Keynote

At face value, it could be argued that, during the pandemic, UK Government policymaking (like that in some other countries) came close to being evidence-based, in the sense that it drew on virological and epidemiological evidence about the spread of the virus, and on a broader range of scientific evidence about what measures were likely to be successful in dealing with it. I will argue that this case offers particular insights into the complexities of evidence-based policymaking and the conditions required if closer approximation to this model is to be achieved. I will look, in particular, at problems caused by uncertainties surrounding scientific evidence; the fuzzy boundary between evidence and grounds for policy action; issues to do with the channels of communication by which scientific information reaches policymakers; and, finally, the contextual factors that affect its reception – in particular, the role of ideology.

Curriculum Vitae
Paper (PDF)