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 seven days (since 30 June 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 23 June 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 Transport Committee inquiry on self-driving vehicles

The House of Commons Transport Committee would like to encourage researchers/ experts to submit written evidence to its inquiry into self-driving vehicles.

This inquiry is scrutinising the development and deployment of self-driving vehicles for use on the roads (also known as connected and autonomous vehicles).

They are particularly interested in receiving written evidence that addresses:

  • likely uses, including private cars, public transport and commercial vehicles;
  • progress of research and trials in the UK and abroad;
  • potential implications for infrastructure, both physical and digital;
  • the regulatory framework, including legal status and approval and authorisation processes;
  • safety and perceptions of safety, including the relationship with other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and conventionally driven vehicles;
  • the role of Government and other responsible bodies, such as National Highways and local authorities; and potential effects on patterns of car ownership, vehicle taxation and decarbonisation in the car market.

The Committee is keen to hear from academics/ experts with insights on the themes outlined above. The Committee welcome submissions from early career researchers as well as those further on in their career.

The deadline for submitting written evidence is Monday 22 August 2022.

Find out more and submit written evidence. 

You can also access guidance about giving evidence to a House of Commons select committee.

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: Find information about the Transport Committee.
Read more about the inquiry, and submit 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”.

ICYMI: Exciting opportunity to join the Knowledge Exchange Unit (yes, another one!)

We are very excited to say that the Knowledge Exchange Unit is expanding!  

The Knowledge Exchange Unit (based in the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology) is the team which connects Parliament to the research community to help research feed into scrutiny, legislation and debate. Activities include: training researchers, promoting Parliament’s research evidence needs, and delivering academic fellowships. We work with colleagues in all parts of Parliament, as well as lots of different external stakeholders, and consider ourselves a high-energy and innovative team! 

We are looking for someone to join our team as Knowledge Exchange Officer as soon as possible! This is a new, permanent role we have created, to help support and grow our fellowship programmes, including the exciting new work with Thematic Research Leads. 

Deadline for applications is Wednesday 20 July 2022.
Interviews are due to take place remotely in early August.  

Find more information on the role and apply. 

For an informal chat, please feel free to contact: Sarah Foxen, Knowledge Exchange Lead, on the KEU’s email address: keu@parliament.uk

We’re very keen to reach a diverse range of applicants with this opportunity, and to encourage them to apply. To help us to reach as many people as possible with the opportunity, we would be very grateful if you are able to share this announcement with your networks. 

Reminder: Areas of Research Interest open for contributions

There are currently two Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) which are open for your contributions to help to support select committees’ scrutiny of government.  You can register your interest and expertise in the following topics:

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.

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. 

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 select committee ARIs, and register your expertise and research insights .

A Parliament fact to read on a hot day with a nice cold drink

Did you know that Parliament runs talks and events you can attend, to find out more about its history and how it works? 

If you’re interested in finding out more about Parliament and its history over time, you might be interested to know that you can sign up to attend talks and events, some of which are online and some in person. Some of these are free; for others you can buy a ticket to attend. 

For example, at the moment, you can sign up to attend a tour of UK Parliament, either in person or online. 

You can also sign up to attend a free online talk on the Ballot Act 1872, exploring the history of Victorian electoral violence and secret voting.

(And, of course, for a focused introduction to how to engage with Parliament as a researcher or knowledge mobiliser, don’t forget that recordings of our Knowledge Exchange Unit online training sessions can be accessed on our webhub at any time!)So what?

Attending an event at UK Parliament, virtually or in person, is a great way to find out more about Parliament as an institution, both a long time ago and in the recent present. This can be a useful way to understand how Parliament works in practice, and the many changes and developments that have shaped the Parliament we have today. 

More information