Date of publication
Nov 02, 2026
Category:
Article
Navigating the science-policy interface: climate scientists' role conceptions and engagement practices
by
Paula Kolhep
,
Hannah Schmid-Petri
,
Mr Stephan Schlögl
Effective climate change response requires constructive science-policy engagement, yet what role interpretations climate scientists hold at the science-policy interface, which factors shape these interpretations, and how they relate to actual communication behaviour remain empirically underexplored. We surveyed German climate scientists (N = 249) and identified five distinct profiles: Advocating Brokers, Engaged Advocates, Reserved Academics, Policy Advisors, and Traditional Academics. Notably, the latter group --- preferring detachment from societal and policy engagement --- represents only a small minority. These findings provide insights into the ways scientists navigate their engagement at the science-policy boundary, contributing to the ongoing discourse on scientific advocacy in post-normal science contexts.