Knowledge Exchange at Science-Policy Interfaces in the Fields of Spatial Planning, Land Use and Soil Management: A Swiss Case Study

Marco Pütz,Regula Brassel

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-50841-8_9

Abstract

In this article, we investigate knowledge exchange at the intersection of science and Swiss public policy in the fields of spatial planning, land use and soil management. Based on a literature review and expert interviews, we identify six types of knowledge exchange, and examine the barriers to and opportunities for knowledge exchange. These six underlying concepts suggest knowledge exchange is a challenging task because different expectations exist on how knowledge should be exchanged.KeywordsKnowledge exchangeScience-policy interfaceSpatial planningLand useSwitzerland

Highlights

We investigate the different types of knowledge exchange that actors in Switzerland have adopted at the intersection of science and public policy
We examine the barriers to and opportunities for knowledge exchange in Swiss spatial planning, land use and soil management
We asked the actors to describe how they exchange knowledge themselves, and how knowledge is exchanged in spatial planning, land use and soil management in Switzerland more generally

Summary

Introduction

Over the last few decades, the way in which science has been considered to be an instrument to inform policymakers has changed. Science addressing environmental policy issues often has to deal with endemic uncertainties, conflicting values and different goals among actors. This has challenged traditional science, which has been widely understood as a provider of value-free and definite factual knowledge (Funtowicz and Ravetz 1993: 739, 744, 749 et seq.; Ravetz 1999: 647–650). Observing this development, Funtowicz and Ravetz (1993) introduced the concept of “post-normal” science—a “problem-solving strategy [for policy issues], where systems uncertainties or decision stakes are high” (Funtowicz and Ravetz 1993: 749). To deal with these system uncertainties and decision stakes, post-normal science implies that it is researchers or

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Conclusion