Communicating Science for  Policy John Young [email_address] David Dickson [email_address]
A study for SciDev.Net How do policymakers access scientific knowledge? Systematic literature review: 42 key documents Expert interviews: 31 experts Country case studies: 7 countries: China, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Zambia, Nicaragua & Bolivia Electronic survey: > 600 respondents
Literature review: 6 tensions Politicisation of science vs scientisation of policy.  ‘ Citizen’ scientists vs neutral scientists. The demand for certainty vs scientific reality of uncertainty. Divergent motivations and time-frames of scientists and policy-makers. Specialised expertise vs knowledge democracy. Between Western-driven science and indigenous knowledge.
Country study findings Limited integration of scientific knowledge into policy.  Competing sources of evidence Common tensions between researcher and policy maker interests Government officials are key players (cf legislators) Multinational institutions influential Knowledge brokers and translators frequently involved
International survey Type of Respondents No.  % Researchers  288 47% Intermediaries  214 35% Policy Makers  113 18% Sub-national policy makers 41 7% Regional Representation No.  % Sub-Saharan Africa  120 19% South Asia  110 18% Latin America  66 11% MENA  41 7% China and S.E. Asia  21 3% Developing Countries Total  394 64% Global North  224 36% Type of Organisation No.  %  Academic institution  202 33% Science-related ministry  107 17% NGO/advocacy group  87 14% Industry  25 4% Multilateral  25 4% Media organisation  24 4% Non-science related ministry  23 4% International scientific panel  8 2% Legislature  7 1% Political advisory  4 0.5%
Most were dissatisfied!
Main obstacles to access Biggest Obstacle in  Developing Countries Particularly China  and SE Asia  (70% selected  as obstacle) Second biggest obstacle  in dev. countries esp. China and SE Asia (57%) All obstacles  were cited more  often in a  developing country  context, across regions. Biggest  obstacles  in Developed  Countries  (27% and 24%  respectively)
Obstacles to Uptake
Especially in the South!
Ministries are different
What should scientists provide?
Effective Mediators
Intermediary organisations…
Recommendations Promote role of intermediaries Identify actors and stimulate networks Represent Scientists or Policy Makers Disseminate Information  Capacity Building Rethink how to measure impact  Direct policy change Conceptual influence
Further information www.odi.org.uk/RAPID/Publications/RAPID_WP_294.html Or contact Nicola Jones (n.jones@odi.org.uk)

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Communicating Science for Policy

  • 1. Communicating Science for Policy John Young [email_address] David Dickson [email_address]
  • 2. A study for SciDev.Net How do policymakers access scientific knowledge? Systematic literature review: 42 key documents Expert interviews: 31 experts Country case studies: 7 countries: China, India, Cambodia, Ghana, Zambia, Nicaragua & Bolivia Electronic survey: > 600 respondents
  • 3. Literature review: 6 tensions Politicisation of science vs scientisation of policy. ‘ Citizen’ scientists vs neutral scientists. The demand for certainty vs scientific reality of uncertainty. Divergent motivations and time-frames of scientists and policy-makers. Specialised expertise vs knowledge democracy. Between Western-driven science and indigenous knowledge.
  • 4. Country study findings Limited integration of scientific knowledge into policy. Competing sources of evidence Common tensions between researcher and policy maker interests Government officials are key players (cf legislators) Multinational institutions influential Knowledge brokers and translators frequently involved
  • 5. International survey Type of Respondents No. % Researchers 288 47% Intermediaries 214 35% Policy Makers 113 18% Sub-national policy makers 41 7% Regional Representation No. % Sub-Saharan Africa 120 19% South Asia 110 18% Latin America 66 11% MENA 41 7% China and S.E. Asia 21 3% Developing Countries Total 394 64% Global North 224 36% Type of Organisation No. % Academic institution 202 33% Science-related ministry 107 17% NGO/advocacy group 87 14% Industry 25 4% Multilateral 25 4% Media organisation 24 4% Non-science related ministry 23 4% International scientific panel 8 2% Legislature 7 1% Political advisory 4 0.5%
  • 7. Main obstacles to access Biggest Obstacle in Developing Countries Particularly China and SE Asia (70% selected as obstacle) Second biggest obstacle in dev. countries esp. China and SE Asia (57%) All obstacles were cited more often in a developing country context, across regions. Biggest obstacles in Developed Countries (27% and 24% respectively)
  • 14. Recommendations Promote role of intermediaries Identify actors and stimulate networks Represent Scientists or Policy Makers Disseminate Information Capacity Building Rethink how to measure impact Direct policy change Conceptual influence