Communicating Science For Policy
15
description
Presentation by John Young, ODI at the RECOUP comms workshop of Sep 09
Transcript of Communicating Science For Policy
Communicating Science for PolicyJohn Young [email protected]
A study for SciDev.NetHow 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 tensions1. Politicisation of science vs scientisation
of policy.
2. ‘Citizen’ scientists vs neutral scientists.
3. The demand for certainty vs scientific reality of uncertainty.
4. Divergent motivations and time-frames of scientists and policy-makers.
5. Specialised expertise vs knowledge democracy.
6. 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
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%
International survey
Most were dissatisfied!
Main obstacles to access
Biggest Obstacle in Developing CountriesParticularly 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 ([email protected])
