John Hagan, President, Manomet

Why do only 50% of the public agrees that climate change is caused by human activities despite overwhelming scientific evidence? Why do many parents refuse to vaccinate their children? Or deny evolution? Why do 88% of surveyed scientists believe genetically modified organisms are safe for consumption while only 37% of the public believes so? In his talk, John Hagan will address why science around hot issues is ignored or selectively filtered by the public and scientists alike, and how to move forward.

Dr. John Hagan established Manomet's Forest Conservation Program, based in Brunswick, Maine, in 1997. He has led a variety of field studies on forestry and biodiversity in the region and has helped transform how the forestry sector thinks about protecting biodiversity. His early work on birds and forestry showed that clearcuts can be important habitat for many species of conservation concern. He has also shown that modern forest management threatens the persistence of many less charismatic species, such as lichens and mosses that depend on late-successional or old-growth forest. He has worked closely both with timber companies and environmental groups. With a series of grants from the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry, he has helped develop a simple, science-based approach to selecting sustainability indicators that include society's economic, social, and environmental values. Dr. Hagan received a B.S. in Environmental Science from Texas Christian University, an M.S. in Wildlife Management from North Carolina State University, and a Ph.D. in Zoology, also from North Carolina State.