Scientists and the Political Scene. (November 8, 2009)

A couple of paragraphs written over five years apart on separated continents we thought warranted juxtaposing.

Peter Cullen was a founding member of the Wentworth Group of scientists. On March 22, 2004 Dr Cullen gave the World Water Day Address at the CSIRO Land & Water Seminar.

He concluded his talk:

Committed and knowledgeable scientists can make a contribution to public policy if they are prepared to speak out. In doing so it is important that they clearly and simply articulate the problem, and identify some realistic and acceptable ways forward. This requires methods of public communication that are not usual for scientists, and which many are uncomfortable with. Simplification of complex issues is fundamental to communicating to a wider audience. Detailed references and qualifiers are inappropriate if ideas are to be got into the public domain. That is not to say that such subtleties are unimportant; just that they get played out in other arenas.

The Wentworth Group presented its views privately to political leaders and publicly through the mass media and the World Wide Web. Having a clear and simple position, and the discipline to stay on message helped get these ideas into the public arena.

This week David Goldston, writing his final column for Nature concluded with:

...a plea to scientists both to engage in the policy making process and to approach the political process (if not all its participants) with respect. That process is open to scientific guidance, and over time science shapes policy. But it is always valuable to keep in mind a question that every civil servant and congressional staffer gets asked by his or her boss at one time or another: "Who elected you?"