SUBJECT: RE: Science for better governance
AUTHOR: Josef Settele
DATE: 16th April 2003

Consistent with the content of Martin's question, just let me answer in a "quick and dirty" or let's rather say spontaneous way:

I think scientists, when asked for advice when scientific knowledge is lacking, should in fact say: "here is the best guess I have at the moment, here are my doubts about my guess" - I don't think it is of much use to talk about 10-years-time-research results from the individual scientist's perspective. But I think for a "best practice" manual one could consider consulting an ad-hoc-group of colleagues working in a related field and give a joint statement. Furthermore, for such a manual, frequently asked questions/advice can be collected as well as the scientists' answers as well (both of individuals and groups of scientists). Collating (and publishing??) such answers would also guarantee that the scientists have to clearly differentiate between their own opinion (educated guess) and "real" scientific evidence. This would avoid anonymity. I think in such cases this is important to prevent personal interests to dominate the advice. Such a procedure also avoids scientists asking for money for research that might be or have been conducted elsewhere. So if they make a costed description and schedule of work needed to provide a better-substantiated reply in 10 years' time, it has to be proven that such research really is needed!

A contribution by:

Josef Settele
UFZ Leipzig-Halle
Community Ecology
Theodor-Lieser-Str. 4
06120 Halle/Saale
Germany