Rejecting the Evidence: Neurobiology, Effective Messaging, and Ocean Policy

Public and political disagreement over the truth or validity of scientific conclusions is a challenge climate researchers have been facing for some time. By extension, the manifestation of doubt or the willful rejection of climate science often ties regional ocean health and marine policy to the government du jour. For our U.S. neighbours to the south, […]

Continue reading


Improving Ocean Management through Strengthened Evidence-Based Decision Making: EIUI at the 8th Canadian Science Policy Conference

Improving ocean management through strengthened evidence-based decision making – based on insights about research on information pathways – was the main message that the EIUI research team highlighted in a panel at the 8th Canadian Science Policy Conference held in Ottawa on 8-10 November 2016. Speaking in a session on the conference theme “A New […]

Continue reading


EIUI Book Chapter Post: Can Non-State Governance through Information Increase Ocean Sustainability?

“The Science-Policy Interface in Coastal and Ocean Management” is a series of posts highlighting the chapters in the new book: Science, Information, and Policy Interface for Effective Coastal and Ocean Management, edited by Bertrum H. MacDonald, Suzuette S. Soomai, Elizabeth M. De Santo, and Peter G. Wells, published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis). Most […]

Continue reading


Towards a New Dialogue in a Post-Truth / Post-Fact World: Government Science Advice Conference, Brussels, 28-29 September 2016

This year, the term “post-truth” has gained such prominence in international media and debate it was named Word of the Year by Oxford Dictionaries. Often associated with “post-fact,” the adjective refers to “circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” In addition to the […]

Continue reading


EIUI Book Chapter Post: “Lay Experts” and Better Stakeholder Searches for Environmental Information

“The Science-Policy Interface in Coastal and Ocean Management” is a series of posts highlighting the chapters in the new book: Science, Information, and Policy Interface for Effective Coastal and Ocean Management, edited by Bertrum H. MacDonald, Suzuette S. Soomai, Elizabeth M. De Santo, and Peter G. Wells, published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis). Hillary […]

Continue reading


EIUI Participates in the RARGOM Annual Science Meeting

The Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine (RARGOM) Annual Science Meeting was held on 13 October 2016 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The theme of this meeting was “Science for sustaining the Gulf of Maine’s ecosystems and coastal communities.” Peter Wells attended and presented two EIUI posters: one illustrated the key messages and […]

Continue reading


EIUI Presents Session at the 2016 Canadian Science Policy Conference, Ottawa

The first session on the theme “A New Culture of Policy Making and Evidence-Based Decision-Making: Horizons and Challenges” at the Eighth Canadian Science Policy conference in Ottawa on 8-10 November 2016 will feature a panel organized by EIUI. Four members of the research team (Peter Wells, Kevin Quigley, Lee Wilson, and Suzuette Soomai), along with […]

Continue reading


Current Literature: Science Policy and the US Presidential Election

“Current Literature” is a recurring feature highlighting recent publications of interest on the science-policy interface. With the US Presidential Election just a week away, science policy is not at the top of the mainstream media’s agenda. Over the course of three presidential debates and one vice-presidential debate, moderators asked a grand total of zero questions […]

Continue reading


EIUI Team Member Speaks at “Governing Across the Waves” Workshop

On 26-27 September 2016, EIUI Team Member Dr. Elizabeth De Santo participated at the “Governing Across the Waves” workshop on global insights for transboundary waterways management in sensitive and congested maritime spaces. Focused particularly on the Arctic Bering Strait, the meeting was organized by the Center for Arctic Study and Policy (CASP) of the US […]

Continue reading


EIUI Book Chapter Post: Connecting the Dots in Coastal Policy, Planning, and Practice: Checking in on Progress from the Australian Coast to Coast Conference

“The Science-Policy Interface in Coastal and Ocean Management” is a series of posts highlighting the chapters in the new book: Science, Information, and Policy Interface for Effective Coastal and Ocean Management, edited by Bertrum H. MacDonald, Suzuette S. Soomai, Elizabeth M. De Santo, and Peter G. Wells, published by CRC Press (Taylor & Francis). The […]

Continue reading