Sara Velander about her research:
"My dissertation sheds light on the many experts, government officials, and members of civil society who do the crucial boundary work, often quietly and voluntarily, to turn knowledge into better decisions for our land.
I am deeply grateful to the 100-plus practitioners across the globe and in Kenya who trusted me with their time and insight, and who helped me navigate the complex landscape of science–policy interfaces, which play a crucial role in addressing our interlinked global sustainability crises".
What is her research about?
Sara's research looked at "science–policy interfaces" (or SPIs) – the panels, platforms, and organizations where scientists and policymakers come together to turn knowledge into action on complex environmental problems. Her focus was on land: how we farm, protect, and restore it, which sits at the heart of today's linked climate, biodiversity, and food crises.
She studied these SPIs at two levels. Globally, she examined how expertise matters in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and mapped how 41 global SPI-related organizations – including the IPCC and IPBES – collaborate institutionally. Nationally, she did fieldwork in Kenya, mapping its polycentric SPI, with 78 organizations interacting across government, science, and civil society.