In this “post-truth” era, the appetite for scientists to engage with society has never been higher. Scientists, individually and collectively, are mobilizing to step up and speak out like never before, advocating for scientific legitimacy, the roles of science in decision-making, and the ability of scientists to share their science with the public free of political interference. How does this desire to speak up for Science writ large mesh with the need for scientists to meaningfully engage around their science? There is growing urgency for scientists to be an integral part of solutions to the myriad of social and environmental challenges we face as a global society. Yet, numerous roadblocks – institutional, structural, cultural, and political – stand in the way. In this talk, I will draw on COMPASS’ 15 years of experience as a boundary organization that supports scientists to meaningfully engage with society to highlight the opportunities and barriers that face mainstreaming translational ecology.
Results/Conclusions
Bridging the gaps between science, practice, and the public discourse requires a shift from outreach, which has traditionally meant unidirectional sharing of your research with a particular audience, to two-way engagement. Based on insights gleaned from the science of science communication and lessons learned from COMPASS’ work to support scientists to engage, I will share perspectives on what can pave the way for success: relevance, listening, finding common ground, building trust, and an awareness of social, cultural, and political context. Too often science communication efforts focus solely on distillation – boiling down what you know to the essential nuggets. This is vital. Yet, if not coupled with these other dimensions of engagement, that distillation is likely to fall on deaf ears. Meaningfully connecting with others – whether it’s a rancher, resource manager, or a Congressional leader – requires us to listen to their perspectives and needs in addition to being clear about what we bring to the table. And this is true at any stage of research, from developing questions to sharing the implications of your findings. For science to play an integral role in creating a better world, we must embrace change within ourselves as scientists, and support changes within the institutions of science, rather than assume that it is only others who need to change. Addressing the numerous wicked questions before us necessitates busting the silos that create a sense of “other,” both within science and between science and society.