Between 26 and 28 February, the Office of Science and Technology of the Congress, known as Office C, presented in the Lower Chamber six new reports of scientific evidence that contextualize and summarize multidisciplinary scientific knowledge on topics of socio-political relevance. The themes of the reports are neuroscience, neurodegenerative diseases, wildfires, air quality, aging, and misinformation.
Adrián Regos and Lluís Brotons, researchers from the Landscape Dynamics and Biodiversity program of the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), have participated in the elaboration of the report Forest Fires and restoration of burnt areas. “This type of report can be a fundamental tool for our politicians to make informed decisions, with a document that rigorously collects scientific evidence about fires. As a scientist, it is encouraging to see that the results of your work contribute to decision-making in the legislative power,” explains Regos.
The Office C report on wildfires covers the social and ecological heterogeneity of the Spanish territory, both prevention and extinction and post-fire management, recognizing the important role that different sectoral policies can play, and multi-disciplinary approaches.
After the presentation of the reports in an open session to the public in the Congress, some of the experts who participated in its elaboration also attended closed meetings to present the reports to different members of the Congress. The experts who have prepared the reports and the parliamentary staff have shared different training sessions in scientific consultancy and closed sessions where they can discuss and exchange opinions regarding the contents of the published reports.
“It is vital that scientific evidence is incorporated into the decision-making process to develop more efficient and sustainable, environmental and social policies,” concludes Brotons, associated researcher to the CTFC.
About Office C
Office C emerged in 2021 from a citizens’ initiative Science in Parliament. It is coordinated by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) a public foundation that depends on the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and the General Secretariat of the Congress of Representatives.
Office C produces impartial and independent reports that reflect the scientific and technical consensus of those issues of interest to Congress representatives, publishes them, and makes them accessible to the general public as well. This information is coordinated by the Directorate of Studies, Analysis, and Publications of the General Secretariat of the Congress and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology.
Last modified: 5 March 2024
