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Improving scientific impact: How to practice science that influences environmental policy and management

Jonathan R. B. Fisher,S. Wood,M. Bradford,T. Kelsey

Published 2019 in Conservation Science and Practice

ABSTRACT

Scientists devote substantial time and resources to research intended to help solve environmental problems. Environmental managers and policymakers must decide how to use the best available research evidence to prioritize actions leading to desired environmental outcomes. Yet decision‐makers can face barriers to using scientific evidence to inform action. They may be unaware of the evidence, lack access to it, not understand it, or view it as irrelevant. These barriers mean a valuable resource (evidence) is underused. We outline a set of practical steps for scientists who want to improve the impact their research has on decision‐making: (a) identify and understand the audience; (b) clarify the need for evidence; (c) gather “just enough” evidence; and (d) share and discuss the evidence. These are guidelines, not a strict recipe for success. But, we believe that regularly following these recommendations should increase the chance of scientific evidence being considered and used in environmental decision‐making. Our goal is for this article to be accessible to anyone, rather than a comprehensive review of the topic.

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2019

  • Venue

    Conservation Science and Practice

  • Publication date

    2019-03-29

  • Fields of study

    Political Science, Environmental Science

  • Identifiers
    DOI 10.1111/csp2.210
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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