Translational ecology: Learning to communicate our science takes more than shorter words and cooler graphics

Noted ecologist and former ESA president William Schlesinger proposed in a 2010 Science editorial that ecologists must learn better how to “translate” our science to policy makers and citizens. Translation is a two-way process. Becoming "translational ecologists" will require not only becoming better communicators who are attuned to the most up-to-date outreach tools, but also becoming better listeners who can engage the beneficiaries of our science in discussions about what the most useful research questions might be, and also engaging them in the production of knowledge itself.