Horizons research magazine: Take your evidence to the Federal Palace!
How can research find its way into policy? Yes, there are sometimes hearings in parliament, or studies from National Research Programmes are mentioned. But it's really a much more labyrinthine process. The latest issue of Horizons tries to unravel it.
Putting science across to politicians in the Federal Parliament involves negotiating an elaborate maze. You have to know exactly where to go and how to open the various gates barring your way. Horizons discusses the complex structures involved. It also describes how a research question about greenwashing can end up as a Federal Council recommendation. What's more, it cites examples of politicians who have changed their minds after being swayed by researchers' arguments. And finally, it analyses the question of what evidence-based policies actually mean to the various parties and interest groups.
Aside from that, the magazine's editorial staff met with five lay researchers who are involved in Citizen Science projects – sailing to the Antarctic, for example, combing through old newspapers, or scrutinising their own health disorder.
Other highlights include reports on the laborious excavation work being done to investigate ancient civilisations in southern Turkey, on disaster alerts in cryptography, and on love and relationships in the age of dating apps like Tinder.
The latest issue of Horizons is just as diverse as research itself – and, as always, accessible for everyone.