"Science for policy, policy for science: bridging the gap" is the title of a high-level symposium on environment and health research that will take place in Madrid, Spain, on 20-22 October 2008.

The symposium will be organized by WHO/Europe and the Institute of Health Carlos III of the Spanish Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs in co-operation with the European Commission Research Directorate-General (EC DG Research).

The Health & Environment Alliance and ECO Forum - WECF will give a presentation entitled - Have the gaps between the science and policy decreased? Role of NGOs in Identifying Knowledge Gaps and Policy Making.

Aims and objectives

Bringing together scientists, policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders, the Symposium aims at providing a platform for collaboration in public health research with an emphasis on environment and health. Specific objectives include:
 to review the main achievements in research on environment and health of the last decade;
 to present research and lessons learnt on health aspects of environmental crises, such as the toxic oil syndrome (TOS), the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and dioxin crises, and on current issues, such as climate change;
 to evaluate information and knowledge gaps for policy development on environmental hazards, including risk communication and interventions in situations of scientific uncertainty and of high public concern;
 to identify public health priorities requiring further research for consideration by the Seventh Framework Programme 2007-2013 of the EC DG Research.

The Symposium will present the most recent scientific evidence to policy-makers in preparation of the Fifth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health in 2009, the next milestone of the environment and health process. A reference document will be produced for strategic planning in the field of research.

For more information