Monday, April 30th

8:30

Welcome and Introduction

Gail Ashley

8:40

Forum Challenges and Objectives

Fred Spilhaus, Jack Hess and Rick Fritz

I. Communicating About Environmental Science Issues

Scott Bair, Professor of Geological Sciences, The Ohio State University
Discuss the role of science in the judicial system, based on his analysis of the Anne Anderson, et al. versus W.R. Grace & Co., et al. case from the Woburn, Massachusetts superfund site. How can scientists communicate more effectively with decision makers in the justice system (i.e. attorneys and judges) and beyond?

Powerpoint presentation (21 Kb without movies)

Tim Killeen, Director of the National Center for Atmospheric Research and President of the American Geophysical Union
Discuss climate change and the role of a large coalition of scientists, such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in developing consensus scientific findings for policy use. Can consensus be derived in science and are coalitions an effective approach to communicating with policymakers about the global environment?

Powerpoint presentation (7 Kb without movies)

Gene Whitney, Assistant Director for Environment, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Discuss how OSTP works, what is the role of the Assistant Director for Environment, how the Executive Branch communicates with scientists, what policymakers in the Executive Branch need from scientists and how scientists can work more effectively with policymakers.

Powerpoint presentation (339 Kb)

II. Communicating about Energy and Science Issues

John Holdren, Director of the Woods Hole Research Center and Professor of Environmental Science Policy and Geosciences at Harvard
Discuss global energy resources and address the global carbon budget. Relate these scientific issues to policy debates and consider the energy risk policy management that the nation is engaged in. Should energy use be driven by the market or directed in any way by policymakers?

PDF presentation (208 Kb)

David Goldston, Scholar in residence for the Program in Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University and Former Chief of Staff for the House Science Committee
Discuss the importance of science from the perspective of Congress. How do policymakers communicate with scientists, what do policymakers need from scientists and how can scientists work more effectively with Congress.

Bob Simon, Staff Director of the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate
Discuss global energy resources from the perspective of Congress. What are the major issues regarding energy in Congress and what do policymakers need from geoscientists?

Christopher Hartmann, Legislative Director for Representative Rush Holt (D-NJ-12th)
Discuss how policymakers perceive science and scientists, how Congress uses science and how scientists can improve communications with policymakers.

16:30

Wrap-Up and Actionable Issues

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