Yasasi Abeysinghe is a Doctoral student in the College of Sciences, majoring in Computer Science. She applied for the COVES fellowship due to a strong interest in understanding how technology and scientific inventions impact society and the public. As a researcher and engineer with a background in computer science, Yasasi sought to explore how technical expertise can contribute to science and engineering policy development. The fellowship offered an opportunity to gain insight into the intersection of technology, science, and policy, and to experience firsthand how policymaking affects the public.