Plenary session - Incorporating Science into Freshwater Ecosystem Conservation

At the 2001 NABS plenary session in Pittsburgh, several speakers challenged the membership to step beyond the science and become more active at influencing environmental policy decisions. The 2003 NABS plenary session represents a response to this challenge, where distinguished speakers from international foundations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), governmental agencies, and the private sector have been assembled to address the means by which scientists may directly and indirectly affect policy and other issues relating to freshwater conservation. Perspectives presented will mainly emphasize how science gets integrated into policy, and will include such topics as incorporating science into domestic and international conservation efforts by NGOs; increasing the relevance of scientists in influencing policy; implementing a science-based approach to managing freshwater ecosystems, applying science to freshwater conservation from a legal standpoint; and how scientists can become involved and thus more effective in key conservation issues.

The following speakers have agreed to participate:

JOHN PETERSON MYERS: Senior Advisor, United Nations Foundation: "Increasing the relevance of scientists in influencing policy"
CARL POPE, Executive Director, Sierra Club: "Institutionalizing science in NGO conservation efforts domestically and internationally"
JAMES SEDELL, Professor, USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest & Range Experiment Station: "Using science to forge policy in a political setting"
JOSEPH LOVETT, Esq., Appalachian Center for the Economy and the Environment: "Democratizing science to support grass-roots activities"

The session promises to be informative and stimulating. More information about the plenary session and speakers will be available in the Spring Bulletin.