How can a marine biologist influence a president?

Abstract

• Masterclass Science Communication. “How can a marine biologist influence a president?”
  By Prof Jane Lubchenco, Oregon State University
  
  In an interactive masterclass, Honorary Doctor Prof. Jane Lubchenco provided insight in how scientists can channel their knowledge and insights to policy makers.

  Professor Jane Lubchenco (Oregon State University) is a renowned marine biologist, with an impressive scientific track record, and former scientific advisor on oceans and climate to President Barack Obama. She was the first female director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA; the 'sister' agency of NASA). Jane Lubchenco has a prominent voice in the public debate in the USA about climate change, biodiversity and sustainable exploitation of the ocean, and is an inspiring role model for young female scientists in the United States.

  Throughout her career, Prof. Lubchenco  has emphasized that scientists need to get out of their ivory tower, and take responsibility.  In this Masterclass, Prof. Lubchenco will give insight in how scientists can channel their arguments into the public debate. How can scientists still make a difference and have an impact on society by informing politicians and the broader public? It’s not easy these days to be an environmental scientist in the United States, and talk about grand environmental challenges, with a president who does not believe in climate change.

• Masterclass Citizen Science: How can a climate scientist inform a taxi-driver? 
  The University of Antwerp strongly believes in Citizen Science as an instrument to inform the broader public about the environment and climate. This masterclass provided tips and tricks on how to make citizens enthusiastic about science using examples from recent citizen science projects like CurieuzeNeuzen and Knappe Knoppen, developed within the Global Change Ecology Centre of Excellence.