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 10 November 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.

No new inquiries have been launched this week, but a number of inquiries are currently open and collecting written evidence. Use the UK Parliament website to 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”.

Parliamentary Thematic Research Leads announced

This week POST, in collaboration with the ESRC, announced the appointment of three ‘Thematic Research Leads’ (TRLs) in UK Parliament. 

The three TRLs will each join new thematic policy hubs which will bring together research staff from across Parliament- including from POST and Committees- ensuring a greater flow of information between Parliament and the research community. The TRLs will bring topical evidence research straight to the desks of MPs, Lords and policymakers that will provide a strong evidence base for legislation and debate. 

The TRLs are: 

  • Dr Tamsin Edwards, Reader in Climate Change, Kings College London. Dr Edwards will lead on climate and environment 
  • Dr Rick Whitaker, Associate Professor in European Politics, University of Leicester. Dr Whitaker will lead on Parliament, public administration and constitution 
  • Dr Kristen Harkness, Director, Institute for the Study of War and Strategy, University of St Andrews. Dr Harkness will lead on international affairs and defence  

To meet our three thematic research leads, and to find out more about the role, visit the POST website. 

Why should I engage? The thematic research leads were created to help bridge the gap between Parliament and the research community, and to help ensure that MPs and policy makers have access to topical evidence. Finding out more about the TRLs will provide you with an insight of their areas of focus, and and show you how we are working to enhance the ways your research can flow into Parliament. 

More information: Visit the POST webpages to meet the three new TRLs and to find out more about their work. Follow @POST_UK and @UKParl_Research to stay up to date on opportunities to engage with Parliament through the work of TRLs.

A perfect moment with KEU

Last week was UK Parliament Week, and to mark this we used our Twitter account @UKParl_Research to share some of the different ways that researchers can engage with UK Parliament. We also took the opportunity to highlight the importance of academic research in informing debates, legislation and Parliament’s scrutiny of the Government. 

We’ve collated these tweets into a Twitter Moment, a quick summary of the different ways that researchers can engage, which you can see or share here: View the KEU Moment on our Twitter page

Why should I engage? Academic evidence and expertise is a valuable tool to Parliament in its scrutiny of the Government, and in the shaping of legislation and policy. For researchers, engaging with Parliament is a way to broaden their audience and demonstrate impact. KEU resources will help researchers to engage with Parliament, and guide them towards the most effective ways to engage, 

More information: Visit the Knowledge Exchange Unit website for information about training and resources. Follow the KEU on Twitter. Find our more about Parliament Week on the Parliament Week website.

UK Parliament: As seen on screen

On 23 January 1985 a debate in the House of Lords Chamber was broadcast on television for the first time. Viewed as an experiment, the broadcast was seen as a success by members, and broadcasts of House of Lords debates were made permanent shortly after. 

Though discussions about televising House of Commons debate had begun in 1964, MPs were hesitant to allow broadcasts as they felt television cameras would change the character of debates for the worse. Because of this, the first television broadcast of House of Commons proceedings took place on 21 November 1989- four years after the House of Lords. In a beautiful (though unconnected) twist, today the 21 November is World Television Day. 

So what?
Debates in the House of Commons and the House of Lords- as well as select committee sessions- are broadcast live on Parliament Live TV and the BBC Parliament channel. Parliament Live TV also archives Parliamentary proceedings, allowing you to watch debates and committee sessions at a later date. Watching the proceedings in the two chambers, and those of select committees, is a great way to find out what Parliament is currently interested in, as well as what it has previously focused on. 

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.