As a keynote speaker at the Far West Agribusiness Association's Washington Winter Conference in Pasco, Wash., held December 10–12, Syngenta Principal Scientist Timothy Pastoor, Ph.D., DABT, addressed the importance of translating science into clear, concise messages that can be understood by industry, media and the general public.
Pastoor said that by improving scientific communications in this way, regulators will be better equipped to make decisions about health and safety based on sound science. And the media and public will be better served if they are informed by scientific facts, not uninformed speculation. He offered insights into the obstacles scientists face in their efforts to communicate effectively with the public, illustrating with a case study on the herbicide atrazine.
