View
215
Download
2
Category
Tags:
Preview:
Citation preview
Strategies to Support Interdisciplinary, Applied Environmental Science Careers
and Leadership for the Improvement of
Global Environmental Policies and Practices
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE:
• Provides an understanding of the structure and functioning of natural systems
• Helps elucidate human interrelationships with and impacts on these systems
• Can provide critical guidance to resource managers, decision-makers, and the public to inform policy decisions and development of sustainable practices
Just Doing Science, Even Excellent Interdisciplinary Science,
is Not Enough!
Conducting the best science and publishing in the best journals, although critically important, will not contribute to needed solutions, UNLESS
• It gets in the hands of the people who need it and can use it
• It is informed by policy considerations• The public appreciates the problems and
science’s contribution to the solutions
The Challenges of “Stepping up to the Plate”
• It takes time, and needs to be timely• Must learn how to interact and communicate with
new audiences• Need to place research in the context of “real world”
problems• Maintaining credibility: walking the fine line of
informing the debate rather than be perceived as an advocate
• Often take “heat” from special interest groups, industry, and potentially some colleagues
The “Upside” of Engaging
Observation: Decisions will be made with or without input from the scientific community.
Opinion: Only scientists can provide the objectivity and perspective on the problems and the science-based solutions.
Reward: Scientists’ insight can be part of the solution. Scientists convey the messages they want to communicate.
If science cannot lead us to wisdom, as well as power,
it is surely no science at all. Aldo Leopold, Ecology and Politics, 1941
The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program provides leadership and communication training to academic environmental scientists and facilitates collaboration and networking among scientists and a broad range of non-scientific stakeholders to increase understanding of environmental issues for improved policies and practices that positively impact the environment and society.
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
“Environmental scientists have valuable knowledge that should be available to citizens and policy makers as they make choices about the future of our planet and our communities. It is vitally important to all of us that scientists be able to provide accurate information in plain language and in the context of everyday life to those who are determining our environmental policies and practices.”
-- Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Zoology,
Oregon State University, & Aldo Leopold Leadership Program Co-Founder and Steering Committee Co-Chair
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
The program helps build the capacity of scientists to conduct effective outreach and to better collaborate across disciplines and sectors to:
• advance scientific understanding as decision-makers confront increasingly complex environmental issues;
• enhance and solidify the links between research and policy, and between scientists and non-scientists;
• increase the involvement and visibility of academic scientists in public outreach;
• promote changes in academic culture so that scientists are encouraged and supported to share their scientific knowledge “beyond the ivory tower.”
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
Support individual and collective leadership and collaboration through:
• Training Fellowships: two weeks of intensive training in scientific leadership and outreach
• Networking & Resources: quarterly listserv, bi-annual on-line newsletter, Fellows-only resource page on website
• Promotion: website as ‘experts directory’, newsletter, press releases and annual media campaign on new Fellows, ongoing outreach on all Fellows
• Outreach Engagement Fund: smaller grants for Fellows to work on a scientific outreach projects
• Campaign Clearinghouse: database of NGO, government, industry and community campaigns that Fellows may wish to engage with
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
• Aldo Leopold: The Man & His Legacy• Scientific Leadership: The Social and Political Context• Mental Models and Group Dynamics• Building Consensus, Negotiating, & Resolving Conflict• Making an Impression: Introductions, CVs & Bios• Decision Analysis• Personal & Organizational Visioning• Leadership Styles & Opportunities• Strategic Questioning & Decision-making• Strategy Planning• Facilitating Dialog and Leading for Change• Becoming Involved in Outreach: Seizing the Moment
Scientific Leadership
• Who are the Media & What Makes a Good Story?• Focusing & Simplifying Your Message• Message Box Exercise• Playing the Interview Game• Reader-responsive Writing• Clips & Critiques: discussion with journalists about successful
scientific media programs and campaigns• Interviewing Technique & Critique• Writing Technique & Critique• Message Box Review & Critique• Radio Reporting• Publishing Books• Internet Outreach• Video Production
Communications/Outreach
• Introduction to Congress 101 & 102• The Image You Project• Giving Good Testimony• Meeting Members of Congress• Mock Congressional Hearings • Hearing Critique & Discussion• Sound Bites and Ambush Interviews• Working with State & Local Officials: Case Study & Exercise• Role of Federal Agencies: Where & How They Get Scientific Information• Role of Scientific Societies: Getting the Science to the Policymakers• Policy for Science: The Federal Budget Process• Congressional & Agency Visits• International Policy Making: Case Study & Exercise• Expert Witness Testimony: Moot Court Exercise
The Science-Policy Interface
• NGOs: An Introduction
• Case Study I: NGOs & Scientists Collaboration in a Crisis Situation
• Case Study II: A Successful Outreach Campaign
• Campaign Planning & Strategy
The World of NGOs
• Science--Industry Collaborations:
Successes & Challenges
• Case Study: Using Business Models to
Value Nature
• Scientist--Industry Dialog
The Corporate Sector
“Democracy demands the participation of scientists as both professionals with important information to share and as citizens who care about the future of the planet. The Aldo Leopold Leadership Program helps scientists learn to communicate, but it really helps all of us by making important scientific information more accessible as we consider courses of action that determine the future.”
-- Barry D. Gold, Ph.D., Program Officer for Sustainability Science and
Conservation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation & Aldo Leopold
Leadership Program Steering Committee member
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
“ …the [Leopold Leadership] training has influenced every aspect of my work and how I allocate my time. It is interesting for me to speculate on why the program has such a big impact – certainly the nuts and bolts of the training were essential, but the ‘mentoring’ and networking were as influential… if not more. Working alongside the group of premier scientists that were in the ALLP either as trainers or as participants not only taught me much, but was energizing and motivating. This did not stop with me…I can see my students and postdocs responding to my shift in priorities and slowly shifting theirs. We are not giving up on our research but simply incorporating new perspectives that will ensure our science has a broader impact.”
--Margaret Palmer, 2001 Leopold Leadership Fellow
communicating environmental science for people and the planet
www.leopoldleadership.org
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
Mission:
To promote, protect, and preserve the global ocean environment
through investment in outstanding leaders in marine conservation to
focus their expertise on seeking applied solutions
to critical challenges in the marine realm, and communicating science for
conservation of the sea.
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Applied Conservation Outputs & Outcomes
Revealing Problems
Increasing Understanding
Enhancing Awareness
Developing New Frameworks & Models
Influencing Improved Ocean Policies
Implementing Strategic Initiatives
Deploying New Technologies
Building Capacity
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
Support individual and collective leadership and through:
• Fellowship Grants: $150,000 each over three to five years for innovative, interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral projects that seek solutions to problems and/or communicate about ocean challenges
• Networking: bi-monthly listserv SeaSpan, bi-annual newsletter MARITUENTAS, annual meeting
• Professional Development Training: communications/media relations, environmental negotiations, expert witness testimony, decision analysis, emerging science-policy issues workshops
• Promotion: website as ‘experts directory’, SeaSpan, MARITUENTAS, press releases and annual media campaign on new Fellows, ongoing publicity on all Fellows
• Collaborative Initiative Fund: smaller grants for two or more Fellows to work together on an expansion project or new endeavor
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Program Strengths and Benefits:Moving Beyond Traditional BoundariesSelected Examples
Roberto Enriquez Andrade, Ph.D.
Combining historical, social, ecological, and economic analyses of forces causing coastal degradation in Baja California peninsula to develop market-based management incentives.
Alison Rieser, J.D.
Writing a book on selected marine conservation legal cases studies directed to marine science students outlining the role of scientists in effecting sustainable marine conservation policy and management.
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Program Strengths and Benefits: Enabling Applied Efforts & Expanding Circles of Influence"The Pew [Fellowship] award gave me the financial independence and
professional legitimacy to pursue the conservation applications of my work.
What I was able to accomplish under the Pew Fellowship, namely conservation
efforts at the interface of natural science and policy, would have been
impossible to support under any of the traditional sources of funding. Wearing
the badge of Pew Fellow gave me heightened legitimacy outside academic
circles so that I was given more attention in policy, legislative, and executive
arenas. This experience has fundamentally changed my career.”
---Charles Peterson, Ph.D., 1994 Pew Fellow, North Carolina State University
Influenced the first legislation in North Carolina regulating nutrient
loading in riparian and estuarine systems.
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
www.pewmarine.
org
For the sea, for the earth, for us
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Board of Scientific Experts
3
2
2 2
1
11
Funded by The Packard Foundation
COMPASS’ Mission
• To accelerate the pace of solutions to important environmental problems by advancing and communicating marine conservation science.
• To build capacity within the existing marine conservation community by providing individuals with the skills, tools and opportunities for effective communication.
COMPASS’ Approach
• People: Stimulate interdisciplinary, conservation-oriented research and action by marine scientists
• Products: Translate scientific concepts and information into accessible forms to help improve marine policy and management
• Relationships: Catalyze communication among marine scientists, policymakers, the media and the concerned public
Interviews Guided COMPASS’ Development
• A high level of interest in conservation among academics
• Scientists are wary of the media
• Severe gulf between scientists, NGOs, resource managers and policymakers
• New venues are needed to exchange and discuss scientific information
COMPASS: An integrated set of initiatives
• Identify emerging topics and scientists• Convene meetings on emerging topics• Train scientists in communication skills and
media relations• Conduct media outreach campaigns on
emerging topics, new journal articles, and books
• Develop policy-relevant information products
Communication Training and Media Outreach
Train scientists to communicate their work in a clear and engaging manner. Connect scientists and journalists. Offer four types of training:
– Seminars at scientific conferences (e.g ESA)– Advanced communication workshops (e.g. ALLP)– Graduate student workshops (e.g. WSN)– One-on-one coaching
Nancy Baron: Seaweb/COMPASS office @ MBA 647-6831 (nbaron@mbayaq.org)
Benefits of Recognition, Training, & Networking--At ALL Career Stages!
“In its support to individuals, it promotes leadership (gives a boost to those that are
willing to ‘stick their necks out’). By bringing those individuals together annually and
networking them continuously, the program allows a rapid transfer of know-how that
influences a wide circle of specialists; it also boosts the resolve of all those
involved.”
“The annual meetings are exceptionally stimulating and vital because so much
mutual education occurs during those few intense days.”
“I have come away from the annual meetings with a wealth of new information,
ideas, strategies, and contacts that have been incorporated into my projects.”
“The fellowship helped immeasurably to validate my program and ideas. It also
gave me a boost and made me feel I wasn’t crazy to take the risks I have taken.”
“It has provided a huge increase in awareness of global environmental issues, who
is working on them, and the process by which knowledge is converted into action.”
“My peers (strangers to me before the meeting) were dynamic, talented academics
from many branches of environmental science. We meshed as a training group and
many career friendships have developed, now leading to new projects and working
groups. “
“The meeting has been the single most valuable aspect of the program. The
assembly of great people and the flow of ideas is wonderful.”
Pew Fellows Program in Marine Conservation
Recommended