You will learn quickly, however, that many important decisions are made on the basis of what I call value systems or consensus, not facts or the use of the scientific approach. Part of the answer is misperception about geoscientists and their approach. Thus, before you can influence decisions, you must understand the opposition. Much like a football coach evaluates the strengths and weakness of an opposing team. Judges and lawyers think of a decision in terms of whether it is legal or illegal from the standpoint the Constitution, Magna Carta or other document.
Religious leaders think in moral terms of right or wrong in reference to a holy book or document.
Business people tend to think in terms of profit or loss referenced to the Dollar, Euro, or Yen. So the community thought structure and fundamental assumptions are very heterogeneous and you will find that their perceptions of geoscience are extremely varied and often inaccurate and might better be referred to as misperceptions. This seems like an appropriate time to look at some of these perceptions or misperceptions because of the way they may impact both your scientific career and your ability to influence societally important decisions. The first and most obvious misperception is between geoscience and the application of geoscience, which is in reality geotechnology. Geotechnology is a consequence of geoscience and the societal application of knowledge of how the earth responds to different stresses.