Public Engagement on Genetically Modified Organisms: When Science and Citizens Connect: Workshop Summary (2015)
Chapter: Front Matter
Public Engagement on
Genetically Modified Organisms
WHEN SCIENCE
AND CITIZENS
CONNECT
WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Holly Rhodes and Keegan Sawyer, Rapporteurs
Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences
Board on Life Sciences
Division on Earth and Life Studies
Board on Science Education
Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS
Washington, D.C.
THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES PRESS 500 Fifth Street NW Washington, DC 20001
NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.
The Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through Grant GBMF3869, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund through Grant 10002067, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute through Grant 10001304, Monsanto through Grant 10001447, DuPont, and the National Academy of Sciences.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations or agencies that provided support for the project.
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International Standard Book Number-10: 0-309-37421-9
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THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
Advisers to the Nation on Science, Engineering, and Medicine
The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that requires it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone is president of the National Academy of Sciences.
The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., is president of the National Academy of Engineering.
The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Victor J. Dzau is president of the Institute of Medicine.
The National Research Council was organized by the National Academy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy’s purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has become the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. Dr. Ralph J. Cicerone and Dr. C. D. Mote, Jr., are chair and vice chair, respectively, of the National Research Council.
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PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE WORKSHOP WHEN SCIENCE AND CITIZENS CONNECT: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS1
DIETRAM A. SCHEUFELE (Chair)*, University of Wisconsin–Madison
JOSEPH ARVAI*, University of Calgary
SARAH DAVIDSON EVANEGA, Cornell University
FRED GOULD* (NAS), North Carolina State University
BROOKE SMITH*, COMPASS
*Members of the Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences.
________________________
1The workshop planning committee members were not involved in the writing of the workshop summary.
ROUNDTABLE ON PUBLIC INTERFACES OF THE LIFE SCIENCES
Members
CYNTHIA BEALL (NAS; Cochair), Case Western Reserve University
DIETRAM A. SCHEUFELE (Cochair), University of Wisconsin–Madison
JOSEPH ARVAI, University of Calgary
RICK BORCHELT, US Department of Energy
DAVID E. DUNCAN, Freelance Journalist
DAVID GOLDSTON, Natural Resources Defense Council
FRED GOULD (NAS), North Carolina State University
DAVID INOUYE, University of Maryland
MOLLY JAHN, University of Wisconsin–Madison
BRUCE LEWENSTEIN, Cornell University
MICHAEL LOHUIS, Monsanto
TIFFANY LOHWATER, American Association for the Advancement of Science
GEORGE MATSUMOTO, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
MATTHEW NISBET, Northeastern University
JOHN OHAB, US Naval Research Laboratory
IVAN ORANSKY, MedPage Today
STEPHEN PALACIOS, Added Value Cheskin
WILLIAM PROVINE, DuPont
VINCENT RACANIELLO, Columbia University
KENNETH S. RAMOS, University of Louisville
BROOKE SMITH, COMPASS
MARY WOOLLEY (IOM), Research!America
NRC Staff
KEEGAN SAWYER, Project Director, Board on Life Sciences
MICHAEL FEDER, Senior Program Officer, Board on Science Education
ZANE MARTIN, Christine Mirzayan Science and Technology Policy Graduate Fellow
LAUREN SONI, Senior Program Assistant, Board on Life Sciences (until January 2015)
HOLLY RHODES, Board on Science Education, Rapporteur
NOMAN GROSSBLATT, Senior Editor
BOARD ON LIFE SCIENCES
Members
JAMES P. COLLINS (Chair), Arizona State University
ENRIQUETA C. BOND, Burroughs Wellcome Fund (retired)
ROGER D. CONE, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
JOSEPH R. ECKER, Salk Institute for Biological Studies
SEAN EDDY, HHMI Janelia Farm Research Campus
SARAH C. R. ELGIN, Washington University
DAVID R. FRANZ, Former Cdr USAMRIID; Consultant
STEPHEN FRIEND, Sage Bionetworks
ELIZABETH HEITMAN, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
JOHN G. HILDEBRAND (NAS), University of Arizona
RICHARD A. JOHNSON, Arnold & Porter, LLC
JUDITH KIMBLE, University of Wisconsin–Madison
MARY E. MAXON, Science Philanthropy Alliance
KAREN E. NELSON, J. Craig Venter Institute
ROBERT M. NEREM, Georgia Institute of Technology
MARY E. POWER, University of California, Berkeley
MARGARET RILEY, University of Massachusetts
LANA SKIRBOLL, Sanofi
JANIS C. WEEKS, University of Oregon
MARY WOOLLEY (IOM), Research!America
Staff
FRANCES E. SHARPLES, Director
JO L. HUSBANDS, Scholar/Senior Project Director
JAY B. LABOV, Senior Scientist/Program Director for Biology Education
KATHERINE W. BOWMAN, Senior Program Officer
MARILEE K. SHELTON-DAVENPORT, Senior Program Officer
KEEGAN SAWYER, Program Officer
AUDREY THEVENON, Associate Program Officer
BETHELHEM MEKASHA, Financial Associate
ANGELA KOLESNIKOVA, Administrative Assistant
JENNA OGILVIE, Senior Project Assistant
LAUREN SONI, Senior Project Assistant (until January 2015)
Members
ADAM GAMORAN (Chair), WT Grant Foundation
GEORGE BOGGS, Palomar College (emeritus)
MELANIE COOPER, Department of Chemistry, Michigan State University
RODOLFO DIRZO, Department of Biology, Stanford University
JACQUELYNNE ECCLES, Department of Psychology, University of Michigan
JOSEPH FRANCISCO, Department of Chemistry, Purdue University
MARGARET A. HONEY, New York Hall of Science
SUSAN KIEFFER, Department of Geology, University of Illinois, Urbana
MATTHEW KREHBIEL, Kansas State Department of Education
MICHAEL LACH, Urban Education Institute, University of Chicago
LYNN S. LIBEN, Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University
BRIAN REISER¸ School of Education and Social Policy, Northwestern University
MARSHALL (MIKE) SMITH, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching
ROBERTA TANNER, Retired Physics Teacher, Thompson School District, Loveland, Colorado
SUZANNE WILSON, Neag School of Education, University of Connecticut
YU XIE, Department of Sociology, University of Michigan
Staff
HEIDI SCHWEINGRUBER, Director, Board on Science Education
MICHAEL FEDER, Senior Program Officer
MARGARET HILTON, Senior Program Officer
MATT LAMMERS, Program Coordinator
Acknowledgment of Reviewers
This workshop summary has been reviewed in draft form by persons chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council’s Report Review Committee. The purposes of this review are to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the institution in making the published summary as sound as possible and to ensure that the summary meets institutional standards of objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the charge. The review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We thank the following for their participation in the review of this summary:
Richard Amasino, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Kevin M. Folta, University of Florida
Geoffrey Hunt, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Margaret Mellon, independent science policy consultant
Louie Rivers III, North Carolina State University
Allison A. Snow, Ohio State University
Although the reviewers listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, they were not asked to endorse, nor did they see, the final draft of the workshop summary before its release. The review of the report was overseen by Diane Griffin of Johns Hopkins University. Appointed by the National Academy of Sciences, she was responsible for making certain that an independent examination of the report was carried out in accordance with institutional procedures and that all review comments were carefully considered. Responsibility for the final content of the summary rests entirely with the authors and the National Research Council.
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Contents
2 How People Think (about Genetically Modified Organisms)
Debunking Myths about Public Perceptions of Science
Myth 1: Knowledge deficits are responsible for a lack of public support for science
Myth 2: Meaningful public debate requires citizens that think like scientists
Myth 3: The public does not trust scientists
The Roles of Thinking and Feeling in Decision-Making
Decision-Making about Genetically Modified Organisms
3 The Science Information Climate
Media Effects on the Information Climate
Engaging Publics in the Information Climate on Genetically Modified Organisms
4 Cultural and Political Contexts
The Pathway to Political Polarization
Modes of Science Engagement with Publics and Policy-makers
How Science Intersects with Policy
Is labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms really a science question?
Intended and Unintended Consequences of Labeling
How Much Regulation Is Enough and What Is the Role of the Scientist in Determining That?
5 How Should Scientists Engage in Dialogues about GMOs?
Practical Take-Homes: What Can Scientists Do?
Understand the Nature of the Controversy
Manage the Communication Process
Draw from Social-Science Evidence to Inform Public Engagement Practice
Sometimes No News is Good News
Diversify the People in the Room
Public Engagement Is Not the Same as Persuasion
Common Ground Encourages Respectful Discourse
Boxes
3-1 Three Types of Public Engagement
4-1 Examples of Cultural and Sociopolitical Questions Surrounding about GMOs
4-2 Definitions of Science, Policy, Politics, and Politicization of Science
5-1 Key Points from Workshop Presentations and Discussions
5-2 Small Steps Toward Better Communication
5-3 Breakout Discussion on the American Chestnut Tree
5-4 Breakout Discussion on Genetically Modified Mosquitoes
5-5 Breakout Discussion on Transgenic Corn and the Monarch Butterfly
Figures
2-1 Making Decisions about Science
2-2 American’s Trust in the Scientific Community, 1982-2010
3-1 Tiers of Influence on Public Perceptions of Science
4-1 Criteria for Assessment of Science Communication Roles
C Biographies of the Workshop Planning Committee Members
D About the Roundtable on Public Interfaces of the Life Sciences
