Royal Irish Academy Workshop on ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy under Conditions of Complexity and Uncertainty’#
You are invited to attend this Royal Irish Academy workshop on ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy under Conditions of Complexity and Uncertainty’.
Event details#
- Tuesday 11th February 2020, 11:00-15:00
- Academy House, 19 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, D02 HH58, Ireland
- Free event but registration
is essential.
Overview#
Now more than ever, policymakers need good quality science advice to inform their decisions. Yet, the very policy issues for which scientific input is most needed are the ones where the science itself is often complex and uncertain. This challenge, however, is being tackled by SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies). SAPEA is part of the European Commission’s Scientific Advice Mechanism and together with the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors provides independent scientific advice to European Commissioners to support their decision-making.
Making Sense of Science for Policy Evidence Review Report key conclusions#
'Making Sense of Science for Policy under Conditions of Complexity and Uncertainty', a new Evidence Review Report by SAPEA was written by a multidisciplinary group of leading scientists, nominated by academies across Europe. Some of the report’s key conclusions include:
- Science advice can help to anticipate future challenges and assist in designing coping strategies or intervention
- Scientific advice should not prescribe but inform policies
- The purpose and significance of scientific advice depend on the issue and the context
- Science advice for policymaking involves many legitimate perspectives and insights
- Scientists, as well as policymakers, should be sensitive to various biases and interests when drawing inferences from data and information
- The relationship between science advisors and policymakers relies on mutual trust
Key recommendations based on the report#
The SAPEA report was among the key sources of evidence for the new Scientific Opinion from the European Commission’s Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, entitled 'Scientific Advice to European Policy in a Complex World'. The key recommendations of that Opinion include:
- Engage early and regularly with policymakers and define together the boundaries of the advice, the question and its scope, as well as the best way to address it. Involvement of stakeholders or the public in the process can also be envisaged
- Improve the quality of scientific advice by rigorous synthesis of exiting evidence and transparent debate
- Analyse and communicate uncertainty and diverging views related to the scientific evidence and the policy options recommended.
Confirmed speakers#
This Royal Irish Academy workshop, which will hear from high-level experts, will discuss the findings of the SAPEA report and reflect on what insights might be applied to science advice in Ireland. The discussions will focus on both the European and the Irish dimension of evidence-informed policymaking. Included in the lineup are:
- Professor Maria Baghramian MRIA, Ireland’s contributor to the SAPEA report
- Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer MAE, Chair of the European Commission’s Group of Scientific Advisors
- Professor Ole Petersen MAE, Academic Director of the Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub
- Professor Peter Halligan, Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales
