April 13, 2015
Imagine you’re a scientist in the center of a room, surrounded by approximately 45 people. They are college students and faculty, other scientists, and representatives from the government, private sector, and local community. You have five minutes to explain your position on the topic of your expertise. Then, the group asks you questions to learn directly from you and to see how your knowledge will affect their individual choices and community decisions.
This is a new type of debate. It was pioneered by the Institute on Science for Global Policy (ISGP) to put credible science directly into the hands of policy makers and community members. Once one has a better understanding of a scientific issue that can impact one’s life, one can make more informed decisions when creating and implementing policies. At the same time, the debate can give scientists a better appreciation for the challenges faced by policy makers.
After the debates, participants meet in small-group caucuses to identify areas of consensus and actionable next steps they want to take. ISGP’s debate/caucus model has been successfully used to examine a wide range of critical issues such as infectious diseases, food safety and security, and climate change.
Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society has joined forces with ISGP to bring two of these events to college campuses in April. The conferences, which were organized in conjunction with the colleges’ students and faculty, are open to the public. In the summer, ISGP and the Society will host a training workshop for Sigma Xi’s chapter leaders who are interested in becoming involved in the ISGP debate and caucus model in their local areas.
The ISGP-Sigma Xi Conferences
Food Safety, Security, and Defense: Safeguarding the American Food Supply
April 10–11, 2015
Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Speakers:
Robert L. Buchanan, PhD
Director of University of Maryland’s Center for Food Safety and Security Systems
Karen Everstine, PhD, MPH
Research Associate at the National Center for Food Protection and Defense, a Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence based at the University of Minnesota
H. Morgan Scott, DVM, PhD
Veterinary Epidemiologist and Professor in the Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences College at Texas A&M University
Food Security: Production and Sustainability
April 24–25, 2015
Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida
Speakers:
Alison Van Eenennaam, PhD
Cooperative Extension Specialist in Animal Genomics and Biotechnology at University of California, Davis
Rachel Goldstein, MBA
Global Sustainability Manager for Scientific and Regulatory Affairs at Mars, Incorporated
Lee DeHaan, PhD
Staff Member of The Land Institute, Focused on Development of Kernza (Wheatgrass) as a Perennial Grain
For more details on these events, visit https://www.sigmaxi.org/meetings-events/isgp-sigma-xi-events.