What Scientists and Policymakers What Scientists and Policymakers Need to Learn From Each OtherNeed to Learn From Each Other

Talk presentedTalk presented

byby

Tobin SmithTobin Smith

Director of Federal Relations for ResearchDirector of Federal Relations for Research

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

AAAS AuditoriumAAAS AuditoriumApril 13, 2002April 13, 2002

Who am I? • U-M alumU-M alum

--BGS Degree--BGS Degree

• Spent a summer as an Spent a summer as an Intern on Capitol HillIntern on Capitol Hill

• 3 years on Capitol Hill as 3 years on Capitol Hill as legislative aidelegislative aide-- MA in Legislative Affairs-- MA in Legislative Affairs

• 7 Years in the MIT 7 Years in the MIT Washington OfficeWashington Office

• 3 Years in the U-M 3 Years in the U-M Washington OfficeWashington Office

What is my Job?• Director of Federal Relations for ResearchDirector of Federal Relations for Research• Registered LobbyistRegistered Lobbyist• ““Cross cultural communications”Cross cultural communications”

-- -- The business of making the work of The business of making the work of scientists and engineers relevant to the scientists and engineers relevant to the

“average person”“average person”• Never gets boringNever gets boring• Always learningAlways learning

The two totally different worlds between The two totally different worlds between which I commute daily!which I commute daily!

World #1: The Political World

“I double majored in history and English and then went to Harvard law. How about you?”

World #2: The Academic World

Defining the Cultural DivideDefining the Cultural DivideScientists Politicians/PolicymakersNumbers WordsObjective/Facts Subjective/Public Opinion

Use Jargon Speak EnglishQuantitative QualitativeTechnical PoliticalProblem seekers Issue seekersAsk why Ask why they should careMoney = research Money = getting re-electedThink long term Think short termPublicity avoiders Publicity houndsScience page Front pageNarrowly focused Broadly focusedIntangible Tangible

Why do we need more people with Why do we need more people with science and engineering backgrounds science and engineering backgrounds

in policymaking positions? in policymaking positions?

• Public does not understand sciencePublic does not understand science• Policymakers do not understand sciencePolicymakers do not understand science• Journalists do not understand scienceJournalists do not understand science• Scientists are not good at communicating Scientists are not good at communicating

with these groupswith these groups• Scientists Scientists don’tdon’t communicate with these communicate with these

groupsgroups

Most Do Not Recognize NSFMost Do Not Recognize NSF

80%2%

18%Don't Know

Know NSF

Other

What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the basic research and educational programming in the sciences, basic research and educational programming in the sciences,

mathematics and engineering in this country?mathematics and engineering in this country?

Source: Aggregate 2001 Charlton Research Company for Research!America

Most Do Not Recognize NIHMost Do Not Recognize NIH

72%6%

22%

Don't Know

Know NIH

Other

What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the What is the name of the government agency that funds most of the medical research paid for by taxpayers in this country?medical research paid for by taxpayers in this country?

Source: Aggregate 2001 Charlton Research Company for Research!America

Public Not Familiar With Top Science Public Not Familiar With Top Science PrizesPrizes

2%

23%

37%

47%

0 10 20 30 40 50

Lasker

Intel

Westinghouse

Nobel

Source: Harris Interactive, October 2000

Which, if any, of these prizes or awards are you familiar with?Which, if any, of these prizes or awards are you familiar with?

General Topics of Op-EdsGeneral Topics of Op-Eds(approximate Percentage based on >500 op-eds reviewed)(approximate Percentage based on >500 op-eds reviewed)

1%

3%

5%

7%

8%

11%

14%

0% 5% 10% 15%

Foreign Affairs

Local Policy

Economics

Politics

National Policy

Health Care/Medicine

Science/Technology

Source: Who is Writing Op-Eds? Sanford Institute National Opinion Page Survey, Duke University - 1999

NATIONAL OPINION TRENDS ARE POSITIVE.NATIONAL OPINION TRENDS ARE POSITIVE. By almost a three to one margin, voters today say “federal funding for By almost a three to one margin, voters today say “federal funding for scientific research at universities” should be increased, not decreased.scientific research at universities” should be increased, not decreased.

Over the next three years, do you think the total amount of federal funding for scientific research at universities should be increased, decreased or remain the same?

--The Science Coalition

19%

29%27%

11%

49% 50%

Wirthlin 1995 POS 2001

Increased Decreased Remain the same

Scientists and Engineers Need to Scientists and Engineers Need to Become More EngagedBecome More Engaged

• Many researchers do not like to communicateMany researchers do not like to communicate• Many don’t have time to communicateMany don’t have time to communicate• When scientists and engineers do communicate, When scientists and engineers do communicate,

they are often not very effective they are often not very effective-- Cultural divide -- Cultural divide -- Entitlement mentality-- Entitlement mentality

Transcending the Language BarrierTranscending the Language Barrier

THE NATIONAL DATA ACTUALLY SUGGESTS THE NATIONAL DATA ACTUALLY SUGGESTS INCORPORATING THE PHRASE “UNIVERSITY-BASED” INCORPORATING THE PHRASE “UNIVERSITY-BASED”

MAKES SENSE AS IT SCORES HIGHER AMONG MAKES SENSE AS IT SCORES HIGHER AMONG OPINION ELITES AND OUR CORE SUPPORTERS.OPINION ELITES AND OUR CORE SUPPORTERS.

% Rating 80-100 19%

17%

24%

21%

18%

35%

28%

26%

41%

Basic Science Research

Fundamental Science Research

University-based Science Research

% 80-100 Among All Voters% 80-100 Among Opinion Elites% Among Strong Approve Funding for Universities (38%)

““While I realize that scientists by nature often While I realize that scientists by nature often feel uncomfortable with advocacy, if we all feel uncomfortable with advocacy, if we all

stayed within our comfort zones, little would stayed within our comfort zones, little would be accomplished. Though perhaps they are be accomplished. Though perhaps they are not well understood, scientists are highly not well understood, scientists are highly

respected in our society. They are also highly respected in our society. They are also highly credible. When they speak with a unified credible. When they speak with a unified

voice, the people listen.”voice, the people listen.”

~~Hon. John Edward PorterHon. John Edward Porter, at White House Office of Science , at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy 25th Anniversary Symposiumand Technology Policy 25th Anniversary Symposium

Scientists’ Involvement In Public OutreachScientists’ Involvement In Public OutreachPerceived reasons why more scientists aren’t more involved in

changing/supporting public policy. (total mentions)

Source: Sigma Xi Membership Poll (AK, DE, OH & TX) in Cooperation with Research!America, 2000

14%

41%

49%

74%

0 20 40 60 80

They are happy with the job others aredoing

Their involvement makes no difference

They don’t know how to become involved

They don’t have time to become involved

New York Times: “How skilled are scientists and researchers at presenting their case to Congress?”

Congressman Brown:

“They, generally speaking, have too great a faith in the power of common sense and reason. That’s not what drives most political figures, who are concerned about emotions and the way a certain event will affect their constituency…”

Excerpt from “A Conversation With George E. Brown, Jr., the Congressman Who Loved Science” by Claudia Dreifus, The New York Times, 3/9/99

““Too many voters have not made the Too many voters have not made the

connection between science and connection between science and

prosperity. Scientists need to tell the story. prosperity. Scientists need to tell the story.

It’s a good story. It has to be told and it It’s a good story. It has to be told and it

has to be sold. Tell the story with data, tell has to be sold. Tell the story with data, tell

it with anecdotes and tell it often.”it with anecdotes and tell it often.”

~ Neal Lane, Ph.D. Former White House Science Advisor

What Can Scientists Learn From Politicians

• You have to talk to be heard• Relationships outside your immediate peer group

can be beneficial to you • Words matter

– Avoid jargon– Don’t use acronyms– Shorter can be better

• Accessibility, visibility and accountability matter• Science is only one piece of the policymaking

puzzle

What Can Politicians Learn from ScientistsWhat Can Politicians Learn from Scientists

• MORE ABOUT SCIENCE!!!MORE ABOUT SCIENCE!!!

““Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind”characteristics of a vigorous mind”

--Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784--Samuel Johnson, 1709-1784

““The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”young.”

--Henry Ford--Henry Ford

What Can Politicians Learn from Scientists Cont.

• There is value in knowledge• Sometimes the correct solution is driven by

asking the right questions• Not every problem has an easy and quick

answer• Think not only for today but for tomorrow• Good science is essential to good

policymaking

Be A “Civic Scientist”Be A “Civic Scientist”““Increasingly, society requires citizens with technical expertise as Increasingly, society requires citizens with technical expertise as communicators. In times of routine information dissemination, and most communicators. In times of routine information dissemination, and most especially in times of emergencies, we have a responsibility. Scientists especially in times of emergencies, we have a responsibility. Scientists and engineers must be prepared for these new and more public roles. and engineers must be prepared for these new and more public roles. And it stands to reason that that preparation should become part of the And it stands to reason that that preparation should become part of the routine training of our technical professionals.”routine training of our technical professionals.”

““Science As Patriotism"Science As Patriotism"Dr. Rita R. ColwellDr. Rita R. ColwellDirector, National Science FoundationDirector, National Science Foundation

January 30, 2002January 30, 2002

Policymakers Need to be More Scientifically Minded