SAPEA brought academies from across Europe together for meetings in Madrid, Spain and Bucharest, Romania to share best practice in the provision of scientific advice to policy-makers and public engagement.
During the months of September and October, science academies from over 20 countries took part in these two workshops organised by SAPEA.
The workshops were hosted by the Royal Academy of Engineering of Spain on 21/22 September in Madrid and by the Romanian Academy of Technical Sciences together with the Romanian Academy on 16/17 October in Bucharest. Representatives from European Academy Networks and their Member Academies took part in panel discussions and informal breakout sessions on a range of topics including: challenges faced by Academies, activities and best practices, providing science for policy, and networking and collaboration between academies.
On 22 September, Dr Johannes Klumpers (Head of Scientific Advice Mechanism Unit, European Commission) joined colleagues from the Academies and Networks in Madrid to discuss the provision of science advice for policy, presenting on the need for evidence-based advice and policy making in the EU, and what policymakers find useful from academies.
Professor Günter Stock, chair of the SAPEA board also addressed the academy delegates in Madrid:
“It is a wonderful opportunity to bring these academies together in the early months of the SAPEA project. I hope the discussions today will provide academies with the chance to share best practices and challenges between large and small academies, older and newer Academies from all across Europe, as well as across the range of disciplines which the SAPEA project brings together.”
The outcomes of the workshop will be compiled and be used as a guideline document for best practice approaches for European academies.
For selected media coverage of the event please see below:
Madrid:
http://www.elmundo.es/economia/2017/10/18/59e73c21468aeb43458b461d.html
Bucharest:
http://www.economistul.ro/stiri-si-analize-business/suport-academic-pentru-decizie-politica-4003/
