Policy and science: Different roles in the pursuit of solutions to common problems

Abstract

The main messages from my perspective are 3-fold: (1) Policy making is often an evolutionary process, beginning with a science 'push', but punctuated with policy 'pulls'; the science-policy interface is and should be an iterative process, and neither side should have to 'push' or 'pull' too hard to elicit cooperation from the other. (2) Uncertainty is an issue for politicians and for the policy-making process. Scientists accept uncertainty as part of the process, and have many approaches for measuring and packaging it. However, high uncertainty makes it difficult to build political support for tough policies, and harder still to gain cooperation in their implementation. The precautionary principle and the reversal of the burden of proof are aimed at neutralizing these political challenges, but they have their limitations when decision-making is based on participation and stewardship, and when science is uncertain. (3) Creating public understanding for scientific concepts takes time, and consolidation of the evidence for the concepts takes even longer. Nonetheless, it is crucial for policy makers to be fully comfortable with the concepts and their operational ramifications prior to using these concepts as the basis for major policy changes. Continued dialogue and mutual understanding are essential in order to enact science-based policy, particularly if policies are intended to anticipate and address crises proactively, instead of being merely reactive.