On 8 September, the @EU_ScienceHub launched its workshop series #Science4Policy Across the EU with its session #Science4Policy at central government.

https://bit.ly/32cMUa3 

>70 participants from 20 countries met online.

Here a thread with some discussion themes.

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#COVID19 has arguably demonstrated how important robust & interconnected #Science4Policy eco-systems are to respond effectively to complex crises – but it also underlined manifold challenges encountered at the science-policy interface.

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The first @EU_ScienceHub
workshop in this series included international reflections on #Science4Policy eco-systems by the JRC’s @StephenQuest
& the OECD’s @SJacobzone
– along with national case studies from Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland & Estonia.

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The key outcomes of discussions in the @EU_ScienceHub
workshop focused on two questions related to #Science4Policy to inform policymaking at central government:
1.WHAT WORKS?
2.WHAT IS NEEDED TO MAKE WORK?

What follows are the summary tweets of discussions.

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#Science4Policy and evidence-informed policymaking need trust and balance in the science-policy-society triangle.

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@DavidMair4
@EU_ScienceHub

In #Science4Policy eco-systems, policy and research must be able to depend on each other without being dependent. Safeguarding credibility, through transparency, participation with/from society and respecting each other’s roles.

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@DavidMair4
@EU_ScienceHub

All countries have different #science4policy systems, but the core enabling factors are good networking, proximity to policy-makers, trust and openness, independence from policy pressure.

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@DavidMair4
@EU_ScienceHub

Many platforms to connect science advice specialists are in place, but their use needs to be enhanced (ESAF, @SAPEAnews etc). Scientific advisers need to network on national and international level and they need easily accessible platforms for that.

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#Science4Policy

Exchange of information, lessons learnt between different advisory bodies are of utmost importance. Enhance trainings for scientists for mediating science to politicians, synthesize of knowledge, metadata platforms for sharing information.

#Science4Policy

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Be part of the process (get in early and align with other advisory services); recognise & address values; develop trust & integrity in advice (independence is overrated); address specific political problems, costs and opportunities.

#Science4Policy

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To institutionalise #science4policy: invest in scientists (career paths, political skills); invest in civil service (develop socio-technical skills); invest in intermediaries (becoming part of the various processes, e.g. ministries, parliaments)

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What innovations are needed to make #science4policy work: spend time and money on co-creation (e.g., citizen’s assemblies, UK energy-mix calculator); open up science advice to other voices; science advice should be a two-way process.

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We can foster partnerships, and the sharing of evidence and research as global public goods, across borders and communities but this may not fully bridge the gap with decision making at the national level.

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To bridge the gaps, we need #science4policy institutions and new pathways for science advice. We have to seize concrete opportunities, such as those opened by the #COVID-19 crisis, facilitate access to data, and bring science to bear.

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There is a shared challenge to develop a national #Science4Policy systems combining benefits of diversity, specialization and clear mandates with necessary cooperation & communication, to make sure that the system does not suffer of unhealthy competition/doubling of work.

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Another challenge is to move this cooperation and communication to the international level. How to find who or what organization is a relevant counterpart in other countries.

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#Science4Policy

Observation: the COVID-19 crisis has made clear the necessity of national cooperation and exchange of information. We should view this as a sign that there is much to gain on other topics that are not so much in the spotlights as well.

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#Science4Policy

There is no one-size #Science4Policy model to build on. Governments may rely on strong institutions or strong individuals. The present crisis has both challenged existing science advice institutions and provided an opportunity window for building new and better ones!

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Many small countries are utilising external resources smartly. Is this something large countries cd learn from? What all countries cd work on: better consolidation of existing resources. Don’t come up with new initiatives simply for the sake of novelty!

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Public awareness increased on issues previously mostly discussed among #Science4Policy geeks: who is on science advice groups, how those groups are chosen, how they give advice, how the advice is used, what science can and can’t do, the limits of evidence, etc.

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We need more training for literacy in how science and #Science4Policy works - not just for scientists and politicians but also journalists and public. We also need more transparency in how evidence is given and used, or not used.

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Every country has a unique and diverse #Science4Policy ecosystem but the dots are not always connected. Needed: Permanent structures with proper protocols and processes, knowledge brokers with a culture of openness and transparency. Because: public trust are essential.

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It is important for science advisors to have allies inside & outside government – and for scientists to have incentives to engage.

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Politicians must understand the limitations of scientific advice: there is not only one truth. When politicians say “we have been led by the science”, they use scientists as human shields.

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Diversified structure of advice to policy-makers (e.g. NL, DK) can forge closer everyday links between science and policy. But when science advice is marketized and contract-based it turns into a mechanism of competition and pressure.

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What's needed? 1) Capacity-building (e.g communication and translational skills); 2) new tools for tracing and evidencing #Science4Policy impact, & 3) projects to support EU peer learning & cooperation with special focus on diversity (of gender and disciplines)

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How #Science4Policy systems are structured may not be so important but what matters is the connection to the political system

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Improve the assessment systems in the science field so that scientists and scientific organisations have more incentives to engage with policymakers.

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This was the rich harvest from the first workshop in this series, to be followed by 15+ others on different advice recipients/mechanisms/countries

Watch this space for further summaries and the @EU_ScienceHub website for further information

https://bit.ly/32cMUa3 

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