Research

The Governor [of Delaware] determined the need for identifying predictable sources of funding for both wastewater and stormwater and, within that statewide need, addressing regional differences in both needs and resources. With the assistance of Lt. Governor John Carney, Chair of the Livable Delaware Advisory Council, the Governor’s Office, and DNREC staff, DPPI organized and convened a policy dialogue of stakeholders from across the state (attendance list is on page 19).

There is a general consensus that the rate, efficiency, and effectiveness of linking research to decision making must be enhanced. Many reports have touched on this issue, but very few documents provide details or assign responsibility to drive the interactions that most agree should happen. As a result, many natural science programs ‘‘talk the talk’’ but few ‘‘walk the walk’’. In this paper we will review the cultural conflict that underlies disagreements about collaborative research, offer details on the basic ingredients required to achieve a minimum standard for collaborative research, suggest an approach for determining the appropriate level of support for collaborative research and recommend specific steps for motivating scientists and stakeholders to participate in collaborative research.

David Fairman, Patrick Field, and Hal Movius review the kaleidoscopic volume, The Negotiator’s Fieldbook: The Desk Reference for the Experienced Negotiator, Andrea Kupfer Schneider and Christopher Honeyman (eds). Substantial and creative, the Fieldbook is notable for its sheer volume, the breadth of its authors, their perspectives, and the topics they engage.

Informed consent is a basic premise of civil society. However, the notion of informed consent in the multi-party, political arena of public sector mediation is challenging for several reasons.