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Unlocking successful sustainability : innovative communication strategies for science based policy

Waslekar, Saahil LU (2016) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20161
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Environmental policy should be made up of scientific evidence. This thesis paper supports science based policy and its formulation through innovative communication strategies. It is important to be innovative in communicating science when dealing with the policy community as there could be confrontations owing to the nature of relation between science and policy. This is where the
professional environment science communicator surfaces to function as a bridge between the science and policy communities in order to ensure the furthering of science into policy. Seen from the point of view of sustainability science, the role of a science communicator is imperative towards communicating science and advocating for science-evidence based... (More)
Environmental policy should be made up of scientific evidence. This thesis paper supports science based policy and its formulation through innovative communication strategies. It is important to be innovative in communicating science when dealing with the policy community as there could be confrontations owing to the nature of relation between science and policy. This is where the
professional environment science communicator surfaces to function as a bridge between the science and policy communities in order to ensure the furthering of science into policy. Seen from the point of view of sustainability science, the role of a science communicator is imperative towards communicating science and advocating for science-evidence based policies. The initiative of the professional environment science communicator will have a future impact on the way bills are drafted. Hence, allowing this thesis to make its way into sustainability science. In context, a science communicator is a boundary spanner who sits on the boundary of science and policy, working at a boundary organization. The paper explains six communication strategies and their limitations, as a foundation for furthering the debate. Furthermore, this paper has adopted a case study method and in doing so searches for the innovative aspect in two projects of the Stockholm Environment Institute and how the innovative communication strategy in these projects influenced policy-making in each case. The results section highlights internal and external factors that affect a communications strategy and continues to discuss the innovative aspect in science communication strategies in detail, through comparative analysis. The paper concludes with a suggestion that science communicators need to recognise that their role is that of an innovation broker. This is in the benefit of sustainability science,which will seemingly support one and all.

Word count - 13771 (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Waslekar, Saahil LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20161
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
professional environment science communicator (PESC), boundary work, science communication, Science Policy Interface (SPI), science-based policy, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2016:005
language
English
id
8876303
date added to LUP
2016-06-02 13:41:39
date last changed
2016-06-02 13:41:39
@misc{8876303,
  abstract     = {{Environmental policy should be made up of scientific evidence. This thesis paper supports science based policy and its formulation through innovative communication strategies. It is important to be innovative in communicating science when dealing with the policy community as there could be confrontations owing to the nature of relation between science and policy. This is where the
professional environment science communicator surfaces to function as a bridge between the science and policy communities in order to ensure the furthering of science into policy. Seen from the point of view of sustainability science, the role of a science communicator is imperative towards communicating science and advocating for science-evidence based policies. The initiative of the professional environment science communicator will have a future impact on the way bills are drafted. Hence, allowing this thesis to make its way into sustainability science. In context, a science communicator is a boundary spanner who sits on the boundary of science and policy, working at a boundary organization. The paper explains six communication strategies and their limitations, as a foundation for furthering the debate. Furthermore, this paper has adopted a case study method and in doing so searches for the innovative aspect in two projects of the Stockholm Environment Institute and how the innovative communication strategy in these projects influenced policy-making in each case. The results section highlights internal and external factors that affect a communications strategy and continues to discuss the innovative aspect in science communication strategies in detail, through comparative analysis. The paper concludes with a suggestion that science communicators need to recognise that their role is that of an innovation broker. This is in the benefit of sustainability science,which will seemingly support one and all.

Word count - 13771}},
  author       = {{Waslekar, Saahil}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Unlocking successful sustainability : innovative communication strategies for science based policy}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}