Predicting the way forward for the Global Biodiversity Framework [Opinion]

In order to truly look ahead and address pressing biodiversity challenges, the GBF needs a new international program that coordinates biodiversity research and modeling. We label this initiative the World Biodiversity Research Programme

Science, institutions, and values

This paper articulates and defends three interconnected claims: firstly, that the debate on the role of values for science misses a crucial dimension, the institutional one; secondly, that institutions occupy the intermediate level between scientific activities and values and that they are to be systematically integrated into the analysis; thirdly, that the appraisal of the institutions of science with respect to values should be undertaken within the premises of a comparative approach rather than an ideal approach. Hence, I defend the view that the issue be framed in reference to the following question: “What kind of institutional rules should be in place in order for the scientific process to unfold in such a way that the values that we deem more important come to the fore?” Addressing this concern is equivalent to conducting a debate on institutions and their role for science