FYI.
Stefanie Rixecker
ECOFEM Coordinator
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, October 25, 2001 10:59 AM
Subject: Report of EPA/SAB Workshop, "Understanding Public Values and
Attitudes Related to Ecological Risk Management"
Melding Environmental Science and Social Science
for More Effective Environmental Policy Making at EPA
An EPA workshop held in Washington, D.C. in May, 2001 examined the
question of whether the techniques in EPA's analytical toolbox are up to
the task of understanding public values and attitudes important to
environmental protection--or whether those tools and techniques need to
be sharpened a bit.
The Workshop was designed to partner risk managers with social
scientists in an exploration of how social sciences have been and can be
applied to ecological risk management. A panel of environmental
managers from EPA, and state and local government focused on risk
management questions related to nitrogen deposition in Tampa Bay
Estuary. They discussed four draft Research Plans, based in four
different social science traditions, that were developed to give them a
better understanding of public values and attitudes related to Tampa
Bay's risk management questions.
Managers involved saw merit in the applications of social science
tools based in anthropology, decision science, economics, and psychology
for understanding public values. These tools offer complementary
alternatives to traditional political processes. They suggest ways to
gather and analyze information about public values and attitudes that
are defensible, practical, and robust. Managers and scientists at the
workshop also discussed the need to strengthen practical application of
those social scientists approaches through additional research and
collaborative efforts.
The Chair of the Workshop, Dr. Baruch Fischhoff of Carnegie Mellon
University, prepared a "Sense of the Workshop Summary." The summary
identifies the major points made at the Workshop concerning
Environmental Science, the Science of Assessing Public Values, Policy
Makers, Stakeholders, Research Management, and Research Needs.
A Report of the Workshop entitled "Understanding Public Values and
Attitudes Related to Ecological Risk Management"can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/science1/fiscal01.htm.
Angela Nugent, Ph.D.
Special Assistant/Designated Federal Officer
EPA Science Advisory Board
Mailcode 1400A
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20460
For Deliveries and Overnight Mail include the Room Number 6450-AA; zip
20004
Telephone: 202-564-4562; Fax: 202-501-0323
Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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Dr. Stefanie S. Rixecker, Senior Lecturer
Environmental Management & Design Division
Lincoln University, Canterbury
PO Box 84
Aotearoa New Zealand
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Fax: 64-03-325-3841
Mob: 021 150 2862
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