Science with Impact: How to Engage People, Change Practice, and Influence Policy

Toomey, Anne Helen

ISBN 10: 1642833282 / ISBN 13: 9781642833287

Published by Island Press, 2024

Most items will be dispatched the same or the next working day. An apparently unread copy in perfect condition. Dust cover is intact with no nicks or tears. Spine has no signs of creasing. Pages are clean and not marred by notes or folds of any kind. Seller Inventory # wbs8089918546

Synopsis:

Will you please just listen to me? If you are a scientist, or a fan of science, have you ever wondered why your fact-based explanation of ground-breaking scientific research falls flat with family, friends, and the general public?  Do you want your research to matter to society and not simply be confined to arcane discussion in academic circles? Social science communicator Anne Helen Toomey argues that science today faces a public-relations crisis due to its historic emphasis on “trickle-down research,” and she calls for a whole-scale change in how scientists engage with the world. This book is a guide for the scientific community and its allies to build public trust in science—and scientists—again.

In this accessible volume, Toomey unpacks why “facts” mean different things to different people and how science-based attitudes and behaviors spread. Using humor, stories, and down-to-earth examples from her own science journey, she explains why seemingly straightforward evidence can sometimes feel irrelevant, or even threatening, to a skeptical public. This practical, how-to guide will help scientists think more carefully about the choices they make even before collecting data. It explores how researchers and others who work with science can address public distrust, communicate about uncertainty, and engage with policymakers for real-world impact.

Science with Impact argues that science can—and should—make a meaningful difference in society. It offers hope and guidance to those of us who wish to take the steps to make it so.  
 

About the Author: Anne Helen Toomey is an associate professor of environmental studies and science at Pace University, a visiting scientist at the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History, and the executive director of Participatory Science Solutions LLC, a social-impact research consulting company. She lives in Sleepy Hollow, New York.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Science with Impact: How to Engage People, ...
Publisher: Island Press
Publication Date: 2024
Binding: Soft cover
Condition: Like New