Embedding scientists in legislatures

Background/Question/Methods

Ecology has never been more relevant to the policy process. This century’s complex socio-environmental challenges – including climate change, food and water insecurity, and habitat and species loss – require solutions that are developed through an iterative, multi-stakeholder process grounded in the best-available science. Ecologists have an important role to play in developing these solutions for we can explain not only research findings, but also the scientific process and potential implications of uncertainty and unknowns. In this talk I will share my experiences engaging in science policy at the local, state, and federal levels as context for general insights and lessons learned. Additionally, I will comment on how policy engagement may impact the research trajectory and professional development of early-career ecologists.

Results/Conclusions

Policies designed to sustain ecosystems and the services they provide are often successful if ecological data are considered alongside typical legislative considerations such as social acceptability, economic livelihood, political support and opposition, and time and resource constraints. It is important to recognize that ecologists relate to information differently than legislators and their staff. Ecologists generate and value information that is contextualized, important in one or more ways, and novel. In contrast, policy professionals need and use information that is timely, credible, and accurate. Nonetheless, those with ecological training can make important contributions throughout policy development and implementation. For example, they might identify that policy-relevant datasets are currently available, but limited access or integration reduces their utility. Working to minimize inconsistencies in the monitoring sites and/or methods of different groups could be a first step toward better communication and collaboration across government entities and, ultimately, better environmental policy. Overall, policy engagement can help one understand what science gets funded, how science is (and is not) used by decision-makers, and in what ways the public values scientific knowledge. Such understanding is useful for all ecologists, perhaps especially for those at the early-career stage.