Partnership for Science-based Decisionmaking

Purpose of Initiative: The goal of the partnership between the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) is to protect the environment through better use of scientific knowledge in policy and program decisions on sustainable development issues in developing countries.

A series of "science in decision-making workshops" will be held on key issues such as water and sanitation, persistent organic pollutants, air and climate, marine pollution, and biodiversity that are of particular concern to the host country. Industry, government, environmental organizations, science research institutions, etc. will be invited. Possible crosscutting themes include information systems, monitoring and data processing, the role of scientists and engineers in policy making, and technical and economic strategies for relevant policy. The specific topics to be addressed will be determined through committee evaluation of proposals submitted by developing countries. The first workshop is expected to be in late summer or fall 2003. Expected outcomes include:

• Enhanced use of scientific knowledge in policy and program decisions on key issues
• Increased professional connection between scientists and decision-makers
• Improvement in how the scientific community communicates with decision-makers and how decision-makers think about using science in their work
• Increased relevance of scientific research in policy decisions

Resources: The EPA and ACC are supporting the partnership's first three workshops (locations yet-to-be determined). To date, the EPA has provided $260,000 and the ACC has provided $65,000. Other partners' involvement ranges from organizing the workshops to providing input regarding potential workshop topics and participants.

Partners: Governments: United States; International Organizations: Third World Academy of Sciences, InterAcademy Panel; Civil Society: U.S. National Academies, National Council for Science and the Environment, H. John Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment; Private Sector:  American Chemistry Council.

Partnership Efforts to Date:  Workshop proposals are being submitted through developing countries’ national science academies, the InterAcademy Panel, and the Third World Academy of Sciences. A committee has been established by the U.S. National Academies to review all proposals and oversee the organization of the workshops. Proposals are accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis.

U.S. Government Primary Point of Contact: Environmental Protection Agency: Diana Bauer (Phone: 202-564-6932; E-mail: mailto:Bauer.Diana@epa.gov