The Role of Science in Government

Are governments using science as an integral part of government policy development? Prof Sir Ian Boyd will be speaking on the intersection.

There are two ways in which government uses science to support the health and welfare of people : (1) to support the growth of the economy, and (2) to enable government itself to make better policies that drive its decisions. To do this, government uses both market mechanisms and internalised investments in its own capabilities where it is not possible for markets to deliver. The balance has been shifting for many decades from government owning and supporting scientific assets to using market mechanisms for delivery of the science .

Government is also using science as an integral part of government policy development and delivery rather than an adjunct to that. The concept of scientific advice to policy is being displaced by scientific integration into policy.