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Using Science In Decision-Making. A Discussion to Wrap-Up the City Council Activity Version 5.2.11. Informed Environmental Decision-Making.
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Using Science In Decision-Making A Discussion to Wrap-Up the City Council Activity Version 5.2.11
Informed Environmental Decision-Making How do/can citizens use science to inform decisions they make about environmental issues in private (e.g., consumer, worker) and or public (e.g., voter, advocate, elected official) roles?
Informed Environmental Decision-Making Using science to inform decisions can include… • Investigating an issue • Explaining the science involved in an issue for self and/or others • Predicting likely outcomes and impacts on connected human and natural environmental systems of different courses of action • Using all of the above (plus other considerations such as personal values) to help decide what to do in individual and/or societal roles
Investigating an Issue Investigating an issue (2nd hand) involves… • Defining the problem • Considering arguments from different stakeholders • Interpreting and evaluating evidence that different stakeholders use to support their arguments • Considering uncertainty • Considering bias Your thoughts… • How do you decide which information to trust when you’re investigating an issue? • How do you decide what information you need, and what counts as “sufficient” information?
Explaining and Predicting Explaining and predicting involves… • Explaining scientific systems and processes relevant to an issue • Making predictions about likely outcomes of different courses of action to connected human and natural environmental systems Your thoughts… • What was interesting and/or challenging about above? • What are your experiences with explaining science and making predictions to help make a decision?
Making a Decision • Using science to make a decision involves combining explanations and predictions developed through a scientific investigation with one’s own personal values to decide what to do. Discussion Questions • How important were scientific arguments to your group’s decision-making process? • How important were non-scientific arguments (e.g., arguments about needing jobs in the community)? • What values (e.g., creating jobs, having a healthy environment, etc.) were most important to you in deciding how to vote?
Feedback Suggestions • Do you have any feedback about this activity and/or suggestions for improving this activity for use with high school and college students? • Thank you for your help!