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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.