How to protect the independency of research synthesis/review reports but at the same time ensure that they are actually read (and listened to)?
What kind of formal and informal mechanisms researchers need in the EU ecosystem in order to build a long-lasting, but transparent relationship with policymakers?
When and how to engage with the end-users, i.e. decision makers and the public during the research synthesis writing process?
Young Academy of Finland and Belgian Young Academy are delighted to invite you to a virtual workshop on the future of science advice, and its methods and forms in the EU. The issue of working relations between researchers and decision makers could not be more topical. Our dialogical workshop will be organized via Zoom at 12:30-16:00 (EEST, UTC +3 hours) on Wednesday May 27, 2020. We hope that by bringing together a group of researchers from all career stages, European decision makers, research funding organizations and representatives from different science advice mechanisms, you will have a possibility to discuss and co-product new understandings.
Please register by May 11th here: https://forms.gle/Gcsc6ZGThqJoe46eA
Summary of the event
Scientific knowledge is not just at huge demand at the different arenas of political decision making, but it is also facing a lot of challenges concerning its legitimacy, accountability and overall status in the society. The complexity and “wickedness” of many current political issues like the current pandemic, climate change, loss of biodiversity or ageing population, also demonstrate that the amount of scientific knowledge does not erase the tension between values and political decision making. Hence, these kinds of complex issues are not to be solved with a simple statement on current scientific evidence either.
While the diversity of methods and mechanisms for giving science advice has grown, creating systemic and long-term research synthesis/review reports is still the prominent form of disseminating scientific knowledge for policy makers. But what do quality, multidisciplinarity, transparency and engagement of the end-users mean exactly in the research synthesis/review report processes? How can science academies as the providers of independent science advice and as part of the formal Science Advice Mechanism of EU make sure that their research synthesis reports are read in Brussels and also in individual member states?
The aims of this workshop are to
– Think about how much diversity in forms of science advice is possible in the EU science advice ecosystem and what works best at the EU context;
– Discuss about the possibilities of creating immersive and inclusive approaches in connecting science academies, young researchers, EU-decision making bodies and other stakeholders in the research syntheses/review processes.
PROGRAM
12.30 Opening words
12:40 A short introductory keynote to the EU science advice ecosystem by Policy Officer, Dr. Kristian Krieger, Joint Research Centre
Session 1: Plurality of knowledge and stakeholders in science advice mechanisms
12:50-13:20 Introductory speeches
Senior Specialist Tommi Himberg, Finnish Permanent Representation to OECD and Unesco, a member of Finnish Young Academy
Research Director Tanja Suni, Finnish Ministry of Environment
Director Jussi Vauhkonen, Academy of Finland
13:20-13:50 Workshop discussions facilitated by Senior interaction specialist Katja Syvärinen & Communications specialist Outi Huovinen from KasKas Media communications agency
Break 13:50-14:05
Session 2: Synthesis reports as a tool for science advice: How to add the ownership of reports from the policy/stakeholder side without endangering the integrity of research?
14:05-15:05: Introductory speeches
Finnish MEP Sirpa Pietikäinen
Head of Communications Toby Wardman, Science Advice for Policy by European Academies
Silvia Polidori, European Science Media Hub
Professor Kristien Hens, University of Antwerp, a member of Belgian Young Academy
Assistant Professor Vincent Ginis, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Co-President of Belgian Young Academy
15:05-16:00 Workshop discussions facilitated by facilitated by Senior interaction specialist Katja Syvärinen & Communications specialist Outi Huovinen from KasKas Media communications agency
Closing the event at 16:00
Background
Young Academy Finland’s (YAF) “Young Researchers as Knowledge Brokers” -project, started in September 2019, aims ambitiously at developing new approaches for organizing the activities on science-policy interfaces. Project’s thematic focus is especially on those ways and solutions that would take the needs and situations of young researchers into account. Project also concentrates especially on EU member countries and on the EU’s decision making bodies. Project runs for a year from September 2019 until the end of August 2020, and is funded by Tiina and Antti Herlin Foundation.