When Science Isn’t Enough: Why Evidence Fails to Change Policy

Talks on Tuesdays is a live event series bringing big ideas, real experts, and curious minds together - at your favourite local venues. Think thought-provoking lectures, audience questions, and post-talk mingling over drinks and dinner.

This isn’t a uni lecture. It’s a social, intelligent night out.Come alone or with friends, leave with something to talk about.

Event Schedule:

6.30pm Arrival & Doors Open

7pm Lecuture Starts

7.45pm Q&A

8pm Talk Concludes

8.30pm Event Closes.

*Please arrive close to 6.30pm

A La Carte menu and full bar available throughout the night - pay as you go.

Your Topic:
When Science Isn’t Enough: Why Evidence Fails to Change Policy

Scientists can spend decades gathering evidence that wildlife is being harmed, only to find their recommendations never make it into policy.

So why isn’t good science enough to create change?

Drawing on twenty years of fieldwork, this talk looks at that question through marine mammal tourism and commercial fishing - two multibillion-dollar industries where scientific evidence, economic interests and wildlife protection often come into conflict.

Through real-world case studies, we’ll look at the approaches scientists commonly use to communicate their findings, why they don’t always work, and how government structures can make it difficult for research recommendations to be adopted.

We’ll also explore what scientists can do differently to get their findings in front of the right people and have a greater influence on the decisions being made.

Ultimately, this talk asks how we can better turn scientific research into meaningful action for wildlife.

Your Speaker:

Dr. Carol is a marine mammal tourism scientist (PhD, 2005) and senior leader in the not-for-profit sector, specialising in enterprise risk, compliance, and quality in community services.

Her early career research focused on assessing the effectiveness of legislation protecting marine mammals through compliance and animal behaviour studies. While her long-term studies focused on bottlenose dolphins in Port Phillip Bay Australia, she extended her research to include seal and shark swim tourism through postgraduate supervision whilst in academia.

Since departure from academia she has broadened her approach, drawing on her leadership experience to adopt a more strategic and human rights–focused lens on marine mammal tourism management.

Carol has an extensive publication record (including ERA A and A* journals) and has held influential roles, Associate Editor for Tourism in Marine Environments, advisor to the International Whaling Commission for whale watching, Board Director for the Society for Conservation Biology (Marine Section), and recipient of the Ivor Beatty Award. Her work has contributed to strengthening wildlife legislation in Australia and internationally, alongside academic leadership as a postgraduate supervisor, reviewer for journals, and PhD examiner.

At this stage of her career, Carol is focused on supporting emerging scientists and improving the translation of research into policy that mitigates negative impacts on marine mammals. Through her Dr.Dolphin23 Instagram platform, she hopes to support scientists utilise their scientific research to influence policy and provide career guidance in an arena that talent is high but there is paucity in research roles.