Lecture
This lecture discusses the response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic by the Swiss National COVID-19 Science Task Force, emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary scientific support. It explores the role of a knowledge broker in advising governments on complex issues, using real-world examples. The lecture delves into the challenges of providing science advice in post-normal science scenarios, where issues are urgent, complex, and uncertain. It also addresses the consequences of public health interventions, decision-making processes, and the economic, educational, and social impacts of pandemic control measures. Furthermore, it touches upon the concept of leaving safe operating spaces in planetary boundaries, focusing on climate change, biodiversity loss, and biogeochemical flows.