Science Policy Interface for Water (SPI4Water)

Our workstream brings together experts from science, policy, and civil society to strengthen science-policy interactions for water quality. While poor water quality is often attributed to a lack of data or political will, this initiative highlights a third challenge: weak connections between scientific knowledge and policy action.

The SPI4Water workstream aims to identify and test effective models of science-policy interaction to support a global data-to-action approach. By engaging with WWQA partners—including those focused on plastics, wastewater, citizen science, youth, and Africa use cases—we will build a network, develop a shared framework for science-policy interaction, and explore real-world applications through pilot studies.

Led by the Public Policy Research Group at Museum für Naturkunde Berlin, the workstream focuses on three key questions: What innovative formats can improve science-policy engagement? How do current science-policy models perform? And how can we better define and use policy-relevant knowledge for water quality?

Our first phase runs until December 2026, with key envisioned outputs including an active global network, joint research proposals, the collection of lessons learned from case studies, and the publication of a policy brief. By advancing how science and policy connect, this workstream supports better water quality outcomes and more effective environmental action worldwide.