Overline: COVID-19, climate and other crises

Headline: How can we ensure that science and policy gainfully communicate with each other?

In what ways can science and politics have an impact through their crisis communication? This will be debated by experts with an emphasis on migration policy. The public conversation takes place online via Zoom

• on 25 October 2021 (1:00 to 2:30 PM CEST; online; in English language).

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated how important it is for political decision-making to be based on scientific expertise. Also during the so-called ‘refugee crisis’, scientific bodies, such as the Council on Migration in Germany, were a crucial voice. Politics and society increasingly need more scientific advice. Experience has shown us that the interplay between science and politics is not easy. The reasons for this are manifold with contradictory expectations and working routines often considered causes.

To improve this exchange, it is important to learn more about the structures and routines of how political organizations approach science.

Central questions are:

1. Which (scientific) information sources do decision-makers use in their daily work?
2. How do they understand the role of scientific policy advice and how do they select experts?
3. What roles do journalists and social media play – also as a source of disinformation?
4. What strategies are useful to improve evidence-based policymaking to be better prepared for future crises?

After a keynote speech by Birte Fähnrich (Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Freie Universität Berlin) and Ortwin Renn (Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities), these questions will be discussed with experts using the example of migration policy.  

Discussants: Jakub Bijak (Universität Southampton / QuantMig), Katharina Eisele (European Parliament Research Services), Amparo Gonzalez-Ferrer (Spanish Ministry for Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations), Raffaella Greco Tonegutti (Belgium Development Agency), Axel Kreienbrink (German Federal Office for Migration and Refugees), Luc Leboeuf (Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology / VULNER), Luca Lixi (European Commission, European External Action Service), Fabian Lutz (European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs), Jon Simmons (UK Home-Office), Ann Singleton (University of Bristol) and Dario Tarchi (European Commission, Joint Research Centre).
 
Moderator: Daniela Vono de Vilhena (Population Europe).

Register now: https://population-europe.eu/science-policymaking