Using Emerging Science and Technologies to Address Persistent and Future Environmental Challenges - Science For Environmental Protection: The Road Ahead - page 42

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 3-1 The iterative process of science-informed environmental decision-making and policy. The process starts with effective problem-
formulation, which drives both the experimental design and the selection of data to be acquired. Modeling, synthesis, and analysis of the data
are necessary to generate new knowledge. Only through effective translation and communication of new knowledge can science truly inform
policies that can generate actions to improve public health and the environment. An evaluation of outcomes is an essential component in deter-
mining whether science-informed actions have been beneficial, and it, in turn, adds to the knowledge base.