In this event, policymakers and legislators will discuss their relationship with academia and explore how communication between social science scholars and decision-makers can be strengthened.
In the fourth session of the Communicating Social Sciences series, we invite policymakers working across different institutional and political contexts to reflect on how academic research informs policy processes. As political environments evolve and trust in expertise is increasingly debated, questions arise about the role of academic knowledge in shaping public decisions.
Social scientists are often encouraged to ensure their work has a real-world impact. Yet translating research into policy remains a complex challenge. Policymakers operate under time constraints, political pressures, and institutional frameworks that do not always align with academic practices. At the same time, they continue to rely, directly or indirectly, on research to inform legislation, public policy, and governance strategies.
This roundtable will examine whether academic expertise remains relevant in policymaking, how policymakers access and use research, and what makes academic knowledge actionable, or difficult to apply, in policy contexts. We will also reflect on how scholars can communicate their findings more effectively to bridge the gap between knowledge production and decision-making.
Speakers
- Catherine Kardava - Director of the Georgian Parliamentary Research Center and Head of the Civil Service Bureau of Georgia
- Jairam Ramesh - Member of Parliament (India), former Minister of Environment and senior policymaker
- Damian Boeselager - Member of the European Parliament, co-founder of Volt Europa
At the EUI and the Robert Schuman Centre, we are dedicated to removing barriers and providing equal opportunities for everyone. Please indicate in the registration form your accessibility needs, if any. Alternatively, you can contact the logistics organiser of the event.