If we’re so smart, why is public policy highly imperfect and diffi cult to agree on? These presentations take as a theme the inherent intricacies and ambiguities of public policy in critical applications concerning major contemporary problems, including: climate change; disaster management; energy security; and the fraught role of the scientist in the harsh and competitive modern-day political environment.

9.15am Opening remarks
>Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC QC, Chancellor of The Australian National University

9.25am Keynote Address
Complexity, imperfection and the future of public policy
>Professor Gabriele Bammer, ANU Public Policy Fellow >Discussant: Dr John Hewson, Executive Chairman, Shartru Capital, and former Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia
>Chaired by Professor Tom Kompas

10.30am-12pm Designing climate policies in an uncertain world
>Professor Warwick McKibbin, ANU Public Policy Fellow
>Discussant: Ms Jenny Wilkinson, Head of Carbon Pricing and Markets Division, Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education >Chaired by Dr Frank Jotzo, Director, Centre for Climate Economics & Policy, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

12-1pm Lunch

1pm Emergency management and disaster policy
>Professor Stephen Dovers, ANU Public Policy Fellow >Discussant: Dr Mark Matthews, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU >Chaired by Ms Renée Leon, Deputy Secretary, Governance, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

2pm Resilience and public policy
>Professor Quentin Grafton, ANU Public Policy Fellow
>Discussant: Dr Carolyn Hendriks, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU >Chaired by Professor Bruce Chapman, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

3-3.30pm Afternoon Tea

3.30 Complexity, uncertainty in public policy: A scientist’s perspective
>Professor Ken Baldwin, ANU Public Policy Fellow >Discussant: Dr Rhondda Dickson, Chief Executive, Murray-Darling Basin Authority >Chaired by Professor Peter Whiteford, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

4.30pm Coping with uncertainties and risks in energy security and lower carbon futures: The contributions of renewable energy
>Professor Andrew Blakers, ANU Public Policy Fellow
>Discussant: Dr Subho Banerjee, Deputy Secretary, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism >Chaired by Professor Peter Whiteford, Crawford School of Public Policy, ANU

5.30pm Reception

For more information visit ANU Public Policy 2013