Use of Joint Fact Finding in Science Intensive Policy Disputes, Part I
MIT's graduate seminar looks at why sound science so often fails to settle environmental and natural resource disputes. Sessions begin by examining how adversarial, stakeholder-driven decision-making sidelines scientific input even when everyone claims to want evidence-based policy. The seminar then turns to Joint Fact Finding, an emerging approach in which scientists, agencies such as the U.S. Geological Survey, and disputing parties work together to establish shared technical ground before policy decisions are made. Students analyze real cases where Joint Fact Finding was attempted, and others where it arguably should have been, to test the method's strengths and limits in contentious environmental conflicts. Materials include the syllabus, session readings, and case discussions from MIT's Department of Urban Studies and Planning, offered through MIT OpenCourseWare at no cost, with no certificate attached.