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).

Jump to:

Select committee inquiries launched in the last week (since 11 May 2023)

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 two weeks (since 4 May 2023) 

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”.

Apply for a fellowship working on Areas of Research Interest with the KEU in POST 

Applications are now open for a new Parliamentary Academic Fellowship opportunity to develop Parliament’s Areas of Research Interest (ARI) activity to support scrutiny. The fellowship is open to university-based knowledge exchange professionals and researchers.

This is an exciting opportunity to work with a variety of parliamentary stakeholders to advance the use of research evidence in Parliament, through the development of evolving and innovative knowledge exchange mechanisms.

Ideally, we would like the fellow to dedicate 2 days per week to this fellowship for one year starting in October 2023. However, we encourage flexible working, and welcome proposals for different working patterns, including level of intensity, duration of project, and conducting the project as a fellowship share with one other person.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 25 June 2023 

More information about the fellowship, including how to apply, can be found on the KEU website. 

New fellowship vacancy mapping public engagement in parliaments across the world 

Applications are now open for a new Parliamentary Academic Fellowship opportunity to gather knowledge about public engagement activities taking place in parliaments across the world. The fellowship is open to university-based knowledge exchange professionals and researchers.

The successful applicant will build or strengthen links between UK Parliament and identified stakeholders and help facilitate knowledge exchange, collaboration, and innovation in how parliaments engage with their publics.

Ideally, we would like the fellow to dedicate 3 days per week to this fellowship for one year starting in October 2023. However, we encourage flexible working, and welcome proposals for different working patterns, including level of intensity, duration of project, and conducting the project as a fellowship share with one other person.

The deadline for applications is Sunday 25 June 2023.

More information about the fellowship, including how to apply, can be found on the KEU website. 

Select Committee fellowship opportunity: understanding transport research communities for scrutiny 

Applications are now open for a new Parliamentary Academic Fellowship opportunity to work with the House of Commons Transport Committee to build understanding of transport research communities for scrutiny. The fellowship is open to university-based knowledge exchange professionals and researchers.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute insights that improve the Committee’s scrutiny work by bringing research into its heart, help get voices heard that might not otherwise be heard, and influence Committee work into the future.  

Ideally, we would like the fellow to dedicate 1 day per week to this fellowship for one year starting in October 2023. However, we encourage flexible working, and welcome proposals for different working patterns, including level of intensity, duration of project, and conducting the project as a fellowship share with one other person.

The deadline for applications is Tuesday 27 June 2023

More information about the fellowship, including how to apply, can be found on the KEU website.  

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.  

Opportunity for chemical or process engineering graduates to undertake a fellowship with POST

Applications are now open for the 2023/24 Ashok Kumar Fellowship Scheme. 

POST, in partnership with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and the Materials Processing Institute are offering the three-month Fellowship to engineers who have recently completed a degree at undergraduate Masters level or above, in a discipline related to chemical or process engineering, or have equivalent industry experience. 

This Fellowship is an exciting opportunity to gain real-world experience of how research evidence is communicated to decision makers. Successful applicants will be based in UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing materials for parliamentarians on emerging science topics.

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 November 2023 and May 2024. 

The deadline for applications is Sunday 25 June 2023.

More information about the fellowship, including who is eligible and how to apply, can be found on the POST website 

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.    

ICYMI: Contribute to recently announced POSTnotes 

POSTnotes are short briefings produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) which review emerging areas of research for Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. POST has announced they will begin preparing seven new POSTnotes and welcomes contact from researchers with relevant research in the topic area. The new POSTnotes will cover:

Why should I engage? POSTnotes are used by Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords and UK Parliament staff to navigate complex research. Contributing to a POSTnote is a good way of feeding your research into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication.

All contributors are acknowledged online when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicize the POSTnote and your contribution. Therefore, your contribution can help raise your profile and promote your research.

More information: Find out more about contributing to a POSTnote as an expert.
If you would like to contribute to a POSTnote email the contact listed next to the POSTnote.

The Elizabeth Tower by numbers 

On Wednesday 17 May the UK celebrated National Numeracy Day. To mark this event we’re sharing some number based facts about the Elizabeth Tower, or Big Ben as she is more popularly known. Feel free to use these to impress your friends! 

The Elizabeth Tower is 96 metres tall- which is the equivalent of 21 London buses sitting on top of each other- and those interested in climbing to the Belfry at the top of the tower will have to climb 334 steps. A report by Transport for London that the tower leans 0.26 degrees to the North West. 

The minute hands on the clock faces are 4.2m in length and each hand weighs 100kg. The hands travel the equivalent of 190 kilometres a year. That’s the distance from London to Weymouth. The hour hands are 2.7m in length. 

Finally, there are five bells in the Elizabeth Tower the largest, and most famous, being Big Ben. The Big Ben bell weighs 13.7 tonnes.

So what?

In 2016 the Elizabeth Tower was closed for extensive conservation work which was completed in 2022. Hundreds of specialist craftspeople from across the UK contributed to the conservation project. They used traditional trades which reflect our proud architectural heritage, including stone masonry, gilding, glass cutting and horology. If you’re interested in restoration and conservation, visit the UK Parliament website to find out more about this exciting heritage project.