Journal Article - PLoS ONE

A Collaboratively-Derived Science-Policy Research Agenda

    Authors:
  • William J. Sutherland
  • Laura Bellingan
  • Jim R. Bellingham
  • Jason J. Blackstock
  • Robert M. Bloomfield
  • Michael Bravo
  • Victoria M. Cadman
  • David D. Cleevely
  • Andy Clements
  • Anthony S. Cohen
  • David R. Cope
  • Cristina Devecchi
  • Simon Denegri
  • Nicholas R. Dusic
  • Robert J. Evans
  • Wai Y. Feng
  • H. Charles J. Godfray
  • Paul Harris
  • Sue E. Hartley
  • Alison J. Hester
  • John Holmes
  • Alan Hughes
  • Mike Hulme
  • Colin Irwin
  • Richard C. Jennings
  • Gary S. Kass
  • Peter Littlejohns
  • Theresa M. Marteau
  • Glenn McKee
  • Erik P. Millstone
  • William J. Nuttall
  • Susan Owens
  • Miles M. Parker
  • Sarah Pearson
  • Judith Petts
  • Richard Ploszek
  • Andrew S. Pullin
  • Graeme Reid
  • Keith S. Richards
  • John G. Robinson
  • Louise Shaxson
  • Leonor Sierra
  • Beck G. Smith
  • David J. Spiegelhalter
  • Jack Stilgoe
  • Andy Stirling
  • Christopher P. Tyler
  • Ron L. Zimmern
| March 2012

Abstract

The need for policy makers to understand science and for scientists to understand policy processes is widely recognised. However, the science-policy relationship is sometimes difficult and occasionally dysfunctional; it is also increasingly visible, because it must deal with contentious issues, or itself becomes a matter of public controversy, or both. We suggest that identifying key unanswered questions on the relationship between science and policy will catalyse and focus research in this field. To identify these questions, a collaborative procedure was employed with 52 participants selected to cover a wide range of experience in both science and policy, including people from government, non-governmental organisations, academia and industry. These participants consulted with colleagues and submitted 239 questions. An initial round of voting was followed by a workshop in which 40 of the most important questions were identified by further discussion and voting. The resulting list includes questions about the effectiveness of science-based decision-making structures; the nature and legitimacy of expertise; the consequences of changes such as increasing transparency; choices among different sources of evidence; the implications of new means of characterising and representing uncertainties; and ways in which policy and political processes affect what counts as authoritative evidence. We expect this exercise to identify important theoretical questions and to help improve the mutual understanding and effectiveness of those working at the interface of science and policy.

The full text of the article may be accessed here: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0031824#aff20

Want to Read More?

The full text of this publication is available via the original publication source.
Read Full Article
For more information on this publication: Please contact Science, Technology, and Public Policy
For Academic Citation: Sutherland, William J. et al.. “A Collaboratively-Derived Science-Policy Research Agenda.” PLoS ONE, vol. 7. no. 3. (March 2012) .

The Authors

Laura Diaz Anadon

Laura Diaz Anadon

  • Associate, Environment and Natural Resources Program/Science, Technology, and Public Policy Program
  • Former Assistant Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, 2013–2016
  • Former Director of the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group, Belfer Center, 2010–2016
  • Former Associate Director of the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program, Belfer Center, 2012–2016
Expertise:

William J. Sutherland

Laura Bellingan

Jim R. Bellingham

Jason J. Blackstock

Robert M. Bloomfield

Michael Bravo

Victoria M. Cadman

David D. Cleevely

Andy Clements

Anthony S. Cohen

David R. Cope

Cristina Devecchi

Simon Denegri

Nicholas R. Dusic

Robert J. Evans

Wai Y. Feng

H. Charles J. Godfray

Paul Harris

Sue E. Hartley

Alison J. Hester

John Holmes

Alan Hughes

Mike Hulme

Colin Irwin

Richard C. Jennings

Gary S. Kass

Peter Littlejohns

Theresa M. Marteau

Glenn McKee

Erik P. Millstone

William J. Nuttall

Susan Owens

Miles M. Parker

Sarah Pearson

Judith Petts

Richard Ploszek

Andrew S. Pullin

Graeme Reid

Keith S. Richards

John G. Robinson

Louise Shaxson

Leonor Sierra

Beck G. Smith

David J. Spiegelhalter

Jack Stilgoe

Andy Stirling

Christopher P. Tyler

Ron L. Zimmern

Recommended
In the Spotlight
RSS
While offsets are imperfect, they may be necessary to reach ambitious short-term environmental goals.
More on Energy
Danielle F. Jung and Dara Kay Cohen argue that lynching emerges when neither the state nor its challengers have a monopoly over legitimate authority.
More on International Security
Western models partly inspired the creation of Special Operation Command and Military Police and the development of private military companies.
More from Russia Matters
Most Viewed

Tags