These opportunities and resources have been compiled by UK Parliament’s Knowledge Exchange Unit (KEU) to help you understand how to engage with Parliament as a researcher.

Take a look at the KEU’s webhub of information and resources for researchers. 

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Help us shape the future of parliamentary ARIs!

Have you, or a colleague, responded to a UK Parliament Area of Research Interest (ARI) call? 

We’re keen to hear from researchers who’ve taken part in any of the UK Parliament’s ARI calls. 

If you’re not sure here’s the list of ARIs:

  • Artificial Intelligence – international regulation and policy issues
  • Economic Security
  • Artificial Intelligence in Weapon Systems
  • The impact of the UK’s International Development funding
  • Unpaid carers
  • Violence against women and girls
  • UK Trade policy
  • Changes to the UK Aid budget
  • COVID-19 Areas of Research Interest

There are eight simple and speedy questions which include: how long it took to complete the ARI, whether it was easy/difficult, the type of information you provided, and what happened next. 

Please share your views and experiences of responding to a UK Parliament ARI here. The deadline to respond to this survey is 9 August. 

Please note: the survey is covering the ARIs run by UK Parliament, NOT ARIs run by government departments, the Welsh or Scottish Parliaments or the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Pop us an email at keu@parliament.uk if you have questions or need any support. 

Why should I engage? The KEU is reviewing how parliament calls for expertise from researchers through ARIs. We want to ensure we’re using the most effective methods, delivering the call in a way that works for researchers, and engaging with a diverse range of expertise. Please share your views to shape how we move forward. Your responses will be combined with evidence from a focus group and other interviews to inform how the UK Parliament engages with research and researchers in the future.  

More information: Find out more about our  Areas of Research Interest. 

POSTnotes currently open for contributions

POSTnotes are short, peer-reviewed evidence briefings on emerging areas of research produced by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST). POSTnotes are widely read by Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff.

POST welcomes contact from researchers with relevant expertise or evidence on the POSTnotes topics below.  

All POSTnotes currently accepting contributions

How can I contribute?

If you are interested in contributing to an upcoming POSTnote, email the relevant contact listed above to introduce yourself and your research.

  • state which POSTnote you are responding to
  • briefly outline your area of expertise and the research that’s relevant to the POSTnote
  • you may also mention skills, experience and knowledge if relevant
  • provide a link to your online profile
  • provide open access links to your most relevant published papers and blogs 

A few paragraphs are all that are needed. The POST colleague will be in touch if they need further information.

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.

HE: Leading or Lagging?

The KEU is pleased to highlight an upcoming event arranged by Parliamentary Academic Fellow, Professor Graeme Atherton: 

Leading the world or lagging behind? How higher education in the UK compares to other countries.

This is a free online event on Tuesday 16th July, 11.00am to 12.15pm. 
The event will identify the strengths and weaknesses of UK higher education, covering issues such as funding, regulatory approaches, and access and participation. All are welcome to attend!

The event will be hosted by NEON, the national organisation for widening access to higher education in the UK. It draws on the recent House of Commons Library briefing: Higher education around the world: Comparing international approaches and performance with the UK, written by Parliamentary Academic Fellow Professor Graeme Atherton with Commons Library researchers Dr Joe Lewis and Paul Bolton.

Register for the event on NEON’s website.

Why should I engage? Parliament opens up events of interest to wider external audiences. The event will be attended by parliamentary staff, parliamentarians, and people within the higher education communities. Attending an event shares key messages across these audiences. It supports those working within the higher education field to understand the information parliamentarians receive and the perspectives shared at an event. It also highlights the role of the parliamentary academic fellow and their contribution to the legislative briefing, scrutiny and debate functions of parliament. 

More information: Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to. Or watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience. 

Closing soon: apply for a POST PhD fellowship for food scientists

Calling all PhD students researching a food science and technology topic! We’re pleased to share an opportunity to join us for a fellowship with the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) and the Institute for Food Science and Technology (IFST).

About the scheme 

POST and IFST are offering a three-month fellowship to PhD students completing a PhD on a food science and technology topic based in a UK University. There is one funded fellowship available. 

Successful applicants will be based in UK Parliament, supporting its use of research evidence. Most fellows assist POST in providing briefing material for parliamentarians on emerging food science and technology topics. Work may include: 

  • Producing a POSTnote or POSTbrief (briefing documents to help inform the work of MPs and Peers), or contributing to a longer briefing report. 
  • Assisting a select committee in an ongoing inquiry. 
  • Organising a seminar to inform or disseminate research. 

PhD Fellows are encouraged to interact closely with people and activities in the two Houses of Parliament, including Select committees, MPs and Peers, their support services, ‘All-Party Parliamentary Group’ meetings and the very wide range of other activities at the Palace of Westminster. 

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 October 2024 to June 2025. The exact start date is to be agreed between the applicant, POST, and the applicant’s supervisor. 

Applications for 2024-2025 are open to PhD students of UK universities researching a food science and technology topic. Please see our website for more information on the application process, eligibility criteria and contact details.

The deadline to apply is 23:59 on 17th July 2024. 

Why should I engage? POST’s fellowships offer a once in a lifetime opportunity to view the epicentre of policy-making from the inside. By the end of their time at POST, fellows learn how to write for policy with balance and impartiality. They also develop a unique understanding of Westminster and forge important relationships with key stakeholders, while often delving into a novel and exciting topic of research. Find out more about what a POST fellowship is like and the opportunities it can lead to. 

More information: Find out more about POST fellowships. Watch an interview with a previous POST fellow to learn about her experience. 

Reminder: Register for our ARI on AI

Before Parliament was dissolved, we launched a new Area of Research Interest on Artificial Intelligence – international regulation and policy issues. For those who missed it the first time around, there’s still time to register your expertise before the deadline of 13:00 on Monday 22 July.

About this ARI

The Business and Trade Select Committee and Parliament’s International Affairs and National Security Hub are calling for experts on the international regulatory landscape for Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology.

AI is likely to have a significant impact on individuals, businesses, and the wider economy, creating opportunities as well as posing risks. The Committee is interested in general regulatory issues around AI such as safety, accountability and liability, as well as a number of specific concerns that may need to be addressed through Government policy and legislation. These include the socio-economic impact of AI on the labour market, employment, productivity and income inequality; the UK security risks posed by AI technology, and the need to reflect these in law including the export control regime; and the impact of hostile use of generative AI on the integrity of UK politics.

Full details about the ARI are available here. The Committee and Hub are interested in hearing from researchers and experts on:

  • International AI regulation, particularly the EU, US and China
  • Policies to address the security and trade implications of AI
  • The socio-economic implications of AI
  • The UK’s international AI partnerships
  • Multilateral AI initiatives and international technical standards

In the ARI there’s also the opportunity for you to tell us about important aspects of AI regulation and policy that we haven’t specifically mentioned above.

Please note: you do not need to be an expert in all the aspects of this ARI call. We welcome contributions from researchers who hold expertise in just one or limited aspects of this call, or who may have a niche perspective. We also welcome researchers from all career stages and backgrounds to register their expertise for this ARI call, including researchers who have never engaged with Parliament previously.

More information on ARIs

  • What are Areas of Research Interest? 
    Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) list key questions related to policy matters that Select Committees are interesting in hearing from experts on. They help select committees to access research evidence and grow the number of experts they are aware of, including engaging with new or underrepresented voices who previously haven’t participated in parliamentary scrutiny. ARIs may also be used by parliamentarians and by parliamentary staff in POST, the Parliamentary Libraries and select committee teams to scope and/or inform future work.
  • What will happen if I respond to this ARI? 
    When you register for this ARI your contact details, description of expertise and any answers you provide to the key questions are sent directly to the Business and Trade Committee and the International Affairs and National Security Hub. They will also be shared with other parliamentary teams if they need to draw on your expertise in the future.
  • When will I hear back? 
    We will be in touch after 17 July once the new parliamentary session opens. All responses to this ARI are gratefully received.

Why should I engage? Responding to an ARI is a great way to get your name known and highlight that you are an expert in a topic. You may then be invited to participate in a range of parliamentary scrutiny activities such as giving evidence, providing a briefing, or engaging in discussions with committee staff, either now or in the future.

More information: Find out more about POST’s Areas of Research Interest.