Pathways to Successful Engagement in Agricultural, Natural Resources, and Food Issues Agenda
Wednesday, October 12, 2016
UC Davis Activities and Recreation Center (ARC), Ballrooms A and B
232 One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616 [Map] [Driving Directions and Parking Information]
Summary: This workshop brought together researchers across UC working on agricultural, natural resources, and food issues and focus on how to use research to effectively engage in public policy.
Workshop Goals: Provide attendees with cross-disciplinary training in translational research, as well as equip attendees with the tools required to effectively engage in policy-relevant work. More specifically, attendees will:
- gain overview of policy-making structures at local, state and federal levels
- learn about opportunities for reaching policy-makers
- develop relationship-based communication skills
- receive guidance on navigating the role of “advocacy”
- brainstorm field-specific strategies for policy engagement with colleagues
Who should attend: Campus and county based UC faculty and academics working in the agricultural, natural resources, and food sciences with interests in strengthening research-policy linkages.
7:30 a.m. Registration and Refreshments
8:20 a.m. Welcome and Overview of the Day
8:30 a.m. Keynote: Research, Advocacy, and Engagement: Exploring the Roles of Experts in Democracy
Jason Delborne, Associate Professor of Science, Policy and Society, North Carolina State University
9:20 a.m. Science Panel: “Creating Usable Science to Meet the Needs of Decision-Makers”
The Science Panel will showcase lightning talks from diverse UC researchers who have successfully engaged in the public policy arena and can share “lessons learned” with the audience. There will be a moderated whole group discussion following the panel talks.
Moderator: David J. Lewis, County Director and Watershed Management Advisor, UC Cooperative Extension, Marina and Napa Counties
Thomas Harter, Robert M. Hagan Endowed Chair in Water Management and Policy and UCCE Specialist in the Department of Land, Air, and Water Resources at UC Davis
Lorrene Ritchie, Director and UCCE Specialist, UC ANR Nutrition Policy Institute
Mindy Romero, Founder and Director of California Civic Engagement Project at UC Davis Center for Regional Change
Yana Valachovic, UCCE Forest Advisor and County Director, Humboldt-Del Norte Counties
10:25 a.m. Break
10:40 a.m. Policy Panel: “The Role of Science in Public Policy and Decision-Making”
The Policy Panel will showcase lightning talks from research users from government and non-government organizations who will discuss their perspectives on translating science to decision-making. There will be a moderated whole group discussion following the panel talks.
Moderator: Doug Parker, Director of California Institute for Water Resources and Leader for Strategic Initiative on Water Quantity, Quality and Security, UC Agriculture and Natural Resources
Amrith Gunasekara, Science Advisor, California Department of Food and Agriculture
Tina Leahy, Attorney, State Water Resources Control Board
Anne Megaro, Consultant to the California Senate Committee on Agriculture
Rebecca Newhouse, Consultant to the Senate Environmental Quality Committee
Juliet Sims, MPH, RD, Program Manager, Prevention Institute (Presentation)
11:55 a.m. Lunch
12:30 p.m. Lunchtime Keynote: Advancing the Rigor, Relevance and Reach of Science through Community Engaged Research
Rachel Morello-Frosch, PhD, MPH, Professor in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at UC Berkeley
1:00-4:15 p.m.
Training Workshop Modules
Workshop participants will choose two of four breakout sessions. These training modules will enable participants to build a toolkit for successful policy engagement that incorporates both technical skills as well as analytical frameworks.
1:00- |
Module #1: Policy structures and opportunities for engagement |
Module #2: Relational approaches to science communication and engagement |
2:45- |
Module #3: Putting it into practice–UC ANR case studies |
Module #4: Navigating policy engagement– Education vs advocacy |
4:15-4:25 p.m. Concluding Remarks
4:25-6:00 p.m. Reception