The Young Academy of Sweden criticizes disbanding of Chief Scientific Adviser in open letter to the President of the EU Commission
The Young Academy of Sweden has initiated an open letter to Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission. The letter criticizes the decision to abolish the position of Chief Scientific Adviser (CSA). The young academies of Europe, Poland and Scotland support the initiative and have signed the letter.
Read the full letter in the attached pdf.
The Young Academy of Sweden stresses that the establishment of the post of CSA by President Barroso in 2012 was an important step forward to augment the quality of the European Commission’s decision-making process. Consideration of scientific results and thinking plays a pivotal role in identifying threats and creating policies that improve people’s lives. The Academy also expresses concern that disbanding the office of the CSA followed an intense campaign from interest groups whose opinions were disfavoured by scientific assessments made by the CSA.
Finally the Academy emphasizes the importance of EU policy being informed by independent scientific advice, and asks President Juncker to reinstall the CSA or a corresponding function as soon as possible. The Young Academies of Europe, Poland and Scotland support Young Academy of Sweden’s initiative.
Juncker’s new centre does not include a Chief Scientific Adviser
In November Juncker announced that a new centre – European Political Strategy Centre (EPSC) – would replace the Bureau of European Policy Advisers (BEPA) where the CSA Anne Glover has been part. The new policy-oriented centre does not include a CSA; a fact the Academy considers a significant degradation.
Intense debate preceded the disbanding
The disbanding of the office of the CSA followed an intense campaign from interest groups. During a six month period several lobbying organizations with Greenpeace in the forefront have expressed critique in letters to Juncker about the concentration of power to only one person in the CSA function. Many, however, perceive the critique as a reaction to the fact that some of the writers opinions were disfavoured by scientific assessments made by the CSA. A large number of scientific organizations in turn responded to the criticism, arguing that the CSA is crucial for introducing current scientific understanding into the Commission’s decision-making.
More information
http://youngacademyofsweden.org
Contact
Christian Broberger, Associate professor of neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Convener for the Young Academy of Sweden’s standing committee for research policy, Christian.Broberger@ki.se, +46(0) 70 2269327
Martin Högbom, Professor in structural biochemistry, Stockholm University, President, Young Academy of Sweden, martin.hogbom@su.se, +46(0) 70 4132806
Anna Sjöström Douagi, Ph.D., CEO, Young Academy of Sweden, anna@sverigesungaakademi.se, +46(0) 72 7429743
Young Academy of Sweden is an independent, interdisciplinary forum for a selection of the most talented young researchers in Sweden within all scientific fields. The Academy enables meetings across disciplinary boundaries, giving rise to unexpected initiatives. Young Academy of Sweden was formed 2011 at the initiative of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and currently has 40 members.
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