Environmental science has the potential to create significant positive change for social, economic, and natural systems.

To achieve those interlinking ambitions, effective regulatory levers must encourage the right kind of relationship between decision makers and the scientific community. In a rapidly changing natural environment, environmental regulation must be adaptive and responsive, so insights from science must be available for policy makers to plan ahead and make good regulatory decisions. There has been a substantial evolution in the interface between science and policy over the last century, presenting new challenges and opportunities for the future of the environmental sciences.

This interactive event is the third of our horizon scanning discussions for the Future of ES23 foresight project, bringing together discussions from throughout our third theme, looking at the future of the regulatory landscape. Participants will have the chance to hear about the changing interactions between science, nature, and policy, as well as how the future can create a better relationship between regulation and the scientific community.

The event will open with an expert speaker presenting on the changing nature of the science-policy interface. Attendees will then have a chance to feed in their views during a group horizon scanning discussion, reflecting on the changing nature of regulation, policy influence, and the science-policy interface.

Agenda

• Introduction (12.00 - 12.10)
• Presentation: the evolving science-policy interface (12.10 - 12.25)
• Breakout discussions for participants (12.25 - 12.55)
• Plenary (12.55 - 13.10)
• Summary (13.10 - 13.15)

Speakers

Joseph Lewis, Institution of Environmental Sciences

Joseph is the Policy Lead for the Institution of Environmental Sciences. Joseph is responsible for policy engagement for the IES and working to promote the use of the environmental sciences in decision making.

He has an MSc in Public Policy from the University in Bristol, where he specialised in environmental policy, as well as a Law Degree from Durham University. Joseph is an advocate for transformative change and using social systems to bring together communities with science-led solutions to the interconnected climate, biodiversity, and social crises facing humanity.