Diversity in science advice for strengthened trust, public confidence and legitimacy

This SAPEA workshop is organised jointly by YASAS and ALLEA as part of a broader series of events designed to share knowledge and good practices among Europe’s academies.

Processes and practices of science advice, as well as the individuals engaged in them, are under increasing political, financial, and societal pressure. These pressures, which reflect wider challenges affecting science more broadly, influence how science advice is produced, which experts are involved, and the conditions under which they participate.

These developments raise critical questions in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) as well as academic freedom in and for science advice. Early-career researchers, displaced and at-risk scientists, and individuals from minority groups are often most adversely impacted by the current situation. EDI is not only about “who is in the room”, but about whether people can participate safely, freely and meaningfully in scientific advisory processes.

While the range of perspectives feeding into science advice is narrowing, science advice is also increasingly expected to operate across borders and to engage with a variety of expertise. Yet, in a changing geopolitical landscape, persisting national or regional centric approaches along with ongoing pressures and restrictions determine where and who produces knowledge and whose expertise is recognised. Therefore, understanding how inclusive science advice systems can be sustained under these conditions is a political and epistemological challenge.

This workshop intends to provide a space for academics and actors engaging at the science-policy interface or interested to learn more, including early-career researchers and displaced scientists, to exchange experiences, surface practical solutions and identify concrete actions that strengthen inclusive, resilient science advice practices. Only solid practices and their outward communication can increase public trust in science advice and its legitimacy.

The objectives of the workshop are:

• Discuss concrete examples of how current political, legal, funding, and societal pressures affect diversity, participation and knowledge production in science advice processes, impacting trust and legitimacy.

• Exchange experiences and approaches used by science advice structures, academies and intermediaries to support inclusive participation thus contributing to resilient, independent systems.

• Discuss and identify actions that could be of further help to reinforce a culture of free, resilient and independent science for science advices.

Programme:

09:00 - 09:15: Welcome and opening

09:15 -09:35: Keynote

09:35 – 09:55: Lightning talks introducing breakout discussions

09:55 - 10:50: Breakout sessions

• Theme 1: Academic freedom, inclusion and the credibility of science advice

• Theme 2: Funding, compliance and mobility: constraints on participation in science advice

• Theme 3: Incentives, risks and recognition for engaging in science advice

• Theme 4: Diversity of expertise, interdisciplinarity and legitimacy of science advice

10:50 – 11:50: Plenary: sharing ideas and discussion

11:50 – 12:00: Closing and next steps