Enhancing Science Impact: Bridging Research, Policy and Practice for Sustainability

Sustainability challenges blur the boundaries between academic disciplines, between research, policy, and practice, and between states, markets, and society. Often scientists spend years researching important questions, only for their research to be ignored, misinterpreted, or challenged by policy-makers and key stakeholders. What do exemplary scientists and organisations do to bridge the gaps between these groups and help their research to make the greatest impact? How do they do it? And how can their best practices be adapted for a diverse range of specific sustainability challenges?

Enhancing Science Impact: Bridging Research, Policy and Practice for Sustainability addresses these questions in an engaging way. It provides principles explaining how research programs can work more effectively across the boundaries between science, society, and decision-making by building social and institutional networks. The book suggests ways of defining and thinking about problems and then offers five frameworks for embedding science within specific governance contexts. It will be an indispensable guide for researcher leaders, science program managers, and science policy advisors interested in ensuring applied research can meaningfully contribute to sustainability outcomes.