The Knowledge Exchange Unit supports the exchange of information between UK Researchers and Parliament. They prepare a list of opportunities for researchers each week, which we will be disseminating in part through this blog.

If you are engaging in any of these opportunities, please email Glenn Harris or Suzi Edwards

These opportunities have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU).

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

These opportunities and resources have been sent to members of the KEU’s informal network for knowledge mobilisers, for circulation to the research community (find out more about the network).

Select committee inquiries launched in the last week (since 3 March 2022)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence.

Remember that you don’t have to answer every question posed in each call for evidence. And you can also explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence. 

Select committee inquiries launched in the last 2 weeks (since 24 February 2022)

Please click the title of any inquiry listed below to be taken to a summary of that inquiry and the full call for evidence.

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence. 

Support resources: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page. Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

Contribute to the Women and Equalities Committee and Home Affairs Committee Area of Research Interest: Violence against women and girls

The Women and Equalities Committee and Home Affairs Committee have published a joint Area of Research Interest: ‘Violence against women and girls’ to help support their scrutiny in this topic area.

Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) are lists of policy issues or questions. They are a way for select committees to express interest in seeing more research evidence in certain topics.

This ARI comes with several specific areas of interest aiming to further break down the broad area. These include:

  • the prevalence and types of violence against women and girls in different communities across the UK,
  • cultures underpinning male violence against women and girls,
  • the role of early intervention, and
  • availability of interventions. 

Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in the ARI, add their existing research in the topic areas to the ARI repository, provide their insights, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking the Government. 

Register your expertise and research insights on violence against women and girls.

Why should I engage? ARIs, and the research and insights which you contribute in response to them, help to support committees’ scrutiny of government. When you register on the repository, parliamentary staff will be able to access your research to inform their work. They may also contact you when they are seeking experts to contribute to the committee’s work. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Find out more about the ARI on ‘Violence against women and girls’, and register your expertise and research insights in this area.

Apply to be a Specialist Adviser to the Scottish Affairs Committee for its inquiry into Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding

Applications are open to apply to be a Specialist Adviser to the Scottish Affairs Committee for its inquiry Defence in Scotland: military shipbuilding.

As a Specialist Adviser, you will be working with the Committee secretariat on an ad-hoc basis to provide authoritative advice around the topic of military shipbuilding.

The role is likely to run from April 2022 until December 2022. The overall commitment is likely to be no more than around 10 days, and only in exceptional circumstances would you be asked to do more than two days’ work in a particular week. You would be paid a daily honorarium on the basis of work done.

The Committee values diversity and encourages applications from people from a wide range of backgrounds.

To find out more about the Committee, the kind of work involved in the role, the knowledge and skills required, and how to apply, please see this webpage about the opportunity.

The deadline for applications is 12 midday on Monday 21 March 2022.

Why should I engage? Being a special adviser provides a great opportunity to work closely with a committee, informing its work and approach to an inquiry – such as inquiry focus, selection of oral witnesses, and report development and conclusions. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here.  

More information: watch a short video with researchers who’ve been specialist advisers talking about their experience  

Home Affairs Select Committee inquiry on Drugs

The Home Affairs Select Committee has launched an inquiry on drugs. The Committee is keen to hear from a broad range of researchers/experts who have a background in drugs, drugs law and/or drug policy. 

The inquiry will look at four things: the UK’s legislative framework on drugs, UK drug policy, the impact drugs have had on society, and alternative approaches to drugs adopted in other countries.

As regards the legislative framework, this refers to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, the Psychoactive Substances Act 2016 and, where relevant, any subordinate legislation made under these Acts.

Interested researchers/ experts can take a look at the Call for Evidence and submit written evidence to the inquiry. Please note that submissions do not need to address every question in the Call for Evidence.

The deadline for submissions is 12 noon on Thursday 24 March 2022.

Please do feel free to share details of the inquiry and Call for Evidence with colleagues and your wider networks.

Why should I engage? Submitting evidence to a select committee can lead to further engagement, such as an invitation to give oral evidence. Your submission will be published on the Committee webpage. Your insights may inform the Committee’s conclusions or recommendations it makes to the Government. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament. You can also read more on engagement for impact.

More information: Explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence.

Support resources: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page. Watch our 30 minute online training session “How to work with select committees”.

Last call for applications! Directed Call of the Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme closes Sunday 13 March 2022

The Directed Call of the Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme is open for applications until 13 March 2022. The Scheme gives university-based researchers and staff working in knowledge exchange the opportunity to participate in a fellowship project with an office in UK Parliament. There are 13 fellowship projects open to applications. Each fellowship project in the Directed Call has been proposed by a team at Parliament as a project on which academic input is needed. 

There is a lot more information about the Directed Call on our Parliamentary Academic Fellowships webpage, including a link to our Guidance Note for applicants, and a list of all fellowship projects open to applications. The deadline for applications is 23.55 on Sunday 13 March 2022. 

Watch a recording of our Knowledge Exchange Unit online information session about the Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme 2022 on YouTube. 

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on keu@parliament.uk.

Why should I engage? Fellowships offer the opportunity to work closely with a team in Parliament, supporting and informing its work, building capacity or helping evolve processes, or delivering a unique project. Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here. 

More information: Find out more information about the Parliamentary Academic Fellowship Scheme here. And find information about the outcomes and impacts arising from previous fellowships here.

A Parliament fact to brighten your Thursday

Do you know who sits in the House of Lords? Members of the House of Lords are sometimes referred to as peers. Currently, there are about 800 members who are eligible to take part in the work of the House of Lords. The majority are life peers. Others include 26 archbishops and bishops and 92 hereditary peers. There is no upper limit on the total number of members.

So what?
If you are looking to contribute research to Parliament, don’t forget about the House of Lords as a route to impact. Members of the House of Lords represent a wide range of professions and experience, and a significant part of the membership is non-party-political. Many researchers find it productive and impactful to approach Members of the House of Lords to introduce their research or discuss a policy area.

More information