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The Brussels
Declaration
[Reprinted here
from the website EuroScientist]
The 20 Principles
of the Brussels Declaration
Section 1:
science and policy – a crucial relationship
1. Science is a
fundamental pillar of knowledge-based societies
2. Science can help
provide the evidence base for public policy
3. Sound public
policy is crucial for the direction and priorities of science
4. The dialogue between science and
policy is never straight-forward
Section 2: what
we expect from the scientific community
5. The integrity
of science needs to be clear and the integrity of scientists providing
advice must be unimpeachable
6. The full range
of scientific disciplines should be included; notably, the social
sciences can play a key role in improving how the public may react or
adapt
7. Scientists must
learn to use established communication channels for providing policy
advice more effectively and be less aloof and perhaps less arrogant
8. Scientists must
listen and respond to criticism
Section 3: what
we expect from the policy-making community
9. Policy-makers
must listen, consult and be held accountable
10. Ethical
consideration of the impact of policy decisions is crucial
11. Policy-makers
have to challenge science to deliver on public investment
12. Policy-makers should be willing to justify decisions, particularly
where they deviate from independent scientific advice
13. Policy-makers should acknowledge the potential for bias and vested
interests contrary to the scientific consensus
Section 4: what we expect from the public, media,
industry and interest groups
14. The public plays a critical role in influencing policy and must
be included in the decision-making process
15. Industry is an investor in knowledge generation and science and
has every right to have its voice heard
16. Interest groups similarly have every right to have their voice
heard as guardians of the common good or legitimate sectoral interests
17. Advice from any source to policy-making must acknowledge possible
bias
Section 5: what needs to change: how scientific advice
& greater inclusivity need to be integrated more effectively
18. Scientific advice must be more involved in all stages of the
policy-making process
19. Policy-making must learn to cope with the speed of scientific
development and include greater foresight and policy anticipation
20. Societal investment in science will always require
priority-setting; nevertheless, advances in public health deserve
special attention ■
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