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Bridge over troubled waters: A Synthesis Session to connect scientific and decision making sectors
Citation:
Goldsmith, K., E. Granek, A. Lubitow, AND M. Papenfus. Bridge over troubled waters: A Synthesis Session to connect scientific and decision making sectors. Marine Policy. Elsevier B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands, 70:30-39, (2016).
Impact/Purpose:
In this paper we develop and present a model for increasing collaboration between scientists and decision makers to promote evidence based decisions. Successes and areas for improvement in the tested model are discussed. This novel workshop model is intended to build and sustain connections, with the ultimate goal of creating better policy and management practices. In a recent study, 89% of decision makers in the Pacific Northwest thought that outreach programs to decision makers were needed to inform policy and management decisions regarding climate change impacts [1]. Thus, the model presented here is one possible tool for bridging data gaps through increasing connections and fostering communication between siloed sectors that often lack interaction and communication. Research conducted by Davis et al. [2] revealed that similar models of interaction with fire science researchers and managers increased the efficient use of limited time and resources by preventing duplicative research and streamlining data collecting efforts. The SS presented here also sought to identify the utility of ecosystem services as a framework for cross-sector communication; differences in defining ecosystem services made this objective difficult to achieve. This synthesis session model can be applied in other case studies to promote more effective creation and completion of scientific studies geared towards specific policy and management questions to improve ocean and coastal health. References: [1] Lach D., A. Parker, and M. Boesl. 2012. Assessing regional climate needs. Pacific Northwest Climate Decision Support Consortium Corvallis, Oregon, USA. [2] Davis E., C. Moseley, C. Olsen, J. Abrams, and J. Creighton. 2013. Diversity and dynamism of fire science and user needs. Journal of Forestry 111(2): 101-107.
Description:
Lack of access to relevant scientific data has limited decision makers from incorporating scientific information into their management and policy schemes. Yet, there is increasing interest among decision makers and scientists to integrate coastal and marine science into the policy and management process. Strategies designed to build communication between decision makers and scientists can be an effective means to disseminate and/or generate policy relevant scientific information. Here researchers develop, test, and present a workshop model designed to bridge the gap between coastal and marine decision makers and scientists. Researchers identify successful components of such a workshop as well as areas for improvement and recommendations to design and conduct similar workshops in the future. This novel workshop format can be used in other fora to effectively connect decision makers and scientists, and to initiate an iterative process to generate and transfer policy relevant scientific information into evidence-based decisions, an important element in protecting coastal and marine resources.
