Scientists knock, will policy answer?

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Professor Gideon will unfortunately no longer be able to participate in the seminar.

In this week’s Grand Challenges seminar, we explore the intersection between science and politics, with particular emphasis on environmental policy. We address the challenges of translating scientific knowledge into effective policies and discuss solutions for fostering evidence-based environmental and climate policies, with examples of successful case studies. We hope to foster dialogue and inspire action towards more science-informed environmental and climate policies.

Whether you're a scientist, policymaker, activist, or concerned citizen, this seminar offers valuable insights to bridging the gap between science, policy and ultimately, to the people. Let's work together to drive meaningful change for a sustainable future.

Chair: Arianwen Herbert, DPhil student in Interdisciplinary Bioscience at the University of Oxford and Science Communicator @scienceformymum

Panellists:

Hilda Flavia Nakabuye is a Ugandan climate and environmental rights activist and Founder of Fridays for Future Uganda, the largest youth movement in East Africa. She advocates for gender equality and racial diversity in the climate change movement and empowers women to join the fight, stating that "the climate crisis has no borders". Hilda frequently delivers speeches at global events like COP28, urging world leaders to take immediate climate action. One of Hilda environmental concerns is saving Lake Victoria, organising clean ups to tackle industrial and plastic pollution. Currently, she is spearheading a campaign to stop the construction of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline in Uganda and Tanzania.

Kaya Axelsson is a Research Fellow and Head of Policy and Partnerships at Oxford Net Zero, an interdisciplinary climate change mitigation research programme at the University of Oxford. Kaya earned a distinction for her research on politically unlikely renewable energy coalitions. Her current research is on the emerging net zero policy landscape. She has recently served as a strategic advisor to the UN-backed Race to Zero campaign and as a technical author on the International Standard Organization’s new Net Zero Guidelines. With 15 years of experience in social and environmental sustainability, Kaya speaks and consults regularly for organizations and initiatives on their climate strategies.

Professor Dame E.J. Milner-Gulland is Tasso Leventis Professor of Biodiversity at the University of Oxford. She is Director of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Conservation Science in the Department of Biology. EJ works on understanding, predicting and mitigating biodiversity impacts, and monitoring and evaluating conservation interventions for their social and biodiversity outcomes. This includes large programmes on food systems, Nature Positive transitions, the wildlife trade, and social justice and equity. She aims to ensure that all the research in her group is addressing issues identified by practitioners and policy-makers, is carried out collaboratively with end-users, and builds the capacity of early-career conservationists, particularly in low-income countries. She has launched a number of initiatives which aim to change the real-world conversation around conservation, including the Nature-Positive Universities intiative and the Conservation Optimism movement. She is the Chair of the UK Government's Darwin Expert Committee and a member of Defra's Biodiversity Expert Committee.

Professor Sir Charles Godfray is a Population Biologist in the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford, focusing on ecology, evolution and epidemiology. Professor Godfray is also the Director of the Oxford Martin School: a research and policy unit at the University of Oxford which conducts pioneering research on global challenges, ranging from renewable energy to tackling global inequalities. In addition to being the School’s Director, Professor Godfray directs the Oxford Martin Programme on the Future of Food and co-leads the Wellcome-funded Livestock, Environment and People Project. Professor Godfray also co-created the “Restatements” project which provides summaries of the science underlying certain policy topics, enabling them to be more accessible to a wider audience. Previously, Professor Godfray was a member of the NERC Council, Chair of Defra’s Science Advisory Council and chaired the Lead Expert Group of the UK Government’s Foresight Project on the Future of Food and Farming.

Seminar: 5 - 6:30 PM

Drinks reception: 6:30 - 7 PM. Soft drinks and nibbles will be provided free of charge.

Register here for in-person attendance: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/universityofoxford1/1257649#

Sign up here for remote access: https://forms.office.com/r/KFJvWGFQXT