Panel Discussion: 'Is a post-truth world a post-expert world?'
Winston Churchill advised that “experts should be on tap but never on top”. In 2017, is a post-truth world a post-expert world? What does this mean for future debates on difficult policy issues? And what place can researchers usefully occupy in an academic landscape that emphasises policy impact but a political landscape that has become wary of experts? Join us for a lively discussion on academia and the provision of policy advice, examining the role of evidence and experts and exploring how gaps with the public and politicians might be bridged.

This event will be chaired by Achim Steiner, Director of the Oxford Martin School and former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, with panellists including Oxford Martin Visiting Fellow Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand and Chair of the International Network for Government Science Advice; Dr Gemma Harper, Deputy Director for Marine and Chief Social Scientist of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and Professor Stefan Dercon, Chief Economist of the Department for International Development (DFID) and Professor of Economic Policy at the Blavatnik School of Government.

This discussion will be followed by a drinks reception, all welcome.
Date: 25 January 2017, 17:00 (Wednesday, 2nd week, Hilary 2017)
Venue: Lecture Theatre
Speakers: Achim Steiner (Oxford Martin School), Stefan Dercon (DFID), Professor Sir Peter Gluckman (International Network for Government Science Advice), Dr Gemma Harper (DEFRA)
Organising department: Oxford Martin School
Organiser: Caroline Corke (University of Oxford, Oxford Martin School)
Organiser contact email address: events@oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk
Host: Oxford Martin School (University of Oxford)
Booking required?: Required
Booking url: http://www.oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/event/2391
Cost: Free
Audience: Public
Editor: Caroline Corke