Biodiversity Research and Policy-Science Interfaces

Reflections for Biodiversity Researchers Engaging With Policy–Science Interfaces

Open access: https://lnkd.in/e_pyCKTB

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework sets ambitious goals. But goals only matter if they translate into real action. Our commentary asks a practical question:
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐢𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬?

Here are a few takeaways that may be useful for anyone working at the science–policy interface:

1. 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐬
Researchers can engage with NGOs, local governments, civil society, communities, and other actors who shape policy in less visible but powerful ways.

2. 𝐔𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐩𝐞
Mapping the actors, decision processes and power dynamics helps identify realistic entry points.

3. 𝐔𝐬𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
Not “science speaking to policy”, but dialogue, co-creation and mutual learning.

4. 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬
They help open doors, maintain continuity, and share responsibility.

5. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐦
This can be uncomfortable territory for researchers, but it is part of many policy processes in practice.

6. 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
Universities and research organisations can support policy engagement by valuing these efforts, creating time and spaces for it, and recognising non-traditional outputs.

If you work on biodiversity and wonder how research connects to real-world decision-making, we hope this piece is helpful -whether as guidance, reflection material, or something to share with students and colleagues.

SOURCE: LinkedIn: Adina Arth, PhD candidate at University of St.Gallen
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:741421042462510694…