Coping with uncertainty: a call for a new science-policy forum.
The scientific and policy worlds have different goals, which can lead to different standards for what constitutes "proof" of a change or phenomena, and different approaches for characterizing and conveying uncertainty and risk. These differences can compromise effective communication among scientists, policymakers, and the public, and constrain the types of socially compelling questions scientists are willing to address. In this paper, we review a set of approaches for dealing with uncertainty, and illustrate some of the errors that arise when science and policy fail to coordinate correctly. We offer a set of recommendations, including restructuring of science curricula and establishment of science-policy forums populated by leaders in both arenas, and specifically constituted to address problems of uncertainty.
School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe 85287-4501, USA. Ann.Kinzig@asu.edu
Ann
A
Kinzig
David
D
Starrett
Kenneth
K
Arrow
Sara
S
Aniyar
Bert
B
Bolin
Partha
P
Dasgupta
Paul
P
Ehrlich
Carl
C
Folke
Michael
M
Hanemann
Geoff
G
Heal
Michael
M
Hoel
AnnMari
A
Jansson
Bengt-Owe
BO
Jansson
Nils
N
Kautsky
Simon
S
Levin
Jane
J
Lubchenco
Karl-Göran
KG
Mäler
Stephen W
SW
Pacala
Stephen H
SH
Schneider
Domenico
D
Siniscalco
Brian
B
Walker
D003479:Curriculum; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D011050:Policy Making; D012586:Science; D012924:Social Conditions; D035501:Uncertainty