Guest Editor's Introduction: Science and Public Policy

In 1973, James Shannon led a seminar series (supported by the National Science Foundation) that focused on the changing roles of die academy and the federal government in sponsoring, and thereby directing, future research projects.\n THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THIS ISSUE This issue, then, is an effort to continue the conversation in technical communication circles about how we can better understand and better work wim science and public policy in our professional and personal lives. Building on Lukensmeyer and Torres's four levels of public involvement, Williams and James analyze the evolution of the City of Houston's Bureau of Air Quality Control from simply presenting information to collaborating with the citizens of Houston, pointing out the benefits of government agencies becoming more involved with their constituents.