OPPORTUNITIES FOR AND CHALLENGES TO GEOSCIENTISTS AQUIRING MORE CONVINCING ADVISORY VOICES WITH POLICYMAKERS AND THE PUBLIC

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS AS PARDEE CO-MODERATOR AND CHAIR OF GSA GEOLOGY & SOCIETY DIVISION (G&SD): GSA is a trusted source of science information with a mission including “promoting geosciences in service of humankind”, a stewardship vision of the earth and a goal (#5) of members sharing relevant geoscience issues with decision makers and the public. To assist in this effort, the GSA Geology and Society Division is charged with encouraging GSA members to share their geoscience insights with the public and policymakers more effectively regarding pending policy issues at the local, state/regional & national (coordinated with the GSA Director for Public Policy Geoscience Policy in D.C.) levels.

By sponsoring this 2010 Pardee panel discussion, rather than being content with occasional technically worded GSA members’ messages to policymakers or the public, G&SD seeks to help improve the success (recipient understanding, belief and motivation to consider actions not previously contemplated) of geoscientists’ communications on policy.

During the panel presentations, USGS Director Marcia McNutt includes outlining emerging policy-relevant insights becoming available for communication. NOAA Researcher Susan Solomon presents a balanced view of the status of climate science understanding of climate change and dealing with challenges posed by the quantitative uncertainties in the evidence of change that are part of the rationale for the consideration of undertaking expensive remedial actions. Social Scientist Dennis Mileti shares research-based conclusions about successful natural science communication to lay decision-makers in their responses to hazard risk messages. Baruch Fischhoff presents psychological research results on influences in the decision-making process applicable to policy formulation.

Panelists share and compare the implications of their interdisciplinary observations about science policy communications in a panel discussion followed by interacting with the Pardee audience in a Q & A format.