The Interface of Science and Public Policy

The Barn, Valley Falls, KS

July 13-15, 2005

At the 9th annual retreat in its series The Research Mission of Public Universities, the Merrill Center brought together 20 senior administrators and faculty from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska for formal presentations and discussions. The keynote speaker, Alan Leshner, Chief Executive Officer of AAAS and Executive Publisher of Science magazine, launched the discussion by sharing his perspective on the various elements that have a role in the intersection of science and public policy, including the changing relationship between technology and science. 

Pictured, standing, left to right: Keith Yehle, Mary Lee Hummert, Bob Woody, Robert Hall, Prem Paul, Duane Nellis, Lisa Freeman, Joan Hunt, Alan Tomkins, James Guikema, Stacy Betz, Sally Hayden. Seated: Robert Barnhill, Steve Warren, Dick Schiefelbusch, David Shulenburger, Alan Leshner, Robert Hemenway, Mabel Rice, Barbara Atkinson, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Jim Roberts

Resource

Standing, left to right: Keith Yehle, Mary Lee Hummert, Bob Woody, Robert Hall, Prem Paul, Duane Nellis, Lisa Freeman, Joan Hunt, Alan Tomkins, James Guikema, Stacy Betz, Sally Hayden. Seated: Robert Barnhill, Steve Warren, Dick Schiefelbusch, David Shulenburger, Alan Leshner, Robert Hemenway, Mabel Rice, Barbara Atkinson, Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Jim Roberts

Retreat Participants

Keynote Speaker 

  • Alan Leshner, C.E.O. of AAAS and Executive Publisher of Science 

Kansas State University 

  • Lisa Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Veterinary Medicine, and Director of Mentored Training 
  • James A. Guikema, Associate Vice Provost for Research and Associate Dean of the Graduate School 
  • M. Duane Nellis, Provost and Professor 

The University of Kansas 

  • Barbara Atkinson, M.D., Executive Vice Chancellor, KU Medical Center  
  • Robert Hemenway, Ph.D., Chancellor 
  • Mary Lee Hummert, Associate Vice Provost for Research 
  • Joan Hunt, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean for Research and University Distinguished Professor 
  • Kathleen McCluskey-Fawcett, Ph.D., Senior Vice Provost and Merrill Board member  
  • Mabel L. Rice, Ph.D., The Fred & Virginia Merrill Distinguished Professor of Advanced Studies and Director of the Merrill Center 
  • Jim Roberts, Ph.D., Vice Provost for Research and President, KU Center for Research  
  • Richard Schiefelbusch, Ph.D., Director Emeritus of the Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies and the Merrill Center, and Merrill Board member 
  • David E. Shulenburger, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of the Lawrence campus 
  • Steven F. Warren, Ph.D., Director, Schiefelbusch Institute for Life Span Studies, and Merrill Board member 
  • Keith Yehle, Director of Government Relations 

University of Missouri 

  • Robert Hall, Ph.D., J.D., Associate Vice Provost for Research, Director of Compliance 

University of Nebraska - Lincoln 

  • Prem S. Paul, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies  
  • Alan Tomkins, Director, Public Policy Center 

Other Participants 

  • Robert E. Barnhill, Ph.D., Vice Chancellor for Research and Technology Transfer, The University of Texas System, and Merrill Board member 
  • Robert Woody, KU Counsel in Washington, D.C. 

Agenda 

The Barn, Valley Falls, Kansas 

July 13-15, 2005  

Wednesday, July 13 

Opening reception 

Dinner 

  • Welcome by Mabel Rice, Director of the Merrill Center at KU 

Thursday, July 14 

Breakfast 

Introductory Remarks – Mabel Rice 

  • Introduction of Keynote Speaker – Robert Barnhill 

Keynote Address 

  • Alan Leshner, CEO of AAAS and Executive Publisher of Science, “The Current Context for Science, Society and Public Policy” 
  • Discussion – Moderator, Robert Barnhill  

Break 

Researcher Administrators Panel 

  • Jim Roberts, Vice Provost for Research, University of Kansas, "Classified Research and the Open University" 
  • Prem Paul, Vice Chancellor for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, "Meeting the Science Workforce Challenges in the Post 9/11 Environment" 
  • Discussion  

Lunch 

University Researchers Panel 

  • Joan Hunt, Senior Associate Dean for Research, KU Medical Center, "Public Policy and Research at KUMC"  
  • Lisa Freeman, Associate Professor, KSU, "State and Local Plans to Leverage University Research into Economic Development"  
  • Discussion  

Break 

Research Administrators Panel 

  • James Guikema, Associate Vice Provost for Research, KSU, "Science and Public Policy: Historically Speaking"
  • Robert Hall, Associate Vice Provost for Research, UM, "Research Compliance Challenges"
  • Discussion  

Break 

Dinner 

Friday, July 15 

Breakfast 

Opening Remarks – Mabel Rice 

Research Administrators Panel 

  • Alan Tomkins, Director, University of Nebraska Public Policy Center, "Research and Engagement Opportunities for Applying Science to Public Policy"
  • Mary Lee Hummert, Associate Vice Provost for Research, KU, "Public Policy and the Scientific Agenda: Is There a Place for Social Science?
  • Discussion  

Break  

Researchers Panel 

  • Barbara Atkinson, Executive Vice Chancellor, University of Kansas Medical Center, "When Science and Politics Collide" 
  • Duane Nellis, Provost, KSU, "Scales of Engagement, Challenge, and Opportunities in Linking Public Policy and Research"
  • David Shulenburger, Provost, KU, "The Science and Public Policy Interface: Subset of a Larger Problem" 

Conference Summary and Comments – Alan Leshner 

Wrap-Up – Mabel Rice 

Lunch and Departure