Making Sense of Science for Policy

Making Sense of Science for Policy


About the ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy’ project

The Group of Chief Scientific Advisors asked SAPEA to produce an Evidence Review Report on the following question:

How can we provide good science advice to European Commission policymakers, based on available evidence, under conditions of scientific complexity and uncertainty?


AE Cardiff’s role in the ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy’ project

The Hub led the coordination of an evidence review on Making Sense of Science for Policy under Conditions of Complexity and Uncertainty. The Hub was involved actively in all phases of the work.

In June 2019, Professor Ole Petersen and Louise Edwards participated in a scoping workshop with topic experts, hosted at the European Commission in Brussels. The Hub then coordinated nominations and the selection of an expert working group, which met three times between September and December 2019 at the Berlin–Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities.  Academia Europaea was represented at the meetings by Cardiff staff Professor Ole Petersen, Louise Edwards and Dr Esther Dorado-Ladera.

First meeting of the 'Making sense of science for policy' SAPEA Working Group in Berlin, September 2018
First meeting of the ‘Making sense of science for policy’ SAPEA Working Group in Berlin, September 2018


Publication of the Evidence Review Report

The Making Sense of Science for Policy Evidence Review Report launch on 9th July 2019 was very well received by press and social media. The Report featured in 16 articles Europe-wide, including Research Professional (with over 280,000 registered users worldwide) and Cardiff University’s website. The report has also been made available in several repositories, such as the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction and INGSA (International Network for Government Science Advice).

The SAPEA Evidence Review Report and the GCSA’S Scientific Opinion are available here.


The GCSA’s Scientific Opinion was handed over to Commissioner Carlos Moedas on 24th September 2019 and published on 26th September 2019. Together with the SAPEA Evidence Review Report, it was presented in a dedicated session within the European Commission Research & Innovation Days.

The scientific opinion by the EU Chief Scientific Advisors are presented to the public Right to left: Professor Sierd Cloetingh, Dr David Mair, Professor Ortwin Renn, Professor Pearl Dykstra, Louise Edwards, Dr Piotr Kwiecinski
The SAPEA Evidence Review and the EU Group of Chief Scientific Advisors Opinion are presented to the public. Right to left: Professor Sierd Cloetingh, Dr David Mair, Professor Ortwin Renn, Professor Pearl Dykstra, Louise Edwards, Dr Piotr Kwiecinski


Public engagement

All public event activity is listed on the SAPEA website. Watch our video to learn more about the Making Sense of Science for Policy project.


Latest news about ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy’

For latest news about Making Sense of Science for Policy, click here.


More about our SAPEA work

Read more about the Hub’s work on SAPEA here.



SAPEA is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only, and do not necessarily reflect those of the EU or the European Commission, neither of which can be held responsible for them.