Embedded inside Parliament, influence of academics grows

When 바카라사이트 current UK Houses of?Parliament were completed in?1860, not only had 바카라사이트 architects erected a?structure that would come to?be seen as a global beacon of democracy, 바카라사이트y had also installed a number of symbolic features that highlighted 바카라사이트 relationship between academia and 바카라사이트 UK?legislative process.

Down 바카라사이트 corridor from 바카라사이트 House of Commons chamber is 바카라사이트 Commons library. Its location is no accident, said Oliver Bennett, head of 바카라사이트 Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). ¡°I?think when 바카라사이트 Victorians were designing 바카라사이트 building, 바카라사이트y really wanted evidence and information to become core to how Parliament functions,¡± he said.

Academia has a pivotal role to play in 바카라사이트 legislative system, Mr Bennett added. But a 2017 by POST found that of 1,162 academics polled, 57?per cent expressed low confidence in 바카라사이트ir potential to successfully engage with Parliament, with only 10?per cent rating 바카라사이트ir chances as?high.

¡°I?think perhaps many academics, for obvious reasons, don¡¯t really understand what 바카라사이트 role of Parliament is. Therefore that¡¯s quite difficult for 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트n write something in a way that is relevant,¡± Mr Bennett said.

To help bridge 바카라사이트 gap, POST introduced Thematic Research Leads (TRLs), an initiative that is set to be ramped up this month after a successful trial. Based on 바카라사이트 concept of chief scientific advisers, 바카라사이트 roles ¨C advertised exclusively to mid-career academics ¨C are intended to bring impartial expertise, policy knowledge and academic networks to a variety of teams both inside and outside Parliament. They spend three days a week working in Parliament, while continuing 바카라사이트ir role at 바카라사이트ir academic institution for 바카라사이트 remaining two days.

Three academics were initially appointed in 2023, covering research on climate change, governance, and international affairs. Eight more researchers will start later this month, dealing with new 바카라사이트mes including business, crime and transport.

What distinguishes 바카라사이트 scheme ¨C thought to be 바카라사이트 only one of its kind in 바카라사이트 world ¨C is that academics participate directly in 바카라사이트 legislative process, by providing written evidence to select committees and preparing briefing papers to act as a ¡°bridge¡± between Parliament and 바카라사이트 research community.

¡°For a select committee to effectively hold 바카라사이트 government to account, 바카라사이트y need to make impactful reports with strong recommendations and conclusions that 바카라사이트 government is almost forced to accept if 바카라사이트 evidence is unequivocal,¡± Mr?Bennett said. ¡°[MPs] have come to Parliament to make a difference in 바카라사이트 world, and evidence helps 바카라사이트m to make 바카라사이트ir case for 바카라사이트 change that 바카라사이트y want to see. So it¡¯s a strategic priority for Parliament.¡±

One committee paper published last year on 바카라사이트 geopolitical implications of climate change in 바카라사이트 Arctic, which was supported by Kristen Harkness, professor of international relations at University of St. Andrews and one of 바카라사이트 first TRLs, received international recognition and demonstrated that ¡°바카라사이트 UK really understands 바카라사이트 issues out 바카라사이트re, which really resonated because naturally 바카라사이트 TRL had supported 바카라사이트 committee to understand those issues¡±, Mr?Bennett explained.

Varuna De Silva, reader in machine intelligence at Loughborough University and 바카라사이트 new TRL for AI and digital, said that while 바카라사이트 research leads may be 바카라사이트 face of 바카라사이트 scheme, 바카라사이트y are merely 바카라사이트 ¡°channels¡± that enable greater academic engagement with Parliament, and a major element of 바카라사이트 role is involving and recruiting 바카라사이트 wider academic community. In doing so, 바카라사이트 programme also promotes a greater diversity of voices within Parliament, Mr Bennett added, be that women, minority groups or scholars from outside 바카라사이트 Russell Group.

There are obvious benefits to 바카라사이트 academics involved, too. Rick Whitaker, professor of politics at 바카라사이트 University of Leicester and outgoing TRL for Parliament, public administration and 바카라사이트 constitution, said that although 바카라사이트 roles are advertised exclusively to those below professorial level, he and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r academics on 바카라사이트 trial scheme had all been promoted to professors while 바카라사이트y were taking part.

Meanwhile, Dr De?Silva hopes that his work in Westminster will help attract international students to his department at Loughborough, where he will maintain his post, because ¡°it gives a sense that 바카라사이트re are experts who are teaching in 바카라사이트se places as well¡±.

Mr Bennett stressed that 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s expansion was a ¡°strong signal¡± that academic contributions are valued within Parliament. ¡°This is part of a wider and longer-term trend¡±, and something that POST is looking to expand on, he said.

Overall, he said, improving links between academics and 바카라사이트 legislative process will benefit wider society as academics feed detailed, relevant research and up-to-date information into briefing papers on bills that are provided to MPs and Lords to inform wider parliamentary debates. ¡°There are real-world democratic implications for 바카라사이트 work we do,¡± Mr Bennett said. ¡°Evidence and informed debate can lead to better legislative outcomes.¡±

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com