Science advice has never been in greater demand; nor has it been more contested.
The most complex and sensitive policy issues of our time are those for which the available scientific evidence is ever-growing and multi-disciplined, but still has uncertainties. Yet these are the very issues for which scientific input is needed most. In this environment, the usefulness and legitimacy of expertise seems obvious to scientists, but is this view shared by policy-makers?
A two-day conference will take place in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday 29th and Friday 30th September 2016. Jointly organised by the European Commission and the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), the conference will bring together users and providers of scientific advice on critical, global issues. Policy-makers, leading practitioners and scholars in the field of science advice to governments, as well as other stakeholders, will explore principles and practices in a variety of current and challenging policy contexts. It will also present the new Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) of the European Commission to the international community. Through keynote lectures and plenary discussions and topical parallel sessions, the conference aims to take a major step towards responding to the challenge best articulated by the World Science Forum Declaration of 2015:
“The need to define the principles, processes and application of science advice and to address the theoretical and practical questions regarding the independence, transparency, visibility and accountability of those who receive and provide advice has never been more important. We call for concerted action of scientists and policy-makers to define and promulgate universal principles for developing and communicating science to inform and evaluate policy based on responsibility, integrity, independence, and accountability.”
The conference seeks to
- Identify core principles and best practices, common to structures providing scientific advice for governments worldwide
- Identify practical ways to improve the interaction of the demand and supply side of scientific advice
- Describe, by means of practical examples, the impact of effective science advisory processes
- Thursday 29 September 2016, 09:00 - Friday 30 September 2016, 17:00 (CEST)
- Brussels, Belgium
- Live streaming available
Practical information
- When
- Thursday 29 September 2016, 09:00 - Friday 30 September 2016, 17:00 (CEST)
- Where
- Charlemagne buildingCharlemagne building, Rue de la Loi 170, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
Report
Conference presentations
DAY 1
Opening Session
Sir Peter GLUCKMAN, Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand
Plenary session 2: Solution-oriented scientific advice
Daniel SAREWITZ, Director of the Consortium for Science, Policy and Outcomes, Arizona State University
Maive RUTE, Deputy Director-General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Parallel session 1: Responding to global policy challenges
1.1 Climate change: Science, policy & the road beyond Paris
Gordon McBEAN, President of the International Council for Science (ICSU)
Alan FINKEL, Australia’s Chief Scientist
1.2 Migration: Evidence-informed responses to humanitarian crises
Alessandra ZAMPIERI, Head of Demography, Migration and Governance Unit, Joint Research Centre of the European
Patrice QUESADA, Senior Emergency and Post Crisis Specialist, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Aurélie PONTHIEU, Humanitarian Specialist on Displacement, Médecins Sans Frontières
1.3 Health: Science advice in short- and long-term challenges – from epidemics to chronic diseases
Roberto BERTOLLINI, Former WHO Chief Scientist and WHO Representative to the European Union
Helen MUNN, Executive Director, Academy of Medical Sciences (UK), Member of the Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM)
Parallel session 2: Brokers and boundary-crossers: Developing the practice of science advice
2.2 What skills do experts and policy-makers need for better dialogue?
Julie MAXTON, Executive Director of the Royal Society
Arturo MENCHACA ROCHA, General Coordinator of the Science Advisory Council of the Presidency of Mexico
2.3 How can foresight and horizon scanning better inform policy agendas?
Melanie PETERS, Director of the Rathenau Institute
Tateo ARIMOTO, Director of the Innovation, Science and Technology Policy Program, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
Fabiana SCAPOLO, Deputy Head of Foresight, Behavioural Insights & Design for Policy Unit, Joint Research Centre of the European Commission
Plenary session 3: Scientific advice for transnational structures
Henrik C. WEGENER, Executive Vice-President of the Technical University of Denmark, Chair of the European Commission’s High-Level Group of Scientific Advisors
Jos van der MEER, President of the European Academies Science Advisory Council (EASAC)
DAY 2
Plenary session 5: Cool heads in crises: How to provide timely
Carthage SMITH, Head of the OECD Global Science Forum Secretariat
Vladimir ŠUCHA, Director-General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission
Eva ALISIC, Monash University, Immediate Past Co-Chair of the Global Young Academy
Satoru OHTAKE, Senior Fellow at the Economic and Social Research Institute of the Cabinet Office of Japan
Parallel session 3: Science advice for and with society
3.2 How can national academies best contribute to science advice for policy?
László LOVÁSZ, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Suad SULAIMAN, Member of the Executive Committee, Sudanese National Academy of Sciences
3.3 What are the roles of citizens and civil society in science advice?
Heather DOUGLAS, Waterloo Chair in Science and Society, University of Waterloo
Parallel session 4: Advising across boundaries and borders
4.1 Science advice across boundaries and borders: learning from each other
Chandrika NATH, Acting Director of the UK Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology
Yasushi SATO, Centre for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency
4.2 Science in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals
Daya REDDY, President of the Academy of Science of South Africa, President-elect of the International Council for Science (ICSU)
4.3 Shifting frontiers of science diplomacy
Shaukat Hameed Khan
Maria Cristina RUSSO, Director for International Cooperation, DG Research and Innovation, European Commission
Plenary session 6: Taking Stock 2
Peter GRIFFIN
Martin KOWARSCH
Kari RAIVIO
Plenary session 7: Strengthening the use of science advice in policy
James WILSDON, University of Sheffield, Vice-Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA)
Marc SANER, Institute for Science, Society and Policy, University of Ottawa
Peter GLUCKMAN, Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA), Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand