Smith Fellow Maureen (Mo) Ryan always felt that she should be more engaged in public policy. It wasn't until she finally decided to take action that she realized that scientists have more to contribute to public policy than they might think.

The 26th of January 2013 will be marked as an historical day. After years of negotiations, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) officially launched. Finally, IPBES has a Bureau and a Multidisciplinary Expert Panel comprised of 25 excellent scientists from across the world ready to help carry out its work.

SCB Europe President Andr

On day four of IPBES, a selection of heads of stakeholder delegations were given an audience with the EU to discuss our view on the dependence of the success of IPBES on full and effective participation by stakeholders, both as advocates and users of information provided by the platform, and as providers of knowledge required by IPBES to do its work.

Delegates are exhausted from three days of intense meetings and negotiations at IPBES in Bonn, Germany. Much has been accomplished, but a great deal of work lies ahead. The IPBES Bureau has been established, but there is meticulous, tiresome discussion on the structuring of the MEP. On day three, SCB's IPBES delegation and other stakeholders ponder the age-old question: "To speak or not to speak?"