Before becoming a professor, I worked as a scientist and manager for more than seven years in state (Washington Department of Ecology) and federal (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) natural resource management agencies. My research focuses on three areas of applied natural resource science and policy: 1) policy implementation – particularly water resource policy and management; 2) institutional and organizational aspects related to integrating science into policy and management; and 3) collaboration and conflict management. Currently, I am investigating the integration of scientific information into management decision-making at the US Forest Service and other federal agencies. Another theme in my research examines how state governments implement legislation requiring collaborative watershed planning, as well as mandates to consider best available science. Related to this, I am evaluating outputs and eventual outcomes from collaborative environmental management efforts such as watershed planning and restoration.