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How Many Policy Rooms are There?

Evidence-Based and Other Kinds of Science Policies

Wissenschaftszentrum Wien, helga.nowotny{at}wzw.at

In my response to Andrew Webster's examples I point to certain limitations, while fully supporting the thrust of his argument for a re-engagement of science and technology studies (STS) with policy making. When analyzing the policy implications of knowledge, the larger context must be considered. New criteria, like transparency, have arisen and the tendency for evidence-based policy making has become widespread. The managerial side of policy making emphasizes that "only what can be measured, can be managed." The crucial question is how well prepared-and how willing-the STS community is to tackle policy making in this new guise. In the end, what is needed are institutions that are capable of developing their own reflexivity-a task to which STS can certainly contribute, but the road to be taken may be less direct than Andrew Webster suggests.

Key Words: policy implications of knowledge • evidence-based policy • science metrics • auditing practices • reflexivity of institutions

Science, Technology & Human Values, Vol. 32, No. 4, 479-490 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0162243907301005


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