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Panel at Science Day stresses institutional reform, new incentive structures and public engagement to scale science‑policy impact
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Summary
Panelists from the International Science Council, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sloan Foundation and others called for redesigned institutions, new reward systems for transdisciplinary work, expanded international coordination and better science communication to build trust and enable mission‑oriented science for SDG implementation.
A high‑level panel convened after the case studies to discuss structural barriers and practical steps to scale science that informs SDG implementation.
Panelists included Robert Dijkgraaf (president‑elect, International Science Council), Ed Carr (US Center Director, Stockholm Environment Institute), Daniel Goroff (Vice President, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation), Yancy Flores‑Boisso (chair, Global Young Academy) and Astra Bonini (UN DESA). Anna Marath (SDSN) moderated.
Major themes:
- Institutional incentives and career structures: Yancy Flores‑Boisso and others argued that academic incentive systems (publication counts, impact factor, narrow career tracks) discourage communication, engagement and non‑traditional career paths. Panelists urged recognition and reward for policy engagement, science communication and interdisciplinary work.
- Mission‑oriented, path‑finding research: Ed Carr urged a shift from single‑solution thinking to iterative, path‑finding approaches suited to “wicked” systemic problems. Panelists said assessments and policy work should test hypotheses, curate evidence, and provide staged options rather than single endpoints.
- International coordination and inclusion: Robert Dijkgraaf and others called for expanding the “absorptive power” of societies and for embedding scientists inside government agencies; Daniel Goroff suggested funding research into the economics of science and building institutions that can produce causal evidence on what works.
- Communication and trust: Panelists and discussants stressed professional, sustained science communication. The Sloan Foundation emphasized narrative storytelling as part of public understanding; several panelists recommended partnering with professional communicators and mainstream channels.
- Youth and capacity building: Panelists highlighted early‑career and fellowship programs (IPBES fellowships, assessment participation) as practical ways to train interdisciplinary skills and create durable cross‑disciplinary networks.
Audience questions addressed higher education reform, misinformation and how to include under‑resourced communities. Panelists suggested leveraging existing crisis‑driven funding shifts to support applied, transdisciplinary work and to scale training for local partners.
