Internationally, there is a growing recognition, in many jurisdictions, for better management of the relationship between the scientific and policy-making communities, and between the scientific community and the broader public. Increasingly, this need is being met through the position of Chief Science Advisor, Departmental Science Advisors, Science Advisory Committees or other structures of science advice to policy makers.
The practice of providing policy-relevant science advice to government is a constant challenge for a number of reasons including time frames, political sensitivities, and the state of knowledge and uncertainty, among others. Science advice practitioners need to manage all of these tensions in the course of their work, yet rarely have the opportunity to discuss them fully or to share practices and insights among peers.
New Zealand will welcome the world’s eminent Science Advisors, and others who have expertise in the field for a frank and fruitful discussion of the current and future state of the practice. On behalf of the International Council for Science (ICSU), Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand will host and chair this landmark global conference.
