Translating research results for policy makers and the public

An increasing amount of environmental health policy is made at the state level. Despite this trend, legislators often lack the necessary time, resources, and investigative staff to become fully informed about the current science surrounding critical environmental health issues. The extensive research conducted by academic biomedical, environmental and public health researchers, who are actively involved in studying the impacts of environmental exposures on human health, represents an untapped resource that could assist legislators in better understanding environmental health issues. This presentation will describe strategies and techniques for translating current research results on significant environmental health issues facing state policy makers. The role of scientific experts includes compiling and condensing large amounts of information, assisting in the identification of the most rigorously conducted studies and illuminating the conclusions that are supported by the preponderance of data. Methods for translating complex and sometimes contradictory information include the use of examples, diagrams and metaphor that communicate scientific information in an understandable way.  In addition, approaches for communicating risk assessment, interpreting and explaining the limitations of epidemiological studies and evaluating research funding sources will also be discussed.