Posts in: Reflections

In 1997, the National Science Foundation (NSF) established the Broader Impacts section for all funding proposals, which requires scientists to explain how their proposed work advances societal needs and the field of science generally. This section has been applauded, dismissed, criticized, and even satirized. I think the section’s creation was a good first step. ...

Last week, I stumbled across a profound and lovely advice column about big decisions in life.  The blogger, Dear Sugar, opens by referencing a poem by Tomas Tranströmer. It ends with: Without really knowing, we divine; our life has a sister ship, following quietly another route. She goes on to say, “I’ll never know and neither will you of the life you don...

A greeting card hangs above my desk that reads: “If I were a scientist working in a big lab, I’d shout ‘Eureka!’ every so often just to boost morale.” I keep it there to remind me of those moments of inspiration that not only boost morale, but drive the whole of science. To me, those “Eureka!” events aren’t just reserved for medical breakthroughs...

Science clearly has a critical role to play in informing policy. Congressional staff, governors’ resource advisors, and dedicated science advisors all spend countless hours distilling science into its most policy-relevant nuggets. But what about the scientists themselves? What can scientists bring to policy discussions beyond their knowledge?  COMPASS’s Direct...

How do you get people to change the world? The world is changing already, with and without our help… climate change, population, consumption, and extinction are all on the rise. But… imagine if every academic environmental scientist could communicate why their science matters - to the public, policy makers, journalists, and their own communities - now that woul...

I get the following phone call frequently: “Hi, I am from . Congress is considering landmark legislation right now; this could be the most important hearing in history. Our grandchildren will live better lives if this legislation passes. It will allow polar bears to flourish, panda bears to proliferate, and bring water back to the Colorado. It will provide job...