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 28 April 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 21 April 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”.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee seeking experts for an oral evidence session

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is currently seeking experts with insights on the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and effectiveness of international mechanisms and instruments of climate finance to feed into an oral evidence session with the Committee. The evidence session is likely to take place on 14 June 2022. The session will be part of the Committee’s inquiry into the Global Environmental Facility. 

Questions the committee is interested in include:

  1. How effectively does the Government determine its the negotiating position at the GEF council? 
  2. How well do the UK and GEF ensure its environmental policies, targets and goals align?
  3. How does the Government ensure synergy between its wider environmental interventions, like the International Biodiversity Fund and International Climate Finance, and work of GEF?
  4. Is the GEF adequality funded to meet the commitments of the conventions to which the UK is a party? 
  5. How effective are the accountability and reporting mechanisms between Parliament, Government and GEF? 

If you would like to recommend relevant experts from your institution, please complete this form or pass the link to the form to the experts themselves to complete.  The deadline for recommendations is 23:59pm on Wednesday 18 May 2022.   

We are very grateful for all expressions of interest. We may not be able to reply to everyone who is recommended.

Please consider how you could ensure diversity when recommending experts or passing this opportunity to your contacts.  

Why should I engage? Giving oral evidence to a select committee is a great opportunity to present your expertise directly to MPs or Members of the House of Lords. If you give oral evidence, the session will be broadcast online and a transcript of your evidence session 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.

Support resources: Find guidance on submitting evidence to select committees on the KEU’s ‘how to guides’ page.  Watch our online training session on ‘Exploring select committee evidence’.

Reminder: Royal Society of Chemistry members – undertaking or just completed your PhD? Apply for this fellowship with POST (Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology)!

Applications are now open for the 2022/2023 Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) POST Westminster Fellowship scheme!

This three-month fellowship is an opportunity to be based in UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging science topics.

The Westminster Fellowship scheme is open to members of the RSC who are undertaking or have recently completed their PhD study. “Recently completed” applies to people whose PhD funding ended within the six months prior to the application deadline. The full person specification can be found in the application pack.

The fellowship can be carried out full-time for three months or part-time over a longer period. Successful applicants will be expected to start their fellowship between September 2022 and May 2023.

The deadline for applications is 23:59pm on Sunday 12 June 2022.

Why should I engage? POST’s PhD fellowships offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside. By the end of their time at POST, fellows learn how to write for policy with balance and impartiality. They also develop a unique understanding of Westminster and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research. Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to.

More information: Find out more about POST fellowships. Watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience.

Reminder: Academic Librarians – Join the House of Commons Library on 25 May to explore decolonisation and the work of the Library

The Parliamentary Academic Librarians Network invites you to this online event on 25 May 2022, which will include discussion of decolonisation of the House of Commons Library, as well as an open day session to find out more about the work of the Library.

Event details
Date: 25 May 2022, 10:00am – 12:00pm and 2:00 – 4:00pm
The event will be held online via MS Teams
A recording and transcript of the morning event will be made available shortly after the event.

Programme outline
10:00am – 12:00pm: Decolonisation session

  • Introduction from Martin Reid, Director of Library Services at the House of Commons Library
  • Kat Halliday (University of Warwick): Decolonising our collections through co-creation
  • Ludovik Sebire (UWE Bristol): Decolonising our Library
  • Maria Lalic (House of Commons Library): Current awareness services for research
  • Matt Barrow (House of Commons Library): The work of the Collection Advisory Group at the House of Commons Library
  • Q&A

2:00 – 4:00pm: Open Day session

  • Introduction 
  • Lightning talks on current priorities by Heads of Library Services
  • Virtual tour of the House of Commons Library
  • Q&A

Register now!
You can register for this event through this form. An MS Teams calendar invitation will be sent to you in the following 48 hours. 
By registering you will be signed up for both the morning and afternoon sessions but you are welcome to attend flexibly. 

And if you are an academic librarian, interested in opportunities to work with the House of Commons Library, make sure you sign up to the Parliamentary Academic Librarians Network to find out about future opportunities and resources.

A Parliament fact to drop into casual conversation

What exactly is prorogation?

Prorogation (pronounced ‘pro-ro-ga-tion’) marks the end of a parliamentary session. It is the formal name given to the period between the end of a session of Parliament and the State Opening of Parliament that begins the next session. Parliament is currently prorogued.

So what?
Prorogation brings to an end nearly all parliamentary business. Public Bills may be carried over from one session to the next, subject to agreement. However early day motions, questions which have not been answered, and most Bills which have not obtained royal assent will not progress any further. So if you’ve been tracking any Bills or questions, you will now need to hold on to see if they are re-introduced when the new session starts next week (on 10 May 2022).

More information