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Published on: July 24, 2016
Challenges of linking scientific knowledge to river basin management policy: AquaTerra as a case study
A F L Slob1, M Rijnveld, A S Chapman
1TNO Innovation and Environment, PO Box 49, 2600 AA Delft, Netherlands. adriaan.slob@tno.nl
Abstract:
The EU Project AquaTerra generates knowledge about the river-soil-sediment-groundwater system and delivers scientific information of value for river basin management. In this article, the use and ignorance of scientific knowledge in decision making is explored by a theoretical review. We elaborate on the 'two-communities theory', which explains the problems of the policy-science interface by relating and comparing the different cultures, contexts, and languages of researchers and policy makers. Within AquaTerra, the EUPOL subproject examines the policy-science interface with the aim of achieving a good connection between the scientific output of the project and EU policies. We have found two major barriers, namely language and resources, as well as two types of relevant relationships: those between different research communities and those between researchers and policy makers.
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