Building Science for Environmental Protection in the 21st Century - Science For Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead - page 97

Complex Challenges for the Future Complex Challenges for the Future

Problem Formulation
 Hypothesis Generation
 Needs Assessment
 Technical Approaches

Problem Formulation
 Hypothesis Generation
 Needs Assessment
 Technical Approaches

Analysis of Key Measures to Advance Knowledge Analysis of Key Measures to Advance Knowledge

Knowledge
 Environmental Fate
 Impacts
 Population Health
 Exposure and Dose
 Mechanism and Mode of Action
 Implications
 Costs
 Feedback
 Behaviors
 Decision Options

Knowledge
 Environmental Fate
 Impacts
 Population Health
 Exposure and Dose
 Mechanism and Mode of Action
 Implications
 Costs
 Feedback
 Behaviors
 Decision Options

Data Acquisition
 Ecologic
 Biologic
 Physical
 Chemical
 Epidemiologic
 Socioeconomic
 Behavioral
 Informatics

Data Acquisition
 Ecologic
 Biologic
 Physical
 Chemical
 Epidemiologic
 Socioeconomic
 Behavioral
 Informatics

Data Modeling,
Analysis, and
Synthesis

Data Modeling,
Analysis, and
Synthesis

Outcomes
 Balanced Informed Decisions
 Improved Health
 Cleaner Environment
 Lower Costs

Outcomes
 Balanced Informed Decisions
 Improved Health
 Cleaner Environment
 Lower Costs

Systems Thinking to Assess Implications of Decisions
Applying Science that Anticipates, Innovates, Takes the Long View, Is Collaborative

Systems Thinking to Assess Implications of Decisions
Applying Science that Anticipates, Innovates, Takes the Long View, Is Collaborative

Translation and
Communication

Translation and
Communication

Systems Tools and Skills
 Life-Cycle Assessment
 Cumulative Risk Assessment
 Social, Economic, Behavioral,
and Decision Sciences
 Synthesis Research

Systems Tools and Skills
 Life-Cycle Assessment
 Cumulative Risk Assessment
 Social, Economic, Behavioral,
and Decision Sciences
 Synthesis Research

Synthesis and Evaluation
 Sustainability Analysis
 Solution-Oriented Approaches
 Multiple-Criteria and
Multidimensional Tools
 Uncertainty

Synthesis and Evaluation
 Sustainability Analysis
 Solution-Oriented Approaches
 Multiple-Criteria and
Multidimensional Tools
 Uncertainty

Applications, Decisions,
and Actions
 Policy
 Regulation
 Social Change

Applications, Decisions,
and Actions
 Policy
 Regulation
 Social Change

FIGURE 4-1 The iterative process of science-informed environmental decision-making and policy. Leading-edge science will produce large
amounts of new information about the state of human health and ecologic systems and the likely effects of introducing a variety of pollutants or
other perturbations into the systems. In particular, many multifactorial problems require systems thinking that can be readily integrated into
other analytic approaches. This framework relies on science that anticipates, innovates, takes the long view, and is collaborative to solve envi-
ronmental and human health problems. It also supports decision-making and ensures that leading-edge science is developed and applied to in-
form assessments of the system-wide implications of alternatives for key policy decisions.