Science Policy Research Articles

8.M. Skills building seminar: Mental health and substance use in Europe

Abstract The impact of social factors on individual and population mental health are well established (Kirkbride, et al., 2024). The same social factors may trigger the substance use behavior developing into substance use disorders. Mental health disorders can contribute to the substance use and substance use disorders with worsening effects over time (EMCDDA, 2016). This association between substance use, substance use disorders and mental health disorders is a key objective for the scientific consideration and policy development. Respective phenomena are universal and a broader perspective would be useful for a better understanding of how the issue of comorbidities of substance use and mental disorders are addressed on a European level. Identification of the substance use problem, especially among populations in vulnerable situations, like migrants, becomes utterly important. Heterogenous systematic reviews show that there is a need for socially and culturally refugee sensitive instruments to measure the substance use in migrants. Oftentimes substance use is followed by the substance use disorders and drug use related infections. Injecting drug use is also a risk factor for having drug use related infections, such as hepatitis B and C, HIV, tuberculosis. Assessment of risk behaviour patterns among people who inject drugs may contribute to a higher participation in treatment and health programmes, reduce the burden of substance use and tackle comorbidities of substance use and mental health disorders. The skill building seminar aims to increase the knowledge and capacities on substance use and comorbidities, applied methodological approaches and tools in different European contexts. This workshop will support researchers, policy makers, public health planners by providing evidence base to address substance use and mental health issues. The added value of this workshop is based on the structure, content and mode of presentations - presentations will be followed by questions from participants and short discussions. The workshop will start with the general introduction to the topic of comorbidities of substance use and mental health disorders (EUPHA-PMH and EUDA). Then the European level perspective on comorbidities of substance use and mental health disorders will be presented including recent policy developments (1 presentation by Linda Montanari, EUDA). It will be supported with research results from the study conducted in Germany on substance use assessment tool development in migrant population (2 presentation by Kim-Julian Behr, Germany) and behavioural risk factor assessment study among people who inject drugs in Lithuania (3 presentation by Marija Jakubauskiene, Lithuania). Key messages • Participatory approach is useful to address the substance use problem in assessment tool development and further monitoring. • Better understanding of comorbidity of substance use and mental disorders leads to a more effective prevention.

Conceptual model for assessing a science–policy–management framework for threat mitigation

AbstractFire regimes are changing globally, leading to an increased need for management interventions to protect human lives and interests, potentially conflicting with biodiversity conservation. We conceptualized 5 major aspects of the process required to address threats to flora and used this conceptual model to examine and identify areas for improvement. We focused on threat identification, policy design, and action implementation. We illustrated the application of the conceptual model through a case study in southeastern Australia, where policies have been designed to prevent hazard reduction burns from exposing threatened flora to high‐frequency fire (HFF). We examined whether threatened species have been accurately identified as threatened by HFF, species were accounted for in key policies, and implementation of the policy reduced the incidence of HFF for target species. Species were mostly identified accurately as being threatened by HFF, and, broadly, the policy effectively minimized the threat from HFF. However, 96 species did not have HFF identified as a threat, and another 36 were missing from the policy entirely. Outcomes regarding the reduction of threat from HFF since policy introduction were species specific, despite an average increase in fire interval of 2 years. Despite the policy, over half (55%) the species studied have been affected by HFF since the policy was introduced. Although relatively minor improvements could optimize threat identification and policy design, the mixed success of action implementation highlights limitations that warrant further investigation. Our conceptual model enabled us to make clear and targeted recommendations for how different aspects of the policy could be improved and where further work is needed. We propose the conceptual model can be useful in a variety of contexts.

Scientific policy advice during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic – a comparison of 25 democratic countries

Abstract Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic required rapid and effective policy responses from governments worldwide, especially in the realm of public health. Due to the global impact of the pandemic, it is important to compare country-specific approaches. A systematic analysis of the role and institutionalization of different bodies of scientific policy advice during the pandemic was conducted to gain insights into scientific policy advice structures and to inform future solutions. Methods We contacted the governments of 35 democratic countries about the role and institutionalization of bodies of scientific advisory advice during the pandemic. Data collection took place between September 2023 and March 2024. We analyzed primary data provided by the governments by qualitative systematic document analysis. Results We received feedback from 25 countries within the research period (including 19 European countries). The results were divided into three main categories: (1) temporality, (2) structure, function, & composition, and (3) transparency. Further sub-categories emerged that helped to compare and classify the countries’ approaches, such as initiation, financing, selection, expertise, and diversity of members, systematics of documentation. For example, some used existing structures from ministries, research institutions or the private sector while others were entirely newly established. National bodies of scientific policy advice mostly developed ad hoc, were temporary, and showed several differences between countries. Conclusions Different types of bodies of scientific policy advice were identified in terms of e.g. initiation, function, expertise, and institutionalization. The results demonstrate a significant variation regarding the role and impact of scientific policy advice during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Our study can help to identify essential aspects of scientific policy advice and to formulate recommendations for future health crises. Key messages • The innovative methodological approach and the data which was collected from 25 countries give new insights into an important field of research. • National bodies of scientific policy advice mostly developed ad hoc, were temporary, and showed several structural differences between countries.

ISSUES IN UNIVERSITY AND INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: RESULTS OF A STAKEHOLDER SURVEY

In 2024, Kazakhstan introduced a new science and technology policy to bridge academia and industry. Despite this, challenges persist due to conflicting goals, limited industry capacity, and bureaucratic obstacles. Based on a survey of 700 academics and 108 business representatives, this study identifies major barriers to collaboration, including the underdevelopment of high-tech industries, bureaucratic hurdles in research organizations, and insufficient funding. Notably, satisfaction varied by organization type, with state universities expressing higher satisfaction compared to private research institutions. These findings underscore the need for policy reforms that reduce bureaucratic barriers, enhance funding, and foster active engagement in university-industry partnerships for innovation.

Transformations of transnational care in times of the pandemic: spotlights and future prospects

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing inequalities in care between mobile and immobile populations. It has highlighted the precarious situation of many migranticized individuals and their families worldwide, but it has also brought their situation into the public eye, providing opportunities for advances in social science understanding and policy reform. This Special Issue explores the interplay between transnational care arrangements, cross-border movement and mobility, and the production of social inequality in the post-COVID-19 world. The collected articles provide a comprehensive picture from different countries and fields, revealing three interrelated processes that reflect the complex dynamics during the pandemic: (1) the interruption of transnational care arrangements; (2) the reorganization of these arrangements; and (3) coping strategies to adapt to (post)pandemic immobilizations, restrictions, and modified patterns of care. In sum, this issue aims to contribute to the advancement of social science understanding and to benefit vulnerable populations.

A comprehensive review of integrating biostimulants and biopesticides for organic berry farming: exploring challenges and opportunities for Africa

Agriculture plays a pivotal role in Africa, contributing significantly to sustainable farming practices and the establishment of resilient food systems. Within this context, the use of various types of biostimulants, including microbial biostimulants such as Plant Growth-Promoting microorganisms (PGPM) and non-microbial products like Algal extract, humic acid, and protein hydrolysates, as well as biopesticides, emerges as a promising strategy to bolster sustainable agriculture, particularly in the realm of organic berry production. These substances have the potential to enhance crop growth, fortify stress tolerance, and optimize nutrient absorption, benefiting both human health and the environment. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating plant biostimulants into organic berry production within the African agricultural sector. To achieve this objective, an extensive and comprehensive review encompassing scientific literature, policy documents, and global data was conducted. The primary focus of this review was to investigate the current state of biostimulant adoption in organic berry farming within the African agricultural sector, with a specific emphasis on identifying potential opportunities and discussing the benefits derived from their application. Additionally, we addressed the challenges encountered and proposed practical approaches to achieving sustainable agriculture. The findings and conclusions of our review reveal the transformative potential of biostimulants in organic berry production. The evidence points to remarkable advancements in plant growth, plant health, overall yield, and fruit nutritional quality. By implementing these substances, we can also minimize the ecological footprint of agricultural practices. However, several challenges remain, including limited accessibility, insufficient awareness and knowledge regarding biostimulant usage, and a shortage of research specific to African agriculture. To overcome these challenges and achieve sustainable agriculture, this paper recommends practical approaches such as raising awareness, investing in research and development, and promoting the use of biostimulants through policy interventions and capacity-building programs. We underscore the importance of stakeholder participation and local adaptations for effectively integrating biostimulants in African agriculture. The significance of integrating plant biostimulants in organic berry production lies in advancing sustainable agriculture. This paper aims to explore the opportunities and challenges associated with incorporating plant biostimulants into organic berry production within Africa.

The role of social interaction in farmers’ water-saving irrigation technology adoption: testing farmers’ interaction mechanisms

In rural areas, neighborly relationships are complex, and farmers’ behaviors are largely influenced by neighborly interactions. The promotion of agricultural technologies should not overlook the social interactions between farmers. Based on survey data from farmers in Minqin, China, this paper explores the role of overall social interaction and its various dimensions in farmers’ adoption of water-saving irrigation technology, focusing on the testing of three interactive mechanisms during the technology adoption process. The goal is to provide scientific policy suggestions for government when promoting agricultural technologies. The results show the following: social interaction promotes the adoption of water-saving irrigation technology among farmers; among the four dimensions of social interaction, the depth and frequency of social interaction facilitate the adoption of these technologies; social interaction promotes technology adoption through endogenous interaction mechanism, situational interaction mechanism, and social norm mechanism, with situational interaction mechanism and social norm mechanism playing a more significant role; social interaction has a stronger impact on farmers with longer farming experience and higher irrigation costs. Therefore, the government should emphasize the important role of social interaction in the adoption of agricultural technologies and accelerate the diffusion of these technologies through fostering technical exchanges among farmers, cultivating demonstration households, and implementing differentiated promotion strategies.

A LSTM-based time series prediction model for China's power supply and its performance evaluation

With the rapid development of China's economy and the acceleration of urbanisation, the stability and sustainability of power supply has become increasingly important. In order to cope with the continuous growth of power demand, accurate power supply prediction has become an essential research direction. In this paper, a time series prediction model for power supply is constructed based on the long short-term memory network (LSTM). Power supply data is organised using methods such as data pre-processing and correlation analysis, and the LSTM model is used to predict future power supply. The performance of the prediction results was evaluated, and the results showed that the model can effectively capture the changing trends of power supply, with high reliability and accuracy, providing important support for scientific management and policy formulation in the power industry.

Seeds and farmers' rights as drivers of change on food systems

In the heart of Kenya's vibrant agricultural landscape lies a fundamental aspect crucial for food security, cultural heritage, and economic resilience: the right to seed. Embedded within the fabric of traditional farming practices, the right to seed encompasses the freedom of farmers to save, exchange, and utilize traditional and farmer-bred seeds. In Kenya, as in many other countries, this right is not only a legal concept but a cornerstone of agricultural sovereignty. However, its preservation faces challenges in the face of globalization, corporate interests, and evolving intellectual property regimes. Yet, amidst these challenges, significant strides are being made, with collaborative efforts at the global level, particularly through initiatives led by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), aimed at promoting and protecting farmers' rights. Every smallholder farmer has the right to safe, nutritious and healthy food and the ability to sustain themselves and their societies with the existing endorsed resources. The concept of farmers’ rights came out as a subject of debate in international agricultural circles, spearheaded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). This includes the right to save, use, exchange and sell farm-saved seed and propagating materials, the right to protect traditional knowledge among others. In developing countries, the right to seed is a fundamental aspect of agricultural sovereignty and food security. This still emulates the subject debate from FAO. However, attention in scientific literature and policy circles for both seeds and farmers’ rights are compromised. This paper employs mediation analysis to explore the causal relationship between seed rights, farmers' rights, and food sovereignty, highlighting the pivotal role of smallholder farmers in shaping sustainable food systems. The findings underscore the importance of inclusive policies that prioritize farmers' rights and empower local communities to sustainably manage their seed resources. Key words: Farmer-managed seeds, seed banks, Access, smallholder farmers and benefit-sharing

Protection Mechanisms and Revitalization Strategies for Industrial Heritage

Industrial heritage is a product of the Industrial Revolution and an important asset for a country or region. The protection and revitalization of industrial heritage have become pressing tasks in the present era. In the new era, it is essential, on the one hand, to establish a comprehensive and scientific policy system for industrial heritage protection by creating specialized protection agencies and ensuring strong governmental support. On the other hand, revitalization strategies should be developed based on practical needs, such as transforming industrial heritage into cultural and art centers, converting it into creative industry parks, and integrating industrial heritage resources into tourism and leisure industries. These strategies aim to ensure the comprehensive protection and sustainable use of industrial heritage.

Enhancing public engagement and science communication through participatory astronomy: insights from the Surabaya Astronomy Club's star party model

This practice insight examines the Surabaya Astronomy Club (SAC) and its innovative approach to science communication and public engagement in Indonesia. Through organized star parties and community outreach, SAC leverages astronomy to foster public interest and enhance scientific literacy. The club's activities are deeply influenced by Indonesia's cultural and social context, emphasizing communal participation and integrating scientific phenomena with traditional and religious practices. Despite its successes, SAC faces challenges such as limited resources and the need for more systematic evaluation. Recommendations for improvement include expanding resource acquisition, adopting robust evaluation methodologies, enhancing inclusivity, and maintaining high-quality engagement. By partnering with governmental bodies and community organizations, SAC bridges the gap between scientific knowledge and public policy, demonstrating astronomy's relevance to societal issues and fostering a more informed and engaged public.

‘I enjoy it a bit, but I wouldn’t want to do it in the future’: pupil aspirations for STEM careers in lower secondary school

ABSTRACT At a time when the focus of school science policies in many nations is to encourage more pupils to study science for longer, a better understanding of who is and is not interested in STEM careers will play an important role in shaping the guidance that schools can provide their pupils and the interventions that seek to inspire more young people to remain in the science stream. This paper explores the career aspirations of more than 4000 pupils at the end of lower secondary school in the UK. It considers the relationship between career aspirations, pupil characteristics, and school-based factors linked to enjoyment of and motivation for learning about science. The findings show that most pupils enjoy and look forward to studying science and feel that they are successful at it whether they aspired to a career in STEM or not. The study also confirmed the multi-dimensional nature of STEM career aspirations in which underlying inequalities, particularly linked to gender and ethnicity, were very much apparent. The complexity of these relationships confirms what decades of initiatives have told us – that increasing the number of young people who study science and later enter the highly skilled STEM labour market is no easy task.

Methods, Progress and Challenges in Global Monitoring of Carbon Emissions from Biomass Combustion

Global biomass burning represents a significant source of carbon emissions, exerting a substantial influence on the global carbon cycle and climate change. As global carbon emissions become increasingly concerning, accurately quantifying the carbon emissions from biomass burning has emerged as a pivotal and challenging area of scientific research. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the primary monitoring techniques for carbon emissions from biomass burning, encompassing both bottom-up and top-down approaches. It examines the current status and limitations of these techniques in practice. The bottom-up method primarily employs terrestrial ecosystem models, emission inventory methods, and fire radiation power (FRP) techniques, which rely on the integration of fire activity data and emission factors to estimate carbon emissions. The top-down method employs atmospheric observation data and atmospheric chemical transport models to invert carbon emission fluxes. Both methods continue to face significant challenges, such as limited satellite resolution affecting data accuracy, uncertainties in emission factors in regions lacking ground validation, and difficulties in model optimization due to the complexity of atmospheric processes. In light of these considerations, this paper explores the prospective evolution of carbon emission monitoring technology for biomass burning, with a particular emphasis on the significance of high-precision estimation methodologies, technological advancements in satellite remote sensing, and the optimization of global emission inventories. This study aims to provide a forward-looking perspective on the evolution of carbon emission monitoring from biomass burning, offering a valuable reference point for related scientific research and policy formulation.

Democrats and Republicans choose solar panels in very similar ways.

Appealing to individuals' social identity is a powerful form of social influence, capable of changing the way people process information, the information they think about, and how they evaluate other individuals. The purpose of this study is to explore the idea that Democrat and Republican environmental norms may impact the attributes and strategies partisans use when choosing whether to have solar panels on a house. An online study with N = 363 participants was conducted to examine these possible effects through multi-attribute decision making, applying predefined decision process models to participant behavior to test which attribute-based models best describe participants' decision making. A choice task was combined with an experimental manipulation of political affiliation salience to examine whether the norms of political groups would have influence on decision behavior. Results of the study show remarkable similarities between political parties in their strategies for choosing solar panels. Members of both political parties appeared to use similar strategies and similar attributes for the formation of their decisions. Recommendations are made that science communicators and policy makers avoid polarizing language so as not to create unnecessary polarization where ideological gaps may not currently exist.

The CERIC method plus social collaborative annotation improves critical reading of the primary literature in an interdisciplinary graduate course

BackgroundInnovative approaches to graduate education that foster interdisciplinary learning are necessary, given the expansion of interdisciplinary research (IDR) and its ability to explore intricate issues and cutting-edge technology.PurposeThis study examines an intervention to develop critical reading skills of the primary literature (CRPL), which are often assumed and unaided by formal instruction in graduate education (GE) yet are crucial for academic success and adapting to new research fields.MethodsThis study applied mixed methods and a pre-post design to assess the effectiveness of a CRPL intervention among 24 doctoral students from diverse fields engaging in the interdisciplinary field of science policy research. The intervention was a 4-week online course with explicit instruction in a categorical reading approach, the CERIC method (claim, evidence, reasoning, implications, and context), combined with social collaborative annotation (SCA) to facilitate low-stakes, peer-based discourse practice. It examined how participation changed participants’ CRPL skills and self-perceptions.ResultsThe intervention significantly improved CRPL, t(23) = 13.6, p < 0.0001; research self-efficacy, t(23) = 4.9, p < 0.0001; and reading apprehension, t(23) = 4.3, p < 0.0001. Qualitative findings corroborated these findings and highlighted the importance of explicit CRPL instruction and the value of reading methods applicable to IDR. These results aligned with sociocultural and social cognitive theories and underscored the role of discourse and social engagement in learning critical reading, which is traditionally viewed as a solitary activity.ConclusionThe findings present a valid and innovative model for developing CRPL skills in interdisciplinary GE. This approach provides a model for scaffolding CRPL that can be adapted to IDR contexts more broadly.ImplicationsThe study findings call for revising graduate curricula to incorporate explicit CRPL instruction with peer-based discourse, emphasizing integrations in higher education anywhere students encounter primary literature. The findings advocate for formal and informal adoption of the reviewed methods, offering a significant contribution to interdisciplinary GE pedagogy.

Does the integration of digital and real economies promote urban green total factor productivity? Evidence from China

Enhancing urban green total factor productivity (UGTFP) is of great significance in driving the green transformation of cities. The integration of the digital economy and real economy (IDR) offers a novel approach to improving UGTFP. This paper constructs a theoretical analytical framework to examine the impact of IDR on UGTFP. Utilizing a range of econometric models and Chinese urban data, this paper empirically analyzes the influence, mechanism, and spatial spillover effect of IDR on UGTFP. The findings reveal that China's IDR is currently at a stage of low integration, exhibiting significant regional disparities, with a spatial distribution pattern declining from east to west. IDR can significantly enhance UGTFP, and the conclusion is supported by robustness tests. Heterogeneity analysis indicates that the positive effect of IDR on UGTFP is more pronounced in the eastern and western regions, as well as in areas with a large Internet scale. The mechanism test suggests that economic agglomeration can significantly amplify the promotional effect of IDR on UGTFP. IDR can boost UGTFP by elevating innovation levels and optimizing labor resource allocation. Further exploration reveals a significant positive spatial spillover effect of IDR on UGTFP. These insights not only offer a practical pathway for green transformation but also provide empirical evidence for policymakers to formulate scientific policies, enhance coordination, and improve data governance, thereby facilitating high-quality and green economic development.

Defining the growth paths of strategic scientists based on case studies

In this paper, 18 scientists from China and other countries were selected for consideration as case studies of ‘strategic scientists’. They were chosen according to their involvement in science and technology policy decision-making, development of key and advantageous fields, creation of new disciplines, construction of academic traditions, and intersections between science and industry. On this basis, we found that the growth paths of strategic scientists can be divided into three phases: as talented young scientists, as gatekeepers in related disciplines or research fields, and as consultants for national science and technology decision-making. Based on this trichotomy, we explored the characteristics of strategic scientists and the conditions required for their growth in each phase. Finally, policy suggestions are proposed for the cultivation and use of strategic scientists.

A natural language processing approach to detect inconsistencies in death investigation notes attributing suicide circumstances

BackgroundData accuracy is essential for scientific research and policy development. The National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data is widely used for discovering the patterns and causing factors of death. Recent studies suggested the annotation inconsistencies within the NVDRS and the potential impact on erroneous suicide-circumstance attributions.MethodsWe present an empirical Natural Language Processing (NLP) approach to detect annotation inconsistencies and adopt a cross-validation-like paradigm to identify possible label errors. We analyzed 267,804 suicide death incidents between 2003 and 2020 from the NVDRS. We measured annotation inconsistency by the degree of changes in the F-1 score.ResultsOur results show that incorporating the target state’s data into training the suicide-circumstance classifier brings an increase of 5.4% to the F-1 score on the target state’s test set and a decrease of 1.1% on other states’ test set.ConclusionsTo conclude, we present an NLP framework to detect the annotation inconsistencies, show the effectiveness of identifying and rectifying possible label errors, and eventually propose an improvement solution to improve the coding consistency of human annotators.

From greatest simplicity to full power

AbstractWhile language processing services are key assets for the science and technology of language, the possible ways under which they may be made available to the widest range of their end users are critical to support an Open Science policy for this scientific domain. Although providing such processing services under some web-based interface, at large, offers itself as an immediate and cogent response to that challenge, turning this view into an effective access to language processing services is an undertaking deserving a clear conceptual direction and a corresponding robust empirical validation. Based on an extensive overview of major undertakings towards making language processing tools available and on the design principles worked out and implemented in the PORTULAN CLARIN infrastructure, in this paper we advocate for a Research-Infrastructure-as-a-Service (RIaaS) model. This model unleashes accessibility to language processing services in as many web-based interface modalities as the current stage of technological development permits to support, in order to serve as many types of end users as possible, from IT developers to Digital Humanities researchers, and including citizen scientists, teachers, students and digital artists among many others.

Remuneration in science: an analysis from the perspective of the decent work concept

Decent wages in science are necessary because the work of scientists is valuable for ensuring a country's viability and economic growth. This study aims to develop the theoretical and methodological foundations for examining wage policy within the framework of the decent work concept at the sectoral level. Additionally, the study seeks to analyze wage policies within the scientific field to identify areas for enhancement. The authors developed methodological principles for assessing wages in terms of the decent work concept. The assessment of wages confirmed the hypothesis about insufficient wage policy in science, which does not attract new employees to work in scientific institutions, engages scientists in research, and motivates results. The results showed that the science sector belongs to the sectors of the economy with decent wage indicators below the average. An analysis of wage policy in science revealed some positive characteristics and negative trends. Priority objectives were set to raise the prestige and attractiveness of scientific work. These objectives include raising salaries and increasing the minimal guarantees, implementing innovative wage tariffing and bonus schemes, introducing competitive social packages, reducing the gender pay gap, and developing social partnership and wage bargaining regulations. The practical significance of the study is evident in the potential application of the methodology by the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Leaders of scientific institutions and social partners can use this methodology to derive practical benefits.