This was a fascinating read – thank you very much for posting. It's a perennial issue, that scientists need to be able to better communicate i) the reasons for, ii) results of, and iii) implications/applicability of their research. Accordingly, they have to clearly tailor their messages and consider carefully how the wheels of policy turn.
However, why should the science community have to do all the running? Why is there no mention of the scientific illiteracy of many policymakers and the implications of this? Why no allusion to policymakers who take a clear scientific solution to a problem and then mangle it beyond recognition so that the solution no longer address the problem, leading to policy failure? Why no critique of the unrealistic expectations of some policymakers in demanding simple, short-term solutions to complex, long-term problems?
Alex Awiti states a very important lesson with the comment: “If you can’t explain your science to a policymaker, you aren’t going to do any science that’s going to make any difference to anyone." As researchers, we should all be mindful of this. However, one could just as easily make the statement:
"If a policymaker cannot understand the science, then how can they hope to develop meaningful and effective policy that will make any difference to anyone?".
As the demand for "evidence-based policy" increases, both parties have to come to the table.
This was a fascinating read – thank you very much for posting. It's a perennial issue, that scientists need to be able to better communicate i) the reasons for, ii) results of, and iii) implications/applicability of their research. Accordingly, they have to clearly tailor their messages and consider carefully how the wheels of policy turn.
However, why should the science community have to do all the running? Why is there no mention of the scientific illiteracy of many policymakers and the implications of this? Why no allusion to policymakers who take a clear scientific solution to a problem and then mangle it beyond recognition so that the solution no longer address the problem, leading to policy failure? Why no critique of the unrealistic expectations of some policymakers in demanding simple, short-term solutions to complex, long-term problems?
Alex Awiti states a very important lesson with the comment: “If you can’t explain your science to a policymaker, you aren’t going to do any science that’s going to make any difference to anyone." As researchers, we should all be mindful of this. However, one could just as easily make the statement:
"If a policymaker cannot understand the science, then how can they hope to develop meaningful and effective policy that will make any difference to anyone?".
As the demand for "evidence-based policy" increases, both parties have to come to the table.