It is scientists' ethical and moral responsibility to put their knowledge in the service of all. Decisions are made under uncertainty. Science has an important role in reducing the uncertainty, and in supporting decision making under such conditions. Quantification of uncertain outcomes, their probabilities and consequences, facilitates rational decision-making. Also, decision-making is itself a branch of social sciences, which uses mathematical theories and models as aids.
Models serve mainly two purposes.
First, they enforce a discipline of specificity, since they do not tolerate generalities. Second, a model serves as a vehicle for structured communication between parties to the decision-making process. The process should be interactive and iterative. At each stage, data and positions are input and the model is run. The results are reviewed, studies, understood and discussed, and data are prepared for the next run of the model.