Doctoral Dissertation Research: The Role of Science in the Creation of Endangered Species Policy

这项研究将考察科学在美国濒危物种政策形成中的作用。特别是，该项目将使用西印度群岛的海牛作为纵向案例研究。该项目将实现三大目标。首先，它将研究科学知识何时以及如何纳入政策。其次，它将探讨科学家在制定生物多样性政策过程中所发挥的作用。最后，它将确定在政策制定和执行过程中，什么、何时以及为什么社会、文化、政治和经济因素先发制人地利用科学。以西印度群岛海牛为纵向研究对象，将采用多种研究方法来实现这些目标。具体地说，研究人员将使用出版的关于海牛的科学文献的内容分析，针对海牛恢复和保护制定政策的文件的内容分析，以及对制定海牛恢复和保护政策的主要负责人的个人访谈。这些研究成果将通过记录和分析科学与濒危物种政策之间的联系的过程，对科学家、自然资源管理者和立法者有用。这项研究还将对科学在政策制定过程中的社会学意义提供新的知识。

This study will examine the role of science in the formation of United States endangered species policy. In particular, the project will use the West Indian manatee as a longitudinal case study. The project will accomplish three major goals. First, it will examine when and how scientific knowledge is incorporated into policy. Second, it will explore the role that scientists play in the process of creating biodiversity policy. Finally, it will identify what, when, and why social, cultural, political and economic factors preempt the use of science in the process of policy formation and implementation. Using the West Indian manatee as a longitudinal case study, multiple research methods will be used to achieve these goals. Specifically, researchers will use content analysis of scientific literature published on the manatee, content analysis of documents establishing policy directed at manatee recovery and protection, and personal interviews of key persons responsible for the creation of policy regarding manatee recovery and protection. The research findings will be useful to scientists, natural resource managers, and legislators by documenting and analyzing the process through which linkages are made between science and endangered species policy. The research will also contribute new knowledge about the sociological significance of science in the policymaking process.