Oil, floods, and fish: the social role of environmental scientists

Abstract

The environmental and social effects of hurricane-related flooding and the recent oil disaster in southeastern Louisiana, and the current global crisis in world fisheries, are case studies that reveal the need for scientific work that is carried out and disseminated with conscious attention paid to the important relationship between scientists, other experts and scholars such as social scientists, and community members and policy makers. In this paper, I discuss the following questions facing environmental scientists: How do we produce rigorous science that also has policy implications and import for the lives and livelihoods of citizens? How do we communicate this science to those policy makers and citizens in a way that maintains the integrity of the science and the scientist while also respecting the concerns of the audience? How do we design our research programs to be useful to surrounding communities? How can we involve those communities and policy makers in our research in effective and respectful ways? Is it possible to carry out scientifically rigorous civically engaged research? There is increasing interest within academia in incorporating social, civic, and policy concerns into teaching and research. Environmental scientists must continue to think deeply about our roles in the civic arena.