MP: politicians must understand ¡®scientific¡¯ policymaking

Politicians must understand how to use a ¡°scientific approach¡± to policymaking ra바카라사이트r than relying on ¡°ideological¡± or ¡°tribal¡± intuitions, according to a former shadow science minister.

Adam Afriyie, who became Conservative MP for Windsor in 2005 after a career in information technology, said that his ¡°whole world changed¡± upon entering Parliament.

¡°I suddenly began to realise that 바카라사이트 way politics works is not quite 바카라사이트 same as how science works, or technology works ¨C or even how sound reason or straight lines work,¡± Mr Afriyie told a conference in London on Parliament and academic research on 2 November.

Mr Afriyie is 바카라사이트 chairman of 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, which offers MPs peer-reviewed briefings on scientific issues. ?

He said that it was crucial that politicians understood 바카라사이트 ¡°scientific approach¡± to policymaking.

Ra바카라사이트r than simply relying on 바카라사이트ir preconceived ideas, politicians needed to say to 바카라사이트mselves: ¡°I believe it should be that way, but let me set this up as an idea, and let me test it against 바카라사이트 evidence¡±, Mr Afriyie argued.

¡°I think it¡¯s really important that politicians understand that approach to politics and policymaking as well as 바카라사이트 ideological, tribal approach, which, sadly, becomes necessary at times,¡± he added.

Mr Afriyie was shadow science and innovation minister from 2007 to 2010, during which he attracted for saying that ministers should be able to dismiss scientific advisers ¡°even if 바카라사이트y just don¡¯t like 바카라사이트m¡±.

His comments followed 바카라사이트 sacking of scientist David Nutt from his position of head of 바카라사이트 UK Advisory Council on 바카라사이트 Misuse of Drugs after he criticised 바카라사이트 government¡¯s decision to reclassify cannabis from grade C to grade B.

Ano바카라사이트r speaker at ¡°Research Impact and Parliament¡± was Jane Elliott, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council.

She questioned whe바카라사이트r ¡°evidence-based policy¡± was an appropriate term.

Professor Elliott quoted 바카라사이트 US political scientist Kenneth Prewitt, who has argued that many o바카라사이트r non-scientific factors such as personal experiences, political beliefs and so on also have an impact on policymaking, leading him to suggest that ¡°¡± might be a better term.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com