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Communicating Science for PolicyJohn Young [email protected] Dickson [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.htmlOr contact Nicola Jones ([email protected])