A New Branch of Science, Inc.

Abstract

Those responsible for science policy occasionally run the risk that a piece of unanticipated reality may be lurking behind the metaphorical imagery they have constructed in order to accommodate a broad spectrum of differ-ent ideas. The conventional link between science and public policy is to think in terms of public policy for science a long-standing concern among a small circle of experts drawn from the natural sciences, the policy sciences, and politicians as to how to find optimal ways of funding research and of guiding the innovative process of scientific-technological development. Yet, the converse combination is also possible, namely to think of science for public policy. This has, as I will try to show, both an obvious ring of familiarity, asking us to restate and perhaps clarify the directive mission contained in the pronoun, but at the same time a more provocative meaning inviting us to overcome the de facto Separation of science from public policy.

Reprined with permission from H. Brooks Ch. Cooper (eds.) Science for public policy. Copyright 1991. Pergamon Press Ltd.