GeoLog | SAM

GeoPolicy: The importance of scientific foresight

Chloe Hill October 27, 2017

Foresight shows us where we are going. Credit: marfis75 (distributed via Flickr).

Many of the issues that society currently faces are complex and research on just one angle or area does not provide sufficient information to address the problem. These challenges are compounded when more than one region (or even the entire planet) is impacted. Many of the decisions and legislations passed by governments today will go on to impact how these issues either develop or are resolved ye ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: A new vehicle emissions test to be introduced, say EU’s top scientists

Sarah Connors December 14, 2016

Credit: John H. White, 1945-, Photographer (NARA record: 4002141) (U.S. National Archives and Records Administration). Distributed via wikicommons.

Last year the European Commission appointed a panel of world leading scientists to advise on key science policy issues. In November, the panel issued their first recommendation report focusing on CO2 vehicle emissions. The month’s GeoPolicy post takes a closer look at this high-level advisory panel and the recommendations they have published. In 2015, the Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM) w ...[Read More]

GeoPolicy: 8 ways to engage with policy makers

Sarah Connors July 13, 2016

European Parliament Plenary Chamber. Credit: Diamond Geezer (distributed via flickr.com)

Scientific research is usually verbally communicated to policy officials or through purposefully written documents. This occurs at all levels of governance (local, national, and international). This month’s GeoPolicy post takes a look at the main methods in which scientists can assist in the policy process and describes a new method adopted by the European Commission (EC) that aims to enhance scie ...[Read More]