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A Collaboratively-Derived Science-Policy Research Agenda

Author

Listed:
  • 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
  • Arthur A Daemmrich
  • Cristina Devecchi
  • Laura Diaz Anadon
  • Simon Denegri
  • Robert Doubleday
  • 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
  • David E Winickoff
  • Ron L Zimmern

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 , 2012. "A Collaboratively-Derived Science-Policy Research Agenda," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(3), pages 1-5, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0031824
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031824
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hulme,Mike, 2009. "Why We Disagree about Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521898690, January.
    2. Hulme,Mike, 2009. "Why We Disagree about Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521727327, January.
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    2. Hayes, D.S. & Bruno, M.C. & Alp, M. & Boavida, I. & Batalla, R.J. & Bejarano, M.D. & Noack, M. & Vanzo, D. & Casas-Mulet, R. & Vericat, D. & Carolli, M. & Tonolla, D. & Halleraker, J.H. & Gosselin, M., 2023. "100 key questions to guide hydropeaking research and policy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    3. Carol Morris & Minna Kaljonen & Kadri Aavik & Bálint Balázs & Matthew Cole & Ben Coles & Sophia Efstathiou & Tracey Fallon & Mike Foden & Eva Haifa Giraud & Mike Goodman & Eleanor Hadley Kershaw & Ric, 2021. "Priorities for social science and humanities research on the challenges of moving beyond animal-based food systems," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Nibedita Mukherjee & William J Sutherland & Lynn Dicks & Jean Hugé & Nico Koedam & Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, 2014. "Ecosystem Service Valuations of Mangrove Ecosystems to Inform Decision Making and Future Valuation Exercises," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(9), pages 1-9, September.
    5. Glen T. Hvenegaard & Elizabeth A. Halpenny & Jill N. H. Bueddefeld, 2021. "Towards Mobilizing Knowledge for Effective Decision-Making in Parks and Protected Areas," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-5, March.
    6. Ojha, Hemant & Regmi, Udeep & Shrestha, Krishna K. & Paudel, Naya Sharma & Amatya, Swoyambhu Man & Zwi, Anthony B. & Nuberg, Ian & Cedamon, Edwin & Banjade, Mani R., 2020. "Improving science-policy interface: Lessons from the policy lab methodology in Nepal's community forest governance," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    7. Clara-Jane Blye & Elizabeth A. Halpenny & Glen T. Hvenegaard & Dee Patriquin, 2020. "Knowledge Mobilization in the Beaver Hills Biosphere, Alberta, Canada," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(11), pages 1-23, October.

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