What can history teach us about the prospects of a European Research Area?

This report is the result of work carried out by the Centre for the Study of the Sciences and the Humanities at the University of Bergen, Norway. The work was commissioned by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre at Ispra (Italy), and as such this report is the final deliverable of our Service Contract 257218 with the EC-JRC. The history of science has a lot to offer to contemporary debates on research policy and on science in society. This is especially true when the history of science is not seen as independent from political, economic and cultural history. This calls for a historical sensitivity also for challenges, problems, conflicts and crises; and such a sensitivity appears to be timely in present-day Europe, where the word “crisis” is taking a predominant place on public and political scenes. Having argued that the idea that scientific knowledge should determine or prescribe the course of action is in itself part of the 17th century solutions that contemporary society has inherited as part of the problem, the report suggests possible lines of action and reflection for the European Research Area focusing on European values including diversity and tolerance, universalism, democracy and public knowledge. The report also discusses Grand Challenges and Deep Innovation, reassessing the present function of the ERA, and what policy indicators might be of use.JRC.G.3-Econometrics and applied statistic

Uncertainty, Complexity and Post-Normal Science

Abstract not availableJRC.(ISEI)-Institute For Systems Engineering And Informatic

DRAFT Peer Review and Quality Control

Abstract Peer review is the recognised standard for quality control in science. There is a growing awareness about the need to introduce modifications to the traditional peer review process in order to meet the challenges of a continuously expanding scientific enterprise, the emergence of new forms of science and the impact of new technologies. The growing application of science and science-based technologies to society requires innovative quality control mechanisms and the inclusion of new stakeholders. Collegial peer review is being rapidly transformed to review by an 'extended peer community, raising important issues to the governance of science

When all models are wrong: More stringent quality criteria are needed for models used at the science-policy interface

In order to ensure quality in the treatment of uncertainty of science for policy more rigorous appraisal methods are needed to substantiate the inference offered via mathematical modelling. Seven rules are suggested to extend the use of classic sensitivity analysis to sensitivity auditing of models used in a policy context. Examples illustrates the various rules. The present articles draws on a more technical paper published on Foresight and Innovation Policy, Special Issue on Plausibility.JRC.G.3-Econometrics and applied statistic

Democratising Expertise, Expertising Democracy: What Does this Mean and why Bother?

Abstract not availableJRC.G-Institute for the Protection and the Security of the Citizen (Ispra

Incertezze del Cambiamento Climatico. Un "Brutto" Clima

Abstract not availableJRC.(ISEI)-Institute For Systems Engineering And Informatic

The Poetry of Thermodynamics. Energy, Entropy/Exergy and Quality.

In the recent years the concepts of new thermodynamics have been used to achieve a synthesis of various facets of complex systems, including the physical, ecological and economic. A recent issue of Futures magazine was devoted to this theme. Here, we futher develop this work, distinguishing among systems that are simple, complex and reflexive. We suggest that as Energy mainly characterises the state of simplicity, and Entropy/Exergy that of complexity, there is a third property, which we will call Quality, mainly characterising reflexivity. With Quality we make explicit the connection between the disciplined study of thermodynamics and its poetry.JRC.(ISIS)-Institute For Systems, Informatics And Safet

The Challenges of Global Environmental and Other Complex Political and Technical Issues Present New Tasks - and Require a New Science

Abstract not availableNA-NOT AVAILABL