Structure of scientific knowledge flows to intergovernmental organizations.

Area of Science:

• Science and Technology Policy
• Bibliometrics
• Network Analysis

Background:

• Intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) shape global policy using scientific assessments.
• The pathways connecting scientific research to IGO advisory processes are not well understood.
• External scientists are crucial for bridging research and IGO policy-making.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the structural pathways connecting scientific papers to IGO documents.
• To identify and analyze the characteristics of scientists whose work is frequently cited in IGO documents.
• To assess the concentration and network structures of scientists influencing IGO policy.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of 230,737 scientific papers referenced in IGO documents (2015-2023).
• Network analysis of author coauthorship and citation patterns across 23 research fields.
• Identification of a cohort of Highly IGO-Cited Scientists (HIC-Sci).

Main Results:

• A small cohort of Highly IGO-Cited Scientists (HIC-Sci), comprising 0.7%–4.4% of authors, accounts for 30% of IGO-cited papers.
• HIC-Sci networks exhibit dense transnational collaboration, overlapping advisory roles (e.g., IPCC), and rapid citation.
• Geographic concentration of HIC-Sci networks is observed, centered on Western Europe, with variations across scientific fields.

Conclusions:

• The influence of science on IGO policy is concentrated within a small group of HIC-Sci.
• This concentration persists despite IGOs' efforts to broaden participation.
• Understanding these concentrated networks is crucial for assessing how IGOs leverage scientific evidence for policy influence.