The Challenge of Feeding Scientific Advice into Policy-Making

摘要

Both the United States and the European Union are facing new challenges in terms of how science is viewed and used. There continues to be tension between scientific information and societal and political priorities. How can we explain the gap between science and policy-making while confronting misperceptions and promoting positive views of science among the public? The United States and the European Union have recently undergone major political changes, reflected in a reevaluation of the role of science in the policy-making apparatus. The Obama Administration has focused on science as a central component of the policy agenda. Concrete measures include re-invigorating the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST); increasing investment in research and education; and appointing respected scientists, such as John Holdren and Stephen Chu, to senior-level positions. Similarly in Europe, the president of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, has initiated the Europe 2020 agenda, which has research and innovation at its core. Perhaps less trumpeted but also important has been President Barroso's announcement of the creation of a Chief Scientific Adviser position.