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Ecological science and public policy: these are two realms that must be integrated when taking into consideration the welfare of society, its future generations, and the resources upon which we all depend. The question whether scientists should engage in policy, and the degree of appropriateness that it entails, has been strongly debated by scientists and nonscientists (e.g., policy makers) for a century (Nelson and Vucetich 2009). It has long been believed that scientists should avoid advocacy because this action is subjective, and consequently it conflicts with their scientific objectivity (Nelson and Vucetich 2009), but science and policy do not have to be two disparate worlds (Fallon and Pepper 2011). By engaging in policy, scientists do not have to necessarily be advocating for a particular stance, and they should be clear about their intentions; whether they will be advocating or serving as advisors for the policy-making process (ESA 2011). Nevertheless, advocacy cannot be classified as inappropriate for scientists, since as citizens first and scientists second, scientists have the responsibility to share their knowledge in a transparent manner for the betterment of society (Nelson and Vucetich 2009). |
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