Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
evolved to represent EPOCA, the new national UK
Ocean Acidii cation Research Programme, and the
German BIOACID programme.
This approach ensures a two-way exchange of
knowledge between the scientists and stakeholders
right from the start of the programme (Fig. 13.7)—
and stakeholders gain knowledge that they can
bring back to their organization. This approach has
resulted in each stakeholder's organization becom-
ing more aware of ocean acidii cation, often stimu-
lating its own activities and in some instances
collaboration in this area.
Scientists get direct feedback from a wide range
of stakeholders on what the key policy questions
and issues are and how they can make their science
more credible, accessible, and useful to users. The
RUG concept has become a standard for knowledge
exchange between researchers and stakeholders,
with feedback from the RUG already ensuring that
scientists are more aware of the policy relevance of
their work.
The RUG has a clear remit and terms of reference,
advising on: the types of data and analyses and
products; the format and nature of key messages
arising from research; the dissemination procedures
to ensure that the results from the research will be
most useful to managers, policy advisers, decision-
makers, and politicians, and are distributed to all
potential end-users of the information; the trans-
mission of key science developments into their own
sector/parent organization.
The ocean acidii cation RUG has an interna-
tional membership including individuals from both
commerce and government, with interests spread
across relevant climate policy, the environment,
industry, and conservation. This knowledge
exchange mechanism has been highly successful in
promoting understanding between policymakers
and other stakeholders.
The RUG produced two guides, 'Ocean acidii ca-
tion: the facts' and 'Ocean acidii cation: questions
answered' (Ocean Acidii cation Reference User
Group 2009 and 2010). These were written by stake-
holders, the RUG members, as special introductory
guides for policy advisers and decision-makers and
the science content was checked by experts.
13.6.2 Communicating with the wider public
through the press and media
Some public understanding of scientii c issues is
increasingly recognized as essential for broad
acceptance of any political or economic actions that
may be required to face and solve challenges, espe-
cially within the environmental sector. A growing
trend is for 'communication' of science to be
embraced within research funding, and for a 'public
engagement plan' to be created at the outset. The
press and media are key stakeholders in such
engagement, but in the interests of being unbiased
can be powerful supporters or signii cant detrac-
tors. Certainly the press and media are more scien-
tii cally aware than at any time in the past,
sometimes having specialist science or environmen-
tal correspondents. Lessons learned from the long-
running climate change 'debate' can be applied to
Policy-science links-better practice
Policy development strand
Critical issues:
Membership
Budget
Timing meetings
Group dynamics
Multi-year projects
Policy 'capacity'
Research
commissioned
Reference User Group
Science development strand
Figure 13.7
Showing the Reference User Group (RUG) approach to ensure better practice in linking policy and science. The interaction between the RUG
stakeholders and the scientists continues throughout the programme so that science and policy develop together. Courtesy Dan Laffoley, IUCN.
