1. Gene Whitney Assistant Director for Environment Office of Science and Technology Policy Executive Office of the President COMMUNICATING GEOSCIENCES TO POLICYMAKERS: PERSPECTIVE FROM OSTP

2. OFFICE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT Dr. John H. Marburger III, Director and President’s Science Advisor 50 staff 20 Ph.D. scientists OSTP dual roles: 1.Reactive: Ensure that President and Administration officials are fully informed about current scientific and technical issues (many!) 2. Pro-active: Develop interagency strategies to implement President’s science and technology priorities.

3. Aquaculture Human Subjects Research IWG Dom. Animal Genomics IWG Plant Genome Global Change Research US Group on Earth Observations Technology Dev. Nanoscale Science, Eng. & Technology Biotechnology Aerospace Networking Information & Technology National Security R&D Radiological/Nuclear Countermeasures International Social, Behavioral & Econ. Infrastructure IWG Physics of the Universe WMD Medical Countermeasures Standards Health and the Environment. Large Scale Science Education & Workforce Dev. Research Business Models Disaster Reduction Ecosystems Toxics & Risks Water Availability & Quality Air Quality Research Oceans NATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COUNCIL Committees, Subcommittees and Working Groups Future of Land Imaging ScienceEnv. & Nat. Res.TechnologyNat. & Home Sec. Key Earth science components

4. Some Earth Science Issues of National and Global Concern Climate change mechanisms (e.g., paleoclimate) impacts (e.g., disasters) mitigation (e.g., carbon sequestration) Water availability and quality Energy supply / materials supply Nuclear waste disposal - Yucca Mountain Earth observations & monitoring Natural hazards and disasters Coastal and ocean processes and management Earth science from space and planetary science Etc.

5. Scientist brain: Data  Interpretation  Hypothesis  Test ……….  ± Position Politician brain: Position  Search for support  Data HOW BRAINS WORK

6. Economics Laws & Regulations Domestic Politics Science & Technology DECISION or POLICY International Politics Morals Ethics How decisions are made:

7. How do policy makers become informed about scientific issues? 1. Individual study 2. Staff work 3. Expert briefings or testimony* 4. Dialog with or tutorials from scientists* * Involvement of scientists or societies

8. Why are you communicating with policy makers or decision makers? To inform a policy or decision To persuade? Who should do it?

9. FIVE SKILLS A SCIENTIST NEEDS TO INFORM POLICY (1) Ability to communicate technical issues in layman's terms. (2) Ability to communicate the uncertainty inherent in scientific information without sending the message that there is no “right answer”. (3) Ability to effectively communicate possible consequences or outcomes of decisions using scenarios. (4) Ability to understand how scientific information might be used (or misused) by proponents of either side of an issue. (5) Ability to actively participate in a highly confrontational or contentious policy debate without losing sight of the objective scientific evidence.

10. TEN STEPS FOR SCIENTISTS TO AFFECT POLICY 1.Identify the real decision makers – not always obvious. 2.Identify other scientific participants – know what they are thinking. 3.Anticipate – don’t wait for panic mode – early information is the best information, but provide it when they need it. 4.Face-to-face is better than paper or e-mail (& more difficult). 5.Establish technical credibility – stay in your lane. 6.Establish political credibility – know the context of the issue. 7.Offer to help – be a resource. Follow up. 8.Understand the calendar for budgets and legislation. 9.Learn the rules of institutions – yours and theirs. 10.Keep working and be persistent – nothing happens quickly and rarely on the first try (don’t try to “win the lottery”).

11. Some intangibles in the process…… (just suggestions, not rules…) 1.Try to get to know decision makers and their staff before you make a request. 2.Have a specific goal or specific request; policymakers are busy and don’t want to chat or deal with long laundry lists. 3.Make short presentations (30 minutes) and leave concise materials (1-pagers). 4.Understand the authority and limitations of a policymaker’s role in addressing your science issues. 5.Put yourself in their shoes; what else are they worried about?

12. SUMMARY Key federal policymakers include Congress and staff, Administration officials and staff, agency officials and staff. Policymakers need scientists to inform rational policy development. Scientists need policymakers to implement a scientific vision or to support institutions. Reliable, timely information is the currency of DC. We must work together to achieve goals that are in the best interest of the Nation.