Knowledge and Diplomacy Science Advice in the United Nations System (2002) / Chapter Skim
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2 Elements of Science and Advice
2 Elements of Science and Advice
Pages 13-20
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From page 13... ...
The role of the advisor is to serve as a link between decision makers and the scientific community. The science advisor's key value is the ability to know how science works, and to be known and trusted in the scientific community to ensure that the process of science advice involves a broad perspective and produces the best balanced advice possible, with explicit explanation of its uncertainties and remaining unknowns.
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From page 14... ...
The science advisor must help to interpret the policy-making world to the scientific community and help interpret the science advice to make it most useful in the policy world. It is important to distinguish the advisory group or study committee that is convened to provide advice on one single question from the more general science advisory board or standing committee that may advise policy makers on issues related to science and technology.
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From page 15... ...
These may be senior decision makers or their representatives those who will take action based upon, or influenced by, the advice. The product of the consultation between the users and the science adviser is the statement of task, the instructions to the study committee containing the concrete questions to be answered.
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From page 16... ...
One of the key issues facing science advice in the United Nations is the uneven distribution of scientific and technical capacity among countries and the limited resources available to developing countries to support the participation of their nationals in international science advisory activities. Strengthening science advice in the United Nations will require simultaneous strengthening of science, and even science advisory institutions, in developing countries and countries with economies in transition.
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From page 17... ...
A large number of United Nations employees are either seconded by governments or 2 In diplomatic forums, governments often bring to negotiations scientific expertise that supports their negotiating positions. in this respect, bias is inherently built into the process.
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From page 18... ...
A member or members of the committee, each writing sections of particular interest to them, the chair, or staff may draft the report. In any case, the study committee as a whole must approve the resulting draft.
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From page 19... ...
Those having the best and most detailed scientific knowledge are not necessarily best able to perceive its implications for policy, decision making, and action. For this reason, it is useful for senior decision makers to have their own science advisor who has their trust and the resources to caITy out the scientific advisory process as described.
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From page 20... ...
The potentialfor high impact underscores the importance of publication, dissemination, and discussion of science advisory products with policy makers, groups that are affected by the policies in question, and the public. Conclusion The elements outlined above are synthesized from efforts around the world to find ways of ensuring scientific credibility on the one hand and interactions between science and policy on the other.
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