Presentation on the trials, tribulations and successes in delivering (and using) relevant scientific research given at the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) conference 2016 by Bob Harris, Visiting Professor of Catchment Science at the University of Sheffield

1. Getting the
buggers to
listen
– some personal
observations of the
trials, tribulations
and successes in
delivering (and using)
relevant scientific
research
Bob Harris

2. Not everyone wants scientific
evidence
“For too long governments have been overly
influenced by self-interested scientists promoting
their own agendas. While scientific evidence should
not be ignored, it must however be scrutinised
carefully before it is used to inform policy.
Economic considerations should also be given due
weight.”
Dr Richard Wellings, Deputy Editorial Director
at the Ins8tute of Economic Affairs

3. and there are ‘Inconvenient Truths’

5. So why won’t they Listen?
• They can’t understand: You don’t make sense
to someone who doesn’t have your language
or relates to your issues.
• They don’t need to understand: What you’re
saying is actually irrelevant, lower priority
than you think it is, or not important to them
given their priorities… which are different
from yours.
• They don’t want to understand: They could
understand you… if they wanted to. But
you’re giving them inconvenient information

6. • So policy makers would like
evidence to be wired directly
into their brains.
• 3 years research condensed to
a half page of soundbite
messages
But remember, your ‘important’
information is just one input amongst
many and policy-makers have to
weigh and balance often competing
information
There’s a common perception
that there’s never enough time...

7. We live and work in complex
systems with differing…
• Language/communication/learning
• Context and concepts
• Timing, priorities and windows of
opportunity
• Scale/world view
• Economics/costs
• People/personalities/relationships

8. Getting the communication right is
particularly critical…
Language
Context
Conceptual understanding

9. Often long timescales and convoluted pathways
from research project to impacts"
"
“What has science/research ever done for us?”
• (Academic) research seldom delivers immediate
impacts (on policy/management practices;
• Often a cumulative body of knowledge is
necessary – multiple lines of evidence;
• But the timescale to take-up of knowledge can
be much shorter for tools, applications etc for
practical use. Involving users and demonstrating
the science is necessary.

10. Tell me…
...and I will forget
• Tradi&onal methods
– not appropriate by
themselves today
– Conferences,
talks, lectures
– Papers, ar&cles,
website text

11. ‘Seeing once is beEer
than hearing a
thousand 8mes’

12. Show me…
• Demonstra&on events, site
visits, pictures, conceptual
diagrams, computer graphics,
poster papers
...and I may remember

13. Research
world
Policy
world
Common world view
The co-creation of knowledge
as an emergent property
This overlapping
area populated
by people with
the ability to
think broadly
across silos and
disciplines
These areas
populated by
people with
specific disciplines
(experts in depth)
or policy briefs
Research
world
Policy
world
World view of
Science/researchers
World view of
Policy-makers
Knowledge
Exchange
as a process

14. Windows of opportunity are
vital, but seek them out rather
than trusting to serendipity

15. 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Drivers
Protec8ng water resources, protec8ng biodiversity, protec8ng fisheries/ shellfisheries, reducing human exposure to pathogens and
pollutants, maintaining food produc8on, protec8ng air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protec8ng soil, reducing flood risk etc. Context
PopulaBon growth Increasing global food demand →
Climate Change Warmer/drier summers, weEer winters →
Economic trends & world trade Fluctua8ng commodity/ energy/ fer8liser prices →
InnovaBon and technical
advances New developments →
PracBces and behaviour Consumer behaviour, farm prac8ces →
The context: on-going scientific evidence
requirements to understand the context and
changing pressures to policy development

16. 2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Drivers
Protec8ng water resources, protec8ng biodiversity, protec8ng fisheries/ shellfisheries, reducing human exposure to pathogens and
pollutants, maintaining food produc8on, protec8ng air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protec8ng soil, reducing flood risk etc. Context
PopulaBon growth Increasing global food demand →
Climate Change Warmer/drier summers, weEer winters →
Economic trends & world trade Fluctua8ng commodity/ energy/ fer8liser prices →
InnovaBon and technical
advances New developments →
PracBces and behaviour Consumer behaviour, farm prac8ces →
Agenda seKng
Government agenda set out in:
1. Departmental business plans
2. Elec8on commitments
3. White papers
1. Compe88veness/ produc8vity/
sustainability of agriculture
2. Localised stakeholder led
approaches
3. Integra8on of environmental
and agricultural policies
Agenda setting: takes place episodically.
There are only certain times when science can
influence the agenda

17. Levers for delivery
Common Agricultural Policy (CAP)
Evidence gathering
DraTing
new regs
2014:
review of
CAP
2021
revie
w of
CAP
Pillar 1: Cross Compliance
Pillar 2: Rural Development
programmes (RDP)
Industry-led acBviBes:
e.g. Pes8cides Voluntary Ini8a8ve
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
2027
Drivers
Protec8ng water resources, protec8ng biodiversity, protec8ng fisheries/ shellfisheries, reducing human exposure to pathogens and
pollutants, maintaining food produc8on, protec8ng air quality, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, protec8ng soil, reducing flood risk etc. Context
PopulaBon growth Increasing global food demand →
Climate Change Warmer/drier summers, weEer winters →
Economic trends & world trade Fluctua8ng commodity/ energy/ fer8liser prices →
InnovaBon and technical
advances New developments →
PracBces and behaviour Consumer behaviour, farm prac8ces →
Agenda seKng
Government agenda set out in:
1. Departmental business plans
2. Elec8on commitments
3. White papers
1. Compe88veness/ produc8vity/
sustainability of agriculture
2. Localised stakeholder led
approaches
3. Integra8on of environmental
and agricultural policies
?
Policy formulaBon and target seKng
Water Framework DirecBve
(2000/60/EC)
- River Basin Management plans.
Programmes of measures including:
- England Catchment Sensi&ve Farming
Delivery Ini&a&ve
- Iden&fica&on of significant water
management issues
- Rural Diffuse Pollu&on Plan for Scotland
- Drinking Water Protected Areas
2015: target, review of WFD,
newround of river basin planning
Iden8fy new measures
New measures opera8onal
Evidence of success
2021: target and review of WFD,
new round of river basin
planning
Iden8fy new measures
New measures opera8onal
Evidence of success
2027: target for good status or
waterbodies and review of WFD
Daughter direc&ves:
- Bathing Waters Direc&ve
- Shellfish Waters Direc&ve
Nitrates DirecBve (1991/676/EEC) Review Rev
PesBcides Sustainable Use Dir Rev
UK Climate Change Act (2008)
Water Industry Periodic Price
Review 2014
2014: Plans
published
Separate legislative strands/Individual policy
drivers and the levers for delivery: scientific
evidence is required in the build up to
deadlines – critical and discrete windows of
opportunity

18. Timing
Defra’s Policy
and Evidence Cycles
Cycles rotate in 5-years or (sometimes) in 5 weeks!

19. A Research Programme success story
• Rural Economy and Land Use
• Collabora8on between funders
and end users
– research councils and government
• 8 years (2004-2012); £26m; 39 projects
• Right Bming
• Investment in synthesis of outcomes and
knowledge transfer/exchange
• Investment in management of whole programme
to make a difference
• Has provided a legacy

21. An Intermediary success story
• Government agency centre of
expertise – National
Groundwater & Contaminated
Land Centre
• Split between research
management (national); policy
support (national) and
operational advice (local)
• Staff able to understand all
sides of the science – policy –
operational triangle

22. A science/practitioner to policy
success story
Junior Minister
Policy ‘Wonk’
Policy ‘Gopher’
Respected researcher
‘Wise’ practitioner

23. Translating research to users... "
and users needs to research"
- needs
intermediaries… to
bring together world
views

24. activities
outputs
outcomes
impacts
Knowledge producers/researchers
Knowledge consumers/
policy/operations
Different focus on the activities to impact
continuum – different perspectives
Changes in
society/
environment
Products/services
Benefits to
participants

25. aTer Bielak, Kostopoulos and Shaxson, 2012
Researcher Policy maker
The Expecta8on
Knowledge transfer/exchange is a more complex process than we think

26. Concluding thoughts
• Economics the main driver and increasingly
the ‘babel fish’ by which knowledge is
communicated.
• Watch out…. ‘research’ currently taking a
more backseat role
• Research and policy still poorly connected
– different world views
• Knowledge transfer/exchange still difficult,
still poorly recognised and resourced.

27. Seven Cs
• Common language
• Context understood through
common…
• Conceptual understanding
• Connect across scales/world views
• Correlate timing
• Correct people and personality
• Continuity – people, facilities,

28. Thanks for listening