David Mair
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davidmair4.bsky.social
David Mair
@davidmair4.bsky.social
Science & knowledge for policy, democracy, public governance and public administration at European Commission’s Joint Research Centre but personal views only.
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making_en
Why is science for policy so hard? #3

A lot of public policy is about people, the economy and society all of which are complex systems. So a lot of social and behavioural science will be needed but these sciences are relatively new compared to natural sciences and are more affected by myside bias.
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Why is science for policy so hard? #2

Science can’t answer a political/normative question.

Myside/confirmation bias means we see facts through lens of our values, identities & politics. So science for policy often leads to policymakers being confronted by evidence that challenges core beliefs.
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Why is science for policy so hard? #1

Science is vast and of uneven quality and policy problems are complicated. So finding the most relevant and robust evidence in good time requires a huge synthesis effort.
November 11, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Anxiety as a greater inability to distinguish stability from volatility is a powerful idea.
November 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Clear exposition of meta-learning and why increasing volatility and uncertainty increases willingness to believe conspiracy theories.

Increasing loss of stability in the environment, society and economy may be creating more demand for disinformation.
November 9, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Too many other examples to mention by this also caught my eye as a cyclist riding in heavy traffic. #scipol
November 4, 2025 at 4:54 PM
October 29, 2025 at 9:00 PM
I’d like to see more on the most significant factual misperceptions, in order to dispel some pluralistic ignorance.

@bobbyduffy.bsky.social
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
October 29, 2025 at 8:59 PM
October 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
by any chance do you have a link to the petition?
October 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
October 24, 2025 at 6:25 PM