'A front row seat: lessons learned at the intersection of science, policy, and politics' with Juliet Gerrard

In this episode of the Research Impact for Public Good webinar series, we welcomed Dame Juliet Gerrard, former Prime Minister’s Chief Science Advisor (2018–2024). Juliet served under three Prime Ministers during some of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most defining moments, including the Christchurch mosque attacks, the Whakaari | White Island eruption, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Her experiences in both academic and policy spaces have provided her with a wealth of knowledge on the intersection of science, policy, and politics. Now based back at the University of Auckland, she works across the Faculties of Science and Engineering, where her research interests include emerging technologies, sustainability, and science communication in contested spaces.

In her presentation, Juliet reflected on her six-year tenure advising government through crises and complex policy challenges. She introduced the RITA principles—rigour, inclusivity, transparency, and accessibility—as a framework for effective science advice, and shared her “Consensus Quadrant” tool to help navigate the intersection of scientific and values-based consensus. Drawing on examples from her work on plastics, gangs, and COVID-19, Juliet explored when science advice lands well, and when it doesn’t, emphasising the importance of timing, trust, and communication. The session concluded with a rich Q&A, where Juliet offered insights on science communication, public trust, and how researchers can better engage with policy to create meaningful impact.