#CSPC2018 panel on #scienceadvice starts!

@DLEKirkwood chief scientist of @NRCan says issue is not do much making sure science is valued in govt (seems it is) but to ensure evidence is used in policy. Plus, policy is inherently quicker than science.

#scipol #canpoli #cdnsci

... The challenge for new science advisors and chief scientists is to ensure that the need for #EBDM in policy is understood across the department, across govt. #CSPC2018

#CSPC2018 Sarah Gallagher @csa_asc says building relationships btw scientists and policymakers (#scicomm skills helpful here!) is key

#CSPC2018 Dan Wayner @NRC_CNRC agrees and adds that the speed of new data and tech is another key challenge. Particularly since depts and sectors are still siloed and need to work together as we face digitization, incl #AI, which can (and will) affect govt and policy writ large

#CSPC2018 @tfyfe asks, How do you make science for the public good effective? How does it interface w/ #policy?

@DLEKirkwood doubles down in Gallagher's point: we have to ensure #scipol relationships, and those within + across depts, are maintained and fostered

Though Gallagher is still new to her role @csa_asc, she has seen a need for data and knowledge that crosses divisions and departments. If we keep reinventing the wheel, we'll end up with a lot of shoddy wheels. Let's work together, we all want good wheels! #CSPC2018

If we have evidence, it's our role to speak truth 2 power. But, you can't reason someone out of a position that they didn't reason themselves into, says Dan Wayner @NRC_CNRC #CSPC2018.

Processes can't replace relationships, trust and respect are built and maintained thru effort.

#CSPC2018 @sciencepolicy

@DLEKirkwood brings back the honest broker role of the position. Provide advice, the best possible, without interference from personal opinions. Be that trustworthy source, so they keep coming back for advice

#scipol #scienceadvice

The problems we have to solve today are too complex for any 1 person or organization, we need governance structure that allows cross cultural collaboration to take place - govt, industry, academia, institutions, third party groups - D Wayner @NRC_CNRC #CSPC2018 #scienceadvice

2 ways to combat silos. If you can make a clear point that you need expertise from the other camp, you can achieve interdisciplinarity. Or, bring people together, get them to hang out. Can't force a relationship, but we can create platforms - Gallagher @csa_asc #CSPC2018 #scipol

#CSPC2018 @DLEKirkwood asks, what role can the #scipol community play to drive #scienceadvice and interdisciplinarity? She has realized from the young people coming in to the dept who have talents across disciplines, it's about the capacity we build 👏👏👏 it's about the people!

... What skills do you expect from the #policy community, asks @tfyfe? @DLEKirkwood says we have to lead by example to show what we need. #CSPC2018

#CSPC2018 la question qui tue By @tfyfe ➡️ where are the social scientists in all this? D Wayner @NRC_CNRC says it didn't happen by chance that social scientists got involved in emerging tech! It is absolutely critical to engage them early if we want disruptive #innovation

#CSPC2018 @DLEKirkwood agrees and adds multiple ways of knowing to the argument. There's so much to learn from social scientists! That the tricouncil is working closer together is a great stride forward #scipol #scienceadvice

+++ include the humanities, all agreed at #CSPC2018

Q about clash of 2 cultures of #scipol. The speed is an issue, so is confidentiality (scientists share data, govts may like to retain it until they are ready), govt likes control, scientists like independence. How do we close the gap? #CSPC2018

#CSPC2018 @DLEKirkwood says step 1 is admitting there is a gap. No doubt, there is. Relationships, again, are key here to understand the needs of each actor and what they are bringing to the table. #scienceadvice #scipol

Dan Wayner @NRC_CNRC says being a diplomat of sorts allows you to find points of overlap, which can bridge that gap. #scienceadvice #CSPC2018

Gallagher @csa_asc says that scientists often need to keep quiet about their research until it's ready as well (don't want to have years of work scooped!), the cultures across #scipol may not be as different as advertised. #CSPC2018 #scienceadvice

Great point in humanities and social science - you may not think you rely on them, but you're thinking of academic disciplines. If you're doing communications, strategy, building relationships, you're using expertise from humanities and social sciences. #CSPC2018

Preston Manning says many politicians (esp with legal background) think there are multiples bodieS of evidence that can support either side of an argument. Evidence needs to be weighed together, not separately. Can we have a common understanding of #evidence and #EBDM? #CSPC2018

D Wayner says that facts given by scientists are still opinions based on data... And that muddies the water in #EBDM. @DLEKirkwood clarifies that we need to communicate that science is a never-ending quest, that we are presenting evidence as best we know it, at that given time.

(here's the part of #CSPC2018 where we all start looking for @Scott_Findlay1)

PhD student at @UofT goes for it and asks about climate change, about the carbon tax, and the balance between evidence, agenda, and communication. Q is, what are your thoughts of how your dept is taking on this file? #CSPC2018

#CSPC2018 @DLEKirkwood is satisfied with the work at @NRCan, there is a lot of work being done to address climate change and the pancanadian framework, incl relevant govt research.

D Weaver @NRC_CNRC goes into an explanation of how #policy communications work. He says there is a lacking cross department effort to work towards solutions, but each department is working hard.

Gallagher was integrated into decision-making boards @csa_asc very quickly, great to see that there is a need and there is an appetite for #scienceadvice #CSPC2018

Quick Q to end the day #CSPC2018 by @tfyfe, if you had one piece of advice to give to the crowd here...? D Wayner @NRC_CNRC says make sure you have no agenda when giving advice. Arms-length advice (honest broker) and advocacy are VERY different

#scipol #scienceadvice basics.

Gallagher @csa_asc says to make sure communications are clear and jargon free to have as much impact and reach as possible, and to prevent misunderstanding of evidence. @DLEKirkwood says support #openscience and #scienceliteracy 👏👏👏#CSPC2018