INCLUSIVE – Language, Culture, and Context
To support the development of its new Chapter in Europe, INGSA launched The ‘INfluence of Culture and LangUages on Science adVice in Europe’ or ‘INCLUSIVE’ project in January 2023. The project aimed to explore how language, culture and context affects the provision and use of scientific evidence in Europe and to consider any implications for future practice and research. Cultural and linguistic factors may lead to sources of knowledge being ignored when advice is being prepared, or advice being less effective in informing decisions than it could be. The project aimed to build on existing extensive research about science advisory mechanisms in a range of sectors and European languages alongside first hand accounts from practitioners and academic experts.
This project was organised by INGSA in association with the International Public Policy Observatory (IPPO) at University College London and funded by the Québec government and the Fonds de Recherche du Québec. The project and development of the INGSA-Europe chapter has been led by Dr Claire Craig (INGSA Vice-President, Evidence), co-ordinated by Rokia Ballo (PhD candidate, UCL) and supported by the project’s expert pan-European advisory board and MPA students from UCL’s science, technology, engineering and public policy department (STEaPP).
INGSA has a strong history of producing work that is close to both research and practice. Building on this approach, the INCLUSIVE project commissioned a series of rapid reviews of the available evidence about the ways language and culture can impact discussions between scientists, policymakers and the public. The reviews include learnings from industry, policy and research from several European countries and languages.
Explore the evidence that informed the INCLUSIVE project’s activities and the final project report below.
Final report
Findings from INGSA-Europe’s pilot project: the INCLUSIVE project. The report pairs reviews of some of the relevant literature on language, culture, science advice and negotiation with first-hand accounts from practitioners, policymakers and researchers who engaged with the project across its duration.
Rapid Systematic Review
This rapid systematic review provides an initial synthesis of evidence on how language, culture and context shape the production, communication and use of science advice. It establishes a baseline for understanding key patterns, gaps and assumptions across existing literature.
Evidence Review: Linguistics and Translation Studies
This evidence review draws on linguistics and translation studies to examine how language practices, translation and meaning-making influence science advice across multilingual and multicultural contexts. It highlights how linguistic choices can shape interpretation, authority and inclusion in science–policy processes.
Evidence Review: International Relations and Political Science
This evidence review focuses on insights from international relations and political science to explore how power, institutions and political context shape the role of language and culture in science advice. It examines how science advice is negotiated, mediated and used within complex political environments.