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 13 March 2024)

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. You can also explore all select committee inquiries currently open for submissions of written evidence.

Select committee inquiries launched in the last three weeks (since 29 February 2024)

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. 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. 

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 evidence to a POSTnote

POST welcomes contact from researchers with relevant expertise in the topic areas below.

Researchers can get in touch via the email address to contribute their evidence to these POSTnotes:

Enhanced weathering: spreading rock dust to remove greenhouse gases |  To contribute your expertise or literature email forrestn@parliament.uk

Public health impacts of heat and humidity | To contribute your expertise or literature email mehrhofs@parliament.uk

The hydrogen backbone | To contribute your expertise or literature email oxbyj@parliament.uk

6G – Next generation mobile communication technologies | To contribute your expertise or literature email post@parliament.uk

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. 

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 expertise into the UK Parliament as part of a trusted, impartial publication.

All contributors are acknowledged when the POSTnote is published. On publication, you and your organisation’s communications team will be notified to publicise 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. For queries about POST or POSTnotes contact POST.

Reminder – Call for expertise on the civil service and Scotland

Do you have expertise on the civil service and Scotland? 

The House of Commons Scottish Affairs Committee is preparing for an inquiry on the civil service and intergovernmental relations, looking at the implications of having a single civil service working for both the UK and Scottish Governments. 

The Committee is interested in hearing from researchers with expertise in this area.  

The Committee secretariat would particularly welcome contributions from researchers who are able to provide expert opinions on the constitutional and propriety issues presented by the live matter of officials in devolved administrations working on policy areas (in particular, the constitution) which engage questions about the limits of devolved competence. 

Should you wish to contribute your expertise to this inquiry or to nominate an expert colleague, we’d be grateful to hear from you. As well as the opportunity to submit written evidence, there may be opportunities for researchers to feed into the work by giving oral evidence.

Please note that the Committee may not be able to select everyone who responds at this time.  

Researchers will be asked to provide a brief outline of their expertise (of no more than 100 words) and a link to their university profile page. If possible, it is helpful if a link to the researcher speaking publicly can also be included. 

To express an interest in contributing to this inquiry, please complete this form by Thursday 28 March 2024. 

Please consider how you could ensure diversity and inclusion when recommending people or passing this opportunity to your contacts.

Why should I engage? 
Making yourself known to committee and other parliamentary 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.

Did you know that both of the Houses of Parliament have a Speaker?

At present, Sir Lindsay Hoyle is the the Speaker of the House of Commons and Lord McFall of Alcluith is the Lord Speaker. They both have interesting career histories!  

Lord McFall studied Chemistry, Education and Philosophy and used to be a maths and chemistry teacher and deputy headteacher. Sir Hoyle started his political career at the age of seven, when he helped his father deliver campaign leaflets around Clitheroe in Lancashire.

So what?

The role of the Speaker is different in each of the two Houses.

In the House of Commons, the Speaker sets time limits on speeches, interrupting where necessary! MPs cannot speak in the Chamber unless the Speaker invites them to talk. The Speaker also manages urgent questions and emergency debates.

In the House of Lords, the Lord Speaker chairs the business of the day, but in contrast to the House of Commons, any member can speak or suggest an amendment to a bill.

More information

  • Learn about the long history of the Speakership, which dates all the way back to 1377! 
  • Read about the initiatives the Speaker of the House of Commons is involved in, from the UK Youth Parliament to the Speaker’s Flagpoles
  • Find out how the importance of the wool trade is represented by the Woolsack in the House of Lords