In science-for-policy design, one size doesn’t fit all

We commend the News Feature (Nature 636, 26; 2024) highlighting evidence from a global survey showing the importance of getting science advice right. At the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, headquartered in Brussels, we conducted a similar survey in Europe of almost 500 science-for-policy specialists. Our survey confirms some of the global findings, but also suggests a need for national differentiation in improving science advisory systems. For example, although 80% of global respondents thought that policymakers lacked sufficient understanding of science, only 62% of European respondents shared this view — suggesting improved science-advisory ecosystems in Europe. Also, 71% of our respondents identified a lack of institutionalized meeting opportunities as the greatest challenge, followed by the fragmentation of science-for-policy ecosystems (70%). These point to the need for more structured interactions and coordination among scientists and policymakers. A one-size-fits-all approach will not suffice; instead, assessment of national capacities and contextualization of solutions are necessary.

SCHARFBILLIG Mario;  ALMEIDA Mara;  KRIEGER Kristian;  MELCHOR FERNANDEZ Lorenzo; 

2025-05-14

NATURE PORTFOLIO

JRC141496

1476-4687 (online),   

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-01404-5,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC141496,   

10.1038/d41586-025-01404-5 (online),