Researcher(s):
Gabby Francolla
ENVS course(s): 350 Initiated: April 2016 Completed: April 2016 Go to project site
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In what ways does geography influence the interpretation of science?
What about Douglas County perpetuates interpretation of science in varying ways by environmentalists and timber advocates?
In the 1990s, the debate over the protection of the Northern Spotted Owl was filled with disagreements between timber advocates and environmentalists who were interpreting science and facts in varying ways. Today, the Northern Spotted Owl is still being debated, this time because of the population numbers of the owl are still declining, despite strict protections of its habitat. This has largely been attributed to the Barred Owl, an invasive species that both attacks the Northern Spotted Owl and takes its habitat.
To answer the focus question, three relevant players in this issue were interviewed: a Douglas County Commissioner, the conservation committee chair at a local environmental organization, and a conservation director at a statewide environmental organization. These interviews revealed that that the two actors that were based in Douglas County employed their personal experiences living and working in the county to justify their opinions and interpretations about the facts about the Spotted vs. Barred owl controversy. The statewide conservation director relied on scientific studies and other facts to talk about the this same issue. It seems as if geography plays a role in how opinions are justified and how facts are interpreted. This has implications for other environmental problems, revealing that these problems cannot be solved simply by facts alone but also must resonate with the people who are affected by this information.