Agenda

Participants ease into the day with a newtworking breakfast

Welcome from our presenting sponsor, hosts, organizers

Student & Early-Career: 5 min Oral Presentations

Our first session focuses on the issues regarding health policy that impacts our daily life now

Lasting improvements in health do not begin only in laboratories or government offices—they begin in communities. The Grassroots Perspectives on Health panel brings together community leaders, advocates, and practitioners who are working directly with patients, families, and neighborhoods to address real-world health challenges.

This conversation highlights the voices of those closest to the issues: individuals building trust, improving access to care, advancing public health education, and developing innovative community-driven solutions. Panelists will share lessons learned from the front lines of health advocacy and explore how local engagement can inform stronger policy, more responsive healthcare systems, and healthier communities.

By elevating grassroots perspectives, this session aims to connect lived experience with evidence-based policy and create a more inclusive approach to improving health and well-being for all.

Transforming health systems requires leadership at the highest levels of policy, research, and institutional decision-making. The Grasstops Perspectives on Health panel brings together senior leaders from government, healthcare systems, industry, philanthropy, and research institutions who are shaping the policies and strategies that influence health outcomes at scale.

This conversation will explore how top-level decision-makers navigate complex challenges such as healthcare access, emerging technologies in medicine, public health preparedness, and the intersection of science, policy, and innovation. Panelists will discuss the policy, partnerships, and investments needed to strengthen health systems and ensure that scientific advances translate into meaningful improvements in public health.

By connecting high-level leadership with the broader health ecosystem, this session highlights how strategic vision, evidence-informed policy, and cross-sector collaboration can drive lasting improvements in health and well-being.

Join UCR Dean Mark Long and Riverside City Controller Mike Futrell for a fireside conversation on the opportunities and challenges shaping the transition to green energy. As communities across the country work to expand clean energy, modernize infrastructure, and meet growing energy demand, universities and local governments play a critical role in designing practical solutions.

In this discussion, Dean Long and Controller Futrell will explore how innovation, investment, and local leadership can help power a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

This session will highlight the importance of collaboration between universities, government, and industry to accelerate the transition to cleaner energy systems and ensure communities are positioned to thrive in a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

To close the day, we will hear directly from lawmakers about how science, data, and evidence inform real-world policy decisions. As governments face complex challenges—from strengthening public health systems to advancing reliable and sustainable energy—elected officials increasingly rely on scientific expertise to guide responsible policymaking.

In this conversation, legislators will share how they incorporate research, expert input, and community perspectives when shaping policy on critical issues such as health and energy. Panelists will discuss how evidence helps them evaluate tradeoffs, design effective legislation, and respond to rapidly evolving challenges.

This closing session offers a rare opportunity to hear candid reflections from policymakers on how science translates into action inside the legislative process—and how researchers, practitioners, and advocates can contribute to stronger, more informed decision-making.