The why’s and how’s of public sector scientists’ policy engagement

The why’s and how’s of public sector scientists’ policy engagement: The lessons from agricultural biotechnology

van der Werf-Kulichova, Z. (TU Delft BT/Biotechnology and Society)

Osseweijer, P. (promotor)

Delft University of Technology

2016-10-25

The biobased economy is regarded as a possible solution for
addressing the challenges associated with climate change and
the growing human population. Due to progress in science
and technology the biobased economy can provide additional
food and renewable energy to meet the needs of the expected
9 billion people by 2050.
However, the implementation of the biobased economy also
raises many questions about the transition paths, including the
political and regulatory climate for new technologies that are
necessary to accomplish this transition. Policy decisions and
new regulations require input from the scientific community.
While most policy stakeholders agree that we need new technologies
that can reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions,
we witness controversy about the best solutions to realize
sustainable production. Scientists have the potential to play an
important role in policy debates and processes, but presently
their involvement is not adequate.
This thesis explores how scientists perceive their role in policymaking
and which factors are relevant for their motivation for
policy engagement. Using the empirical data from the research
with agricultural biotechnology scientists this thesis identifies and
describes a new role for scientists in controversial policy-making
and provides recommendations for institutional strategies that
are needed to facilitate that scientists adopt this role in practice.

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ff150699-5f50-4196-8d25-9e959f06ce51

978-94-6299-449-2

Institutional Repository

doctoral thesis

© 2016 Z. van der Werf-Kulichova