2015. Cordner. "Strategic Science Translation and Environmental Controversies"

Text

ARTICLE ABSTRACT: In contested areas of environmental research and policy, all stakeholders are likely to claim that their position is scientifically grounded but disagree about the relevant scientific conclusions or the weight of the evidence. In this article, I draw on a year of participant observation and over 110 in-depth interviews, with the case study of controversial chemicals used as flame retardants in consumer products. I develop the concept of strategic science translation (SST), the process of interpreting and communicating scientific evidence to an intended audience in order to advance certain goals and interests. Engaging in selective, interpretive, or inaccurate SST allows competing stakeholders to bolster their arguments, strengthen their authority, and inspire change regarding a policy-relevant issue. Because stakeholders deploy imbalanced resources when they participate in contested environmental fields, their actions in those fields and the resulting policy outcomes often reduce not to the settling of scientific truths but to power differentials.

License

Creative Commons Licence

Creator(s)

Contributors

Contributed date

May 26, 2018 - 7:14pm

Critical Commentary

In this 2015 article, Alissa Cordner develops her concept of "strategic science translation" to discuss how experts cater interpretations and presentations of scientific data to certain audiences in strategic ways so as to advance their own agendas.

Language

English

Cite as

Alissa Cordner, "2015. Cordner. "Strategic Science Translation and Environmental Controversies"", contributed by James Adams, STS Infrastructures, Platform for Experimental Collaborative Ethnography, last modified 7 June 2018, accessed 28 March 2024. https://stsinfrastructures.org/content/2015-cordner-strategic-science-translation-and-environmental-controversies-0