Handling Scientific and Technical Information in Contentious Public Issues Southern Community Development Educators Conference, Tampa, FL Steve Smutko.

Handling Scientific and Technical Handling Scientific and Technical Information in Contentious Public Information in Contentious Public

IssuesIssuesSouthern Community Development Educators Conference, Tampa, FL

Steve SmutkoDept. of Agricultural & Resource EconomicsNorth Carolina State University

Scenario 1Scenario 1

the town of Bluemont and prestigious Hilltop College. The people in Bluemont generate income from the college, tourism, and a recent surge in retiree relocation and second home development. Eastern Garfield County, anchored by the town of Fairfield, is heavily farmed and less affluent. Highway 283 runs east-west. The county is undergoing explosive growth, and farm fields and woodlots along Hwy 283 are now sprouting Wal-Marts and 1/2-acre “country estates”.

Garfield County is a mixed piedmont- mountain county that is geographically and culturally divided east and west. The scenic western half is occupied by

Scenario 1Scenario 1

changes and feel that it is time for county leaders to take action and enact zoning to regulate growth. They are pushing hard to make it happen. Many rural residents, while concerned about the disappearance of farms and farming, fear that zoning will limit their ability to gain future income from their property. A strong property-rights organization has formed in the county to fight a zoning ordinance. Recognizing the need for some dialogue on this issue the Chair of the Board of County Commissioners has contacted Cooperative Extension for help.

While growth has brought income and jobs, traffic and a changed landscape have come with it. Many county residents have grown alarmed at the

Scenario 1Scenario 1

Some items that have come to your attention regarding this issue:

1. Zoning proponents cite studies showing that unchecked growth increases the cost of services provided by local governments, ultimately resulting in higher taxes to support growth;

2. Zoning opponents are armed with studies showing that zoning drives up housing prices, forcing people to settle outside urban boundaries where housing is affordable;

3. Both sides have held “community meetings” featuring the experts of their choice.

What are the Issues?What are the Issues?

Vanishing sense of place Property rights Conflicting data/information Information as weaponry

Public Issues Education?Public Issues Education?

What is Extension’s role in this issue?What is your role?How to you proceed?

Scenario 2Scenario 2

county citizens grapple with the issue of balancing economic benefits of livestock production with quality of life and environmental protection. Recognizing the need for a public discussion on the issues surrounding the growth of the livestock industry, the County Commissioners pass an ordinance declaring a moratorium on new intensive livestock operations and expansion of existing operations until they can devise a plan about how to proceed.

An out-of-state investment group proposes building a 20,000-hog feeding operation in your county. Concerns have been raised to a fever pitch as

Scenario 2Scenario 2

operations, and recommend solutions. Committee members, appointed by the commissioners, represent various interests with a stake in the outcome of any policy decisions. Some members of the committee are in strong disagreement over the social, environmental and economic impacts of swine farming. Extension is asked to help this group develop its recommendations.

Although the committee has not yet been officially convened, several issues regarding data have already come to your attention:

The ordinance calls for the formation of a study committee to review current research, describe the impacts associated with intensive livestock

Scenario 2Scenario 2

2. Some committee members have stated that they mistrust data that comes from the state university (your employer);

3. The state epidemiologist has testified that large-scale hog operations pollute neighboring wells;

4. Studies undertaken by university faculty have shown that most waste treatment ponds do not leak;

5. There remains a high degree of scientific uncertainty over the rate and extent of nitrate transport in ground water;

1. Members have been amassing data - much of it from the internet - to support their positions for or against intensive livestock operations;

What are the Issues?What are the Issues?

Water quality Air quality Freedom to farm Conflicting information Scientific uncertainty

Public Issues Education?Public Issues Education?

What is Extension’s role in this issue?What is your role?How do you proceed?

Public Issues EducationPublic Issues Education

Methods for providing education on issues of widespread concern

Use of facilitated dialogue and information exchange

Typically choice-focused– Helping people make informed decisions about

public matters

Objectives Objectives of Public Issues Educationof Public Issues Education

Increase citizens’ knowledge about issuesHelp determine appropriate, effective

strategies for making decisionsHelp citizens craft, evaluate, and implement

alternative solutionsBuild skills, provide opportunities for

effective participation

Handling Scientific and Technical Handling Scientific and Technical InformationInformation

Public issues are usually complex, often contentious

Scientific and technical information is central

Science itself can be controversialEfforts of Extension educators can be

impaired

New CurriculumNew CurriculumHandling Scientific And Technical Information In Contentious Public Issues

A Public Issues Education Approach

Kay Haaland Washington State University Extension Skagit County, WA Steve Smutko Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC

LEARNER’S PACKET

Handling Scientific And Technical Information In Contentious Public Issues

A Public Issues Education Approach

Kay Haaland Washington State University Extension Skagit County, WA Steve Smutko Dept. of Agricultural and Resource Economics North Carolina State University Raleigh, NC

INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDEBOOK Includes: - Background material - Discussion Points - Exercises - Visuals

Curriculum ObjectivesCurriculum Objectives

Learners will:– Differentiate roles of Extension educators– Learn differences between data conflicts and

substantive conflicts– Learn appropriate methods of integrating

science and technical information into collaborative processes

– Learn best practices

Application of CurriculumApplication of Curriculum

Manage warring or contested scienceManage distrust in the science from your

own institutionManage scientific and technical uncertaintyDeal with information imbalances

Curriculum ModulesCurriculum Modules

1. Roles for Extension Educators

2. Sources of Conflict

3. Key Concepts and Principles

4. Tools and Techniques

Tools and TechniquesTools and Techniques

Scoping and assessing the issueDesigning an educational programDefining the problemWorking with expertsNegotiating and problem solvingMaking and implementing agreements

MaterialsMaterials

Instructor’s Guide– Background material– Discussion points

Class exercises (case scenarios)Sample agendaVisuals (slides and video segments)Learner’s Packet

AvailabilityAvailability

Currently in productionPreliminary copies available (without video

segments)Will be accessible from the web

– www.publicissueseducation.net