Workshop: 'How can IT help enhance uptake of scientific advice in complex policy decisions: The GSD network'

For a tentative schedule, click here.

The network of scientists and policy makers 'Global system dynamics and policies' (GSD) strives to enhance interaction between scientists and policy makers. It aims to identify the challenges and novel scientific concepts behind a better understanding of dynamics and properties of highly connected systems as pertinent for policy making. There is a sense of an increasing importance of this perspective today and an alliance of scientific modeling and policy is becoming at the same time necessary and possible. Computers today allow simulation and visualization of systems of central importance that used to be impervious to quantitative scientific inquiry only decades ago. New simulation techniques allow the study of different possible scenarios while taking into account crucial system interdependencies. Novel channels of communication between various actors (e.g. the Internet) will improve the delivery of scientific results to policy makers and the public.

The aim of this workshop is to bring together scientists and practitioners with an interest in these issues to enlighten one another through presentations followed by a roundtable discussion. The themes of the workshop can be summarized as follows:

  • The uses and limitations of simulation for understanding the social and natural world. What does prediction mean in a social context? How can high system interdependency best be modeled?
  • Challenges, opportunities, and limits of simulation and visualization for policy making.
  • As system modeling influences decision processes in society it becomes part of the decision process. A crucial aspect is therefore considering in the models how institutions and the public will react to predictions based on the models.

Invited Speakers:

  • Lucian-Liviu Albu
  • David Bree
  • Julian Hunt
  • Andrzej Nowak
  • Steen Rasmussen
  • Gur Yaari

Organizers:

  • Claes Andersson
  • Ralph Dum
  • Kristian Lindgren