144 CAREER ADVICE FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS II
Making a Difference:
The Three R’s of
Public Science Policy
Lawrence S.B. Goldstein
University of California,
San Diego
B
iomedical research and its applications are hav-
ing an unprecedented impact on our world and
society. The issues raised are thought-provoking
and controversial, not only among scientists, but even
more so to the public who greet each new break-
through with equal parts wonder, fear, hope, and mis-
understanding. How can our nonscientist friends and
lawmakers sort through the scientific debates, informa-
tion, and ideas without specialized training? More
important, how can we help them to make wise and
informed decisions about how to proceed and where to
invest valuable resources?
A big part of the answer is us. As professional scien-
tists, we have a special role to play in educating the
public about what we and our colleagues do and its
potential impact and value. While many bemoan the
state of scientific understanding at large, we must hold
The issues raised are thought-
provoking and controversial, not only
among scientists, but even more so to
the public who greet each new
breakthrough with equal parts wonder,
fear, hope, and misunderstanding.
A big part of the answer is us. As
professional scientists, we have a special
role to play in educating the public
about what we and our colleagues do,
and its potential impact and value.