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 since the beginning of September

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.

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”.

Opportunity for PhD researchers to do a UKRI policy internship with POST

UKRI’s Policy Internships scheme for PhD students is now open for applications. UKRI-funded PhD students can apply to do a three-month placement with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) as a fellow. This is not just an opportunity for researchers in science and technology disciplines! Parliament engages with all policy areas, and research from across the disciplines, and POST welcomes applications from all disciplinary backgrounds. 

More information, including how to apply, can be found here.

Applications close at midnight on 4 November 2022.

Why should I engage? Fellows at POST will have the opportunity to produce their own parliamentary briefing from start to finish. By the end of their time at POST, fellows will have learned how to write for policy-makers with balance, impartiality and succinctness. They will also have developed a unique understanding of Westminster, forged important relationships with key stakeholders, and delved into a novel and exciting topic of research.

More information: Find out more about the scheme here, read about previous fellows’ experiences here, and find out more about the impacts of participating in a fellowship here.   

Engage with the Welsh Parliament / Senedd and its ARIs

When we can, we like to support you to engage with the devolved legislatures as well as UK Parliament. We are delighted to share a call from our knowledge exchange colleagues in the Senedd to engage with their first four committee Areas of Research Interest. 

This week, two committees in the Senedd have launched four Areas of Research Interest (ARIs). The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee’s chosen ARIs are on behaviour change in response to climate change, modal shift and active travel, and sustainable communities. The Health and Social Care Committee’s chosen ARI is health literacy.

Academics and researchers with evidence or insights on the ARIs (including evidence reviews) can add information about the research and their contact details to the repository of research through a short survey. Find out more on the webpages, or contact knowledgeexchange@senedd.wales for more information.

Why should I engage? ARIs, and the research and insights which you contribute in response to them, help to support committees’ scrutiny of government – in this case, they support the Senedd committees’ scrutiny of the Welsh Government. 

More information: Find out more about engaging with the devolved legislatures as a researcher. Find out more about engaging with the Senedd as a researcher and find out more about the Senedd’s new ARIs and how to contribute.   

In case you were wondering

Westminster Hall has had a lot of attention over the past couple of weeks, but the central role it has played in British history dates back centuries. It is the oldest building on the Parliamentary estate. The hall’s hammerbeam roof was constructed without using nails and is the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe. In its history the hall has been used as a banqueting hall, a market place and a court room.

So what?
Westminster Hall is the main public entrance to Parliament, and visitors walk through the hall to watch debates in the House of Commons or the House of Lords, and to attend select committee meetings. Use the Parliament website to search for upcoming debates and Committee meetings that relate to your research. 

More information

Note on this round-up

If you have been forwarded this email and would like to get it yourself, you can subscribe directly to receive our weekly email round-up of opportunities for the research community to engage with UK Parliament. These opportunities can include calls for evidence from select committees, academic fellowship opportunities, requests for expertise from Parliament and more. You will receive the round-up each Thursday morning, with some exceptions such as parliamentary recess. 
If you consider yourself a knowledge mobiliser, find out how to join our informal network of knowledge mobilisers. This is a network of people whose role includes sharing research from their institution with other sectors, or supporting researchers to share their research.