Knowledge management for science-based decision making

Twenty years ago, John Naisbitt in "Megatrends" wisely observed that we were "drowning in information but starved for knowledge." By 2002, the daily requirement to take decisions on a rational basis requires something more than good organization of the bewildering flow of information. We need much help with converting it to knowledge. This can then become the platform for making our own judgements and decisions. Using examples from plant sciences, this paper looks at some of the ways in which knowledge management for science-based decision making can be improved. It includes some demonstrations of dynamic processes. Topics considered include: handling facts to produce information; interpreting information to produce knowledge; using knowledge to support decision making; passing on knowledge with education and training; and storing and disseminating information.