On November 5, 2020, HGPI Chairman Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa gave a lecture on the relationship between science and policy at the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) “Roles of Science and Policy in the Pandemic Society” seminar. HGPI CEO and Board Member Mr. Ryoji Noritake also participated in the seminar, where he served as facilitator for a panel discussion.

Other speakers at the seminar included Mr. Yasuo Fukuda (Chair, APDA; Former Prime Minister of Japan), Mr. Kouji Tsuruoka (Former Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom), Mr. Keizo Takemi (Member, House of Councilors), Mr. Hitoshi Kikawada (Member, House of Representatives), Professor Mitsunobu Kano (Professor, Graduate School of Integrated Health Science, Okayama University), and Dr. Osamu Kusumoto (Executive Director and Secretary General, APDA).

At the discussion, it was pointed out that while scientific data is important, policymakers must make decisions that are based on scientific data when implementing policy. Participants also expressed their high expectations for interdisciplinary cooperation in the scientific community that will draw upon expertise in many fields such as sociology, philosophy, and economics in addition to public health and medicine. During the discussion, there was also a proposal on the need to allow independent organizations to be the ones to conduct verification procedures when COVID-19 countermeasures are verified in the future.

The Asian Population and Development Association (APDA) Website