Overview

As society confronts increasingly complex environmental issues, decision makers need relevant, credible scientific information to make critical choices about the future of our planet. Academic environmental researchers are a primary source of credible information on the state of the planet, and their knowledge is urgently needed to inform wise environmental decision making. However, traditional scientific education does not adequately prepare them to communicate about their work with stakeholders outside academe. To address this challenge, the Leopold Leadership Program at Stanford University's Woods Institute for the Environment provides academic researchers with the skills and connections they need to be effective leaders and communicators.

Program Goals:

• Provide leadership and communications training for environmental researchers from a range of fields to ensure they have the necessary skills to serve as leaders and communicators
• Increase the involvement and visibility of academic researchers in public outreach by linking them with decision makers and opinion shapers
• Encourage academic institutions to recognize and reward outreach by researchers to decision makers and other external audiences