Course Syllabus

Cornell Alliance for Science

2016 Global Leadership Fellows Program

August 26 – November 18

12-Week Curriculum Overview

 

The Alliance for Science Global Leadership Fellows Program is a 12-week program that runs August 26^th through November 18^th, 2016, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA. The Fellows Program is designed to equip and empower emerging leaders who can advance the mission of promoting evidence-based decision-making and science-based communications.

Week 1

Course Orientation: Introduction to the Cornell Alliance for Science and 12-week training program; Meet the Cornell Alliance staff; On-boarding at Cornell; Diversity training; Multimedia 101; Public speaking 101; Fellows sign-up to host visiting instructors; Alliance for Science seminar series begins (weekly); Meet-and-greet mixer event on Cornell campus

 

Week 2

Leadership: Leadership training, sharing personal story introductions, team building, and generally getting to know one another (off campus at Camp Oswegatchie in the New York Adirondacks); Dairy farm and wind farm field trips

 

Week 3

Science Week: Genetic engineering 101; Biotechnology and climate change; Visiting scientists and Cornell scientists instruct, mentor, and hold discussion groups; Lab and farm tours and field trips; Critical thinking and engagement debrief session

 

Week 4

State of Biotechnology: Fellows provide presentations on the state of biotech in their home countries; Visiting experts provide feedback and instruct; 270 Strategies staff meet with teams for discovery interviews and relationship building; Visit to Cornell’s Geneva campus (New York State Agricultural Experiment Station)

 

Week 5

Strategy Development: 270 Strategies facilitation + workshops

• Strategic Frameworks: Vision, Mission, Goals, Strategies, & Tactics
• Power Mapping
• Phases & Timelines
• Media Training (instruction provided by Cornell program)

 

Week 6

Science and the Media: Visiting speakers instruct and mentor; Fellows work closely with instructors on development of strategic plans; Boyce Thompson Institute field trip tour; Video capture 101

 

Week 7

Communications and Grassroots Organizing: 270 Strategies facilitation + workshops

• Developing a Core Message Frame and Talking about the Alliance
• Structuring Grassroots Empowerment
• Personal Story; Messaging for Recruitment and Persuasion
• Building a Culture of Volunteerism
• Rapid Response

 

Week 8

Executive Program: A program for leaders of organizations whose staff and colleagues will be represented at the 12-week training program. Executive participants will learn about the Cornell Alliance for Science, fellows will present their in-process campaign plans, and fellows and leadership will align on future strategy.

• Fellows will host a community event mid-week to engage the local Ithaca community in discussion around agricultural biotechnology and climate change in the international context. A subset of 2015 fellows will return for the community engagement event.

 

Week 9

Policy, Law, and Socio-Economics: Visiting speakers instruct and mentor; Panel of fellows will provide a seminar as part of the Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development seminar series

 

Week 10

Fundraising: Visiting speakers instruct and mentor; Ongoing development of strategic plans; Radio station field trip; Panel of fellows will provide a seminar as part of the Cornell Alliance for Science seminar series

 

Week 11

Data and Digital: 270 Strategies facilitation + workshops

• Digital: Messaging, organizing, and fundraising online
• Data: Establishing metrics, monitoring, and systems for accountability
• 270 Strategies Office Hours: Workshop final campaign plans with teams

 

Week 12

Final Campaign Presentations & Graduation: Teams present comprehensive strategic campaign plans before expert panel; Graduation ceremony on Cornell campus; Capstone program event at United Nations in New York City (Climate for Change: Farmers’ Stories)