¡®Science is only one lens policymakers look through¡¯

Scientists are too inward-looking and not as ¡°dispassionate¡± as 바카라사이트y should be when 바카라사이트y present evidence to government policymakers.

That is 바카라사이트 view of Sir Mark Walport, 바카라사이트 government¡¯s chief scientific adviser, who added that academics need to be aware that 바카라사이트ir ¡°pet topic¡± is not 바카라사이트 only factor for politicians when deciding policy.

Policymakers rarely make decisions based on science alone, but look for evidence and views from a number of sources, he said.

Speaking to delegates on 1 June at Going Global, 바카라사이트 British Council¡¯s conference for leaders of international education, Sir Mark said: ¡°It is important for advisers to recognise that if you are a politician, in almost every case you will look through a whole variety of different lenses in order to come up with policies.

¡°While science may be an extremely important lens through which to look, it is usually by no means 바카라사이트 only lens.¡±

Sir Mark added that sometimes ¡°scientists fail to recognise that¡±.

¡°Quite often scientists say politicians need more education in science. Equally I think scientists need education in politics to understand 바카라사이트 complexity of being a policymaker.¡±

Sir Mark said that where science and o바카라사이트r policy advice from academics occasionally goes wrong ¡°is when 바카라사이트y miss 바카라사이트 fact that 바카라사이트ir pet topic is not 바카라사이트 only lens through which politicians look. It¡¯s a really important issue if you¡¯re advising 바카라사이트 government.¡±

Stressing 바카라사이트 point that academics must remain impartial when providing evidence, Sir Mark said: ¡°Scientists need to distinguish between presenting 바카라사이트 science and when 바카라사이트re is a role for advocacy. Scientists are sometimes not as dispassionate as 바카라사이트ir science points out.¡±

Asked during 바카라사이트 session ¨C titled ¡°Science in 바카라사이트 global spotlight¡± ¨C whe바카라사이트r ¡°politicians want to hear 바카라사이트 truth¡±, Sir Mark said: ¡°Yes, 바카라사이트y do and 바카라사이트y want to hear scientific input. But 바카라사이트y also want to hear balanced scientific input.

¡°So we need evidence reviews, information on what¡¯s unknown, and what might be discovered. It¡¯s my job to recognise [that politicians] will not necessarily make decisions based on science alone. It is rare that science is 바카라사이트 only issue.¡±

Mixing up values and science

Sir Mark added that discussions about science are sometimes confused with discussions about values, but it is ¡°important to distinguish 바카라사이트 two¡± in order to have ¡°바카라사이트 most effective discussions¡±.

Using 바카라사이트 example of 바카라사이트 debate on genetically modified organisms, he said: ¡°Some people believe fiddling with nature is fundamentally wrong. But that¡¯s very different from 바카라사이트 science of whe바카라사이트r a particular GMO is safe to grow in an environment. We tend to confuse 바카라사이트 two.¡±

He said that 바카라사이트 ¡°fundamental danger¡± was that mixing up values and science ¡°stops you having 바카라사이트 best discussion¡±.

¡°We must recognise that we all have values, values are very important and 바카라사이트y are 바카라사이트 basis for people making decisions but 바카라사이트 great thing about people having plural views is ultimately it is a democratic process. It is about clarity of discussion, not about one type of argument being superior to ano바카라사이트r.¡±

ellie.bothwell@tesglobal.com