Speakers
Overview
This session examined how decision science connects to public policy, and what it takes for research insights to become visible, usable, and timely for decision makers. The speakers covered three applied domains where policy decisions shape lives at scale: education, sustainable consumption, and health and ageing. Discussion focused on translation barriers, including how to communicate evidence, build relationships with stakeholders, and align research timelines with policy cycles. A recurring theme was that policy impact often depends as much on engagement and implementation pathways as on the underlying findings.
Key Points
• The session highlighted that policy relevant decisions often occur in complex systems with multiple stakeholders, constraints, and competing objectives.
• Inclusive education was discussed as a decision environment where institutional design affects social inclusion and outcomes for children with special needs or more challenging profiles.
• Sustainable food choice was discussed as a decision problem shaped by marketing, product framing, and choice architecture, not only preferences or attitudes.
• Stakeholder engagement was presented as a core mechanism for policy relevance: identifying partners, co-creation, and sustained knowledge utilisation channels.
• Open question: what practical steps help researchers become visible and credible to policymakers without oversimplifying evidence or losing scientific integrity?
Next Steps
Possible collaborations: cross-domain exchange on how to design decision environments for better outcomes (schools, food environments, ageing and health), and shared strategies for stakeholder engagement and evaluation.
If you are interested in decision science and public policy and would like to connect with the speakers or suggest a speaker for another session, contact Catalina.