Governments around the world are increasingly confronted with a complex interplay of environmental, social, and economic challenges at both global and local levels. Changes in politics are putting pressure on democratic institutions and political norms, including growing struggles over the legitimacy of science as a trusted source of knowledge to guide policy action. Yet, it remains a truism that effective government decision-making relies upon access to relevant and timely information. However, evidence-informed policy cannot be taken for granted. It requires concerted work both by policy professionals and academic researchers, and other knowledge holders, to ensure that the right information gets to the right people at the right time.
This course explores past, present and future challenges and opportunities for science in government. In doing so, it will provide students with the knowledge and skills to think critically about the role of knowledge in democratic societies and act more decisively in interpreting, commissioning, and promoting the use of research evidence in policy settings.
The course is appropriate for a range of students. These include: students from STEM backgrounds seeking to better understand how STEM research can be designed and promoted to reach policy audiences; students interested in careers in public policy (i.e. the Australian Public Service) who will be expected to access, interpret and use research evidence in their roles; and students from social sciences and humanities seeking to deepen their critical understanding of how knowledge of different kinds come to matter in democratic societies.
The course will cover a range of topics, including understanding the political nature of knowledge; the role and interaction of different knowledge systems; barriers to, and enablers of, knowledge exchange among scientists and decision-makers; political challenges to the use of evidence; the production of expertise and scientific advice; and the means by which governments justify their decisions to a public audience. The course will allow students to develop skills in synthesising scientific knowledge focusing on contemporary sustainability issues, producing engagement outputs for a policy audience, and developing strategies to improve the uptake of research in decision-making.
This course is co-taught with undergraduate students but assessed separately.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Apply and adapt key principles underpinning successful knowledge exchange between scientific and policy communities;
- Synthesise and explain the merits of different forms of scientific knowledge on contemporary sustainability issues;
- Describe and critically evaluate current challenges at the science-policy interface;
- Devise and demonstrate practical strategies to enhance the uptake and use of scientific research in specific domains of policy.
Indicative Assessment
- Policy brief (up to three pages) (30) [LO 1,2]
- Oral presentation and questions (10) [LO 1,2]
- Research proposal (up to 1000 words) (20) [LO 1,3,4]
- Evidence strategy addressing a policy challenge (up to 2500 words) (40) [LO 1,2,3,4]
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Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including:
- Face-to face component delivered in a one week intensive Mon-Fri (approx 35 hours). Online attendees can watch lectures and participate in activities via zoom.
- Approximately 95 hours of self-directed study which will include preparation for classes and other assessment tasks.
- Students are expected to actively participate and contribute towards discussions and activities.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course.
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
Nil
Preliminary Reading
All reading and audio visual materials for the course will be made available via the course site in the Learning Management System.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
Commonwealth Support (CSP) Students
If you have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). More information about your student contribution amount for each course at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.