Policy Talks

Policy Talks is an annual, invitation-only workshop hosted by The Center for Practical Ethics, bringing together 10 to 15 experts working at the intersection of ethics and policy. The day consists of sustained, hands-on discussion among people already doing the relevant research and work on a single pressing issue.

Participants come from all sectors and disciplines relevant to the year’s topic, from business to government and from anthropology to engineering. These experts may never otherwise cross paths, and Policy Talks is designed to change that. They bring recent research, legal analysis, and on-the-ground industry experience to examine the ethical dimensions of the issue and work toward concrete recommendations for policymakers.

Many of the relationships formed here outlast the event itself, becoming the working connections legislators and agencies turn to well after the year's project wraps.

Purpose and Impact

Policy Talks is built to produce real, usable output: ethical guidelines, white papers, or policy proposals aimed at the legislators and agencies shaping policy. Just as central to its purpose is the network it builds. The right expert connected to the right policymaker can go on to shape decisions for years beyond the workshop itself.

2026 Policy Talks

Lithium Development in Mississippi

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How It Works

Event: Policy Talks convenes the year's expert group and begins the research and drafting process. → Network: The group of experts stays engaged, continuing to inform the project and available as an ongoing resource for policymakers. → Research: The network's expertise is synthesized into a well-grounded evidence base. → Draft: Once the research is in hand, the group moves into drafting concrete recommendations. → Publish: Deliverables are published as ethical guidelines, white papers, policy proposals, or briefs for policymakers.