Bridging Science and Policy –Toward the Advancement of "Science for Policy"– Symposium was successfully held on 6th August 2012 in Tokyo. Approximately 200 participants attended the symposium.
Thank you very much for your cooperation.
Objectives
Recently, there have been increasing expectations for the development and utilization of science and technology in order to identify and address socioeconomic and policy issues, both domestically and internationally, which include climate change, energy and environment, natural disasters, food production, diseases, aging and etc.., not to mention economic development. As such, many countries have greatly expanded their scope from "science and technology policy" to "science, technology and innovation (STI) policy" and promoted the new initiatives in this field.
In Japan, last year’s Great East Japan Earthquake and the accidents in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant revealed the vulnerability of the system of provision of scientific advice for political decision-making. They also clarified the failures of communication between the scientific community and policymakers. This vulnerability of the system and poor communication resulted in a decreased level of trust in science and technology among the general public in Japan. As such, it is highly desirable to strengthen the relationships between policymakers and the scientific community, to reinforce the system through which scientific community can provide advice, and to establish a code of conduct for interaction between the scientific community and policymakers.
At present, the Japanese government is considering the construction of headquarters to promote STI, the foundation of a science advisor(s), and the establishment of a support system for these two institutions. These goals require the implementation of not only the existing "Policy for Science," which primarily aims at the promotion of science and technology, but also "Science for Policy," which addresses a wide range of socioeconomic and policy issues on the basis of scientific evidence. However, to date in Japan, neither the effort for the "Science for Policy" nor the communication between policymakers, the scientific community, industry, and other stakeholders has been organized well.
This symposium is for members of the government, industry, and academia who are involved in policymaking to discuss the relationships between science and policy from various perspectives, such as infrastructure for the promotion and implementation of STI. Other topics include strengthening the system to realize the "Science for Policy," establishing codes of conduct and specifying the roles and responsibilities of these diverse groups, taking the above situation into consideration.
| Title | Bridging Science and Policy –Toward the Advancement of "Science for Policy" – |
| Date | Mon. 6th August 2012 14:00-17:00 (Registration:13:30-) |
| Venue | National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies “Soukairou Hall” |
| Organizer | National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies |
| Supporter | Center for Research and Development Strategy, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST-CRDS) |
| Language | English Japanese (simultaneous interpretation) |
Symposium secretariat
Prime International Co., Ltd.
TEL: +81-3-6277-0117, FAX: +81-3-6277-0118, E-mail: grips2012-symposium@prime-pco.com