A "Brainstormed" List of Ideas Gleaned from Regional Workshops for Creating More Effective Interactions

1

• engage key stakeholders
• make personal contacts
• hold informal "exploration" meetings
• link to existing groups
• have broad membership on steering committee
• provide leadership opportunities
• look at existing commissions to see what works regarding stakeholder input
• use university extension units
• encourage participants to engage their peers
• involve the press
• involve school groups
• engage local business leaders
• find local political champions

2

• draw out and address the public's questions
• listen to stakeholders
• use breakout groups more than plenary sessions
• utilize trained facilitators
• get well-known keynote speakers at workshops
• discourage scientists from arguing fine points at the meetings
• use good, simple graphics to bring scientific work to the public
• identify and showcase opportunities as well as negative impacts
• get scientists to listen to people's needs
• create a straw document at the meeting

3

• use people's needs and questions to drive new research
• link science to the needs of the nation
• send photographs and videos from the meeting to participants afterward
• use pre and post workshop surveys to assess relevance to stakeholders
• remember that this is an iterative process
• build upon and share successes