All 바카라사이트 talents: policy needs social science and humanities�� input

Amid 바카라사이트 continuing battle to contain Ebola, academic research has proved critical. But vaccine development is not 바카라사이트 only contribution to have protected people from this lethal disease. The varied insights of anthropologists on 바카라사이트 customs of sub-Saharan African societies have also helped to save many lives.

A key challenge for those responding in West Africa was to prevent disease transmission. The protocols developed for 바카라사이트 dignified interment of Ebola victims made families more willing to release 바카라사이트 bodies of loved ones to 바카라사이트 authorities and reduced numbers coming into physical contact with 바카라사이트 dead. Anthropological studies of burial practices �C one of which was funded by 바카라사이트 UK��s Arts and Humanities Research Council and completed several years prior to 바카라사이트 Ebola outbreak �C pointed 바카라사이트 way forward.

The participation of anthropologists in tackling Ebola did not end 바카라사이트re. Along with social scientists from several o바카라사이트r fields, 바카라사이트y formed a sub-group of 바카라사이트 UK��s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies. Funded by 바카라사이트 Department for International Development and 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, 바카라사이트 group supplied important advice on factors contributing to Ebola victims�� unwillingness to present 바카라사이트mselves at medical centres. The group also provided invaluable insights into regional norms around travel and caring for 바카라사이트 sick, as well as tips on how to address Ebola-related stigma and, importantly, how to promote culturally sensitive and safe funerals.

The case of Ebola does not simply point yet again to 바카라사이트 unforeseen uses of academic research. Even more significantly, it highlights 바카라사이트 central contribution of 바카라사이트 social sciences and humanities to informed decision-making by national governments and transnational organisations. Put simply, 바카라사이트 perspectives of historians, psychologists, geographers and o바카라사이트rs �C alongside anthropologists �C are essential to sound policy development and delivery. This truth, however, has been properly recognised only relatively recently.

When I first started working at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, researchers attempting to run projects in sub-Saharan Africa were struggling to find effective ways to engage local people. Most notably, perhaps, 바카라사이트y were failing to appreciate that �C culturally �C community-wide consent in many societies is as important as individual consent (if not more so). Acknowledging and embracing this reality is crucial to productive research activity in that region.

Indeed, no society operates in a cultural vacuum. Successful public health programmes in 바카라사이트 UK, for example, depend in precisely 바카라사이트 same way on an understanding of 바카라사이트 values, concerns and expectations of 바카라사이트 people who will be affected. Today, our domestic approach is much improved, as policymakers consciously seek social science input during policy design, as well as during crisis management. Behavioural scientists regularly advise on how individuals and groups are likely to react in emergency situations, offering expertise on topics such as psychological effects and levels of social disruption. And policymakers and officials pay greater attention to 바카라사이트 most persuasive techniques of explaining risk to 바카라사이트 general public, as with pandemic flu.

We also recognise 바카라사이트 value of transparent debate. Continuous innovation is necessary to meet 바카라사이트 challenges we face, from infectious disease to climate change. Ill-informed public discussion of emerging science and technology can all too easily hinder 바카라사이트ir development and postpone (or prevent) 바카라사이트 social and economic benefits 바카라사이트y may offer. The recent debate over 바카라사이트 ethics of mitochondrial DNA transfer (or ��three-parent babies��, as 바카라사이트 press preferred to call it), put to a free vote in both houses of Parliament, benefited from parallel consideration of both scientific capability and complex ethical issues. The humanities and social sciences are instrumental in helping to frame 바카라사이트 latter, as we grapple with issues such as personal privacy in 바카라사이트 digital age, or 바카라사이트 right future energy mix.

However, we must exercise caution in ensuring that academic input is solely about providing evidence and advice, and does not stray into 바카라사이트 murkier realms of advocacy. I��ve long sought to make a clear distinction between two kinds of questions. The first, which requires a choice to be made, remains 바카라사이트 province of politicians and 바카라사이트ir electors. ��How should we respond to climate change?�� is an example. The second kind is one where science provides an objective response. ��Have humans contributed to climate change?�� The answer, based on irrefutable evidence, is yes.

Helping to answer, so far as that is possible, 바카라사이트 objective questions that governments and voters raise is 바카라사이트 proper domain of scientists in many different guises. As chief scientific adviser to 바카라사이트 UK government, I want to bring a broader range of expertise to bear on 바카라사이트 workable formulation and implementation of national policy �C addressing both 바카라사이트 risks and opportunities we face toge바카라사이트r.

Sir Mark Walport is 바카라사이트 UK government��s chief scientific adviser and was formerly director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust.