The Honest Broker : Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics

Scientists have a choice concerning what role they should play in political debates and policy formation, particularly in terms of how they present their research. This book is about understanding this choice, what considerations are important to think about when deciding, and the consequences of such choices for the individual scientist and the broader scientific enterprise. Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options for individual scientists to consider in making their own judgments about how they would like to position themselves in relation to policy and politics. Using examples from a range of scientific controversies and thought-provoking analogies from other walks of life, The Honest Broker challenges us all - scientists, politicians and citizens - to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy. "Scientists seeking to play a positive role in policy and politics and contribute to the sustainability of the scientific enterprise have choices in what role they play. This book is about understanding these choices, what considerations are important to think about when deciding, and the consequences of such choices for the individual scientist and the broader scientific enterprise. Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options for individual scientists to consider in making their own judgments about how they would like to position themselves in relation to policy and politics. Using examples from a range of scientific controversies and thought-provoking analogies from other walks of life, The Honest Broker challenges us all - scientists, politicians, and citizens - to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy."--Jacket Relevant To A Wide Range Of Scientific Disciplines, This Is A Practical Guide For Scientists, Politicians And Citizens To The Relationship Between Science And Politics. List Of Figures And Tables -- Acknowledgments -- Four Idealized Roles Of Science In Policy And Politics -- The Big Picture, Science, And Democracy -- Science And Decision-making -- Values -- Uncertainty -- How Science Policy Shapes Science In Policy And Politics -- Preemption And The Decision To Go To War In Iraq -- When Scientists Politicize Science -- Making Sense Of Science In Policy And Politics -- Appendix: Applying The Framework -- Notes -- References -- Index. Roger A. Pielke, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 169-182) And Index. For scientists seeking to play a positive role in policy and politics and contribute to the sustainability of the scientific enterprise, scientists have choices in what role they play. This book is about understanding this choice. Rather than prescribing what course of action each scientist ought to take, the book aims to identify a range of options. Using examples from a range of scientific controversies, The Honest Broker challenges us all - scientists, politicians and citizens - to think carefully about how best science can contribute to policy-making and a healthy democracy.