Manifiesto para la despolitización de la ciencia

En esta era de politización de la ciencia y de científicos activistas aparece la Declaración de Bruselas, un manifiesto que intenta 'casar la ciencia con el factor humano' ofreciendo un enfoque ético y formulando los principios rectores para revolucionar la forma en que la evidencia científica se transfiere a la ciencia y a la sociedad para la formulación de políticas basadas en el conocimiento científico. Actualmente, casi todas las decisiones de política se basan en las evidencias aportadas por los expertos. Pero ¿Quienes son los expertos? ¿Cómo son elegidos? ¿Cuál es la veracidad de sus consejos? La verdad es que muchas de las decisiones políticas son impulsadas por temores y suposiciones.

Estas son sus 20 recomendaciones:

Section 1: science and policy – a crucial relationship

1. Science is a fundamental pillar of knowledge-based societies

2. Science can help provide the evidence base for public policy

3. Sound public policy is crucial for the direction and priorities of science

4. The dialogue between science and policy is never straight-forward


Section 2: what we expect from the scientific community

5. The integrity of science needs to be clear and the integrity of scientists providing advice must be unimpeachable

6. The full range of scientific disciplines should be included; notably, the social sciences can play a key role in improving how the public may react or adapt

7. Scientists must learn to use established communication channels for providing policy advice more effectively and be less aloof and perhaps less arrogant

8. Scientists must listen and respond to criticism


Section 3: what we expect from the policy-making community

9. Policy-makers must listen, consult and be held accountable 10. Ethical consideration of the impact of policy decisions is crucial

11. Policy-makers have to challenge science to deliver on public investment

12. Policy-makers should be willing to justify decisions, particularly where they deviate from independent scientific advice

13. Policy-makers should acknowledge the potential for bias and vested interests contrary to the scientific consensus


Section 4: what we expect from the public, media, industry and interest groups

14. The public plays a critical role in influencing policy and must be included in the decision-making process

15. Industry is an investor in knowledge generation and science and has every right to have its voice heard

16. Interest groups similarly have every right to have their voice heard as guardians of the common good or legitimate sectoral interests

17. Advice from any source to policy-making must acknowledge possible bias


Section 5: what needs to change: how scientific advice & greater inclusivity need to be integrated more effectively

18. Scientific advice must be more involved in all stages of the policy-making process

19. Policy-making must learn to cope with the speed of scientific development and include greater foresight and policy anticipation

20. Societal investment in science will always require priority-setting; nevertheless, advances in public health deserve special attention

Vía Judith Curry