This is the first announcement for the full day workshop Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect on Sunday, October 11, 2009 to be held in association with the SMM's 18th Biennial Conference on the Biology of Marine Mammals in Quebec City, Canada. Lost in Translation: The Science-Policy Intersect It is now rare to find any scientific discovery, theory or even a single new data point (especially in data-poor fields such as marine mammal science) that is not being used or mis-used in one or more policy forums. Should scientists change the way they work and report their results, or even correct mis-representations of their work by others? If so, how should this be done? And if scientists get involved in policy, how deeply should they delve and how can they do so without losing their objectivity and while preventing bias from affecting their work? To address these questions, we intend to invite scientists working on the science-policy boundary to discuss their experiences at this intersect in short (20- minute) presentations with the hope of providing cautionary tales and guidance to a wider scientific audience. These presentations will also consider how science should be used in policy, as well as how it is actually used in policy. We will also have a legal expert explain some of the terminology used in laws and regulations to illustrate the standards that managers must meet. The workshop will then break into open discussion on the following topics: 1) If, when, why and how scientists should consider the policy implications of their work; and 2) How scientists, especially those funded specifically to address a management concern, can phrase conclusions, statements and recommendations to optimize their use and minimize potential for misuse. Speakers are currently being scheduled - we will provide the program in a forthcoming announcement. To register for this workshop, please go to the SMM web site at: http://www.marinemammalogy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=categor y&id=918&Itemid=215 <http://www.marinemammalogy.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=catego ry&id=918&Itemid=215> The workshop will take place on Sunday, October 11, 2009 from 8:30am to 5:30pm in Room 207. Space is limited - there will be a registration fee of $35.00US, which will include breakfast (starting at 8am) and coffee breaks - method of payment will be announced later. Given the large number of great workshops being offered at this biennial, if you can attend for only a half-day, we will charge a half-day fee of $10.00US. We look forward to seeing you there. Naomi A. Rose, Ph.D. Senior Scientist, HSI-Wildlife nrose@hsi.org <mailto:nrose@hsi.org> t +1 301.258.3048 f +1 301.258.3082 Humane Society International 700 Professional Drive Gaithersburg, MD 20879 USA hsi.org <http://www.hsi.org/> Join Our Email List <http://www.hsi.org/join> Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/hsiglobal> Twitter <http://twitter.com/hsiglobal> <http://www.hsi.org/>
