In the article “Science Diplomacy: A Pragmatic Perspective from the Inside”, Vaughan Turekian, Peter Gluckman, Teruo Kishi, and Robin Grimes (former science advisors to the foreign ministries of the United States, New Zealand, Japan, and the UK), identified the following factors for the success of Chief Science Advisers (CSA) in Foreign Ministries:
Science advisers have to recognise the limits of science and accept that they inform rather than and not make policy themselves (Gluckman 2014). They have to adopt and feel comfortable with the role of a broker (cf. Pielke 2007), not of an advocate, i.e. they have to lay out options instead of prescribing a course of action. They also have to understand competing interests from all societal actors and be able to sustain the trust of the public, the media, policymakers, politicians and scientists, engaging all these communities.
Peter GLUCKMAN Chair of the International Network of Government Science Advice (INGSA) and president-elect of the International Science Council (ISC). Former Chief Science Advisor to the New Zealand Prime Minister (2009 to 2018) |
What are the competencies and skills necessary for a good science diplomat? |