Science advice in challenging settings: An interactive workshop for early- to-mid career researchers
Monday, 29 June 2026, 14:00 – 16:00h CEST | Constructor University, Bremen, Germany | Organised by INGSA Europe & GYA
How does scientific research support policy and decision-making, and what happens when political, institutional, or societal conditions put established science-policy pathways or relationships under strain?
Drawing on emerging insights from INGSA-Europe’s Science Advice in Challenging Settings work, this interactive workshop invites early- to mid-career researchers (EMCRs) to explore how science supports policymaking in practice, with a focus on the types of roles or environments they are likely to encounter.
Participants will take part in a case-based simulation reflecting real-world advisory challenges. By stepping into different roles within science-policy ecosystems, participants will grapple with constraints such as politicisation, uncertainty, time pressure, and institutional limits. Participants will also hear from science for policy practitioners at different career stages, offering reflections on pathways into policy-facing work, the trade-offs they navigate, and the skills that matter but are not always made explicit.
Alongside hands-on problem-solving, there will be space to reflect on questions such as: What does “good” science advice look like under challenging conditions? Where can (and can’t) tools like LLMs add value? And what kinds of science-for-policy careers are possible beyond the most visible routes? This session is open to all GYA AGM & Conference attendees and will be particularly valuable for EMCRs with experience engaging with policy or curiosity about doing so, as well as those considering diverse career pathways.
To take part, registration is mandatory: AGM 2026 – INGSA Workshop – Registration