Listening for More than You Want to Hear
Involving the Public in Basic Scientific Research

In a democratic society, citizens ultimately decide the nature and direction of publicly funded research. How can scientists communicate the information the public needs to understand the research and influence its direction? With the country facing complex and expensive challenges of environmental cleanup, how can scientists and citizens find common purpose and understanding?

The cultures of science and the humanities speak distinct languages and use different methods of inquiry and expression. Though many have tried to bridge the divide, it continues to exist. A team of scientists and public involvement and communication specialists at Battelle and Washington State University (WSU) is trying to bridge the gap between science and society’s religious, artistic, and social concerns by addressing the questions:

• How can communication between scientists and the public be improved?
• How should the public’s interest and concerns be taken into account when determining the purpose and direction of basic research?

The project is part of the Natural and Accelerated Bioremediation Research (NABIR) program funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Biological and Environmental Research. DOE is supporting basic research into the interaction of biology, geology, and hydrology with the intent to determine if interactions that occur naturally in the soil and groundwater can be enhanced to immobilize or reduce the toxicity of radioactive and metallic contaminants. In 1998, the Battelle-WSU team was contracted to improve communication between scientists and the public concerning the direction of NABIR research and the eventual use of NABIR-sponsored science to address environmental contamination.

To reach the goal of improved communication the Battelle-WSU team talked with citizens, public officials, and constituency groups. The team first spoke with citizens affiliated with or living near sites where bioremediation might be used for cleanup. They also spoke to citizens who had previous experience with the remediation of nuclear weapons sites as well as to those with no previous involvement. The purpose of the discussions was to identify citizens’ issues and concerns about the use of bioremediation in environmental cleanup and the direction citizens thought bioremediation research ought to take. The initial discussions included personal interviews and focus groups.

The Battelle-WSU team then brought together scientists and stakeholders in two structured workshops where scientists discussed their work with citizens and citizens described their concerns and perceptions about bioremediation directly to scientists. From these workshops, focus groups, and interviews, the team gained a number of insights.

• The public sees the application of bioremediation research as having real promise, particularly in terms of cost, in addressing previously intractable environmental contamination.
• Scientists and the public shared similar views concerning public health and the environment but had pointed differences regarding issues of programmatic law and policy.
• The public values discussing scientific research person-to-person. Citizens asked pointed questions such as: How certain are you of your results and interpretation? What are the implications of your work? What direction should this research take?
• These face-to-face discussions are satisfying and build trust for both scientists and the public.

For more information about public involvement in relation to bioremediation research, contact Jodi Amaya at jodi.amaya@pnl.gov, Gordon Bilyard at gordon.bilyard@pnl.gov, or Todd Peterson at petersts@battelle.org.

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