Science, Policy & Controversy: Fisheries Mangement, Pollution Control and Climate Change

Det Norske Videnskaps-Akademi

Fordragsholder: Professor John Shepherd, University of Southampton
Kommentarinnlegg ved Tor Saglie og Lars Walløe.

Før foredraget holdes minneord over Peter F. Hjort ved Stein A. Evensen og over Jan Jansen ved Per Andersen.

Scientific advice is nowadays an essential ingredient of public policy on controversial issues. There can often be conflict between scientific rigour, economic incentives and political expedience, which can become severe. My experience in several fields (Fisheries Management, Pollution Control and Climate Change) suggests that this can be reduced by good communication, independence, peer review, and transparency. But mutual trust is essential, and even these may not be enough.