A novel governance framework for transformative science-policy-society interfaces: What can sociocracy offer?

Area of Science:

• Environmental governance
• Sustainability science
• Knowledge co-production

Background:

• Transformative change in environmental governance requires solution-focused, inclusive, and co-produced mechanisms for policy-relevant knowledge.
• Prevailing power disparities and organizational norms often hinder Science-Policy-Society Interfaces (SPSI) from achieving economic and political restructuring for sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the critical aspect of governance structures and processes within SPSI interactions for transformative knowledge co-production.
• To outline a novel model for SPSI governance based on sociocracy principles.

Main Methods:

• A design thinking process was employed.
• Expert interviews were conducted.
• A novel governance model was developed and applied to a case study.

Main Results:

• A sociocracy-based model for SPSI governance was outlined, emphasizing equity, inclusivity, and consent-based decision-making.
• The strengths and limitations of this model were examined using the Science Service for Biodiversity (within the EU-funded BioAgora project) as an example.

Conclusions:

• The proposed sociocracy-based model offers a potential pathway to more equitable and effective SPSI governance.
• Further reimagining and discussion on SPSI governance structures are invited to advance transformative change for sustainability.