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Want to speed up scientific progress? First understand how science policy works

Researchers and policymakers often exist in different worlds and speak different languages. Here are three ways to bridge the divide.
  1. Matt Clancy

    1. Matt Clancy is a research fellow at Open Philanthropy, San Francisco, California, USA.

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  2. Dan Correa

    1. Dan Correa is chief executive of the Federation of American Scientists, Washington DC, USA.

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  3. Jordan Dworkin

    1. Jordan Dworkin is programme lead at the Impetus Institute, Federation of American Scientists, Washington DC, USA.

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  4. Paul Niehaus

    1. Paul Niehaus is professor of economics at the University of California, San Diego, USA.

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  5. Caleb Watney

    1. Caleb Watney is co-chief executive of the Institute for Progress, Washington DC, USA.

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  6. Heidi Williams

    1. Heidi Williams is professor of economics at Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.

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Cartoon showing a chaotic scene of funders and scientists rushing about being watched by larger scientists from above

Illustration by David Parkins

Science is a key driver of economic growth and social progress. If science can be accelerated — such as by increasing the efficiency with which research dollars translate into discoveries and commercialized inventions — so can growth. Metascience researchers, like us, can generate evidence on the best way to accelerate science. Much is being learnt, but closer partnerships between researchers and policymakers could allow scientists to do much more.

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Nature 620, 724-726 (2023)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-023-02602-9

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Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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