SPLICE

Are you an academic interested in broadening the impacts of your research to effect changes in policy? Dr. Susan Landau started her career as a theoretical computer scientist working on algebraic algorithms and has spent the last twenty-five years in cybersecurity policy. She recently gave a keynote talk at the 29th International Workshop on Security Protocols on the key elements of effectively communicating technical issues to policymakers.

Landau’s fourteen lessons are summarized below. Read the full keynote text here to learn more!

1. Policymakers are smart.
2. Facts are 10% of the equation. 
3. Speak so policymakers understand. 
4. Give examples that are meaningful to your audience.
5. Analogies make a big difference.
6. Focus on what resonates. 
7. Tailor your information to the arguments that most resonate with the policymaker. 
8. Provide alternatives. 
9. The EU is not the United States.
10. There is no “the government.”
11. Dancing with NGOs can be very valuable. But never forget they have their own agendas.
12. If you want your policy ideas accepted, ignore who gets the credit.
13. Want to get to know the press? People in civil- liberties organizations? Broaden the set of meetings you attend.
14. How do you get involved?