04/03/2021
Commissioner Mariya Gabriel presented the recent advice on biodegradability of plastics in the open environment to a meeting of European research ministers on 26 February. In her remarks at the informal Council of the EU meeting, the Commissioner informed ministers about the SAPEA evidence review report and outlined recommendations provided by the Group of Chief […]
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25/02/2021
During this time of crisis, when policymakers and citizens are listening closely to the advice of scientists, trust in the integrity of research and scientific evidence has never been more important. Policymakers and the public must have confidence that scientists have acted with honesty, and have adhered to principles of rigour, transparency and openness in […]
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21/02/2021
What does the worldwide scientific community think of how science advice was used in 2020? What impact have lockdown, home-working and the race for a vaccine had on the life and work of individual scientists? Have other areas of science-related policy, such as climate change, been boosted or sidelined since COVID? Fred Fenter and Stephan […]
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10/02/2021
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre is conducting a survey of science for policy and science advice eco-systems in Europe. This short questionnaire is aimed at professionals working at the science-policy interface in universities, public research institutes, academies of science, scientific councils to government, government and Parliamentary administrations at national, regional and local level, and […]
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08/02/2021
The Dutch parliament is trialling a new, radical way to take advice from scientists on every draft law that comes before it. How legally robust is it? What are the risks for scientists of getting involved in the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate, and for politicians of inviting professors to “mark their homework”? Pieter […]
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05/02/2021
Key findings from the SAPEA report ‘A sustainable food system for the European Union’ were presented at a public hearing in the European Parliament by working group member Marianne Penker on 4 February. Professor Penker focused her presentation on framings of food and how different framings of food (for instance as a commodity or a common good), lead to different policy interventions and, at […]
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05/02/2021
What has been the role of the media, including social media and local news, on our public debate, attitudes and behaviour during this current pandemic? As we emerge from this crisis, could we rethink the role that media and digital platforms play in facilitating the flow of information and dialogue between experts, policymakers and the public, […]
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25/01/2021
Why is multidisciplinary science advice so difficult, and are there ways to make it easier? Should policymakers seek ethics advice as well as science advice? When there is a conflict between the values embedded in different cultural contexts, how can we navigate the conflict sensitively? Christiane Woopen, Paul Nurse and Peter Piot discuss these questions […]
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14/01/2021
Following the publication of a SAPEA evidence review report “Biodegradability of plastics in the open environment” and a Scientific Opinion by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors of the same title, SAPEA organises a webinar to discuss if biodegradable plastics could help us solve the pollution problem. The event will take place on 4 February at […]
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11/01/2021
What makes science journalism a tough job? How should the media handle the complexities of science advice systems, especially during a pandemic? And when science advice, political controversy and public health get tangled up together, is a journalist the right person to try and unpick them? Miriam Frankel discusses these questions with Toby Wardman of […]
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