Integrated assessment focus groups: bridging the gap between science and policy?

In the last decade, integrated assessment (IA) has become an important approach for synthesising multidisciplinary knowledge about complex environmental phenomena with regard to policy decision-making. So far IA has been performed primarily as an expert exercise. This paper argues that a participatory element is needed that integrates lay persons (citizens, stakeholders) into the assessment process. The focus group method is considered as a promising tool to achieve such inclusion. Characteristics, applications, problems, and opportunities for focus groups in policy-oriented IA are discussed. The insights presented are backed by experiences collected in the context of two large research programmes — the European Union project ULYSSES and the Swiss project CLEAR.