Nature has developed complex water systems, but ensuring that these systems remain healthy to answers the needs of society brings its own set of intricacies and debates. Using the Great Lakes perspective of our conference’s setting, the panel tells the story of these debates from the scientific research, government policy, education, and communication worlds and provides valuable lessons learned and direction for our own work in addressing complex environmental issues.

The Great Lakes, the largest freshwater system on earth, is an ecosystem in crisis. Dr. Michael Murray >>, a research scientist with the National Wildlife Federation, has coauthored a scientific whitepaper detailing the elements of this collapse – invasives, water diversion, and pollution. Dr. Murray’s presentation, Complex Ecosystems Create Complex Issues, provides a summary of recent research findings and confirms the importance of sound science and research as the basis for education and communication work.  Institutional Complexity adds to any management and conservation dilemma.
 

Dave Dempsey >> currently serves as Great Lakes Policy Advisor for Clean Water Action, a national citizens' organization working for clean, safe and affordable water, prevention of health-threatening pollution, creation of environmentally-safe jobs and businesses, and empowerment of people to make democracy work. Dave shares with us policies, strategies, and lessons learned that can help inform those of us dealing with similar governance issues.

Dr. Gary Glass >> research chemist with the USEPA (retired), has discovered that "Facts Are Complex." The issuance of scientific studies often encounters what Gary calls “political pollution” of the science.  Using the treats of asbestos, toxic rain, mercury, dioxin, and invasice species as examples, coupled with retaliation experienced in his own career, Gary provides strategies and techniques that can be employed to defeat “polluted” science.

How can education and communication efforts address these complexities while integrating scientific research, political and economic realities and governance issues? Jane Elder >> consultant, Jane Elder Strategies, focuses her presentation on answering this question in Communicating Complexity: The Great Lakes Forever Campaign.  Great Lakes Forever is a current, ongoing campaign based on the successful values-based communication approach so uniquely heralded by Jane and colleagues at the Biodiversity Project. Using this campaign as a model provides transferable communication and education strategies applicable to any setting or issue.

Providing transition between speakers and integrating each panel issue into a comprehensive and connected story will be the work of Tom Martin, Moderator >> National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA).  Tom will also describe the role NPCA and NWF are playing in the "Healing Our Waters" Great Lakes program.

A 30-minute roundtable will follow the panel (5:30-6:00 p.m.) for those wishing a more in-depth discussion with panel members.