How can we assess the impacts of public funding for science and research? And what is the evidence base for science, research and innovation policy decisions?

Questions such as these are becoming more important as the public demands more accountability from the research community and discussion moves on from measuring the quality of research to broader socio-economic impacts. However the mechanisms that connect knowledge to social, environmental and economic outcomes such as job creation are still not well understood.

John Marburger, the Science Advisor to President Bush, pointed out this lack of ‘science’ in science policy in 2005. The NSF’s Science of Science and Innovation Policy (SciSIP) Program was established to develop, improve and expand models, analytical tools, data and metrics that can be used to inform science and innovation policy decision-making. It has led to initiatives such as STAR METRICS — Science and Technology for America’s Reinvestment: Measuring the Effect of Research on Innovation, Competitiveness and Science.

Dr Julia I. Lane will discuss the origins of the SciSIP Program, its achievements to date, relevant international experience and challenges for the next 5-10 years. In her role as Program Director of the Science of Science and Innovation Policy Program at the NSF, Dr Lane established and managed the SciSIP Program, developed the STAR METRICS initiative, co-chaired the US Government’s SciSIP inter-agency group, and led the development for the White House of the national R&D dashboard. She is the author/editor of seven books, including the 2011 edited volume The Handbook of the Science of Science Policy, and numerous articles. Dr Lane is a Fellow of the American Statistical Association.

This seminar is presented in partnership with the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne.

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