In a landmark event for science and public policy, the International Council for Science (ICSU) and New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor, Professor Sir Peter Gluckman, jointly convened the first major global summit of leading practitioners of high-level science advice to governments.

The two-day public meeting was held 28-29 August 2014 in Auckland, New Zealand and brought together the world’s leading practitioners of science advice to governments, including chief science advisors and senior representatives of science advisory bodies from Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the United States, Canada and Latin America.

At a time of increasing recognition worldwide of the critical importance of high-level science advisory mechanisms to improving dialogue and collaboration between science, policy- and decision-makers, and society, this summit was an opportunity to explore and share lessons in providing science advice to governments in a variety of challenging policy contexts.

The Auckland conference explored the diversity of models and approaches with which science advice is operationalised in various countries and in relation to common challenges. Discussions were based on analytical materials prepared in advance of the meeting, and structured around five key challenges:

1. The process and systems for procuring evidence and developing/delivering scientific advice for government
2. Science advice in dealing with crises
3. Science advice in the context of opposing political/ideological positions
4. Developing an approach to international science advice
5. The modalities of science advice: accumulated wisdom

Attended by high level practitioners, academics, students and government officials alike, this conference made accessible key debates in the practice of science advice in a way that other global fora have not done. Over 40 countries were represented by over 220 delegates from all regions of the world, together with representatives of key international organisations. Recordings of the panels are available and the relevant publications and materials are accessible below.