Description
In setting government priorities, politicians often make statements along the lines of ‘let the science speak’, or ‘making decisions based on the best science’. In a political context, however, this may be easier said than done, and the speed of technology developments is often too fast for a government regulatory framework to keep pace. In this class, we will discuss some of the major differences between the scientific method and policy making, and explore how science is used to inform decision making at local, state, and national levels. We will also discuss some of the challenges in scientific communication for a broader, non-technical audience that includes politicians, government officials, and members of the public.
