OVERVIEW

The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) has been working since 1990 to improve the scientific basis of environmental decisionmaking.  We envision a society where environmental decisions by everyone are based on an accurate understanding of the underlying science, its meaning and limitations, and the potential consequences of their action or inaction.

The Council specializes in programs that bring together diverse individuals, institutions and communities to collaborate. The Council works closely with the many communities creating and using environmental knowledge to make and shape environmental decisions, including research, education, environmental, and business organizations, as well as governmental bodies at all levels.  

While an advocate for science and its use, the Council does not take positions on environmental outcomes.In this sense it is different from traditional environmental groups. As an organization that is strongly focused rooted in the real-world decisionmaking, it is different from traditional scientific organizations. The Council is motivated above all by a commitment to use science to achieve solutions to the environmental challenges facing humanity.

The Council operates programs in the five strategic areas:

Strategic Area 1: Science Solutions

• The National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry  provides practical information and approaches to serve the needs of forest managers, practitioners and policymakers to improve sustainable forestry.
• The Wildlife Habitat Policy Research Program  produces information and tools that can accelerate the conservation of wildlife habitat in the United States.
• The Outlook Forest Research Dialogue enhances research coordination, collaboration, and partnership within the forestry community.

Strategic Area 2:  Strengthening Education and Career Development

• The University Affiliate Program  provides services to advance environmental programs to over 140 members ranging from large private or public research institutions to smaller liberal arts institutions.
• The Council of Environmental Deans and Directors  brings academic leaders together to improve their environmental programs and increase their value to students and to society.
• The Environmentors Program  prepares high school students for college programs and careers in the science and environmental field.
• The Campus to Careers program advances young people in environmental careers through fellowships, internships, and other means.

Strategic Area 3: National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment

• This annual flagship conference brings together 800 - 1,200 leaders from the scientific, government, business, and academic communities to explore the complicated relationships between science and major environmental topics such as water, energy, health, education, forecasting, and climate change. Participants develop science-based recommendations to advance understanding and better decisonmaking that often catalyze new initiatives.
• The annual John H. Chafee Memorial Lecture on Science and the Environment provides a high profile forum for communicating the importance and potential for science in environmental decision-making. Past lectures have been given by Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina, Edward O. Wilson, Rita Colwell, Jared Diamond, William Ruckelshaus, Ralph Cicerone, and Larry Brillant.

Strategic Area 4: Communicating Science-Based Information

Through the Environmental Information Coalition , the online  Earth Portal  was launched on April 27, 2007. Currently, over 800 scholars from 60 countries have contributed comprehensive and accessible resources for a global audience of decisionmakers and the general public. The Earth Portal includes:

Strategic Area 5: Promoting Science for the Environment

• NCSE builds understanding of, and support for, environmental science and its application, and for the programs that make it possible.
• The Council played an instrumental role in stimulating the  National Science Foundation  initiative to triple its annual budget for environmental research, education, and scientific assessment. 
• The Council presents expert testimony to Congressional committees, consults regularly with key decisionmakers in government, and works to promote funding for environmental programs at numerous federal agencies.