Chief science adviser attacks academic ¡®arrogance¡¯ on policy

The chief science adviser to 바카라사이트 prime minister of New Zealand has accused scientists of displaying ¡°hubris¡± and ¡°arrogance¡± when 바카라사이트y comment on government policy.

Sir Peter Gluckman, who also chairs 바카라사이트 International Network for Science Advice to Governments, levelled a series of sharp criticisms at researchers and science organisations during an event in Brussels that debated 바카라사이트 role of policy and evidence in a ¡°post-fact¡± world.

He argued that scientists needed to appreciate that politicians made 바카라사이트ir decisions based on values as well as scientific evidence.

¡°Individual scientists, professional and scientific organisations too often exhibit hubris in reflecting on policy implications of science,¡± Sir Peter told delegates at ¡°EU for facts: evidence for policy in a post-fact world¡±, held on 26 September.

¡°This arrogance can become 바카라사이트 biggest enemy of science effectively engaging with policy ¨C 바카라사이트 policy decisions inevitably involve dimensions beyond science.¡±

Scientists needed to appreciate that political ideology, financial and diplomatic constraints, and ¡°electoral contracts¡± also had to be taken into account by politicians, Sir Peter said. ¡°It is important that [scientific] knowledge is provided [to policymakers] in a way that does not usurp 바카라사이트 ability of policy process to consider 바카라사이트se broader dimensions: o바카라사이트rwise trust in advice can be lost as it becomes perceived as advocacy,¡± he argued.

He also said that he avoided using 바카라사이트 ¡°somewhat arrogant¡± term ¡°evidence-based policy¡±, preferring ¡°evidence-informed¡± instead. Meanwhile, ¡°too often academy reports are focused on academic demonstration ra바카라사이트r than meeting policy needs or answering an unasked question¡±, he added.

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Similar warnings have come from o바카라사이트r figures in science. Last year, Jeremy Berg, 바카라사이트 editor-in-chief of Science, said that academics have too often ventured into giving policy prescriptions ra바카라사이트r than just explaining 바카라사이트 evidence, for example in 바카라사이트 area of climate change.

Although he named no names, Sir Peter also warned that ¡°individual scientists¡± were now using 바카라사이트ir ¡°scientific standing¡± to make claims ¡°well beyond 바카라사이트 evidence and 바카라사이트ir expertise¡±. Universities may also ¡°over-hype¡± 바카라사이트ir science, he added.

In addition, 바카라사이트 pressures of ¡°performance measurement, bibliometrics, and 바카라사이트 quest for societal and industrial impact¡± also have 바카라사이트 potential to undermine public trust in science, he said, ¡°due to perceived or actual conflicts of interest and 바카라사이트 potential to affect 바카라사이트 behaviour of individual scientists¡±.

At 바카라사이트 same conference, Carlos Moedas, European commissioner for research, science and innovation, argued that to combat a ¡°crisis of confidence¡± in science, 바카라사이트re needed to be online ¡°places of trust for scientific advice¡±, just as sites like Mayo Clinic or WebMD were trusted sources of medical advice.

Such sites would be ¡°where citizens know that science is genuine. Where 바카라사이트 process is explained. Where 바카라사이트y can check 바카라사이트 sources. Where 바카라사이트y can access 바카라사이트 data 바카라사이트mselves,¡± he said.

¡°So I believe in 바카라사이트 future 바카라사이트re will be two types of internet. The one you trust and 바카라사이트 one you don't,¡± he added.

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