Science-Policy Interface

Question 1

As per Robert Pielke (2007) what are the four idealized roles of science in policy and politics?

Answer 1

1. Pure Scientist
2. Science Arbiter
3. Issue Advocate
4. Honest Broker of Policy Alternatives

Question 2

As per Robert Pielke (2007) what is the role of the pure scientist?

Answer 2

Just sharing fundamental information with no thought to decision-making process i.e., just giving the facts.

Question 3

As per Robert Pielke (2007) what is the role of the science arbiter?

Answer 3

Act as a resource that answers factual questions that the decision-maker thinks is important without trying to sway the decision-maker to any particular outcome.

Question 4

As per Robert Pielke (2007) what is the role of the issue advocate?

Answer 4

Tries to sway the decision-maker to a particular choice (though the choice could be broad or very focused).

Question 5

As per Robert Pielke (2007) what is the role of the honest broker of policy alternatives?

Answer 5

Makes an effort to expand (or clarify) the choices in a way that allows the decision maker to narrow the choices based on their own preferences and values.

Question 6

What are the potential disadvantages of being a pure scientist or an issue advocate?

Answer 6

Depending on what facts are used, they could be swayed by politics.

There are alternative facts that can answer the same questions.

Both of the above can lead to scientists being ‘stealth issue advocates.’

Hiding behind science.

Research funding has to be justified.

(Pielke, 2007)

Question 7

Why is the role of science in policy and politics delicate?

Answer 7

Science should be used in policy and politics as a key resource to help facilitate difficult decisions, however, often it is used to provide support to a particular groups’ common interests (i.e., as a bargaining tool) making scientists stealth issue advocates.

(Pielke, 2007)

Question 8

What are the two key questions all scientists should ask themselves when determining which role they should play in politics and policy?

Answer 8

1. How controversial is the topic?
2. How uncertain is the decision context?

(Pielke, 2007)

Question 9

What can scientists learn from policy-makers?

Answer 9

The science community needs to do much more to engage productively with the people who actually make policy.

1. Making policy is really difficult
2. No policy will ever be perfect
3. Policy makers can be expert too
4. Policy makers are not a homogenous group
5. Policy makers are people too
6. Policy decisions are subject to extensive scrutiny
7. Starting policies from scratch is very rarely an option
8. There is more to policy than scientific evidence
9. Economics and law are top dogs in policy advice
10. Public opinion matters
11. Policy makers do understand uncertainty
12. Policy and politics are not the same thing
13. Policy and science operate on different timescales
14. There is no such thing as a policy cycle
15. The art of making policy is a developing science
16. ‘Science policy’ isn’t a thing
17. Policy makers aren’t interested in science per se
18. ‘We need more research’ is the wrong answer

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2013/dec/02/scientists-policy-governments-science

Question 10

Knowledge Exchange

Answer 10

The two-way exchange of knowledge between scientific ‘producers’ and ‘users’ , and it encompasses all facets of knowledge production, sharing, storage, mobilization, translation and use.

(Cvitanovic et al, 2016)

Question 11

What are some ways knowledge exchange can be improved?

Answer 11

ID all stakeholders and develop research questions with them.

Make sure research teams are interdisciplinary.

Include strategies that include the local community.

Make sure knowledge is understandable and accessible.

(Cvitanovic et al, 2016)

Question 12

Why is evidence-based decision making important?

Answer 12

Facilitates systematic collation and synthesis of evidence.

Increases quality of evidence available for decisions.

Reduces bias and cherry-picking.

Increase transparency of decisions.

Increase effectiveness of management.

Identifies gaps in knowledge.

(Albana’s notes)

Question 13

What are some barriers for decision-makers to use scientific evidence?

Answer 13

Time
Access
Jargon
Organizational structures or values
Not the right evidence is available
Language barriers

(Albana’s notes)

Question 14

Knowledge Mobilization

Answer 14

Consists of all the activities and outputs that builds awareness, and enables use of the research.

https://carleton.ca/communityfirst/2014/so-what-the-heck-is-knowledge-mobilization-and-why-should-i-care/