David Mair
@davidmair4.bsky.social
Science & knowledge for policy, democracy, public governance and public administration at European Commission’s Joint Research Centre but personal views only.
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making_en
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-informed-policy-making_en
Pinned
David Mair
@davidmair4.bsky.social
· Nov 12
Trying to understand and navigate the current political situation?
These Joint Research Centre reports may give some answers and ideas.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
These Joint Research Centre reports may give some answers and ideas.
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
Two gripping episodes that demonstrate the power of history to illuminate our understanding of the present.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
Part two of David’s conversation with historian Chris Clark asks whether the best historical insights into Trump-like leadership come from comparison with kings or commoners, democrats or dictators.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
Part two of David’s conversation with historian Chris Clark asks whether the best historical insights into Trump-like leadership come from comparison with kings or commoners, democrats or dictators.
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:06 AM
Two gripping episodes that demonstrate the power of history to illuminate our understanding of the present.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
“Normative power of the factual”; all power is relational and thus constantly changing; the value of not switching off your brain when you are outraged; and other penetrating insights.
new paper by Sean Westwood:
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
With current technology, it is impossible to tell whether survey respondents are real or bots. Among other things, makes it easy for bad actors to manipulate outcomes. No good news here for the future of online-based survey research
November 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
Important - algorithms distort salience, normalisation, pluralistic ignorance, Overton window etc;
Citizen Engagement listening exercises, civic tech and public spaces, science part of the answer to keep debate grounded in reality.
Citizen Engagement listening exercises, civic tech and public spaces, science part of the answer to keep debate grounded in reality.
Governments and voters are both reacting to algorithm-shaped “public opinion,” not grounded priorities. Immigration feels urgent because platforms amplify fear, pulling parties into hollow performances of toughness. The far right reads that drift as confirmation it’s winning.
Not everyone is unhappy about the Government's descent into anti-refugee politics
November 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Important - algorithms distort salience, normalisation, pluralistic ignorance, Overton window etc;
Citizen Engagement listening exercises, civic tech and public spaces, science part of the answer to keep debate grounded in reality.
Citizen Engagement listening exercises, civic tech and public spaces, science part of the answer to keep debate grounded in reality.
Reposted by David Mair
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:17 AM
World still on track for catastrophic 2.6C temperature rise, report finds
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Fossil fuel emissions have hit a record high while many nations have done too little to avert deadly global heating
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
“And so politics stays trapped in the doom loop: distrusted governments are afraid to take unpopular but necessary decisions; hard problems are deferred; things do not get better; governments become less popular.”
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
There’s a missing link in British public life – and it underpins crises from the BBC to our prisons | Rafael Behr
A declining sense of collective identity is corroding trust in our institutions and undermining democratic politics, says Guardian columnist Rafael Behr
www.theguardian.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:45 AM
“And so politics stays trapped in the doom loop: distrusted governments are afraid to take unpopular but necessary decisions; hard problems are deferred; things do not get better; governments become less popular.”
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@rafaelbehr.bsky.social
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Excellent podcast, not least for Dr Buchanan recalling the great Cialdini quote “The media doesn’t tell you what to think, it tells you what to think about”.
Distraction just as much a threat as disinformation to make some issues more or less salient.
#merchantsofdistraction
Distraction just as much a threat as disinformation to make some issues more or less salient.
#merchantsofdistraction
New Politics on the Couch - the world’s most erratically scheduled politics podcast - this time on immigration, storytelling and changing even the most hostile minds (maybe). shows.acast.com/6462652801a2...
Changing minds about immigration | Politics on the Couch
How to talk about immigration with ‘authoritarian’ voters: Rafael Behr in conversation with Dr Tessa Buchanan from the Cambridge Political Psychology Lab
shows.acast.com
November 12, 2025 at 7:29 AM
Excellent podcast, not least for Dr Buchanan recalling the great Cialdini quote “The media doesn’t tell you what to think, it tells you what to think about”.
Distraction just as much a threat as disinformation to make some issues more or less salient.
#merchantsofdistraction
Distraction just as much a threat as disinformation to make some issues more or less salient.
#merchantsofdistraction
Why science for policy?
It helps define the policy problem and find underlying causes.
It helps reach trade-offs and compromises by understanding impacts.
It helps find out what works through evaluation.
Most of all, it helps earn trust in democracy by grounding it in facts and reality.
It helps define the policy problem and find underlying causes.
It helps reach trade-offs and compromises by understanding impacts.
It helps find out what works through evaluation.
Most of all, it helps earn trust in democracy by grounding it in facts and reality.
November 11, 2025 at 12:06 PM
Why science for policy?
It helps define the policy problem and find underlying causes.
It helps reach trade-offs and compromises by understanding impacts.
It helps find out what works through evaluation.
Most of all, it helps earn trust in democracy by grounding it in facts and reality.
It helps define the policy problem and find underlying causes.
It helps reach trade-offs and compromises by understanding impacts.
It helps find out what works through evaluation.
Most of all, it helps earn trust in democracy by grounding it in facts and reality.
Full house in MOLI for the Ireland Research for Policy conference. Looking forward to the next two years of the @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu project for Ireland on the science for policy eco-system.
November 11, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Full house in MOLI for the Ireland Research for Policy conference. Looking forward to the next two years of the @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu project for Ireland on the science for policy eco-system.
Excellent book on the predicting mind.
It's out! Such a wonderful evening celebrating the launch of A TRICK OF THE MIND at Pushkin House. So lovely to see so many, and to be able to thank everybody who made my first book happen. Thank you!
Available in all good bookshops now!
www.penguin.co.uk/books/451515...
Available in all good bookshops now!
www.penguin.co.uk/books/451515...
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Excellent book on the predicting mind.
Nietzsche had a great science for policy insight. #scipol
“If someone has mastered one subject, it usually has made him a complete amateur in most other subjects; but people judge just the reverse.”
Science for policy is a team sport with intellectual humility the cardinal virtue.
“If someone has mastered one subject, it usually has made him a complete amateur in most other subjects; but people judge just the reverse.”
Science for policy is a team sport with intellectual humility the cardinal virtue.
November 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Nietzsche had a great science for policy insight. #scipol
“If someone has mastered one subject, it usually has made him a complete amateur in most other subjects; but people judge just the reverse.”
Science for policy is a team sport with intellectual humility the cardinal virtue.
“If someone has mastered one subject, it usually has made him a complete amateur in most other subjects; but people judge just the reverse.”
Science for policy is a team sport with intellectual humility the cardinal virtue.
“If the public does not have confidence in science, they will not rely on science to make decisions.”
Virginia Burkett on the money on the importance of scientific integrity in science for policy.
Homework for scientists and governments.
#scipol
Virginia Burkett on the money on the importance of scientific integrity in science for policy.
Homework for scientists and governments.
#scipol
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch on.ft.com/47XOPkv | opinion
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch
The loss of robust evidence in the public realm harms us all
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
“If the public does not have confidence in science, they will not rely on science to make decisions.”
Virginia Burkett on the money on the importance of scientific integrity in science for policy.
Homework for scientists and governments.
#scipol
Virginia Burkett on the money on the importance of scientific integrity in science for policy.
Homework for scientists and governments.
#scipol
Reposted by David Mair
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch on.ft.com/47XOPkv | opinion
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch
The loss of robust evidence in the public realm harms us all
on.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:41 AM
Tips for resisting the anti-science lurch on.ft.com/47XOPkv | opinion
Another brilliant example of the science for policy work of @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu #JRC rewarded in our 2025 Excellence awards.
November 4, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Another brilliant example of the science for policy work of @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu #JRC rewarded in our 2025 Excellence awards.
Autumn in the Ardennes yesterday
November 3, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Autumn in the Ardennes yesterday
2nd EU-funded on evidence-informed policy kicked off last week, supporting FR, ES, PL, PT, IE, AT, CY upgrade their use of scientific evidence in policymaking and as a cornerstone of democracy. #scipol
Proud of #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu role!
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Proud of #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu role!
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Evidence-Informed Policymaking for the Twin Transition (EIPM 2.0) | Knowledge for policy
The “Supporting evidence-informed policymaking for the twin transition” (EIPM 2.0) project strengthens institutional foundations for evidence-based policymaking to enhance policy quality, build public...
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu
October 31, 2025 at 8:40 AM
2nd EU-funded on evidence-informed policy kicked off last week, supporting FR, ES, PL, PT, IE, AT, CY upgrade their use of scientific evidence in policymaking and as a cornerstone of democracy. #scipol
Proud of #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu role!
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Proud of #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu role!
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
Reposted by David Mair
"go to TikTok. See for yourself."
![Pop Base tweets: "Kim Kardashian said on ‘The Kardashians’ that she believes the moon landing was fake:
“They’re gonna say I’m crazy no matter what, but like, go to TikTok. See for yourself. […] There’s no gravity on the moon. Why is the flag blowing? The shoes that they have in the museum that they wore on the moon is a different print in the photos. Why are there no stars?”"](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreickzwdynkak7r4lur6afktglm3gontqsq5r5c7jeewyecyd4dczla@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 4:25 AM
"go to TikTok. See for yourself."
Reposted by David Mair
"You left Europe because you wanted less boats, you have more boats. You left Europe because you wanted more investment. You have less investment."
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania on the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Watch in full ➡️ bit.ly/4qkZnS0
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania on the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Watch in full ➡️ bit.ly/4qkZnS0
October 25, 2025 at 8:00 AM
"You left Europe because you wanted less boats, you have more boats. You left Europe because you wanted more investment. You have less investment."
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania on the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Watch in full ➡️ bit.ly/4qkZnS0
Prime Minister Edi Rama of Albania on the UK's decision to leave the European Union.
Watch in full ➡️ bit.ly/4qkZnS0
Another fine episode!
Fragmentation is so worrying because it is bespoke-tailoring information environment to prior beliefs.
Democracy depends on encountering facts and ideas you don’t agree with. Algorithms don’t do this like newspapers etc.
@lewan.bsky.social @scharfbillig.bsky.social
Fragmentation is so worrying because it is bespoke-tailoring information environment to prior beliefs.
Democracy depends on encountering facts and ideas you don’t agree with. Algorithms don’t do this like newspapers etc.
@lewan.bsky.social @scharfbillig.bsky.social
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In our penultimate episode in this series David talks to writer @samfr.bsky.social about whether democracy can cope with the demands of the social media age. Is the bigger problem our ever-shrinking attention spans or our ever-divided politics?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In our penultimate episode in this series David talks to writer @samfr.bsky.social about whether democracy can cope with the demands of the social media age. Is the bigger problem our ever-shrinking attention spans or our ever-divided politics?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:07 AM
Another fine episode!
Fragmentation is so worrying because it is bespoke-tailoring information environment to prior beliefs.
Democracy depends on encountering facts and ideas you don’t agree with. Algorithms don’t do this like newspapers etc.
@lewan.bsky.social @scharfbillig.bsky.social
Fragmentation is so worrying because it is bespoke-tailoring information environment to prior beliefs.
Democracy depends on encountering facts and ideas you don’t agree with. Algorithms don’t do this like newspapers etc.
@lewan.bsky.social @scharfbillig.bsky.social
Second 7 Member State project on science for policy/Evidence-informed policy kick-off. Start of 2 year journey to national reforms to embed science at heart of government and build EU community of practitioners.
#scipol @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
#scipol @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
October 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
Second 7 Member State project on science for policy/Evidence-informed policy kick-off. Start of 2 year journey to national reforms to embed science at heart of government and build EU community of practitioners.
#scipol @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
#scipol @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/evidence-inf...
It does seem to be true that people rarely change their minds about politics. But are people perhaps a bit more flexible but we almost never acknowledge that we have changed our minds because of belief-change bias?
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 7:06 AM
It does seem to be true that people rarely change their minds about politics. But are people perhaps a bit more flexible but we almost never acknowledge that we have changed our minds because of belief-change bias?
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@jayvanbavel.bsky.social @sarahsteinlubrano.bsky.social
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
Another excellent episode and many common points with #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report on Trustworthy Public Communication.
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
October 16, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Another excellent episode and many common points with #JRC @scienceinnovation.ec.europa.eu report on Trustworthy Public Communication.
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
@scharfbillig.bsky.social
@profafinlayson.bsky.social
knowledge4policy.ec.europa.eu/projects-act...
October 14, 2025 at 9:13 PM
Compelling case from @dmk1793.bsky.social on the value of compulsory voting in fixing democracy.
NEW EPISODE OUT NOW!
In today’s episode David talks to political historian @dmk1793.bsky.social about whether voting should be required by law and what might change if non-participation was no longer an option. Why have some countries made voting compulsory?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
In today’s episode David talks to political historian @dmk1793.bsky.social about whether voting should be required by law and what might change if non-participation was no longer an option. Why have some countries made voting compulsory?
Find us at...🎧 ppfideas.com
October 13, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Compelling case from @dmk1793.bsky.social on the value of compulsory voting in fixing democracy.