Enrico Fermi once said:

And former Washington Governor Gary Locke once said:

These quotes underscore the fact that it is extremely difficult to make our science relevant to our decision making — and yet it is imperative that we do so. Martha Bean and Collaborative Focus can help your organization be strategic, fair and clear in how technical information is both acquired and used in deliberative processes.

"Best Available Science" - What's Out There?
Recent legislation and subsequent regulation mandate that 'best available science', 'sound science', or the 'best scientific and commercial data' be to be used when making natural resource decisions. Most of these decisions will employ some degree of collaboration among agencies, project proponents, advocates, governments, Tribal Nations and other stakeholders. The intent is — presumably — to foster an environment where science (and the 'best available' science at that) influences decision makers as they craft public policy. But do these mandates for the use of 'best available science' actually have the desired effect? Given the politicization of 'science', is it possible for stakeholders to agree on what constitutes 'best available science'? Ms. Bean is researching this issue for her Ph.D. studies at the University of Washington College of Forest Resources, and can assist you in thinking through how to both meet the mandates of 'best available science' and also how to find and use the best science for your decisions.

Shared Strategy List of BAS  (Word Doc)

Collaborative Focus can help you bring science 'to the table' so that decisions are focused, studies are appropriately targeted, and the science is both fair and comprehensible.

Guidebook for Integrating Science into Natural Resource Decision making:
In 2001, a group of experienced public policy mediators and academics joined talents and time to create a guidebook titled "Managing Scientific and Technical Information in Environmental Cases." This document was funded jointly by RESOLVE, Inc, the Western Justice Foundation, The Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution and a grant from the Hewlett Foundation. Martha Bean was a coauthor of this widely distributed guidebook; please feel free to download the guidebook. We ask only that you acknowledge and reference it's use when you apply the ideas and guidelines within.   Guidebook  (PDF)

"I read your excellent paper on mediating disputes involving scientific and technical information, and sent it around to some people I know at DOE, NIH and the White House Commission on Alternative Medicine. Thank you for doing such a great job. Take care, Linda Lazarus, DOE Mediator"