Transcript Document

Bridging the divide between
science and politics
David Dickson,
Director, SciDev.Net
Annual Meeting of the African Science Academy Development
Initiative (ASADI)
Royal Society, London, 5 November 2008
Science
Politics
Knowledge-driven
Objective
Long-term goals
Context independent
Meritocratic
Policy/power-driven
Personal/Ideological
Short-term goals
Context dependent
Autocratic/democratic
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Overview of respondents
Number % of total
Researchers
288
46.7%
Intermediaries
214
34.7%
Policy-makers
113
18.3%
Total sample size: 617.
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Theme 1
Evidence-based policy-making is poorly
institutionalised in developing country
contexts
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Fig. 1. Satisfaction with degree to which policy is
based on ST&I evidence (all respondents)
Obstacles to uptake of scientific information in
development policy-making
Scientific understanding by policymakers is low
64%
Limited openness by politicians
61%
Lack of dissemination of research findings
59%
Lack of incentives
56%
Lack of institutional channels for incorporation
44%
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Implications
•
Lack of formal mechanisms for integrating
scientific knowledge into policy.
•
Policy priorities often drive the use of research,
rather than research stimulating policy
recommendations.
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Theme 2
Audience-appropriate information targeting is
imperative
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Implication
•
ST&I information must be targeted to the
needs of actors in the policy process
•
Mst also target the stage in the policy process
at which actors use such information.
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Theme 3
Intermediary organisations are needed as
knowledge brokers for researcher and
policy-making communities
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Most Important Roles for Intermediary
Organisation
80%
70%
65%
60%
67%
65%
58%
50%
50%
56%
52%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Identifying
Networking Disseminating
Building
important
between
information
capacity
actors in the scientists and
among policy
process of policy makers
makers to use
policy making
scientific
research
Representing Advocating for Mediating
the views of specific use of between the
policy makers
scientific
goals of
and scientists knowledge in researchers
policy
and policy
makers
Developed Countries
Fig. 14
Potential
knowledge
services that
could be
provided by
a web-based
intermediary
organisation
Developing Countries
28%
Interactive web-based discussion forums
54%
66%
E-mail updates on areas of interest
73%
72%
Review of policy instruments which have been
used by other countries
75%
79%
Policy briefs from authoritative sources
80%
72%
Opinion articles written by experts on topics
relevant to policy issues
87%
News items about approaches taken by other
countries regarding their use of ST&I to tackle
development problems
77%
81%
News items on relevant policy initiatives and
proposals
81%
76%
75%
News items on relevant ST&I developments
78%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
Percentage of Respondents
100%
Theme 4
Interaction and deliberation, rather than just
research dissemination, is needed to bridge
the ST&I researcher/policy-maker gap
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Fig. 10 Types of information found useful by
policymakers in development policy decision-making
Theme 5
Policy-engaged scientists are critically important
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Global South
Global North
49%
50%
40%
30%
20%
17%
14%
13%
10%
0%
Scientists should provide
Scientists should provide
research findings only
opinions and advocate policy
positions in addition to
research findsings
Fig. 3 Scientists as neutral information providers or
also engaging in policy debates
Implications
•
Strong desire from Southern policy-makers for
scientific findings to be complemented by policyrelevant recommendations.
•
Policy-makers and development practitioners would
make greater use of scientific research findings if
scientists engaged more openly with the policy
implications, and present policy options.
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Dangers!
•
Politicisation of science.
•
Scientisation of politics.
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Theme 6
Improving public understanding of ST&I will
facilitate better policy dialogues [and help
avoid previous two dangers]
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Fig. 11 Extent to which respondents believed that
increased participation from a scientifically informed
public will lead to improved development
Implications
•
Strong interest by both policy-makers and
researchers in greater public participation in
ST&I-related policy debates
•
This requires initiatives to improve public
understanding of ST&I to promote a more
informed and engaged public.
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In brief:
Policymakers at all levels need accurate,
timely, concise and reliable information
about potential role of science and technology
in meeting development objectives.
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In addition:
Public understanding of, and engagement in,
S&T ensures open and democratic debate
about the promises they offer – as well as their
transparent governance of their potentially
negative consequences.
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Promise of the world wide web:
Eliminating transaction of costs of sharing
information opens up new opportunities for
effective science communication.
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What we are and what we do
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Our role:
To act as a basic resource for policymakers
and stakeholders concerned with science
and development issues.
To achieve this by providing a combination of
topical and background information that is
both authoritative and accessible
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Our activities:
1. Operating a free-access website
(www.scidev.net) containing news, views and
analysis about science and technology in the
developing world.
2. Organising regional workshops and other
activities – including internships – to enhance the
capacity of science journalists and others (including
researchers) to provide reliable and authoritative
information on such issues
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Our website contains
• News
• Feature articles
• Opinion articles
• Weekly editorial
• Dossiers (including commissioned policy briefs)
• Notices (including lists of meetings, grants and jobs)
• Links (e.g. to scientific organisations and journals)
• Feedback from users
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Capacity-building workshops
These are intended to help build capacity in developing countries to report
accurately on science and technology and their contributions to development.
Operating data
•
•
•
•
•
Full operation since 2001
36,000 registered users (8,000 in sub-Saharan
Africa)
>2/3 (69% in developing countries)
28,000 visitors per week
> 100 freelance contributors around the
developing world
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SciDev.Net is supported by the journals:
Academy of Sciences of the
Developing World
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SciDev.Net is currently funded by:
• UK Department for International Development (DFID)
• Swedish International Development Agency (Sida/SAREC)
• International Development Research Centre (IDRC)
• Dutch Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DGIS)
• Swiss Development Agency (SDC)
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For more information, and to register to receive
free weekly email alert, visit us at:
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For information about workshops and other activities,
contact me at:
[email protected]
Thank you!
London, 5 November 2008
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