Dr Betsi Beem

BA: Florida International University;
MA, PhD University of Washington

BACKGROUND

Dr. Beem’s interests include the intersection of international and domestic policy and politics in governing the environment. She examines the ways in which science or other forms of expert knowledge gain authority in political decision making, while also attending to agenda setting and institutional dynamics. The interaction of issue frames, decision venues, and advocacy groups that transcends national borders in environmental policymaking is of particular interest.

Dr. Beem’s research focuses on marine policy and protected areas and she has done extensive work on the roles of science and policy learning in the development of fisheries policies for the management of blue crabs in the Chesapeake Bay. Her current research projects include evaluating the dynamics of change that led to the re-zoning of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park; examining implementation of the World Heritage Convention the United States, Canada, and Australia, and how policy instruments create new domestic political institutions that may provide opportunities or constraints to national and international advocacy groups; and a comparison of marine protection policies in the US and Australia.

She has been awarded the following research grants:

• 2010: University of Sydney Faculty of Arts Collaborative Research Scheme (2011-2012)
• 2009: Canada Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Understanding Canada Faculty Research Program
• 2007: University of Sydney, Research and Development Grant
• 2006: University of Sydney, School of Social and Political Science Research Grant

She is actively engaged in the international community of academics examining these issues, holding the following positions:

• Member of the Editorial Board, Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis
• Member of the Editorial Board, Coastal Management Journal
• Member of the Board of Directors of The Coastal Society (US) (2009-2011)

She is also a member of the following organizations:

• American Political Science Association
• International Studies Association
• Australian Political Science Association

Dr. Beem is also committed to career development and teaching. In 2006 she initiated and currently runs the Making Policy Work initiative (mpw), a program designed to educate students about policy relevant careers in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and to build connections between university students and practitioners. In addition to a weekly email list and webpage, she holds periodic workshops to enhance career skills and decision-making. Her student focused teaching philosophy and innovative teaching approaches that use “serious games” to enhance learning outcomes contributed to her being awarded the 2008 Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Excellence in Teaching (Design and Practice) Award.

TEACHING

Current Courses

• GOVT6316 - Policy Making: Power, and Politics
• GOVT6311 - Issues in Public Policy

Past Courses

• GOVT2552 - Policy Analysis
• GOVT2557 - Public Sector Management
• GOVT6331 - International Public Management
• GOVT6116 - International Organisations
• USSC6902 - US Politics: Competing Centres of Power
• GOVT6316 - Policy Making: Power, Power, and Politics
• GOVT6311 - Issues in Public Policy: Implementation

RESEARCH

Research Interests

• International relations
• Policy and Administration

PUBLICATIONS

Refereed Journal Articles

Beem, B 2012, "Learning the wrong lessons? Science and fisheries management in the Chesapeake Bay blue crab fishery", Public Understanding of Science, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 401-417.

Beem, B & Mikler J 2011, "National regulations for a borderless industry: US versus UK approaches to online gambling", Policy and Society, vol. 30, no. 3, pp. 161-174.

Beem, B 2009, "Leaders in Thinking, Laggards in Attention? Bureaucratic Engagement in International Arenas", Policy Studies Journal, vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 497-519.

Beem, B, Thompson D, Treleaven L, Kamvounias P & Hill E 2008, "Integrating Graduate Attributes with Assessment Criteria in Business Education: Using an Online Assessment System", Journal of University Teaching and Learning Practice, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 34-48.

Beem, B 2007, "Co-Management from the Top?: The roles of policy entrepreneurs and distributive conflict in developing co-management arrangements", Marine Policy, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 540-49.

Beem, B2006, "Mutating Science: the Politics of Biotechnology", Australian Review of Public Affairs, vol. 7, no. 2, November, available online at http://www.australianreview.net/digest/2006/11/beem.html.

Beem, B 2006, "Planning to Learn: Blue Crab Policymaking in the Chesapeake Bay", Coastal Management, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 167-182.

Beem, B 2006, "Mutating Science: the Politics of Biotechnology", Australian Review of Public Affairs, vol. 7, no. 2.

Beem, B 2006, "Planning to Learn: Blue Crab Policymaking in the Chesapeake Bay", Coastal Management, vol. 34, no. 2.

May, P, Jones B, Beem, B, Neff-Sharum, E, & Pogue, M 2005, "Policy Coherence and Component-Driven Policymaking: Arctic Policy in Canada and the United States", Policy Studies Journal, vol. 33, no. 1, pp. 37-63.

May P, Jones B, Beem, B, Neff-Sharum E & Pogue M 2005, "Regional Policy Agglomeration: Arctic Policy in Canada and the United States", Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, vol. 7, no. 2, pp. 121-136.

Book Chapters

Beem, B 2010, "Climate Change Conferences, United Nations", in G Garrett, M Levi, P McClain, J Alt & S Chambers (eds), The Encyclopedia of Political Science, CQ Press, Washington DC.

Beem, B 2010, "Kyoto Protocol", in G Garrett, M Levi, P McClain, J Alt & S Chambers (eds), The Encyclopedia of Political Science, CQ Press, Washington DC.

Beem, B 2010, "Science Policy", in G Garrett, M Levi, P McClain, J Alt & S Chambers (eds), The Encyclopedia of Political Science, CQ Press, Washington DC.

Beem, B 2010, "Parks, Reserves, and Protected Areas", in M Juergensmeyer & H Anheier (eds), Encyclopedia of Global Studies, Sage, Washington DC.

Selected Conference Papers

Beem, B 2010, "Treaty implementation and the creation of domestic policy venues", paper presented at the International Studies Association Annual Convention, 17-20 February 2010.

Beem, B 2010, "Expertise and Policy Change in Managing the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park: The Roles of International and Domestic Policy Arenas", paper presented at the TCS22: The Coastal Society's 22nd International Conference, Shifting Shorelines: Adapting to The Future, 13-16 June 2010.

Beem, B 2010, "Transforming Domestic Policy Venues: Legislative and Organizational Dimensions of Implementing Environmental Treaties", paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, 2-5 September 2010.

Beem, B 2010, "Treaty implementation and the creation of domestic policy venues", paper presented at the Australasian Political Studies Association Conference 27-29 September 2010.

Beem, B 2010, "Responding to Climate Change in Australia: Subnational Initiatives", paper presented at the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility. Climate Change Adaptation and Governance Workshop. 16-18 November. University of New South Wales.

Beem, B 2009, "Implementing Environmental Treaties: Legislative and Organizational Dimensions", paper presented at the Environmental policy: a multinational conference on policy analysis and teaching methods. 11-13 June, 2009 - KDI School of Public Policy and Management - Seoul, South Korea. Available: https://www.appam.org/conferences/international/korea2009/papers-submitted.asp

Beem, B 2008, "Bureaucratic Expertise, International Advocacy, and Policy entrepreneurs: Re-Zoning the Great Barrier Reef", paper presented at the The Coastal Society's 21st Biennial Conference. Redondo Beach, CA. June 29 - July 2, 2008.

Beem, B 2008, "Bureaucratic autonomy, international networks, and issue framing: Re-Zoning the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park", paper presented at the 2008 Australasian Political Science Association Annual Conference. Brisbane, Qld. July 6-9, 2008.

Beem, B & Mikler J 2008, "Regulating the Digital Commons: US and UK Approaches to On-Line Gambling", paper presented at the 49th Annual Research Meeting of the International Studies Association, San Francisco. March 26-29.

Beem, B 2008, "International Expertise and Domestic Advocacy: Bureaucratic Autonomy and Policy Change.", paper presented at the Annual Research Meeting of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Los Angeles, November 6 - 8, 2008.

Beem, B 2007, "Leaders in thinking, laggards in attention?: Rezoning the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.", paper presented at the Annual Research Meeting of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington DC, November 8-10.

Beem, B 2007, "Framing science: the roles of consensus, capacity and cognition in re-zoning the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park", paper presented at the Coastal Zone 2007, Portland, Oregon. July 22 to 26, 2007.

Beem, B 2006, "Counting Crabs: Institutions, Evidence and Persuasion in the Chesapeake Bay' in Charting a New Course:Shaping Solutions for the Coasts", paper presented at the Twentieth International Conference of the Coastal Society, St Petersburg, Florida.

Beem, B 2006, "Top-down Co-management? The roles of policy entrepreneurs and distributive conflict" , paper presented at the In Survival of the Commons: Mounting Challenges and New Realities. The Eleventh Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property. Bali, Indonesia, June 19-23.

Beem, B 2005, "Getting to Co-Management: A Policy learning approach", paper presented at the Annual Research Meeting of the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management, Washington, DC November 2-5,

Beem, B 2004, "Political Consequences of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Arctic Science Relating to Climate Change", paper presented at the Fifth International Congress of Arctic Social Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska,May 19-23, 2004.

Beem, B 2004, "Institutions and Policy Learning for Blue Crab Fisheries in the Chesapeake Bay", paper presented at the American Political Science Association, Chicago, Illinois,September 2-5, 2004.

Beem, B 2004, "Planning to Learn: Blue Crab Policymaking in the Chesapeake Bay", paper presented at the Association for Public Policy Analysis and Management,, Atlanta, Georgia,October 28-30, 2004.

Beem, B 2003, "Fisheries Policy Learning: The Interplay of Information, Actors, and Venues", paper presented at the People and the Sea II, Amsterdam, Netherlands,September 4-6, 2003.

Beem, B 1997, "Political Contestations of Shrimp Farming in Belize", paper presented at the Latin American Studies Conference Guadalajara, Mexico.