Concerned scientists, pragmatic politics and Australia's green drought

Abstract

The Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists formed in Australia in 2002 in response to calls to 'drought-proof' the continent. Their model of engagement between science and public policy involves: clear simple science communication, which keeps scientific uncertainty and debate out of public view; pragmatic politics, which works within rather than challenges the dominant political agenda; and a focus on providing solutions rather than describing problems. This model has been successful in achieving policy reform at the expense of more participatory and critical approaches to ecological science and politics. © Beech Tree Publishing 2006.