This book is a fresh and readable account of the Covid-19 pandemic and how scientists and
medical doctors are helping governments to manage the crisis. The book contains interviews and
exchanges with dozens of scientists doctors experts government representatives and
journalists. Why do some of the most scientifically advanced countries have the highest
Covid-19 mortality? During the pandemic the research community has been at the heart of-and
actor in-a global scandal. Why has science failed? With the help of numerous testimonies from
China France the UK and the USA in particular the book provides an insider's view on this
major crisis. Although the governments of these countries based their Covid-19 strategy on
science scientists failed to have a decisive influence on decision-makers-except in China-
which created genuine time bombs. The accelerated development of vaccines does not erase past
months' errors. The crisis led to the development of science politicsat an unprecedented rate.
More worryingly experts themselves acknowledge that they did not rise to the challenge.
Covid-19 also highlighted the weakness of democratic regimes and the power of technocapitalism.
Countries pulled down their blinds locked their doors and promoted national approaches rather
than international cooperation. The author proposes to set up an international framework on
health risk to co-construct decision-making. He advocates political distancing in order to put
the basics first: develop science fight ignorance. The author Michel Claessens on the Science
for Policy Podcast from SAPEA
