Improving Interactions Between Coastal Science and Policy Proceedings of the California Symposium (1995) / Chapter Skim
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INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Pages 5-12
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From page 5... ...
"Science" was broadly construed to include the natural sciences as well as the social sciences and policy analysis; "policy" was meant to encompass relevant actions by focal, state, and federal governments; and the "coastal ocean" was defined as the area spanning the land portion of the coastal zone to the edge of the 200-mile outer limit of U.S. ocean jurisdiction the Exclusive Economic Zone.
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From page 6... ...
The absence of appropriate natural science information, for example, can sometimes lead to poor policy outcomes irretrievable damage to the environment, or a waste of public resources in efforts to overcontrol a situation that, from a scientific point of view, doesn't need to be controlled. Similarly, when social science analysis is not used, poor policy outcomes may result—for example, the wrong people may benefit from a governmental program, a range of unintended negative impacts may occur, or a policy may not work because the institutional capacity for carrying out the policy (e.g., enforcement capability)
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From page 7... ...
federal government spent $672 million on coastal science in FY] 991-1993, primarily for science related to living resources, habitat conservation, and environmental quality (NRC, 19951.3 There has been substantial national investment in coastal ocean management activities through such programs as NOAA's Coastal Zone Management Program, EPA's National Estuary Program, and the implementation of various federal laws concerned with the coastal ocean (such as the Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and others)
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From page 8... ...
For example, in policy initiation, both the natural and social sciences could be instrumental in identifying emerging problems likely to need a new public policy response. During the formulation and implementation stages, the nature' and social sciences could provide technically sound methods for dealing with specific coastal ocean management problems.5 Looking at the science-policy interface not only in the abstract but also in the context of specific issues related to specific regions of the United States.
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From page 9... ...
2. Identify obstacles to effective interaction between science and policy, for example: · In the case of an emerging issue, appropriate scientific information (from either the natural or the social sciences)
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From page 10... ...
Examples of possible mechanisms for improving the sciencepolicy interfaces include increasing the number of scientists within public agencies; establishing advisory mechanisms (such as legislative requirements for scientific review, creation of advisory boards, and science review boards) ; increasing education of policymakers, managers, and the public at large about use of scientific information in policymaking; and holding targeted workshops to bring scientists and policymakers together to discuss specific issues.
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From page 11... ...
Following the final symposium, the Committee on Science and Policy for the Coastal Ocean (composed of natural scientists, social scientists, and environmental managers} will prepare a synthesis report of the information gathered from the three regional symposia, comparing the problems and solutions for all three regions. The goal is to produce a set of recommendations for improving science-policy interactions that can be generalized for use in the variety of coastal areas of the United States and of other nations.
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