Communicating with Policy Makers

Donald F. Boesch is Professor Emeritus at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), which he served as President for 27 years. Previously, he had been the first Executive Director of the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium and a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. His own research has spanned a wide range of scientific topics dealing with estuarine and continental shelf ecosystems. However, Don is especially noted for his skills in communicating science to decision and policymakers. He has served on numerous committees and boards for U.S. federal agencies and for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. He was a member of the environmental subcabinets of five Maryland governors. He was appointed by President Obama as one of seven members of the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Oil Spill and the Future of Offshore Drilling. Following that, he was the Government’s key environmental witness in the civil trial that resulted in a $ 21 billion settlement with BP, most of which is going to support coastal restoration.

Victoria Rubin is a Senior Professional Staff Member on the Research and Technology Subcommittee for the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Her portfolio includes science and technology policy issues, including STEM education, workforce development and training, research security, and R&D innovation and global competitiveness. She previously worked for the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee as Professional Staff for the Science and Space Subcommittee in 2022 and a John A. Knauss Marine Policy Fellow for the Oceans, Fisheries, Weather and Manufacturing Subcommittee in 2021. Victoria received her B.S. and Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences from the University of Virginia. Her graduate research focused on coastal flooding and marsh migration into agricultural fields.