STEPHANIE SHIPPSCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY POLICY INSTITUTE

SSHIPP@IDA.ORG

AMERICAN EVALUATION ASSOCIATIONNOVEMBER 12,2009

Science of Science Policy: Making Better Science Policy

Decisions

S T P I

1

Why do we need a Science of Science Policy?

To inform Science Policy decisions-for example:

• What are the impacts of the ARRA reinvestment strategy on scientific knowledge, economic growth, and job creation?1

• What deeper understandings can we gain about the mechanisms whereby knowledge is created and how it contributes to both economic and social outcomes?1

• How can we make “less stupid decisions”? 21. Julia Lane. “Assessing the Impact of Science Funding,” in Science, vol 324, 5

June 2009.2. Michael Mandel, Science of Science Policy Workshop, George Washington

University, 3 December 2008.

2

A Proposed SoSP Evaluation Framework

Eva

luatio

n

Evaluation measures progress, assessments of program evolution as well as program outcome; built in reporting structures allow for mid-project course correction

3

Near Term Priorities: Communication/Learning

RoadmapWorkshops:

December 2008 October 2009 3 planned for 2010

ListservEarly websiteComing soon: New

website

4

Mid-term Priorities: Participation/Partnerships & Capacity-

building

Support a community of practice through a dynamic SoSP website Link SciSIP

researchers and federal practitioners

SciSIP Program Build a community of

researchers Develop data, models,

and tools, including evaluation

5

Mid-Term Priorities: Capacity Building

72 SciSIP grants involving 131 researchersSciSIP Topics (selected)Human capital development and collaborative

enterpriseReturns to international knowledge flowsCreativity and innovationMeasuring and tracking innovationMeasuring and evaluating scientific progressKnowledge sharing and creativity…….and many more

6

Translational ResearchTranslational Research Anticipatory governance1Anticipatory governance1

A way of thinking about and

conducting scientific research

to make results applicable to

the population under study

Removes barriers to multi-

disciplinary collaboration

Involves the community who

will benefit at all stages of

research

Requires interdisciplinary translational research and the integration researchers with scientists and engineers throughout the R&D cycle to:Prevent problemsSolve problems as they

ariseMitigate and/or prepare for

unintended consequences Outcome: Better science

policy decisions

7

Long Term SoSP Priorities: Better Science Policy Decisions

1. Risto Karinen and David Guston. “Toward Anticipatory Governance: The experience with nanotechnology,” in Assessment Regimes of Technology: Regulation, Deliberation and Identity Politics of Nanotechnology, 2009. http://cns.asu.edu/cns-library/type/?action=getfile&file=119&section=lib

Translational Research: Example-Translational Medicine

“The goals of this journal, and of translational medicine more broadly, are to speed the rate at which the astounding recent advances in our basic understanding of biological mechanisms are exploited for preventing and treating human disease”

8

Bruce Alberts. “The Art of Translation,” in Science 9 October 2009: Vol. 326. no. 5950, p. 205.

Why we need Science of Science Policy ? Example: Beyond Climate Science1

“Many decision-makers don't know what is available, where to find it, how to use it, or the limits to appropriate use.” “The result is that our understanding of how ecosystems,

water, human health, agriculture, and energy will respond to climate change advances only slowly.”

“Information from diverse federal agencies should be provided through a single portal.” “It is critical to create a single, credible, authoritative source

of climate information to support decision-makers.” “[G]ood decisions depend on the ability to create

"environmental intelligence" that can be accessed by decision-makers.”

1 Barron, Eric, “Beyond Climate Science, “ Eric Barron, Science 30 October 2009: Vol. 326. no. 5953, p. 643

9

What is Role of Evaluation in SoSP?10

http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/assets/memoranda_2010/m10-01.pdf

Join the SoSP/SciSIP Community!

Join the listservSend a blank email to: Subscribe-scisip@lists.nsf.gov.

Send us content that belongs on the site (publications, reference materials, events, tags…)

Visit the new site in early December and:Register and build your profileAdd material to the site (publications, news,

events, etc.)Comment on and rate existing material

11