SCIENCE ADVICE FOR POLICY
BY EUROPEAN ACADEMIES

All events

GLOBE EU Wakeup Call #14 with Prof Thomas Elmqvist
Life Cycle Management conference
Science-driven solutions for sustainable food
Euro-CASE Annual Conference Madrid
The Political Economy of Meat System Transformation
Science for Policy in Europe Conference: Building better science for policy ecosystems
The keys to high-quality science advice
Who decides what you eat? The power of food environments on consumer diets
EIT FOOD Annual event
Scientific symposium ‘Crises and the Importance of Research: How Prepared Can We Be?
Are we ready for the next cross-border health crisis?
Webinar: Be prepared - Can we forecast the next crisis and be ready to manage it?
Time to screen! Implementing new EU screening recommendations
Second Conference on the Ukraine crisis: One Year of War in Ukraine, Exploring the Impact on the Science Sector and Supporting Initiatives
Library Talk: Improving crisis management in the EU: a discussion with the Commission’s science and ethics advisors
Why do we need public trust in times of crisis?
European Parliament: STOA Panel for the Future of Science and Technology
Putting people first
Entangled crises: how can the EU help?
Handover of advice on crisis management
Northern European Emergency and Disaster Studies Conference
COP27 - All things considered: the role of expert advice in climate-related crises
Integrating research for new cancer screening programmes
Apocalypse Tomorrow: What Should Scientists Do to Prepare for the Next Major Crisis?
Conference on Improving Cancer Screening in the European Union
Ciência 2022 (Science 2022)
7th Congress of Preventive Medicine
Science advice at times of crisis: what roles for universities and academies?
Webinar on Energy efficiency: A science advice perspective
Conference: Science advice under pressure
Euro-CASE Annual Conference "Building back better"
The climate and energy transition in the age of transformation
Time travel and climate: changing the past to fix the future
Science advice for a clean and fair energy transition: a challenge and a call for action
Transitioning to new energy systems: What impact will it have on society and on our lives?
Science advice for energy policy: Who's afraid of epistemic diversity?
Energy transition and the EU hydrogen strategy
Communicating microplastics risk: Balancing sensation and reflection
Plastic pollution: Are biodegradable plastics a solution?
Biodegradable plastics: how do we engage with consumers and society?
Research integrity
Digital media in crisis situations
Alternative proteins, consumers and sustainability in Europe: Where next?
Taking action on plastics pollution: are biodegradable plastics the answer?
Climate change and health
The special role of chefs in a sustainable food system
Everything you wanted to ask about science advice #AskRolf
Towards a sustainable food system: the EU's role in the global transition
Food policy at a time of crisis: What should the future look like?
Science advice: what works in a crisis?
The EU's Farm2Fork strategy
Policy implications of Transforming the Future of Ageing
Covid-19 and our food: How is the current crisis affecting how we eat?
Erasmus Maris days
Making Sense of Science at the Royal Irish Academy
Making Sense Of Science For Policy: A Lively Panel Discussion At The University Of Cambridge
SAPEA microplastics event in Finland
The future of science advice in Europe
Evidence-informed policy: a Norwegian perspective
Ageing: from Basic Science to Policy Advice
The science of microplastics in the world ocean
A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society in Slovenia
Ageing report to be discussed in Madrid
European Research & Innovation Days
Roundtable discussion on Making Sense of Science
Shaping Horizons
Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Israel
Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in France
Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Romania
EurOCEAN 2019 Conference
Albanian forum on microplastics
UN World Oceans Day
Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Portugal
European Maritime Day
Microplastics debate ‘shows how the public can drive scientific conversations’
ALLEA General Assembly
Food from the Oceans, a look into our future
SAPEA at Cardiff Science Festival
INGSA 2018: Science Advice for a Changing World
Annual Conference International Council for the Exploration of the Sea
G7 Scientific Advice Cooperation on Microplastics Pollution Roundtable
SAPEA at Science For Policy expert debate
Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) event at ESOF in Toulouse, France - 11 July 2018
Citizens and science advice event at ESOF in Toulouse, France
Food from the Oceans event in Lisbon, Portugal
SAPEA conference: Shaping European Science Advice: Insights and Experiences, Sofia, Bulgaria
Conference on Carbon Capture and Utilisation Technologies in Ljubljana, Slovenia
Novel carbon capture and utilisation technologies event in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Royal Irish Academy Breakfast Briefing on Food from the Oceans
Blue innovation: Oceans to feed the planet
Crossing boundaries: new approaches to science for policy in Europe
Food From the Oceans event in Hamburg, Germany
Food from the Oceans at Cardiff International Food and Drink Festival
Food from the Oceans in Bergen, Norway

Upcoming events

GLOBE EU Wakeup Call #14 with Prof Thomas Elmqvist

During this WakeUp Call, not only will we delve into the specific challenges of wildfire management in the EU, but also explore how the concept of response diversity can be interpreted and implemented in European policy.  We will discuss how the EU and its Member States can develop proactive measures to deal with multiple and interacting crises.

Science-driven solutions for sustainable food

This joint European Research Council (ERC) and the European Parliament’s Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) event will address the critical role of curiosity-driven, frontier research in solving practical challenges in sustainable food production and consumption. ERC-funded researchers will discuss consumer behaviour, greener production processes and the impact on health, food security and trade, together with members of the European Parliament and other prominent speakers.

Science for Policy in Europe Conference: Building better science for policy ecosystems

The conference will bring together policymakers, science advisors, researchers, ethics experts, and other professionals in science-for-policy ecosystems.

Past events

Taking action on plastics pollution: are biodegradable plastics the answer?

Every year, more and more plastics end up in our oceans and rivers and on the land. Once there, they pose risks to our environment and the health of living creatures. Conventional plastics persist for centuries, but biodegradable plastics are designed by scientists to break down in a few weeks or years. Could biodegradable plastics help us solve the pollution problem, or are they are a problem in themselves?

Climate change and health

In June 2020 the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors published a Scientific Opinion entitled ‘Adaptation to health effects of climate change in Europe’. This informed the implementation of the European Green Deal and highlights that climate change has consequences for human health. In particular, scientific evidence shows that the increase in heatwaves, infectious and vector borne diseases and extreme events like fires and floods are all having a detrimental effect on human health and need to be addressed urgently.

The special role of chefs in a sustainable food system

In conjunction with the Chefs' Manifesto, part of the SDG2 Advocacy Hub, we hosted a special briefing on how chefs in the EU and globally can contribute to a sustainable food system

Everything you wanted to ask about science advice #AskRolf

Professor Rolf-Dieter Heuer, the Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors which provides independent scientific advice to the European Commission, will answer your questions and discuss with you how to make politicians listen and understand science and why it is important.

Towards a sustainable food system: the EU’s role in the global transition

Working independently of the European Commission's Scientific Advice Mechanism, a high-level expert panel of the UN's Committee on Food Security has recently delivered evidence-based policy advice on how to transition to a more sustainable food system, and thus work towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Although the SAM focuses on the EU and the UN covers the whole globe, the conclusions reached and the recommendations provided are unequivocal: a transformation of our food system is necessary, and there is a broad scientific consensus on how to achieve this.

Food policy at a time of crisis: What should the future look like?

The global crisis of 2020 has made every one of us aware that 'business as usual' is not an option for future food policy. How have we arrived at where we are now, in terms of the food we eat, where we source it and the impact it has on our planet? What should a transformed future look like? What actions can we all take, collectively and individually, to bring about a sustainable and fair food system that is better for our health, the environment, society and the economy?

Science advice: what works in a crisis?

2020's Covid-19 outbreak has shone the spotlight on science advice like never before. How well are Europe's science advice frameworks standing up to this major stress test?

The EU’s Farm2Fork strategy

The Farm2Fork Strategy aims to promote sustainable food systems by setting concrete targets and establishing an Action plan, annexed to the F2F Strategy. This creates the framework for a real debate on the future of food systems, leading to a legislative proposal for sustainable food systems by 2023.

Policy implications of Transforming the Future of Ageing

For its 2019 report Transforming the future of ageing, SAPEA brought together eminent European scientists to explore and respond to the question “What policies at the EU level could support member states in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care to promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies?”.

Covid-19 and our food: How is the current crisis affecting how we eat?

The first in our series of webinars on the sustainable food system discussed changes in consumers' attitudes towards food as a public good instead of as a commodity. It confronted the conclusions of the SAPEA report with the challenges and changes observed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Erasmus Maris days

SAPEA report will be presented and discussed at an academic conference in Spain. The event takes place on 16 and 17 April 2020.

Making Sense of Science at the Royal Irish Academy

This Royal Irish Academy workshop, which will hear from high-level experts, will discuss the findings of the SAPEA report on Making Sense of Science and reflect on what insights might be applied to science advice in Ireland. The discussions will focus on both the European and the Irish dimension of evidence-informed policymaking

Making Sense Of Science For Policy: A Lively Panel Discussion At The University Of Cambridge

On 30th January, a panel discussion on the ‘Making Sense of Science for Policy’ Evidence Review Report was hosted by the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange (CUSPE) at Magdalene College, Cambridge.

SAPEA microplastics event in Finland

At an event on 14 November 2019 in Helsinki, the SAPEA report will be a starting point for the discussion on risks of microplastics to human and the environment, the relationship between research, scientific data and legislation, and the presence of microplastics in Finnish waters.

The future of science advice in Europe

This one-day event in Helsinki brought together some 200 leading practitioners and scholars from around Europe to provide expert input as Finland developed its next-generation science advice capabilities, and to send a clear message to the new European Commission about the role of science in policymaking.

Evidence-informed policy: a Norwegian perspective

A seminar assessing the findings of the SAPEA report ‘Making sense of science for policy’ was hosted by Academia Europaea Bergen Hub in collaboration with the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. The seminar, held on 4 November in Oslo, reflected on what insights of the report might be applied to the science advice process in Norway. The event was designed around two linked sessions, one focused on the European dimension of evidence-informed policy and the second examining Norwegian policymaking.

Ageing: from Basic Science to Policy Advice

The first International Feltrinelli Conference; “Ageing: from Basic Science to Policy Advice” will take place on 4-6 November 2019 in Rome. The event is dedicated to reviewing and discussing the multifaceted aspects of the ageing process. The conference is supported by SAPEA and the Lincei Academy’s Fondo “Antonio Feltrinelli”.

The science of microplastics in the world ocean

The SAPEA report was presented at this international workshop to formulate next steps in understanding the fate, distribution, impacts, and technology development necessary to push the science.

A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society in Slovenia

SAPEA, the Slovenian Academy of Engineering and the University of Ljubljana will host an event on microplastics. The one day meeting “A scientific perspective on microplastics in nature and society including plastic recycling and bio polymers in advanced technologies of the future” will take place on 4.10.2019 in Ljubljana.

Ageing report to be discussed in Madrid

The recent SAPEA report Transforming the future of ageing will be a starting point for discussion during an event co-organised by SAPEA and the Royal Academy of Medicine in Spain.

European Research & Innovation Days

Our recent report “Making sense of science for policy under conditions of complexity and uncertainty” was discussed on 26 September during a panel debate at the European Research and  Innovation Days. The main findings of the report were presented by the chair of the SAPEA working group Ortwin Renn. Our report informs a scientific opinion of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors, which was handed over to the European Commission during the event.

Roundtable discussion on Making Sense of Science

On the occasion of its 30th anniversary celebration (24 September 201,9) Academia Europaea hosted a roundtable discussion on the topic of "making sense of science" at the Royal Society in London. The forthcoming SAPEA report was extensively discussed.

Shaping Horizons

The first international summit and action programme on science, policy and innovation for a changing world, gathering 150 young leaders from across the UK and Latin America to engage with senior world leaders and ignite change.

Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Israel

What policies at the EU level could support the Member States in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care and promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies? This question is tackled by the upcoming SAPEA Evidence Review Report, which will be published this spring.

Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in France

What policies at the EU level could support the Member States in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care and promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies? This question is tackled by the upcoming SAPEA Evidence Review Report.

Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Romania

What policies at the EU level could support the Member States in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care and promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies? This question is tackled by the upcoming SAPEA Evidence Review Report.

EurOCEAN 2019 Conference

EurOCEAN is a high-level science-policy conference co-organised by European Marine Board, the European Commission and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO.

Albanian forum on microplastics

On 11 June 2019, the Albanian Academy of Sciences together with SAPEA organised the scientific forum “Perspectives on microplastics in nature and society”. The event aimed at raising awareness about microplastics pollution, its impact on the environment and the steps that should be taken to improve the situation.

UN World Oceans Day

In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly decided that, as of 2009, 8 June would be designated by the United Nations as World Oceans Day. A large number of events are organised around the world on this date. In 2019, we discussed microplastics with the public at a city science fair in Sopot, Poland, and ran a custom-made escape room game to communicate key microplastics messages.

Transforming the Future of Ageing – SAPEA event in Portugal

What policies at the EU level could support the Member States in achieving inclusive, fair and sustainable systems of health and social care and promote the taking-up of innovation for ageing societies? This question is tackled by the upcoming SAPEA Evidence Review Report, which will be published this spring.

European Maritime Day

The European Maritime Day is the annual EU meeting point on maritime affairs and blue growth. It targets maritime professionals, entrepreneurs and ocean leaders from businesses, governments, public institutions, NGOs and academia. Our Food from the Oceans report was exhibited as part of the 2019 iteration of the conference which took place on 16/17 May 2019 in Lisbon.

Microplastics debate ‘shows how the public can drive scientific conversations’

SAPEA hosted a lively discussion on microplastics pollution between scientists, policymakers and environmental campaigners in Switzerland.

ALLEA General Assembly

The ALLEA General Assembly convenes Academies of Sciences and Humanities from 40 countries across the Council of Europe region. SAPEA used the impact of the microplastics report as a springboard to discuss the interaction of science and society.

Food from the Oceans, a look into our future

The recent work on food from the oceans by the European Group of Chief Scientific Advisors and SAPEA was discussed at the Seafood Expo Global in Brussels, Belgium on 25 April 2018.

SAPEA at Cardiff Science Festival

SAPEA participated in the Cardiff Science Festival 2019 to promote the Food from the Oceans reports’ key messages to the general public.

INGSA 2018: Science Advice for a Changing World

On the 6-7th November 2018 in Tokyo, Japan, the International Network for Government Science Advice (INGSA) hosted its 3rd biennial conference on International Science Advice to Government.

Annual Conference International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

SAPEA presented the findings of its Evidence Review Report on Food from the Oceans at the annual conference of the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas in Hamburg between 24-27 September 2018.

G7 Scientific Advice Cooperation on Microplastics Pollution Roundtable

On 20 September 2018, science advisors from the G7 countries, convened by the European Commission and the Chief Science Advisor of Canada, met in Washington DC to discuss the SAPEA report and future cooperation in advising world governments on microplastics.

SAPEA at Science For Policy expert debate

SAPEA was presented at the expert panel debate Science for policy: a European perspective, organised by the Academia Europaea Cardiff Knowledge Hub at Swansea University (Wales) on 4 September 2018. 

Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) event at ESOF in Toulouse, France – 11 July 2018

As part of the Euro Science Open Forum 2018, the Scientific Advice Mechanism presented its newly published Evidence Review Report and Scientific Opinion. This session has been jointly organised by SAPEA and the SAM unit on 11 July as part of the Science Programme.