Discussant(s): Connie Woodhouse - University of Arizona Introducer(s): Katie Hirschboeck - University Of Arizona Session Description: (Voodoo science: the term used by water managers at a paleohydrology workshop to describe the process of reconstructing streamflow from tree rings)
Environmental issues, pressures of increasing populations, and climate change are all presenting challenges to natural resources planning and management. Scientific understanding can assist in dealing with these challenges but the mismatch between the type and format of scientific information and stakeholder needs often prevents the utilization of this knowledge. In order to address this problem, not only is it becoming critical to communicate scientific information in ways that are understandable, but perhaps more importantly, to understand stakeholder needs and what kinds of scientific information may be useful and relevant for practical applications.
In this session, we will address these challenges by sharing experiences and lessons learned while working to bridge the gap between science and stakeholder needs. Our panel of experts in the translation of science to applications will discuss their experiences, challenges, and strategies for developing successful partnerships with stakeholders. We will also discuss what can be done to promote and support useful and relevant science to resolve some of the environmental problems facing decision-makers today.
