Senior Vice President for Government Relations and Public Policy
Tobin (Toby) Smith oversees matters related to science and innovation policy, broader impacts of science, and AAU’s international activities. He shares responsibility for matters concerning research costs and other regulatory and compliance issues, including facilities and administrative costs, export controls, scientific openness and security, public access to research results, and technology transfer. He also staffs the AAU Senior Research Officers (SRO) constituent group.
Toby previously 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 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 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 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 is active in AAAS where he is honorific fellow and officer of the Societal Impacts of Science and Engineering section (Section X). He also serves as a member of the AAAS Committee on Science, Engineering and Public Policy (COSEPP).
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.