Wicked problems such as climate change, environmental degradation, and global health crises continue to challenge governance systems worldwide. Characterized by complexity, uncertainty, and contested values, these problems demand adaptive, integrative, and evidence-informed approaches to policymaking. Yet, the interaction between science and policy in addressing wicked problems remains insufficiently understood.

This workshop examines how interactions at the science–policy interface shape the understanding and management of wicked problems across the policy process—from problem framing and policy design to implementation and evaluation. We invite and discuss theoretical and empirical contributions that investigate how evidence is produced, translated, and used within political and administrative contexts. Key themes include the co-production of knowledge, the role of intermediaries and boundary organizations, and the
conditions under which SPIs foster learning, legitimacy, and effective governance.

By integrating perspectives from multiple disciplines, the workshop aims to advance a more nuanced understanding of evidence-informed decision-making under conditions of complexity and contestation. Collectively, the contributions will illuminate how SPIs can move beyond the symbolic use of evidence to support meaningful, adaptive, and legitimate policy change in the governance of wicked problems.