AIRNETExperiences with Science/PolicyInterface and Communication

AIRNETExperiences with Science/PolicyInterface and Communication

Leendert Van BreeRIVM, Bilthoven

l.van.bree@rivm.nl

ACCENT WORKSHOPGothenburg, SwedenOctober 27-28, 2004

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AI RNETAI RNETA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthAIRNET management teamAIRNET management team

• Bert Brunekreef – Utrecht University (co-ordinator)• Leendert van Bree – RIVM Bilthoven (co-ordinator)

• Support crew:Nicole Janssen (exposure)Annike Totlandsdal (toxicology)Gerard Hoek (epidemiology)Eric Sanderson (health impact)Nina Fudge (science-policy)Marjan Tewis (assistent)Eef van Otterloo (webmaster)

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AI RNETAI RNETA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthAIRNET and its missionAIRNET and its mission

AIRNET is an EU-wide Thematic Network project on Air Pollution and Health

Mission statement To help to create a widely supported basis for public

health policy related to improving air quality in Europe and regulatory needs to achieve that goal

AIRNET also seeks To improve interaction with stakeholders in the

interpretation and use of air pollution and health information

To act as a network with policy makers, industry, and NGO’s from the environment and public health sectors

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Objectives of AIRNETObjectives of AIRNET

• To develop an overarching, Europe-wide framework for air pollution and health research

• To collect and synthesize scientific information from individual research projects (FP4, FP5, and nationally-funded studies)

• To draw policy-relevant recommendations

• To communicate the outcome

• To find ways to improve the science-policy-stakeholder interaction

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The life of AIRNETThe life of AIRNET

AIRNET began life in 2002 and is funded until the end of 2004

Years 1 and 2 were focused on collection, interpretation, and synthesis of air pollution and health data

Year 3 focus is on dissemination and communication of information

QLRT-2001-00441, Key Action 4, Environment and Health

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AIRNET’s deliverables AIRNET’s deliverables

1. Six Work Group Reports2. Three Annual Conferences (London, Rome, Prague)3. AIRNET Alert (web-based information tool)4. AIRNET Newsletters5. Internet website (http://airnet.iras.uu.nl)6. Stakeholder Survey in Europe (“What info, which form?”)7. AIRNET Communication Strategy8. National/local AIR-NETwork days across Europe

(communication model)

(AIRNET identified as a key project for the CAFE)

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Causality chaintranslated into AIRNET disciplinesCausality chaintranslated into AIRNET disciplines

Changes to Emissions

Changes in Pollution

Background Rates

Concentration-Response Functions

Causality

Pathways

Exposure

Epidemiology

Health Impact Assessment

Science- PolicyInterfaceToxicology

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AI RNETAI RNETA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthA Them atic Netw ork onA ir Pollu tion and HealthWho is in AIRNET ?Who is in AIRNET ?Who is in AIRNET ?Who is in AIRNET ?

Science JournalistsCommunication Agency

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Contractors in AIRNETContractors in AIRNET

• Utrecht University B. Brunekreef• RIVM Bilthoven L. van Bree• VITO Mol R. Torfs• IOM Edinburgh F. Hurley• Medical School, University of Athens K. Katsouyanni• IIASA M. Amann• Environmental Medicine, NIPH Oslo E. Dybing• European Federation of Asthma

and Allergy Associations E. Rameckers• International Society of Doctors

for the Environment P. van den Hazel• CONCAWE Association of Oil Companies

and Refining Capacity J. Urbanus

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Science JournalistsCommunication Agency

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Science/Policy Interface and CommunicationScience/Policy Interface and Communication

• Science-policy interface and communication is sometimes confused with “talk as long as you have an answer or consensus”

• Sometimes the outcome is already defined and the interaction is considered as “massage”

• BUT... real interaction means that• pay substantial attention to preparatory phase of discussion of issues• agree on the various possibilities and analyses routes• agree on the rational choices to be made• accept, explain, and communicate the outcome

Korbee & Hovelynck communication consultants

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Is a science-policy-stakeholder interface needed in air pollution and health?Is a science-policy-stakeholder interface needed in air pollution and health?

Substantial investment is needed for further emission reductions to decrease exposure and health risks

Interface becomes therefore more important, BUT… often functions poorly

A better interface needs: communication of information to

those who need it, ask for it, or have the right to know

understanding of end-users needs develop views on what the interface

should be (not only on content but also on process and mechanism)

Policy

Science StakeholderStakeholderStakeholder

Science-Policy-Stakeholder Interplay

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The ideal science-policy interfaceThe ideal science-policy interface

• Open, two-way communication of facts and figures, methods of analysis, decision principles, outcomes and values between scientists, policy makers and stakeholders

• Exchange of reliable information is key to effective policy

• Good communication is essential (What info, which form, which mechanism?)

• Find workable solutions for:• Correct “framing” of complex issues• Uncertainty analyses (statistical, conceptual)• New philosophies to cope more sensibly with (a variety of) risks

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SPI report on “coping sensibly with risk”SPI report on “coping sensibly with risk”

QRA and Cost-Efficiency

Risk Weighing and Acceptance

Stakeholder Participation and Consensus

Weighing Precaution in Policy Domain

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End-user’s needs as a basis in AIRNET reports and activitiesEnd-user’s needs as a basis in AIRNET reports and activities

1. Stakeholder survey• identifying end-user needs (key/FAQ questions, information needs,

“WHAT INFORMATION”)• knowing how information needs to be presented (“WHICH FORM”)

2. Outcome taken as the main basis for• structuring and focussing various Work Group Reports• developing short answers to FAQ’s as an effective way to communicate• answers need back-up from end-report content

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The interface in AIRNET’s deliverables The interface in AIRNET’s deliverables

1. Work Groups end-reports (focus, FAQ’s, help of science journalists for improved readability)

2. Annual Conferences (science-policy-stakeholder interactions)3. AIRNET Alert (web-based tool for disseminating non-specialist

summaries of research papers)4. AIRNET Newsletters (exchange of recent findings and

highlights)5. Internet website (http://airnet.iras.uu.nl)6. Stakeholder Survey in Europe (end-user needs)7. AIRNET Communication Strategy

8. National/local AIR-NETwork days across Europe (multi-stakeholder communication/interaction model)

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How AIRNET tried to ’bridge the gap’ between science and policyHow AIRNET tried to ’bridge the gap’ between science and policy

Science -> <- Policy Makers

and Stakeholders

Challenges, experience, and lessons ?

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

Developing involvement of stakeholders

• Actively participating in AIRNET work groups and end-reports

• Presentations on “What stakeholders want” at the 1st Annual Conference (London 2002)

• Europe-wide stakeholder/end-user survey

• Interactive communication form at

• 3rd Annual Conference (Prague 2004)

• AIR-NETwork days across Europe (NL, S, H, and ESP)

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

European-wide stakeholder survey

Questionnaire to find out what the needs of stakeholders and end-users are i.e. what information, FAQ’s, which form

Survey population all stakeholders within AIRNET members of CAFE steering group members of EU parliament stakeholders from APHEIS

Overall responserate was ~25%

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“There is a wealth of information and sources and it is in fact a challenge to keep up with the new information”

(Private sector stakeholder, Belgium)

“It is not so much that sources are unavailable to us, it is more that time is in short supply”

(National government agency, UK)

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

Outcome of EU-wide stakeholder survey

1. List of FAQ’s and important issues (“what information”)

2. Preferred information format (“which form”) integrative, short overviews interpreted for stakeholders summaries for informed but non-specialist audience

3. Expectations of AIRNET (“which mechanism”) information exchange and networking identify and consider stakeholder views policy support

This outcome has focussed and structured further AIRNET activities !

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

Five Work Group end-reports

development of disciplinary ‘state-of-the-art ‘ reports on air pollution and health

(exposure, toxicology, epidemiology, health impact, and science-policy interface)

written for an informed but non-specialist audience using input from EU stakeholder survey tailored to end-user needs with answers to FAQ’s involvement of science journalists use of non-specialist language

Draft reports now available; finalized by end of 2004

Final integrative report for additional input to CAFE

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

Developing a communication plan

Hiring a communication agency

Hiring science journalists

Various communication-oriented activities

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

AIRNET Alert - online database of non-specialist summaries of key scientific papers

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AIRNET activitiesAIRNET activities

AIRNET NEWS - bi-annual newsletter

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AIRNET’s “final” activitiesAIRNET’s “final” activities

Organisation of four national AIR-NETwork days, spring/summer 2004 Multi-stakeholder communication model now tested in four

countries

3rd AIRNET Annual Conference, Prague, October 2004

…aimed at model for communicating results and needs with stakeholders at

(inter)national and local levels bringing together scientists, stakeholders, and policy-makers responsibility for interactive dialogue and communication transfer of knowledge and exchange of needs developing long-term relationships

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Netherlands Local communication agency

Preparatory interviews with stakeholders • To establish frames of reference for effective communication wit h AIRNET and with other stakeholders • To establish topics/areas of interest to be discussed during the workshop • To establish participants expectations

Local AIRNET representative

Policy makers – local and national Industry & business Consumer organisations

Environmental NGOs

Public health professionals Patient support groups Researchers/knowledge institutes Identify stakeholders

National AIR - NETwork days organised in four countries representing four regions of Europe : Netherlands (Western Europe), Sweden (Northern Europe), Hungary (Eastern/Central Europe) & Spain (Southern Europe). Outcomes - content • Air pollution and health problems

specific to the region • Traffic - related air pollution/solutions • Future environmental policy: what can

we expect? • Innovative alternatives to current policy • Bridging the gap between science &

policy

Outcomes - work formats • Seminars • Poster presentations • Speaker’s corner • Round table discussions • “Silent - wall” discussions • Literature tables • Contact boards

Outcomes - network • Comparing experiences • Strengthening relationships • Increasing knowledge and

knowing where to find knowledge

http://airnet.iras.uu.nl

For detailed reports and information visit

AIR-NETwork days – communication model AIR-NETwork days – communication model

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AIRNET - lessons learned AIRNET - lessons learned

Organisation of an interface network...

requires a lot of planning

currently no “recipe” available on how to optimally run a interface network

knowing WHAT you wish to achieve is not sufficient, you should also know HOW you wish to achieve it

difficult to get all “players” actively involved(defining a task for each player may help, in AIRNET only the

scientists have clear responsibilities)

Interface works different at international, national, and local level

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To what extent has AIRNET “bridged the gap” ?To what extent has AIRNET “bridged the gap” ?

-->

?

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AIRNET - lessons learned AIRNET - lessons learned

Science-policy-stakeholder interface...

is interpreted differently by the different players

is not naturally occurring

does not work by itself

requires lots of planning, and structure and energy

(cf. AIR-NETwork days)

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AIRNET - lessons learnedAIRNET - lessons learned

Dissemination and communication of research findings in a non-specialist way...

scientists found it hard to write in a concise and non-specialist way

AIRNET provided guidelines and also contracted science journalists to help

involvement of communication specialists is crucial (AIRNET has contracted a communication agency)

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More information about AIRNET...More information about AIRNET...

htpp://airnet.iras.uu.nl