Communicating the best available science to inform Antarctic policy and management: a practical introduction for researchers

Hughes, Kevin A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2701-726X; Lowther, Andrew; Gilbert, Neil; Waluda, Claire M. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3517-5233; Lee, Jasmine R.. 2023 Communicating the best available science to inform Antarctic policy and management: a practical introduction for researchers. Antarctic Science, 35 (6). 438-472. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410202300024X

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Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Antarctic Science Ltd. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution and reproduction, provided the original article is properly cited.
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Abstract/Summary

Communication at the science-policy interface can be bewildering not only for early-career researchers, but also for many within the research community. In the context of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, decision-makers operating within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) aspire to use the best available science as a basis for their decision-making. Therefore, to maximize the impact of Antarctic Treaty Parties' substantial investment in southern polar research, researchers wishing to contribute to policy and management must understand 1) how their work relates to and can potentially inform Antarctic and/or global policy and 2) the available mechanisms by which their research can be communicated to decision-makers. Recognizing these needs, we describe the main legal instruments relevant to Antarctic governance (primarily the ATS) and the associated meetings and stakeholders that contribute to policy development for the region. We highlight effective mechanisms by which Antarctic researchers may communicate their science into the policy realm, including through National Delegations or the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), and we detail the key contemporary topics of interest to decision-makers, including those issues where further research is needed. Finally, we describe challenges at the Antarctic science-policy interface that may potentially slow or halt policy development.

Item Type:	Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI):	https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410202300024X
ISSN:	0954-1020
Additional Keywords:	Antarctic Treaty System, communication, knowledge, science needs, science-policy interface, stakeholders
Date made live:	19 Oct 2023 08:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535819

Item Type:

Publication - Article

Digital Object Identifier (DOI):

https://doi.org/10.1017/S095410202300024X

ISSN:

0954-1020

Additional Keywords:

Antarctic Treaty System, communication, knowledge, science needs, science-policy interface, stakeholders

Date made live:

19 Oct 2023 08:41 +0 (UTC)

URI:

https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/535819