Scientists in the Politicoscientific Community: Beyond the Lorax

Abstract

There is a need for and interest in research scientists participating more in the politicoscientific community, and there are several places on the policy continuum where specialist scientific knowledge and perspective can be useful for governance and policy. Science policy is diverse and complicated; involving different branches, departments, agencies, and committees in the Federal government and within state and local government. Advocating, as scientists, on matters of science policy, is challenging, and scientists who do so must engage thoughtfully and deliberately. One consideration is whether the scientist communicates only facts, advocates for a position based on their values, or positions themselves somewhere along a facts-to-values continuum. Another consideration is whether engaging in science advocacy undermines credibility of the scientist and science, more generally. Science itself is a complex enterprise and it is difficult to communicate such complexity in a short period of time, even for any one issue, therefore, engagement in science policy will entail trade-offs in communicating detail and complexity particularly on issues that challenge individual or societal values. There is a growing body of resources and perspectives, including those in this special collection of papers, to encourage and assist scientists in the politicoscientific community and help them develop the skills to be effective members of this community.