How We Got Tired of Experts: Why Science Struggles to Inform Policy (Science Policy Reports) - Hardcover

Jacobs, Roger

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 3032091985 ISBN 13: 9783032091987

Publisher: Springer, 2026

Synopsis

This book enables readers to dissect ongoing and future controversies in science-informed policy, providing a comprehensive understanding of how consensus is built—or thwarted. By analyzing the role and behavior of scientists in society, the book offers a toolkit for interpreting current events and anticipating future challenges in science-policy interactions.
 
The chapters cover topics such as the legitimation of science as a truth provider, the evolution of science-for-policy agencies, and the emergence of Post Normal Science. Readers will explore critical issues like climate change, public health, and gene editing, gaining insights into the persistent science-policy issues of today. The book's formalized case study approach, developed over eight years in the classroom, serves as an effective learning tool for both students and interested readers. This approach allows readers to analyze past and present events from the framework of predictable science-policy interactions.
 
Ideal for students, educators, policymakers, and the science-literate public, this book offers valuable insights into the uncertain, value-laden aspects of science in policy. It is particularly relevant for those with an interest in the life sciences, health, and environmental policy. Whether used as a course text or a personal guide, it equips readers with the skills to navigate the evolving landscape of science and policy. The book's structured case study analysis and comprehensive exploration of science-policy interactions make it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex relationship between science and policy. It is adaptable to the classroom, with  classroom-ready case studies, tools and exercises for readers  to develop skills in interpreting historical and emerging science for policy controversies.

About this title

About the Author

Professor Roger Jacobs is Canadian Scientist and Professor in developmental genetics for 33 years and has published over 60 papers. His major contributions have employed the Drosophila genetic model to reveal mechanisms of cell fate determination, patterning, and axon guidance in the developing nervous system. He also studies heart development and growth in Drosophila. He is also Innovative Educator, having obtained competitive funding to develop and implement novel active learning curricula in five new courses on the scientific method, introductory molecular biology, science communication, and the course upon which this book is based—pedagogical use of case studies of how science speaks to power.

From the Back Cover

This book enables readers to dissect ongoing and future controversies in science-informed policy, providing a comprehensive understanding of how consensus is built—or thwarted. By analyzing the role and behavior of scientists in society, the book offers a toolkit for interpreting current events and anticipating future challenges in science-policy interactions.
 
The chapters cover topics such as the legitimation of science as a truth provider, the evolution of science-for-policy agencies, and the emergence of Post Normal Science. Readers will explore critical issues like climate change, public health, and gene editing, gaining insights into the persistent science-policy issues of today. The book's formalized case study approach, developed over eight years in the classroom, serves as an effective learning tool for both students and interested readers. This approach allows readers to analyze past and present events from the framework of predictable science-policy interactions.
 
Ideal for students, educators, policymakers, and the science-literate public, this book offers valuable insights into the uncertain, value-laden aspects of science in policy. It is particularly relevant for those with an interest in the life sciences, health, and environmental policy. Whether used as a course text or a personal guide, it equips readers with the skills to navigate the evolving landscape of science and policy. The book's structured case study analysis and comprehensive exploration of science-policy interactions make it a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complex relationship between science and policy. It is adaptable to the classroom, with  classroom-ready case studies, tools and exercises for readers  to develop skills in interpreting historical and emerging science for policy controversies.

Edition details

• Publisher: Springer
• Publication date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3032091985
• ISBN 13: 9783032091987
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 322