皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app role of engineering advice and horizon-scanning are highlighted in the updated 鈥楪uidelines on the use of scientific and engineering advice within government鈥�, published today (1 July 2010) by Government Chief Scientific Advisor (GCSA) Professor Sir John Beddington.

皇冠体育app guidelines address how scientific and engineering advice should be sought and applied to enable government policy makers to make better informed decisions. This is the third update of the guidelines and followed a public consultation.

皇冠体育app key messages are that departments, and policy makers within them should:

• identify early the issues which need scientific and engineering advice and where public engagement is appropriate
• draw on a wide range of expert advice sources, particularly when there is uncertainty
• adopt an open and transparent approach to the scientific advisory process and publish the evidence and analysis as soon as possible
• explain publicly the reasons for policy decisions, particularly when the decision appears to be inconsistent with scientific advice
• work collectively to ensure a joined-up approach throughout government to integrating scientific and engineering evidence and advice into policy making

皇冠体育app updated guidelines reflect feedback from consultation on the need to highlight:

• the role and importance of engineering advice
• the benefits of horizon-scanning
• the value of engaging with the scientific community鈥檚 representative bodies
• the importance of using international sources of advice

Government Chief Scientific Advisor Professor Sir John Beddington said:

Climate change, security, pressures on the supply of energy, food and water, health and migration pose unprecedented and inter-connected challenges to the world. Science and, particularly, engineering are central to identifying, understanding and addressing these challenges. 皇冠体育appse updated guidelines ensure that policy makes have access to the high-quality and robust evidence vital for informed decision-making to tackle these challenges.

Universities and Science Minister David Willetts MP said:

Government decisions must be made on the basis of hard evidence and high-quality scientific advice. Updating the guidelines will make sure that scientific advice is robust, reliable and relevant to the world we live in.

Notes to editors

1. 皇冠体育app 鈥楪uidelines on the use of scientific and engineering advice in policy making鈥� provide a high-level framework for addressing the way in which government departments obtain and use science and engineering advice. 皇冠体育app guidelines are available from the .

2. 皇冠体育app consultation of the guidelines was held between 17 November 2009 and 9 February 2010. See the government response.

3. 皇冠体育app Government Office for Science (GO-Science) is headed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA), Professor Sir John Beddington. It exists to ensure that government policy and decision-making is underpinned by robust science and engineering and long-term thinking.