On that note, let me give a brief plug for my undergrad alma mater, The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington. Evergreen is controversial for its approach to academics -- no grades, only a list of credits earned and a narrative evaluation. Nevertheless, they have this strong point: a student can major in "environmental studies," and in so doing, get exposure to both the scientific and policy sides. In a single course -- Introduction to Environmental Studies -- we covered such foundational scientific concepts as biogeochemical cycles, and also such foundational policy concepts as NEPA, CWA, CAA, and were required to attend a legislative committee meeting on some environment-related bill. I do think it is important both for scientists to understand how policy works, and for policymakers to understand the role of science. Jason Hernandez Biological Science Technician , USFS
Date: Sun, 6 Mar 2011 10:47:35 -0500 From: Lee Davis <m.lee.da...@gmail.com> Subject: academia vs consultancies vs govt I think a major point that isn't being addressed here is that many professors who have focused solely on research and may have had little contact with regulation, on the ground conservation and management agencies/organizations often fail to understand the importance of training in NEPA, conservation easements, environmental economics, etc. as an important and needed addition to training in research methods. We need to be training folks who can bridge the gap between science and policy. This seems to make a great deal of since to me, especially at the M.S. level, and yet in my personal experience many people focused solely on research in academia don't seem to understand that the people they are training may have these or other goals in mind. I have talked to many friends and acquaintances recently who came back to school hoping to move into higher positions within the conservation/regulatory world while bridging the gap between science, land managers and regulators and feel that grad school has not adequately addressed these needs. Lee ------------------------------
