity to engage with topics outside their fields of study. 

After participating in the program as an annual site visit for the students since 2019, the Institute for Science & Policy at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science became the program administrator in 2025.