The Guardian’s Political Science blog ran a series of articles linked to the Global Science Advice to Governments Conference, held in Auckland on 28-29 August 2014, featuring several of the conference speakers. The following is a summary of the series:
Principles and politics of scientific advice 26 August 2014
This week, scientists, policymakers and experts from more than forty-five countries assemble in Auckland, for the largest-ever summit on scientific advice. Sir Peter Gluckman, chief science advisor of New Zealand and convenor of the meeting, previews the topics that will be discussed.
Sir Peter Gluckman FRS (@PeterGluckman) is chief science adviser to the prime minister of New Zealand and convenor of the first global conference on Science Advice to Governments (@GlobalSciAdvice). This is the first of a series of articles linked to the Auckland meeting on the Political Science blog.
Government science advice: where are the honest brokers? 26 August 2014
Scientific and political leaders need to focus more attention on the integrity of advisory processes, rather than taking sides in the political battles of the day.
Roger Pielke Jr is professor of environmental studies in the Centre for Science and Technology Policy Research at the University of Colorado and author of The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics (@RogerPielkeJr). He is one of the speakers at the Auckland summit on science advice to governments (@GlobalSciAdvice)
A rough guide to science advice 27 August 2014
As scientists and policymakers gather in Auckland for a global summit on scientific advice, what lessons can we identify that apply across diverse national systems?
James Wilsdon is professor of science and democracy at the Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex (@jameswilsdon); Kristiann Allen is chief of staff in the Office of the New Zealand Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (@ChiefSciAdvisor); Katsia Paulavets is a science officer at ICSU, the International Council for Science (@ICSUnews). This article is an extract from a briefing paper written for the Science Advice to Governments summit, held in Auckland, New Zealand (@GlobalSciAdvice)
Ambassadors for evidence 27 August 2014
The need for scientists and policymakers to work together around the world has never been greater. Sir Mark Walport, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, sets out his agenda for science diplomacy.
Sir Mark Walport is the chief scientific adviser to the UK government (@UKsciencechief) and gave a keynote address at Auckland’s conference on science advice to governments
Valuing the public in science advice 28 August 2014
We need a strong scientific voice in policy and decision-making, but there is also a crucial role for the public.
Heather Douglas is the Waterloo Chair in Science and Society in the Department of Philosophy at the University of Waterloo and author of Science, Policy and the Value-Free Ideal (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009). Heather spoke at the Auckland conference.
Crisis, renewal and the prospects for science advice in Japan 28 August 2014
Public and political confidence in Japan’s science system collapsed after the devastating earthquake, tsunami and Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011. Tateo Arimoto and Yasushi Sato describe the process of rebuilding trust and reforming Japanese science policy.
Tateo Arimoto is director of the Innovation, Science and Technology Program of the Graduate Institute of Policy Studies, Tokyo. Yasushi Sato is a fellow at the Center for Research and Development Strategy in the Japan Science and Technology Agency. They both participated in the Auckland summit on science advice to governments.
Science, development and the rebuilding of Rwanda 5 September 2014
As Rwanda sought to rebuild after the horrors of the 1994 genocide, its development strategy emphasised science and technology. Romain Murenzi, who served as Rwanda’s science minister for eight years, describes the lessons this approach might offer to other developing countries.
Romain Murenzi is the executive director of TWAS (@TWASNews), the academy of sciences for the developing world, and served as Rwanda’s minister of science and technology from 2001 to 2009. He was one of the keynote speakers at the Auckland summit on science advice to governments.