!!Evidence-informed policy: a Norwegian perspective
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A seminar hosted by [Academia Europaea Bergen Knowledge Hub|https://aebergen.w.uib.no] assesses the findings of the SAPEA report ‘Making sense of science for policy’ and reflects on what insights might be applied to science advice in Norway. __
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The Academia Europaea Bergen Hub has hosted a successful seminar in Oslo, in collaboration with the [Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters|https://dnva.no].  The seminar, held on 4th November at the House of Literature, assessed the findings of the recent SAPEA report, [Making sense of science for policy|https://scientificadvice.eu/advice/making-sense-of-science-for-policy-under-conditions-of-complexity-and-uncertainty] and reflected on what insights might be applied to the science advice process in Norway.
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[{Image src='Eystein_Jansen_welcoming.jpg' caption='Prof Eystein Jansen, Director of the AE Bergen Hub, welcomes all to the seminar' height='400' alt='Prof Eystein Jansen, Director of the AE Bergen Hub, welcomes all to the seminar' align='center'}]
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The seminar was designed around two linked sessions, one focused on the European dimension of evidence-informed policy and the second examining Norwegian policymaking.
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[Professor Eystein Jansen|Member/Jansen_Eystein] MAE, Director of the Bergen Hub, welcomed everyone to the seminar and emphasised the timeliness of the topic under discussion. [Professor Ole Petersen|Member/Petersen_Ole] MAE, Director of the Cardiff Hub (who coordinated the SAPEA report) gave an introduction to the [European Science Advice Mechanism|https://commission.europa.eu/research-and-innovation_en] and the role played by academies within it. 

!Session 1: ‘Making sense of science for policy’ Evidence Review Report

[Professor Jeroen van der Sluijs|https://www4.uib.no/en/find-employees/Jeroen.P.van.der.Sluijs] (Bergen), a member of the SAPEA Working Group, presented the key findings of the SAPEA report, with a thought-provoking response provided by [Professor Silvio Funtowicz|https://www4.uib.no/en/find-employees/Silvio.Oscar.Funtowicz] (Bergen) and a lively debate with the audience, with skilful moderation by [Professor Matthias Kaiser|Member/Kaiser_Matthias] MAE (Bergen).  Themes that came up included:
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*The issue of __bias and the underrepresentation__ of certain social groups within science
*The __role of the humanities__ in evidence-informed policymaking
*The potential for including __different types of knowledge and extended peer communities__ in science advice
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An interesting case study came from Finland, which is trialling a new approach to science advice, drawing on insights from the European Commission’s Science Advice Mechanism.  [Professor Risto Nieminen|Member/Nieminen_Risto] MAE, President of the [Finnish Academy|https://www.aka.fi/en], spoke of the contribution that could be made by academies to the design and operation of such a system. 
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[{Image src='panel_discussion.jpg' caption='Professors Ole Petersen, Jeroen van der Sluijs, Risto Nieminen and Silvio Funtowicz during the panel discussion in session 1' height='500' alt='Professors Ole Petersen, Jeroen van der Sluijs, Risto Nieminen and Silvio Funtowicz during the panel discussion in session 1' align='center'}]
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!Session 2: Science advice in Norway

The second half of the seminar put science advice in Norway under the spotlight.  __Professor Oystein Hov__ ([Norwegian Academy|https://dnva.no]) gave several examples of success and failure of science advice in Norway.  __Kyrre Lekve__ (Simula) spoke of two contrasting relationships experienced by science advisers, one with civil servants, the other with politicians. 
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The closing discussion between the panel and the audience, also moderated by Matthias Kaiser, gave rise to further reflections on science advice in Norway.  They included:
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*The __nature of risk assessment__, citing the example of mercury contamination from a sunken U-boat off the Norwegian coast
*The contribution the __European science advice model__ could make to solving policy problems in Norway
*The use and __potential misuse of scientific knowledge__ in the context of policymaking
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[{Image src='panel_discussion2.jpg' caption='Prof Oystein Hov, Prof Torbjørn Digernes, Kyrre Lekve and Prof Matthias Kaiser during the panel discussion in session 2' height='400' alt='Prof Oystein Hov, Prof Torbjørn Digernes, Kyrre Lekve and Prof Matthias Kaiser during the panel discussion in session 2' align='center'}]
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Click here to watch the video recording of the presentations and discussions.
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Download the [event report|Oslo-Bergen-post-event-report-web-version.pdf].
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The interview was published 11%%sup th/% November 2019 and conducted by the [Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub|https://aecardiffknowledgehub.wales].\\ For further information please contact [AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk|mailto:AECardiffHub@cardiff.ac.uk].
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