THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND SCIENTISTS IN COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING ENVIRONMENTS

The trend toward collaborative approaches in land use planning is causing science managers and scientists at the USGS to rethink the way that science is delivered into the public policy arena. This rethinking involves the nature of the science that we do (more integrated), the way that problems are defined (collaboratively), the role of the scientists in the process (more engaged), and the tools for delivery (more user friendly). Numerous approaches and techniques are being tested to develop better skills and tools for scientists to work more effectively in collaborative problem solving environments. INCLUDE (INtegrated Science and Community-based values in Land-Use DEcision making) is one such effort. STRIDES (STakeholder-driven Research and Involvement in DEcision Support) is a component of INCLUDE that focuses on decision support aspects of effective collaborations. Training in consensus building, in partnership with the Consensus Building Institute at MIT, is underway to provide the necessary skills for scientists to engage in collaborative projects. Pilot projects are providing scientists with additional insights. A key aspect of these efforts is ‘meaningful inclusion’ of the collaborators, whether they are trained in science (i.e. natural resource managers), or not (stakeholder groups, citizens). Accepting and valuing local wisdom is another crucial component to effective partnering. No longer can scientists toss their science ‘over the transom’ and anticipate wise decisions based on its use. A degree of humility and a willingness to listen are important attributes in a ‘public scientist’. An example from the Bureau of Land Management Partnership Series serves to illustrate these points.