CHAPTER 6
Building Bridges to Science:
Making Coastal Science Better Understood
Carolyn Heeps . Vincent May
6.1
Introduction
Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 sets out major guiding principles for coastal zone management in the context of sustainable development whilst Chap. 36 emphasises that education "provides access for concerned individuals, groups and organisations to relevant
information and opportunities for consultation and participation in planning and decision making at appropriate levels" (Quarrie 1992). Facilitation and implementation of
any effective coastal management process therefore demands improved links and knowledge of natural environmental and socioeconomic factors through effective interpretation, presentation and dissemination of data and information. Amongst governments
and businesses alike there has been a growing recognition that understanding of scientific principles and methods is poorly understood. There has been only very limited investigation of the public understanding of coastal and marine science, although there are
growing numbers of visitor centres providing environmental interpretation to the public.
Such interpretation should, however, do more than merely inform, as it can be used to
change attitudes and behaviour and to mould opinion. Despite increasing this public exposure to the coastal and marine world, it is evident from the debate about both largeand small-scale construction in the coastal zone that there is very limited understanding of fundamental scientific, engineering and statistical principles which support the
arguments for or against development. Similarly, quasi-scientific information is sometimes used to make political statements rather than scientific argument This chapter discusses the problems of public understanding of science (especially in connection with
project development in the coastal zone) and describes and evaluates a selection of
projects in Dorset, England, which are building bridges to coastal and marine science.
6.2
Development, Science and Public Understanding
Most management problems occur within jurisdictional waters, and many coastal communities recognise the need for the sustainable use of both living and non-living resources. Informal surveys, however, reveal that the general public list the more immediate issues of pollution (especially water quality, clean beaches and loss of amenity
value), overexploitation of marine resources (especially fisheries), coastal erosion and
flooding, sea level rise and habitat loss as major issues of concern which urgently need
to be addressed by coastal management. In contrast, the scientific concepts behind
these issues are commonly poorly understood and the media often provides the interface between industrialists, environmental scientists and the public. The marine envi-
Building Bridges to Science:
Making Coastal Science Better Understood
Carolyn Heeps . Vincent May
6.1
Introduction
Chapter 17 of Agenda 21 sets out major guiding principles for coastal zone management in the context of sustainable development whilst Chap. 36 emphasises that education "provides access for concerned individuals, groups and organisations to relevant
information and opportunities for consultation and participation in planning and decision making at appropriate levels" (Quarrie 1992). Facilitation and implementation of
any effective coastal management process therefore demands improved links and knowledge of natural environmental and socioeconomic factors through effective interpretation, presentation and dissemination of data and information. Amongst governments
and businesses alike there has been a growing recognition that understanding of scientific principles and methods is poorly understood. There has been only very limited investigation of the public understanding of coastal and marine science, although there are
growing numbers of visitor centres providing environmental interpretation to the public.
Such interpretation should, however, do more than merely inform, as it can be used to
change attitudes and behaviour and to mould opinion. Despite increasing this public exposure to the coastal and marine world, it is evident from the debate about both largeand small-scale construction in the coastal zone that there is very limited understanding of fundamental scientific, engineering and statistical principles which support the
arguments for or against development. Similarly, quasi-scientific information is sometimes used to make political statements rather than scientific argument This chapter discusses the problems of public understanding of science (especially in connection with
project development in the coastal zone) and describes and evaluates a selection of
projects in Dorset, England, which are building bridges to coastal and marine science.
6.2
Development, Science and Public Understanding
Most management problems occur within jurisdictional waters, and many coastal communities recognise the need for the sustainable use of both living and non-living resources. Informal surveys, however, reveal that the general public list the more immediate issues of pollution (especially water quality, clean beaches and loss of amenity
value), overexploitation of marine resources (especially fisheries), coastal erosion and
flooding, sea level rise and habitat loss as major issues of concern which urgently need
to be addressed by coastal management. In contrast, the scientific concepts behind
these issues are commonly poorly understood and the media often provides the interface between industrialists, environmental scientists and the public. The marine envi-