 |
2007 Ground Water Summit |
Monday, April 30, 2007 : 9:50 a.m.
Science and Policy: A Report from the Buffet Line
In the ideal world, policy and science go together like chocolate and peanut butter. In the real world, the menu is much more varied, from the aforementioned combination on one side of the spectrum to ice cream and glass shards on the other side. The reality is that science is generally only one factor policymakers consider and that, in many cases, good science is not considered at all. One reason that good science does not get considered is because it is so easily canceled out by bad science. As Henry S. Truman said: “If you can’t convince them, confuse them.” In general, policymakers are not scientists. If you are not a scientist, then you are going to have a difficult time discerning good science from bad. Another reason good science may not be considered is because the policymaker already knows what they want the policy to be whether or not the science supports their position. Unfortunately, science, especially hydrogeologic science, is easily and effectively attacked in the public realm. Minor errors or misunderstandings become fatal flaws after they are processed by expert storytellers. What can be done to better mix science and policy? If the policymaker is truly concerned about using good science to guide policy, they need unbiased, outside experts to council them on scientific issues. Scientists who want to remain scientists have to be careful to respect what is science and what is policy. Crossing the line from science to policy turns a scientist into an advocate. Being an scientist-advocate is fine, but your science becomes suspect because you now have an agenda. And finally, scientists have to accept that, in the world of policy, science is only one factor of many on the complicated menu of issues and concerns that a policymaker has to consider.