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. 

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 2024. 

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.

Get involved with UK Parliament Week!

UK Parliament Week (UKPW) is an annual event that invites you to find out what UK Parliament is, what it does and how to get involved.

With over 10,000 activities last year, UKPW was celebrated in a multitude of ways!

There were

  • lively debates and quizzes
  • discussions about issues (with voting!) 
  • petitions created
  • meetings with local MPs, members of the Lords, local councillors, mayors, MLAs, MSs and MSPs (both in person and virtually)

It’s a great way to empower your network to connect with UK Parliament and find out more about how you can make an impact on the issues you care about.

This year’s UKPW is 18-24 November.

Sign up online at ukparliamentweek.org and you’ll be posted a free UKPW kit to help you organise an event exploring UK Parliament and the practical ways to get involved.

This year’s UKPW kit takes you on the journey of a Parliament, from State Opening to a general election, and all the ways you can influence your UK Parliament in between.

Use your UKPW kit’s activity ideas and resources to run an event that suits your organisation and the time you have available. Explore the bigger picture or zoom in on the details of what interests you most – whatever works for you!

Why should I engage? 

UK Parliament has an impact on everyone’s daily lives, so it’s important for everyone to learn how they can play their active part. 

By joining in UKPW, your organisation will learn by doing with activities that mirror UK Parliament’s work, to help equip participants with the knowledge of how UK Parliament works and their role in democracy now and in the future.

More information: It’s quick and easy to sign up for your free UK Parliament Week kit online at ukparliamentweek.org. This year’s kit includes:

  • a tailored booklet packed with ideas for things to do at your UKPW event
  • a Victoria Tower pop-up ballot box to bring voting to life
  • colourful bunting and stickers 
  • a fun card game to build people’s knowledge by matching words, definitions and pictures about UK Parliament

Calling all AI experts

We’ve extended the deadline for our Area of Research Interest on Artificial Intelligence – international regulation and policy issues to Tuesday 30 July.

Parliament’s Business and Trade Select Committee and Parliament’s International Affairs and National Security 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.

Full details about the ARI are available here.

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.

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. 

His Majesty’s Voice

Wednesday saw the State Opening of Parliament and the King’s Speech, where the government’s legislative programme was set out. 

Did you know
The State Opening is the only routine occasion when the three parts of Parliament – Commons, Lords and the Crown – gather together in the same place!

The Commons are summoned to the Lords chamber by Black Rod – a senior officer in the House of Lords.

Tradition dictates that the door to the Commons Chamber is slammed in Black Rod’s face! This sounds rather rude, but is in fact symbolic of the Commons’ independence from the other two parts of Parliament.

Black Rod bangs on the door thrice (with the very rod that gives them their title) and the door to the Commons Chamber is opened, and the MPs head to the Lords to hear the King’s Speech.

Maiden speeches

After the speech, the MPs return to the Commons for maiden speeches. These are significant moments in a new MP’s career.

They are bound in tradition and follow a set format. Maiden speeches are often made on uncontroversial topics and includes a tribute to the predecessor that held the seat, irrespective of party, followed by favourable remarks about the constituency.

It is tradition that a maiden speech is heard without interruption and that the next speaker praises the new Member’s first contribution.

The debate on the King’s Speech, which usually lasts six days, is the first opportunity for maiden speeches to be made.

So what?

Yesterday, amongst many other things, we heard about renewable energy, transport and housing in the King’s Speech.

Look out for statements about of your area of research. A mention in the King’s Speech means Parliamentarians are likely to be interested in learning more!

And don’t forget to also look at the manifestos of opposition parties so you can engage with a wide range of Parliamentarians, not just those in Government.

In a Parliament with many newly elected Members it can take some time before all Members have made their Maiden Speech. Fear not! You can engage with new Members before they make their maiden speech.

Find out more