What to do with uncertain science: practitioner experiences from Victoria, New South Wales and the Northern Territory

The increasing demand for evidence-based public policy places a premium on the need to translate scientific knowledge into policy, practice and common understanding. This translation is rendered even more challenging by the inherent uncertainty and diverse disciplines of the science behind the evidence. How should risk mitigation practitioners manage these scientific uncertainties and diversities in their strategic decision-making? This is a key question driving this project, which aims to help risk management practitioners to explain, justify and discuss mitigation practices to others, including mitigation professionals, the public, the media, and in court and inquiry processes. The project uses qualitative social science methods, including scenario exercises, theoretical tools and case studies. It analyses how diverse knowledge is ordered and judged as salient, credible and authoritative, and its pragmatic meaning for emergency management across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery spectrum.