Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy
Welcome to SKAPE
The Centre for Science, Knowledge and Policy at Edinburgh (SKAPE) brings together academic researchers across a range of disciplines, as well as policy practitioners, to examine the relationships and intersections between different types of science and knowledges on policy. With a membership of over 130 academics and practitioners, SKAPE is committed to exploring and sharing ideas across universities, policy institutions and the wider public to improve the use of knowledge and evidence in democratic decision-making.
Research from SKAPE members covers a range of topics, including research on climate change, energy systems, migration policy, public health, environmental politics, education, international development, and more.
Blogs, perspectives and opinion
Message from the new co-directors of SKAPE (2022-25)
As they assume the directorship of SKAPE, our new Co-Directors, Nathan Coombs and Eugénia Rodrigues, share a message about the future direction of the research centre and its activities.
Making local policy impact: analysing opportunity areas for data driven innovation within the city region (beyond the Edinburgh City)
In advance of the SKAPE seminar in 2022, Matjaz Vidmar and Fumi Kitagawa ask how we can make “policy impact” in our local areas and share stories about their work on the Data-Driven Innovation (DDI) initiative.
Ignorant rule of the masses or elitist rule of a knowing few? How to organise the knowledge-democracy-nexus
Following her talk for the SKAPE seminar series, Eva Krick introduces her new book ‘Expertise & Participation – Institutional designs for policy-development in Europe’, which examines the relationship between expertise and public participation in modern governance.