Sameer Yousuf left a comment to an article I wrote for Science Progress titled “Harnessing the Power of Citizen Scientists.” Yousuf alerted me to a project at UCLA known as Participatory Sensing (video above). Fascinating combination of cell phones and citizen scientists to do everything from helping joggers chart healthy running courses, to alerting scientists and policy makers to needed environmental policy changes. UCLA is also in the early stages of creating a related project titled “Networked Naturalists.” I’m excited to learn more about this one because Michael and I are working on something along these lines but not focused on the use of cell phones. Stay tuned!

Harnessing the Power of Citizen Scientists Congress should bring back the OTA, but this time with a prominent role for the public, especially the burgeoning numbers of citizen scientists. By Darlene Cavalier

Fishing for Answers The old Office of Technology Assessment had answers to Pennsylvania’s shad problem today. That’s only one reason why efforts to revive the congressional office are gaining traction. By Darlene Cavalier

 Science Progress is one of my favorite online science resources because the editors carefully and consistently deliver news of relevance to folks like us. Oh, and because they published my articles on citizen scientists and the reopening of the Office of Technology Assessment. 

Take a look at their story on the Top 8 Science Policy Stories of 2008. Ends on a very high note!

Cheers!

Just launched a new group on Facebook to jumpstart dialogue and create a plan of action so we can ALL (“experts” and us) work together to shape the reopening of the Congressional Office of Science and Technology Assessment. Folks from Obama’s transition team listen in on the conversation from time to time. 

Take a couple of minutes to read this bit (below) I originally posted a few months ago. It’ll bring you up to speed on 30 years worth of history but more importantly, it should give you a better understanding of how a newer, faster, more inclusive reencarnation of this Congressional Office will have a direct impact on all of us.

And, feel free to join the Facebook group. We’d love to hear from you.

(July 2008) Check this out. It’s an article Science Progress published earlier this week. In it, I propose that Congress open an Office of Technology Assessment to provide balanced science policy advice. Not an original idea. Lots of folks are trying to make this happen and, by and large, scientists give the idea two big thumbs up.

However, there’s a twist in my pitch and it’s crinkling some pocket protectors.  I’m calling on Congress to open the Office with a mechanism for public participation.  Why?  So you and I can weigh in on some critical policy issues such as stem cell research, voting technology, engineered foods, alternative fuels, etc.  

Who would be against that? Plenty of people. Know why? Because many scientists think we are big dummies. And, when it comes to science, we keep proving them right. See here.

But a good chunk of what shapes science policy depends on economics, personal values, and other factors outside the boundaries of pure science. And that’s one reason why we should be invited to weigh in. Another is this: it’s been demonstrated that when given the opportunity, “average” citizens, untrained in the sciences, are able to handily grasp relevant science facts as well as policy implications and use them to help shape important science policy matters.

This might be new news to some but I bet it’s not surprising to the Citizen Scientists out there who are volunteering in droves to help scientists with research. You people are incredible and earning quite a bit of respect from the science community. In fact, in this Science Progress article, I propose having you work with Congress and scientists to shape science policy. Easier pill to swallow for most and, frankly, you’ve earned the right to be there.

The rest of us ought to want a say, too. Congress and scientists are determining our future and spending our money in the process. We don’t need veto power. We don’t need to question the experts on scientific facts but we do have opinions that matter, don’t we? To be fair, we can and should do a better job of staying informed on science issues to earn our place at the table. And, we’ve got some incredible scientists who are eager to help us so we can contribute more fully to the democratic process. More on that later.

This question is for you. If Congress opens an OTA with citizen inclusion, will you answer the call to participate?

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/hey-hey-lets-reopen-the-ota-with-citizen-input

Just published this article in Science Progress. Hope you enjoy it. The purpose of the piece is to let you know that all 720 formal (easy-to-read) reports put out by the defunct Congressional Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) are now available online, courtesy of the Federation of American Scientists. They are there for you, free, whether you are a researcher, policy maker, educator or anyone with an interest in any one of the topics covered. But this article is framed by the story of the rise and fall of the shad. One of the OTA reports focuses on this mighty fish. Back in 1995 the Office was looking at ways to help Congress set policies to help the troubled fish make a comeback.

Can you believe Congress shut this office down 15 years ago? It was their only source of nonpartisan, science policy advice and they axed it. Between global warming, stem cell research, water shortages, health care issues and other big science challenges facing Congress today, I’d say they need the OTA now more than ever. More here and here

Found a gem among the reports dealing with my favorite fish, the Shad. The OTA had some good recommendations on how science policies could help the shad. The report is 13 years old but New Zealand cites it on their Auckland Country regional development site, even today.

(Here’s a fun audio shad_radio_piece I coproduced about Philadelphia’s Fish a couple of years ago.) Yes! The Shad and the OTA in one tidy article…and they said it couldn’t be done. Or, did they say it shouldn’t be done? You be the judge. Let me know what you think!