{"id":32,"date":"2019-03-01T19:48:53","date_gmt":"2019-03-01T19:48:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/esa.org\/2018\/?page_id=32"},"modified":"2019-03-01T19:48:53","modified_gmt":"2019-03-01T19:48:53","slug":"ecology-in-public-policy","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.esa.org\/2018\/ecology-in-public-policy\/","title":{"rendered":"Ecology in Public Policy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bringing Ecology into Policy Decisions<\/h3>\n

ESA works to infuse ecological knowledge into national policy decisions, engaging in science policy efforts to inform policy affecting the ecological community and foster support for research and STEM education. We connect our members with policymakers and join with other scientific associations to amplify its messages for policymakers through membership in coalitions, including the Climate Science Working Group, Coalition for National Science Funding<\/a>, USGS Coalition<\/a>, NDD United<\/a>, and National Environmental Coalition on Invasive Species<\/a>,<\/u> the Energy Sciences Coalition, the STEM Coalition, the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Coalition<\/a> and Friends of the Agricultural Research Service Coalition.<\/p>\n

Policy Letters and Statements<\/h3>\n

ESA issued or co-signed more than\u00a030 letters or statements<\/a> to policy makers last year. Topics covered include addressing executive orders, federal funding for scientific research, and nominations for key scientific posts in the administration. ESA also joined with other scientific societies to submit comments in the Federal Register about the EPA\u2019s proposed “transparency in science rule” and Waters of the U.S. rule. Several policy statements garnered press as news outlets looked toward scientific societies to contextualize new policies.<\/p>\n

ESA and USGS Partnered for a Chesapeake Bay Roundtable Discussion on Capitol Hill<\/h3>\n

ESA and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) held a Capitol Hill roundtable discussion hosted by Congressmen Rob Wittman (R-VA) and John Sarbanes (D-MD) highlighting science used to inform Chesapeake Bay restoration and management. ESA member Denise Breitburg, senior scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, moderated the panel. USGS panelists included Scott<\/strong> Phillips<\/strong>, USGS Chesapeake Bay coordinator; Tom O\u2019Connell<\/strong>, director of the USGS Leetown Fisheries Science Center; Ken Hyer<\/strong>, associate USGS Chesapeake coordinator; and Alicia Berlin<\/strong>, research biologist at the Patuxent Wildlife Research Center. Marel King<\/strong>, Pennsylvania director for the Chesapeake Bay Commission and James Davis-Martin<\/strong>, Chesapeake Bay coordinator for the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality also joined the panel to provide perspective on USGS science from the manager\u2019s perspective. Both said that their jobs and their organization\u2019s missions would be impossible to do without USGS science. Long-term data sets from USGS helps these organizations understand trends over time and make decisions. USGS expertise helps them respond to changing conditions and unexpected phenomena. As Davis-Martin said, \u201cGood science is foundational to good management.\u201d<\/p>\n

Engaging Members in Policy<\/h1>\n

Graduate Student Policy Award<\/h3>\n

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