What Scientists and Policymakers Need to Learn From Each Other Talk presented by Tobin Smith...
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Transcript of What Scientists and Policymakers Need to Learn From Each Other Talk presented by Tobin Smith...
What Scientists and Policymakers What Scientists and Policymakers Need to Learn From Each OtherNeed to Learn From Each Other
Talk presentedTalk presented
byby
Tobin SmithTobin Smith
Director of Federal Relations for ResearchDirector of Federal Relations for Research
University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
AAAS AuditoriumAAAS AuditoriumApril 13, 2002April 13, 2002
Who am I? • U-M alumU-M alum
--BGS Degree--BGS Degree
• Spent a summer as an Spent a summer as an Intern on Capitol HillIntern on Capitol Hill
• 3 years on Capitol Hill as 3 years on Capitol Hill as legislative aidelegislative aide-- MA in Legislative Affairs-- MA in Legislative Affairs
• 7 Years in the MIT 7 Years in the MIT Washington OfficeWashington Office
• 3 Years in the U-M 3 Years in the U-M Washington OfficeWashington Office
What is my Job?• Director of Federal Relations for ResearchDirector of Federal Relations for Research• Registered LobbyistRegistered Lobbyist• ““Cross cultural communications”Cross cultural communications”
-- -- The business of making the work of The business of making the work of scientists and engineers relevant to the scientists and engineers relevant to the
“average person”“average person”• Never gets boringNever gets boring• Always learningAlways learning
The two totally different worlds between The two totally different worlds between which I commute daily!which I commute daily!
World #1: The Political World
“I double majored in history and English and then went to Harvard law. How about you?”
World #2: The Academic World
Defining the Cultural DivideDefining the Cultural DivideScientists Politicians/PolicymakersNumbers WordsObjective/Facts Subjective/Public Opinion
Use Jargon Speak EnglishQuantitative QualitativeTechnical PoliticalProblem seekers Issue seekersAsk why Ask why they should careMoney = research Money = getting re-electedThink long term Think short termPublicity avoiders Publicity houndsScience page Front pageNarrowly focused Broadly focusedIntangible Tangible
Why do we need more people with Why do we need more people with science and engineering backgrounds science and engineering backgrounds
in policymaking positions? in policymaking positions?
• Public does not understand sciencePublic does not understand science• Policymakers do not understand sciencePolicymakers do not understand science• Journalists do not understand scienceJournalists do not understand science• Scientists are not good at communicating Scientists are not good at communicating
with these groupswith these groups• Scientists Scientists don’tdon’t communicate with these communicate with these
groupsgroups
Most Do Not Recognize NSFMost Do Not Recognize NSF
80%2%
18%Don't Know
Know NSF
Other
What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the basic research and educational programming in the sciences, basic research and educational programming in the sciences,
mathematics and engineering in this country?mathematics and engineering in this country?
Source: Aggregate 2001 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
Most Do Not Recognize NIHMost Do Not Recognize NIH
72%6%
22%
Don't Know
Know NIH
Other
What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the medical research paid for by taxpayers in this country?medical research paid for by taxpayers in this country?
Source: Aggregate 2001 Charlton Research Company for Research!America
Public Not Familiar With Top Science Public Not Familiar With Top Science PrizesPrizes
2%
23%
37%
47%
0 10 20 30 40 50
Lasker
Intel
Westinghouse
Nobel
Source: Harris Interactive, October 2000
Which, if any, of these prizes or awards are you familiar with?Which, if any, of these prizes or awards are you familiar with?
General Topics of Op-EdsGeneral Topics of Op-Eds(approximate Percentage based on >500 op-eds reviewed)(approximate Percentage based on >500 op-eds reviewed)
1%
3%
5%
7%
8%
11%
14%
0% 5% 10% 15%
Foreign Affairs
Local Policy
Economics
Politics
National Policy
Health Care/Medicine
Science/Technology
Source: Who is Writing Op-Eds? Sanford Institute National Opinion Page Survey, Duke University - 1999
NATIONAL OPINION TRENDS ARE POSITIVE.NATIONAL OPINION TRENDS ARE POSITIVE. By almost a three to one margin, voters today say “federal funding for By almost a three to one margin, voters today say “federal funding for scientific research at universities” should be increased, not decreased.scientific research at universities” should be increased, not decreased.
Over the next three years, do you think the total amount of federal funding for scientific research at universities should be increased, decreased or remain the same?
--The Science Coalition
19%
29%27%
11%
49% 50%
Wirthlin 1995 POS 2001
Increased Decreased Remain the same
Scientists and Engineers Need to Scientists and Engineers Need to Become More EngagedBecome More Engaged
• Many researchers do not like to communicateMany researchers do not like to communicate• Many don’t have time to communicateMany don’t have time to communicate• When scientists and engineers do communicate, When scientists and engineers do communicate,
they are often not very effective they are often not very effective-- Cultural divide -- Cultural divide -- Entitlement mentality-- Entitlement mentality
Transcending the Language BarrierTranscending the Language Barrier
THE NATIONAL DATA ACTUALLY SUGGESTS THE NATIONAL DATA ACTUALLY SUGGESTS INCORPORATING THE PHRASE “UNIVERSITY-BASED” INCORPORATING THE PHRASE “UNIVERSITY-BASED”
MAKES SENSE AS IT SCORES HIGHER AMONG MAKES SENSE AS IT SCORES HIGHER AMONG OPINION ELITES AND OUR CORE SUPPORTERS.OPINION ELITES AND OUR CORE SUPPORTERS.
% Rating 80-100 19%
17%
24%
21%
18%
35%
28%
26%
41%
Basic Science Research
Fundamental Science Research
University-based Science Research
% 80-100 Among All Voters% 80-100 Among Opinion Elites% Among Strong Approve Funding for Universities (38%)
““While I realize that scientists by nature often While I realize that scientists by nature often feel uncomfortable with advocacy, if we all feel uncomfortable with advocacy, if we all
stayed within our comfort zones, little would stayed within our comfort zones, little would be accomplished. Though perhaps they are be accomplished. Though perhaps they are not well understood, scientists are highly not well understood, scientists are highly
respected in our society. They are also highly respected in our society. They are also highly credible. When they speak with a unified credible. When they speak with a unified
voice, the people listen.”voice, the people listen.”
~~Hon. John Edward PorterHon. John Edward Porter, at White House Office of Science , at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy 25th Anniversary Symposiumand Technology Policy 25th Anniversary Symposium
Scientists’ Involvement In Public OutreachScientists’ Involvement In Public OutreachPerceived reasons why more scientists aren’t more involved in
changing/supporting public policy. (total mentions)
Source: Sigma Xi Membership Poll (AK, DE, OH & TX) in Cooperation with Research!America, 2000
14%
41%
49%
74%
0 20 40 60 80
They are happy with the job others aredoing
Their involvement makes no difference
They don’t know how to become involved
They don’t have time to become involved
New York Times: “How skilled are scientists and researchers at presenting their case to Congress?”
Congressman Brown:
“They, generally speaking, have too great a faith in the power of common sense and reason. That’s not what drives most political figures, who are concerned about emotions and the way a certain event will affect their constituency…”
Excerpt from “A Conversation With George E. Brown, Jr., the Congressman Who Loved Science” by Claudia Dreifus, The New York Times, 3/9/99
““Too many voters have not made the Too many voters have not made the
connection between science and connection between science and
prosperity. Scientists need to tell the story. prosperity. Scientists need to tell the story.
It’s a good story. It has to be told and it It’s a good story. It has to be told and it
has to be sold. Tell the story with data, tell has to be sold. Tell the story with data, tell
it with anecdotes and tell it often.”it with anecdotes and tell it often.”
~ Neal Lane, Ph.D. Former White House Science Advisor
What Can Scientists Learn From Politicians
• You have to talk to be heard• Relationships outside your immediate peer group
can be beneficial to you • Words matter
– Avoid jargon– Don’t use acronyms– Shorter can be better
• Accessibility, visibility and accountability matter• Science is only one piece of the policymaking
puzzle
What Can Politicians Learn from ScientistsWhat Can Politicians Learn from Scientists
• MORE ABOUT SCIENCE!!!MORE ABOUT SCIENCE!!!
““Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind”characteristics of a vigorous mind”
--Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784--Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784
““The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”young.”
--Henry Ford--Henry Ford
What Can Politicians Learn from Scientists Cont.
• There is value in knowledge• Sometimes the correct solution is driven by
asking the right questions• Not every problem has an easy and quick
answer• Think not only for today but for tomorrow• Good science is essential to good
policymaking
Be A “Civic Scientist”Be A “Civic Scientist”““Increasingly, society requires citizens with technical expertise as Increasingly, society requires citizens with technical expertise as communicators. In times of routine information dissemination, and most communicators. In times of routine information dissemination, and most especially in times of emergencies, we have a responsibility. Scientists especially in times of emergencies, we have a responsibility. Scientists and engineers must be prepared for these new and more public roles. and engineers must be prepared for these new and more public roles. And it stands to reason that that preparation should become part of the And it stands to reason that that preparation should become part of the routine training of our technical professionals.”routine training of our technical professionals.”
““Science As Patriotism"Science As Patriotism"Dr. Rita R. ColwellDr. Rita R. ColwellDirector, National Science FoundationDirector, National Science Foundation
January 30, 2002January 30, 2002
Policymakers Need to be More Scientifically Minded