Impacting policy through science and education

Scientists, researchers, and their findings are critical factors in helping to resolve contemporary societal problems. Because of the tremendous interconnectivity of our lives and the expanded scope and scale of the medical and health problems we face, the research community needs to be both more involved and more competent in the development of public policy and to become more effective participants in the political and media activities in which their work is firmly embedded. This article suggests that researchers and scientists will be more relevant, have more impact, and be more productive if they can blend outstanding science with new non-cognitive skills that can reinforce the important social context of their work.