I Did Not Become a Fisheries Biologist to Work with People
In this presentation I would like to put some tools into your tool box from folks like the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2), Institute for Participation Management & Planning (IPMP) and James L. Creighton who wrote the Public Participation Handbook.
In addition to some tools for your toolbox I would like to share with you a couple of case studies regarding how the Missouri Department of Conservation has used these tools to gather public input to help change regulations.
My first job with the Department was a naturalist, assistant nature center manager, then graduate school to work with people and currently a Public Involvement Coordinator. What happened? All I wanted was to be a biologist. Most of us did not go in this field to work with people, but they have become an important/intrusive part of our jobs. Come learn how incorporating public participation into your project can protect your project from folks who want to torpedo the process.