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Title: Meeting the challenge of policy-relevant science: lessons from a water resource project

Abstract

Water resources scientists face complex tasks in evaluating aspects of water projects, but relatively few assessment procedures have been applied and accepted as standards applications. Decision-makers often rely on environmental assessments to evaluate the value and operation of projects. There is often confusion about scientists' role in policy decisions. The scientist can affect policy-making as an expert witness, an advocate or a surrogate. By understanding the policy process, scientists can make their work more policy relevant. Using the Terror Lake hydro project in Alaska as a guide, three lessons are discussed: (1) not all problems are able to be solved with technology; (2) policy-relevant technology is rarely imposed on a problem; and (3) the scientist need not just to react to the policy process, but can have an impact on how that process unfolds.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Fish and Wildlife Service, Fort Collins, CO
OSTI Identifier:
6895684
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 22:5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
13 HYDRO ENERGY; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS; WATER POLICY; WATER RESOURCES; PLANNING; DECISION MAKING; RESOURCE CONSERVATION; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; GOVERNMENT POLICIES; POWER PLANTS; RESOURCES; 130100* - Hydro Energy- Resources & Availability; 290400 - Energy Planning & Policy- Energy Resources

Citation Formats

Lamb, B L. Meeting the challenge of policy-relevant science: lessons from a water resource project. United States: N. p., 1986. Web. doi:10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb00755.x.
Lamb, B L. Meeting the challenge of policy-relevant science: lessons from a water resource project. United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb00755.x
Lamb, B L. 1986. "Meeting the challenge of policy-relevant science: lessons from a water resource project". United States. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb00755.x.
@article{osti_6895684,
title = {Meeting the challenge of policy-relevant science: lessons from a water resource project},
author = {Lamb, B L},
abstractNote = {Water resources scientists face complex tasks in evaluating aspects of water projects, but relatively few assessment procedures have been applied and accepted as standards applications. Decision-makers often rely on environmental assessments to evaluate the value and operation of projects. There is often confusion about scientists' role in policy decisions. The scientist can affect policy-making as an expert witness, an advocate or a surrogate. By understanding the policy process, scientists can make their work more policy relevant. Using the Terror Lake hydro project in Alaska as a guide, three lessons are discussed: (1) not all problems are able to be solved with technology; (2) policy-relevant technology is rarely imposed on a problem; and (3) the scientist need not just to react to the policy process, but can have an impact on how that process unfolds.},
doi = {10.1111/j.1752-1688.1986.tb00755.x},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6895684}, journal = {Water Resour. Bull.; (United States)},
number = ,
volume = 22:5,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986},
month = {Wed Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986}
}