Mathematics of Planet Earth

Abstract:

In this talk we try to introduce and explain the concept of Policy Analytics: aiding to decide in designing, implementing and assessing public policies. More precisely we show what is specific in decision support within a policy cycle and how this impacts the way decision aiding processes should be conceived and conducted. We then analyse what type of challenges such a framework introduces for Decision Theory and Operational Research. The talk will use a number of examples ranging from classical OR problems (location analysis) to more complex decision situations (energy scenarios construction or participative structures design) in order to support our basic claim: the need to expand our toolkit and at the same time the need to enhance our general methodology.