Meet the Co-Chairs of the ESEP Coalition

Erin Heath is the Director of Federal Relations at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), one of the world’s largest general scientific societies and publisher of the journal Science. The Office of Government Relations provides timely, objective information on science and technology issues to lawmakers, and it assists scientists in understanding and getting involved in the policy process. Erin leads the federal policy team at AAAS and is heavily involved in efforts to empower scientists and engineers to engage with policymakers, the media and the public. She co-chairs the Coalition for National Science Funding, the Engaging Scientists and Engineers in Policy Coalition, and the steering committee of the Golden Goose Award. She played a key role in the launch of the Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (EPI Center) at AAAS and serves on its internal advisory committee. She is also the inaugural chair of the Governing Board of the Journal of Science Policy and Governance. In 2017, Erin was awarded the AAAS Champion Award, given to an individual who has "championed" the mission of AAAS with a positive attitude and has inspired and motivated others to embrace and fulfill the AAAS vision.

Before joining AAAS, Erin worked for the American Institute of Biological Sciences, where she led the organization’s media training and outreach efforts and cut her teeth on science policy. Erin holds a Master of Science with Merit in Public Policy and Administration from the London School of Economics and Political Science. While in London, she served as a research assistant in Parliament. Prior to graduate school, she spent years as a journalist in Washington, most notably as a science policy reporter and columnist for the National Journal. She earned a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Maryland.

Tobin (Toby) Smith is Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy at the Association of American Universities (AAU). In his current role at AAU, he provides strategic leadership and management for the association’s priorities in matters relating to science and innovation policy, higher education, and AAU’s international activities. He has specific expertise in policy matters relating to the broader impacts of science, research costs, research integrity, export controls, research security, scientific openness, public access to research results, and technology transfer. He shares responsibility for oversight for AAU’s Council on Federal Relations (CFR) and the Senior Research Officers (SRO) constituent groups and serves as AAU’s liaison with the Global Research-Intensive Universities Network. Prior to AAU, Toby worked as a federal relations representative for the University of Michigan and for MIT. He began his career on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to Congressman Bob Traxler (D-MI).

Toby writes and speaks widely on issues of science policy. He is the co-author of a 2008 book on national science policy titled, Beyond Sputnik – U.S. Science Policy in the 21st Century. He serves on the Advisory Board of the International Network for Advancing and Evaluating the Societal Impact of Science (AESIS); is a member of the Council of Experts for the NSF sponsored Center for Advancing Research Impact in Society (ARIS) and the governing board for the Journal of Science Policy and Governance; and is co-chair of Engaging Scientists in Engineers in Policy (ESEP), an ad hoc alliance of organizations focused on helping scientists and engineers to effectively engage in the policy making process at all levels of government. Toby is active in AAAS where he is honorific fellow and officer of the Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering section (Section X). He has also served in several local and state leadership roles as a volunteer with Virginia Cooperative Extension and the 4-H youth program. Toby holds a master’s degree in Legislative Affairs from George Washington University, and a bachelor’s degree in General Studies (BGS) from the University of Michigan.