Policy and Public Engagement

Sophisticated and well-grounded policies

There is an incredibly wide range of important questions facing the public and private sectors today. As policy researchers, our job is to stand back and take a systematic view of the decision options that exist, and shed light on the potential consequences of making certain decisions.

Here are just a few examples of the many policy research projects you could be involved in:

• putting together a climate change adaptation policy analysis framework
• analyzing environmental impact assessments
• developing education or capacity-building programs related to sustainable development
  

Effective public engagement in decision-making proccesses

People are being given more and more opportunities to get involved in processes that lead to decisions about things that affect them. Because of this, our researchers are looking for ways to effectively engage people in a very positive way.

Here are just a few examples of the many public engagement research projects you could be involved in:

• examining the transition to sustainability in higher education
• conducting an inventory of Dal’s engagement in research, teaching and service concerning Aboriginal Peoples’ issues
• engaging citizens in democratic deliberation about regional energy futures
  

Find out what our researchers are working on:

	Peter Duinker Dr. Duinker conducts policy research that focuses on long-term future options for managing rural and urban ecosystems. His public engagement research looks at the effectiveness of engagement processes. He is widely published on engagement processes for environmental protection and natural resources management in Canada.
	Kate Sherren Dr. Sherren uses innovative methods to engage with public stakeholders and policy makers during research, but also critically afterward, through targeted policy engagement, education and farm extension. Her Australian work with ranchers put rotational grazing on the federal agenda for climate change adaptation.
	Karen Beazley Dr. Beazley concentrates on policy and community-based processes related to biodiversity conservation. She is co-editor of a published volume titled Politics of the Wild and has participated in various public processes related to conservation policy and planning.
	Michelle Adams Dr. Adams focuses on development and impact of policy related to renewable energy, sustainable industrial design and resource management. Her public engagement activities cover a broad spectrum from eco-efficiency training in Latin America to public consultations with renewable energy stakeholders in Nova Scotia.