Send us a link

Subscribe to our newsletter

Modern Government and Science Advice

Modern Government and Science Advice

Governments need to understand science. This is obvious when thinking about defense and security, health, or the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, but it is true for all areas of government activity.

The Global Science Partnership: A toolkit for including policymaking for climate change

The Global Science Partnership: A toolkit for including policymaking for climate change

The toolkit walks through six steps to achieve more effective and inclusive climate policymaking, based on learnings from citizen engagement and science research pilots worldwide. 

Economist group argues for scientific experimentation in environmental policymaking

Economist group argues for scientific experimentation in environmental policymaking

The economists say more frequent use of up-front experiments would result in more effective environmental policymaking in areas ranging from pollution control to timber harvesting across the world.

Analysis of COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Policy in Finland: a Transformative Policy Mix Approach

Analysis of COVID-19 Recovery and Resilience Policy in Finland: a Transformative Policy Mix Approach

This paper studies the national implementation, in Finland, of the European Union (EU) programme for COVID-19 recovery, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), as an example of a cross-sectoral policy programme.

To Save Society from Digital Tech, Enable Scrutiny of How Policies Are Implemented

To Save Society from Digital Tech, Enable Scrutiny of How Policies Are Implemented

Well-designed policies alone cannot prevent social harm from new technologies. Instead, watchdogs must have tools to scrutinize how such policies are implemented, paving the road for digital accountability.

For the First Time Ever, the White House Adopts a Model Scientific Integrity Policy 

For the First Time Ever, the White House Adopts a Model Scientific Integrity Policy 

The White House has published its very first scientific integrity policy to serve as an example of what other agencies should strive for when developing or updating their own policies this year.

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Policy: Lessons from Co-Creation in the Aid Sector

Bridging the Gap Between Research and Policy: Lessons from Co-Creation in the Aid Sector

There is an increasing focus in academic and policy circles on research-policy partnerships. These partnerships are often achieved through co-creation, whose role in international relations remains underdeveloped.

Emotions: The Ultimate Lobbying Weapon

Emotions: The Ultimate Lobbying Weapon

No matter how they're used, and to whatever end, it's time to acknowledge that emotions are key in lobbying activities - and not always in the most visible or evident way.

'Tech, Society and Policy' Will Drive Change in Research Support

'Tech, Society and Policy' Will Drive Change in Research Support

Research management will need to respond to changes in technology, society and policymaking over the coming years.

All at Sea: Call for New Body to Bridge the Science - Policy Divide and Save the Oceans

All at Sea: Call for New Body to Bridge the Science - Policy Divide and Save the Oceans

An international initiative to establish a new body to protect the world's oceans is taking shape. The goal is to build a scientific consensus and shape policies to protect, conserve and restore them.

How to Convince a Politician: a Science Adviser's Lessons from the Pandemic

How to Convince a Politician: a Science Adviser's Lessons from the Pandemic

Patrick Vallance, who advised the UK government during the height of COVID, says that scientific officials should know four key things when guiding policymakers.

Taking Trash into Their Own Hands - Community Science to Policy 

Taking Trash into Their Own Hands - Community Science to Policy 

Community effort to systematically count and categorize trash in the Pinole watershed led to the prioritization of locations and trash types that informed recommendations for local government policy.

Humans, Science, and Policy Making: Behind the Scenes of IPCC Reports

Humans, Science, and Policy Making: Behind the Scenes of IPCC Reports

Thousands of experts from all around the world are involved in the drafting of IPCC reports - and some of them even work at the European Commission.

The IPCC's Climate Scientists Have Done Their Job - Now We Must Do Ours

The IPCC's Climate Scientists Have Done Their Job - Now We Must Do Ours

As citizens, we must educate and inspire our peers to act on climate change through positive and empowering campaigns 

Finland Sets Sights on Higher R&D Intensity After Overhauling State Spending Policies

Finland Sets Sights on Higher R&D Intensity After Overhauling State Spending Policies

Two new laws are intended to ensure a commitment to increase public and private investment in research will survive changes in government. The aim is for total spending to reach 4% of GDP by 2030

Biden Calls for Boosts in Science Spending to Keep US Competitive

Biden Calls for Boosts in Science Spending to Keep US Competitive

Facing a potential re-election battle next year, President Joe Biden laid out broad funding priorities for the US government on 9 March. His proposed budget for 2024 would invest new research funds into a range of programmes designed to achieve goals in scientific innovation, domestic manufacturing and clean energy, among others. 

G-7 Science Academies Call for Actions to Improve Climate Change Decision-Making, Protect Ocean Biodiversity, and Support Well-Being of Older People

G-7 Science Academies Call for Actions to Improve Climate Change Decision-Making, Protect Ocean Biodiversity, and Support Well-Being of Older People

Today the science academies of the G-7 countries issued three joint statements to their respective governments to inform discussions during the G-7 summit to be held in Hiroshima, Japan, in May, as well as ongoing policymaking.

EU Project Seeks to Improve Use of Scientific Evidence in Policy Making

EU Project Seeks to Improve Use of Scientific Evidence in Policy Making

A new EU project is aiming to promote the role and use of scientific knowledge in policymaking in seven participating member states, after current shortcomings came under the spotlight during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

How to Talk to Policymakers About Research

How to Talk to Policymakers About Research

This article summarises common errors when talking to policymakers about research and looks at how to improve the relationship between researchers and policymakers.

Researchers Engaging with Policy Should Take into Account Policymakers' Varied Perceptions of Evidence

Researchers Engaging with Policy Should Take into Account Policymakers' Varied Perceptions of Evidence

This post highlights four different approaches to evidence in policymaking and suggest how researchers and policy organisations might use these findings to engage differently with policy

White House Releases First-of-a-Kind Indigenous Knowledge Guidance for Federal Agencies | CEQ | The White House

White House Releases First-of-a-Kind Indigenous Knowledge Guidance for Federal Agencies | CEQ | The White House

Today, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) jointly released new government-wide guidance  and an accompanying implementation memorandum for Federal Agencies on recognizing and including Indigenous Knowledge in Federal research, policy, and decision making. This announcement coincides with the Biden-Harris Administration's 2022 Tribal Nations Summit and…

A Big Chance for Science at the Heart of Global Policymaking

A Big Chance for Science at the Heart of Global Policymaking

The UN's top leadership is reaching out to the scientific community to help inform decision making - a welcome move in a highly uncertain world.