Press Release: 2007 Policy Expo Wrapup > Roosevelt Home > In the News > Press Release: 2007 Policy Expo Wrapup
ADVISORY: Students Use Policy Presentations to Spark Conversation at the Roosevelt Institution’s National Policy Expo
Washington, D.C., 18 July 2007—The Roosevelt Institution, the nation’s first student think tank, showcased the policy ideas of its members at its second annual National Policy Expo on July 13. Thirty-nine students presented original policy proposals on dozens of topics, most of which focused on Roosevelt’s three challenge areas: reducing dependence on foreign and harmful sources of energy, increasing socioeconomic diversity in higher education, and making America work for working families. The event drew students, professionals, and politicians from all over the country to listen to and engage in conversations with these student policy thinkers.
Jonas Ketterle, who presented on energy-efficient school buildings within the Cleaner Energy Challenge, had this to say: “Presenting on Friday was an honor and lots of fun. I prepared for this presentation more than any other I've given before, because I wanted to make a strong case for high performance schools but also to showcase the vitality of student work. It was well worth it - I received several questions that I hadn't anticipated that gave me a new angle on the policy, and I met even more great people to develop the policy with.”
The Policy Expo also served as the launch of Roosevelt’s three 25 Ideas publications. These documents present 25 student-developed approaches to each of the three Challenges, bringing together sound policy from a diverse pool of American students.
Also featured were the three inaugural issues of the 25 Ideas series. Each journal of 25 Ideas focuses on one of three challenges that Roosevelt members had worked on over the course of the last year. Ideas ranged from bold initiatives to create new social programs and advance new technologies, to more subtle recommendations for closing key loopholes and making targeted tax code adjustments.
“Students can do so much more than ask questions about the challenges we face today,” Caitlin Howarth, Roosevelt’s Director of Operations, said. “They can offer their energy, their dedication, and a fresh perspective on policy solutions.”
The Roosevelt Institution is the premiere organization of student thinkers dedicated to infusing the public discourse with their ideas. Approximately seven thousand members from all over the country conduct policy research on pressing issues, and students at Roosevelt’s national office connect those ideas to the policy process through illuminating conferences, presentations, and publications. Roosevelt believes that students make up the ideal source for the progressive ideas that will shape the future of their generation.
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