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 6 December 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 fortnight (since 29 November 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.

Integrated Education | Northern Ireland Affairs Committee | 18 January 2024

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”.

New Area of Research Interest: Economic Security

An Area of Research Interest (ARI) has been launched by the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy (JCNSS) with the International Affairs and National Security Hub. Academics, research institutions and experts with expertise concerning ‘Economic Security’ are invited to complete a short survey about their research: Select Committee Area of Research Interest: Economic Security – POST (parliament.uk)

This ARI supports the JCNSS inquiry on ‘Economic Security’, which is currently accepting formal written evidence until 5 January 2024. The ARI helps the committee extend its knowledge base, obtain more specific information, and engage with new voices. Respondents may be invited to provide formal evidence for inclusion in the committee report.

There are many topics on which expertise is sought within the ARI, including the economic policy of foreign states, critical supply chains, cybersecurity, international trade and finance.

Researchers at all career stages are invited to share their research and insights, and suggest scrutiny questions for the Committee. Those who respond to the ARI survey will be entered onto a database of experts who may be contacted by parliamentary staff in order to help them scrutinise this area of interest.

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 the Economic Security ARI.

Call for expertise in AI and Defence

The Defence Committee is currently seeking experts on developing AI capacity and expertise in UK Defence. 

The Committee has this week launched a Sub-Committee on this subject, which will explore the following questions:

  • How clearly has the Ministry of Defence set out its priorities for the kind of AI capacity and expertise it believes the UK defence sector should have, what priorities has it identified, and are these deliverable?
  • What strengths and expertise does UK industry currently have in the field of Artificial Intelligence with defence applications?
  • How can the UK Government best develop capacity and expertise within domestic industry in sectors such as engineering and software to support the development and delivery of Artificial Intelligence applications in defence?
  • What can the Government do to help embed UK AI companies in defence supply chains, both domestically and internationally?
  • How can the UK Government ensure that it champions the UK AI sector in the context of Pillar 2 of the AUKUS Partnership?

Opportunities for researchers to feed into Committee’s work could include submitting written evidence, giving oral evidence, or working as a Specialist Adviser for the Committee.

If you have expertise in this area, we would really appreciate you sharing a few details with the Committee.

How to contribute

Send an email to defsc@parliament.uk, including the following information:

  • Use the subject line ‘Call for expertise – AI and Defence’
  • Introduce yourself and state your role and research institution 
  • Briefly outline your area of expertise in 1-2 sentences 
  • Include a link to your academic or other web page (must be up to date) 
  • Include links to published papers and blogs in the area related to the topic of the inquiry. If you have lots, just include the 3 that are most relevant. Link to open access sources. If you have not published the research you are working on note your two main findings (to date) and state if you are happy to discuss these preliminary findings further. 

Please ensure you stick to the format above when contacting the Committee about this call for expertise. Unfortunately, Committee staff may not be able to reply to all responses to this call.

The deadline to share your expertise is Monday 8 January 2024.

Why should I engage? Making yourself known to committee staff can lead to opportunities to contribute your expertise and insights to Parliament. These may include being called to give oral evidence, contributing to a briefing, or participating in a roundtable or seminar.

More information: Find out more about why to engage with Parliament here. And find more on engagement for impact here. 

Scottish Parliament commissioned research opportunity

Our colleagues in the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body are seeking to award a contract for research relating to the evaluation of two Scottish Parliament People’s Panels. 

The Citizen Participation and Public Petitions Committee undertook an 18-month inquiry looking at how people’s voices are heard in the work of the Scottish Parliament. The Committee has published its final report from its inquiry into Embedding Public Participation in the Work of the Parliament. The recommendations from the report include the delivery of two People’s Panels (Citizens’ Panels) over 2024 into early 2025 to continue exploring how to institutionalise deliberative democracy in the work of the Parliament by Session 7. The first panel will meet in February and March 2024; the second panel will likely meet in autumn 2024. 


The research will provide an evaluation of the process of each panel and their outcomes, including the impact of the recommendations produced by each of the panels. This is to ensure that the Scottish Parliament continues to deliver on the recommendations of the Committee’s final report and contributes to the development and delivery of a ‘blueprint’ for embedding deliberative democracy in the work of the Parliament. 

If you are interested in this commissioned research opportunity please request a ‘Quotation Pack’ (which includes information on how to submit a quotation) by emailing academia@parliament.scot quoting Reference: 2023-24/03/CPPPC. The deadline for quotes is 23:59 on Friday 5 January 2024. 

Why should I engage? Undertaking commissioned research for Scottish Parliament can offer the opportunity to work closely with a parliamentary team to support and inform its work whilst utilising your research skills. Making yourself known to staff at any UK legislature may lead to opportunities to contribute your expertise and insights to the respective legislature.

More information: Find out more about how research is used in Scottish Parliament. Read an introduction to devolution in the UK.

Coming soon: opportunity for ultra-processed foods experts

A House of Lords Select Committee is seeking to speak with academics and researchers on the topic of ultra-processed foods and engage with robust evidence on the impacts of ultra-processed foods to inform an Inquiry exploring the evidence links between diet and health.

In the new year we will invite knowledge mobilisers and researchers to put themselves forward as an expert on ultra-processed foods with the aim of engaging with the Lords Select Committee. 

Please note, no action is needed now. We simply wanted to share this forthcoming opportunity for researchers to engage. Details of how to engage will be included in the 11 January 2024 round up.  

The cost of Christmas greetings

How many Christmas Cards did you send this year? Might there have been a little grumble at the cost of the stamp? Well, did you know this was already an issue in 1973 when Parliament debated the matter of the exorbitant stamp cost of 3.5p and the resultant decline in the number of Christmas greetings sent! 

So what?

Sometimes people think that Parliament is only interested in science, technology and business. However, Parliament is interested in all the aspects that make up UK life, including the cost of stamps. Parliamentarians seek to understand the public viewpoints and may need expert information to help solve the problems of everyday life. Research provides them with an informed perspective to tackle the intricacies involved in debating legislation.  

More information