A conversation with the Government Office for Science. The University of Bristol 29 June 2016

Transcription

1 A conversation with the Government Office for Science The University of Bristol 29 June 2016

2 Key issues that drive the agenda Infrastructure (Natural and built) Emergencies The Economy Science Policy 2 Science Advice in Government

3 Science Advice: Dealing with issues Modern Slavery HOUSEHOLD INCOME PER WEEK, ENGLAND AND WALES (GBP) Hydraulic fracturing: shale gas Foresight Cities Science Advice in Government

4 Science Advice: Mitigating Risk Foresight Future of Flooding The National Risk Register 4 Science Advice in Government

5 Science advice in government: The Government Office for Science Cabinet Office Cabinet Secretary Cabinet Prime Minister Horizon Scanning Team Data Science Council of Science and Technology Government Office for Science Sir Mark Walport (~80 people) Departmental Chief Scientific Advisers ~20 Other Government Departments Scientific Advisory Committees ~1500 Public Sector Research Establishments Government Scientists and Engineers ~15,000 5 Science Advice in Government

6 Science advice in government: The Government Office for Science When we get involved: Outcomes at stake must be large Science must be a significant factor in determining the outcomes If it can be done by someone else, it should be In practice this means we prioritise issues that are: important novel present, urgent policy challenges have long-term implications for science in relation to policy. 6 Science Advice in Government

7 Science advice in government: The wider networks The FinTech Futures report, March 2015 Expert panel: Universities, Industry, Government, Regulators, and Think tanks. 7 Science Advice in Government

8 Giving Science Advice: The ground rules 1. Clear roles and responsibilities 2. Independence 3. Transparency and openness 8 Science Advice in Government

9 In our experience of giving advice to ministers, there are three key things to consider: Different lenses Effective communication is essential Help policy makers solve their problems I will go through each of these in turn 9 Science Advice in Government

10 Different lenses Effective communication is essential Help policy makers solve their problems 10 Science Advice in Government

11 Different lenses Scientific evidence is just one part of the picture Politics We can provide the very best evidence but must recognise that the lenses of politics and the machinery of delivery will all interact to produce the final outcome. Evidence Policy Delivery Science Advice in to Government - Auckland

12 Different lenses: Shale gas Scientific concerns Hydraulic fracturing Fossil fuel, engineering and geological: Loss of integrity in aquifer zone Seismic events Methane release Understanding public attitudes Fracking Anti-fracking movements are not solely concerned with emissions or the risks of pollution or seismicity: Opposition to the oil and gas industry Not in my back yard Opposition to continued exploitation of fossil fuels in general 12 Science Advice in Government

13 Khat Different lenses: Respect the different roles ACMD report khat has no direct causal link to adverse medical effects, other than a small number of reports of an association between khat use and significant liver toxicity. Home Office response Based on ACMD s advice, I recognise that current evidence shows no direct causal link to medical harms (However) I am concerned that the UK is at serious risk of becoming a single, regional hub for the onward illegal trafficking of khat I have therefore made the decision to control khat as a Class C drug Science Advice in Government

14 Different lenses Effective communication is essential Help policy makers solve their problems 14 Science Advice in Government

15 Effective communication: understand your audience Source: Rankmaniac, Science Advice in Government

16 Effective communication: Language matters The need for scientific precision needs to be balanced with the need to be understood by nonspecialists Source: Somerville and Hassol, Communicating the science of climate change, Physics Today, October Science Advice in Government

17 Positive or negative framing (and values emphasised) can influence how information is assimilated Effective communication: Framing matters If you say the world is going to end, people switch off thinking here they go again, trying to sell us something. Focus group participant, Sutton Coldfield (Shuckburgh et al, 2012) 17 Science Advice in Government

18 Different lenses Effective communication is essential Help policy makers solve their problems 18 Science Advice in Government

19 Help policy makers solve their problems: The Internet of Things GO-Science Blackett review: Security Standards Skills Need for demonstrators ( 40m) 19 Science Advice in Government

20 Help policy makers solve their problems: Dealing with an emergency 2014 Ebola Outbreak - What has SAGE considered? Modelling Risk to UK Screening Virus survival Vaccines What else can we do? WHO Ebola Situation Report - 18 March Science Advice in Government

21 Ways to get involved Contribute Ad-hoc requests (e.g. in an emergency) Calls for evidence Workshops and expert panels Papers and peer reviews Join the Civil Service! Placements S&E Fast Stream Chief Scientific Adviser 21 Science Advice in Government

22 @uksciencechief Every effort has been made to trace copyright holders and to obtain their permission for the use of copyright material. We apologise for any errors or omissions in the included attributions and would be grateful if notified of any corrections that should be incorporated in future versions of this slide set. We can be contacted through