Bridging Knowledge and Action

Bridging Knowledge and Action: A Polish-Norwegian Perspective on Arctic Science- Policy Collaboration

The relationship between science and policy is a dynamic and complex area of research. At its core, it examines how scientific knowledge informs decision-making and addresses societal challenges. Researchers in this field investigate the mechanisms of communication, trust, and collaboration between scientists and policymakers, as well as the broader societal impacts of these interactions. Key questions include: What motivates scientists to engage with policymakers? How is scientific advice interpreted and applied? And how do power dynamics shape the role of research in governance?

This field is especially compelling because it bridges technical knowledge with human dynamics, offering insights into how evidence-based decisions can drive positive change. In our project, Enhancing Science-Policy Interface and Knowledge Transfer, we take a focused approach to these questions, using the Arctic as a case study. With all project members being Arctic specialists, this region offers a rich context to explore science-policy collaboration on critical issues such as climate change, resource management, and sustainable development.

What Is the Project About?

The project Enhancing Science-Policy Interface and Knowledge Transfer: A Polish-Norwegian Collaborative Seminars and Research Initiative, supported by the EEA Financial Mechanism/Norway Grants, brings together IR scholars, sociologists, psychologists, political scientists and natural scientists from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, the University of Silesia, and UiT The Arctic University of Norway. We are part of a research consortium of 23 Polish and Norwegian institutions which jointly conduct bilateral initiatives in social sciences, arts, and humanities. The aim of our project is to strengthen connections between science, policy, and society, focusing on how knowledge is transferred and applied in decision-making processes. The project will run from September 2024 until May 2025.

By using the Arctic as a case study, the project explores the unique challenges and opportunities of collaboration in a region undergoing rapid environmental and socio-economic changes. It looks at how different stakeholder groups—scientists, policymakers, indigenous communities, and business actors—interact in shaping responses to issues such as international agreements on Arctic shipping routes, sustainable tourism development, and climate adaptation planning. The project also considers how scientific cooperation and access to conduct research in the region are negotiated among countries and institutions. These insights are not only relevant for Arctic governance but also provide lessons applicable to other global contexts.

One of the project’s central events is a seminar bringing together three key groups from Poland and Norway in majority but also from Germany, UK, and Iceland: scientists with experience in advisory roles at national and international levels; policymakers and officials from government institutions and international organizations; representatives from business, NGOs, and the media. The project focuses on the flow of knowledge between these groups, addressing challenges such as communication barriers, differing expectations, and the influence of political dynamics on science. It aims to foster dialogue and create practical strategies to improve collaboration.

The project also includes a survey to evaluate current practices in science-society engagement. The survey investigates how researchers perceive their roles, what motivates or discourages them from engaging with non-academic stakeholders, and how these experiences affect their satisfaction, performance, and stress levels. These findings will guide the development of more effective collaboration models for future initiatives.

The project concludes with a workshop titled Bridging Science and Policy: Enhancing Knowledge Transfer and Personal Well-being in Arctic Cooperation. This event explores two key dimensions:

Knowledge Transfer: Examining how scientific findings are used in policy-making and what can be done to improve these processes, particularly in the Arctic context.

Personal Well-being: Addressing the emotional and psychological challenges faced by scientists in collaborative roles, with a focus on stress, motivation, and job satisfaction.

Why Does This Matter?

Studying the science-policy interface in the Arctic provides a unique opportunity to understand how knowledge is used in decision-making under conditions of environmental urgency and geopolitical complexity. By focusing on this region, the project offers valuable insights into how science can effectively inform policies that address global challenges.

Beyond the Arctic, the lessons learned from this initiative contribute to broader efforts to make science more impactful and accessible. By fostering dialogue, sharing best practices, and addressing systemic challenges, the project aims to ensure that scientific research serves society in meaningful ways, bridging the gap between knowledge and action.

Monika Szkarłat (PhD) is a specialist in international relations and a researcher at the Institute of Political Science and Administration, as well as the head of a research team at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Computer Modeling, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin, Poland. She holds a degree in intellectual property law from the Faculty of Law and Administration at Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Dr. Szkarłat is a delegate to the Board of the Polish Polar Consortium, a member of the Presidium of the Committee on Polar Research at the Polish Academy of Sciences, and chairs the Social & Human Working Group of the International Arctic Science Committee. She is also actively engaged in ICARP IV as a member of RPT4 (Diplomacy and Scientific Collaboration). Her research focuses on the intersection of science and policy, particularly science diplomacy in the Arctic and the EU, as well as the legal and social dimensions of artificial intelligence and biotechnologies.

2 June 2025