The ABA Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (SEER), with the assistance of the Governmental Affairs Office, brought together the country’s leading experts on science and environmental law Sept. 12 to present a one-day seminar in Washington, DC. The goal of the seminar was to advance the knowledge and understanding of key areas in which law and science intersect in the practice of environmental law. The event was attended by several Capitol Hill staff.
Topics included trends in the presentation of scientific evidence, effective use of scientific evidence in the federal rulemaking process, scientific evidence in court, and laws relating to climate change. Jennifer Lee, senior associate general counsel and policy advisor for the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, spoke about the importance of leveraging the vast resources of the private sector in order to help resolve some of the most difficult challenges across the government. One successful federal program she highlighted is Challenge.gov, which seeks innovative solutions from the public and awards government prize money to people who are able to overcome particular challenges in a wide range of areas.
SEER is professionally, politically, regionally, and culturally diverse, making the 10,000-member section a unique and deep source of knowledge on environment, energy, and resource issues from many different perspectives. SEER’s goal is to ensure that its subject-matter committees, programs and written resources are “go-to” reference tools for members of Congress and their staff.