EXPERIENCES AS A CLIMATE SCIENCE COMMUNICATOR IN WASHINGTON DC

• Main Author: Harrould-Kolieb, Ellycia
• Other Authors: OCEANA
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2010
• Subjects: [SDU.STU.OC]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences/Oceanography; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://hal.univ-brest.fr/hal-00502596

particpant A large part of my job is communicating climate science, especially ocean acidification, with the intent of inspiring action both from policy makers and concerned citizens. I and other NGO scientists fill an important niche between the scientific community and policy makers, acting as a conduit between the two and advocating for climate policies informed by science. I communicate with policy makers, journalists and the general public through written reports, presentations and meetings. Written reports include literature type reviews, where a synthesis of the current scientific knowledge is represented in a palatable format for lay audiences, policy briefs informed by scientific findings and analyses of data in new ways to highlight areas of concern to policy makers and to inform their decisions. Examples of these reports will be highlighted including a report reviewing ocean acidification science and a whitepaper analysis of which nations are most vulnerable to ocean acidification due to low levels of calcium carbonate saturation in 2050, high area of coral reefs and high fish catch per EEZ. A case study of our work in Copenhagen at COP 15 will also be presented. The focus of our work was to raise awareness of ocean acidification in the wider climate change discourse. We did this through an advertising campaign, side events both at the meeting and offsite, interviews with journalists and manning an exhibit space.