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.

Jump to:

Select committees currently accepting written evidence (compiled 15 January 2025) 

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.

New calls for evidence launched since 15 January 2025:

All other inquiries currently accepting 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 the 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”

Under the Microscope: suggest topics to the Science, Innovation and Tech Committee

The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee wants to hear your ideas for topics it should put “under the microscope”. 

The committee’s role is to look at government policies on science, technology and innovation, and make recommendations for how these could be improved. 

This is your opportunity to get involved and suggest what the committee should be exploring, and how the government can ensure that science and technology work for people across the United Kingdom.  

 You could start by thinking about:  

  • What emerging technologies or research areas could address the challenges the country faces? 
  • Are there areas of fundamental research that do not have enough support or focus? 
  • Are there any fields of science and technology that need to be regulated differently to release their commercial potential or prevent harm? 
  • What should the government do now to prepare for the changes that science and technology will make to how we live and work?  

In the past the Committee has investigated:  

  • The governance of AI and the need for AI-specific legislation  
  • UK space strategy and satellite infrastructure  
  • Insect decline and UK food security 
  • Commercialising quantum technologies 

The committee wants to know: 

  • What do you want the committee to put “under the microscope”?   
  • Why does it matter to you?   
  • What you think the government should do about it?

Tell us what the committee should put under the microscope

The deadline to submit your ideas is Monday 10 March 2025.

Why should I engage? Select committees check and report on areas ranging from the work of government departments and public bodies to topical issues in their policy area through inquiries on specific topics.

The outcomes of these inquiries are public and many make recommendations to the government which require an official response. Bringing a key issue to the Committee’s attention could lead to an inquiry into the work of government in this area.

More information

Resources

Meet Parliament’s Thematic Research Leads: Dr Andy Russell, TRL for Climate and Environment

Dr Andy Russell is a Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science at Queen Mary University London (QMUL). He is the founding Director of QMUL’s Research Centre for Environmental Change and Communities and is Deputy Director of the £2.9m UKRI/Defra funded Resilience of Anthropogenic Coasts and Communities (RACC) project.

Dr Russell’s research and career span the physical and social sciences, within academia and the Civil Service. His early career focused on the modelling and analysis of climate change and climate change impacts across the globe. This was followed 5 years in the Civil Service looking at different elements of domestic climate change policy (Climate Change Committee), international climate change (BEIS), and biodiversity loss evidence for negotiators (Defra). His research at QMUL focuses on the intersection of the science and policy of climate change. Andy is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and a Fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society (FRMetS).

Since joining UK Parliament as the TRL for Climate and Environment, Andy has engaged with the select committees that are of direct relevance to climate and environment. Within the House of Commons this is the Environmental Audit Committee, Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, and the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee. Within the House of Lords Andy has collaborated with the Environment and Climate Change Committee. Andy also supports the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology and the House of Commons and House of Lords Library researchers on new initiatives.

Andy is keen to hear about climate and environment research which may be of interest to parliament. If you would like to introduce yourself and your research to Andy please complete this form. Andy may not be able to respond to all introductions. However, please know your contact has been received and is valued. Andy will note your expertise area and store your contact details in line with our privacy policy ready to get in touch when parliament’s business touches upon your research topic.

Thank you to everyone who previously introduced themselves or their research to Andy. If you filled out the original form we shared, there is no need to resubmit your details.

Why should I engage?

Thematic Research Leads (TRLs) are prestigious and influential roles, designed in partnership with UKRI to facilitate and enhance the use of research evidence and expertise in parliament through effective knowledge exchange and collaboration. Introducing yourself to the new TRLs is a great opportunity to be involved in their work, ensure they’re aware of your expertise, and a way for parliamentarians and other parliamentary research users to access your research.

More information: Find out more about our Thematic Research Lead programme. Read about the work of our first cohort of TRLs:

New link for Crime & Justice!

We’ve discovered the link for researchers to introduce themselves to Dr Ruth Lamont, TRL for Crime and Justice, has been misbehaving! If you’d like to say hello to Ruth please do introduce yourself through this new link.

If you’ve been meaning to reach out to one of the other TRLs here are their links: 

We’ll be featuring Louise, our Transport TRL, in next week’s round up. If you’re super keen you’re welcome to introduce yourself through her link now.

The links to introduce yourself to the TRLs will close on 28 February.

Fresh in! Another new POSTnote – please share your research

POST, the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, is calling for research contributions and information relevant to the below newly launched POSTnotes. POSTnotes are short, peer-reviewed evidence briefings on emerging areas of research. They are widely read by Parliamentarians and parliamentary staff. 

New this week:

  • Regulation and remediation of ‘forever’ chemicals: this POSTnote will outline the challenges and options for addressing per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) substance pollution. It will consider the evidence base and knowledge gaps on PFAS sources, the pathways of PFAS dispersal and the impacts of human and wildlife exposure. It will also summarise different technological approaches emerging for PFAS remediation and the challenges and opportunities for implementing a PFAS remediation strategy for heavily contaminated sites in the UK. The deadline to submit a contribution to the regulation and remediation of ‘forever’ chemicals POSTnote is 17 February 2025.

These POSTnotes, launched last week, continue to encourage researchers to get in touch:

  • Cultivated meat: this POSTnote aims to outline the major challenges, opportunities, and risks associated with approving the sale of cultivated meat for human consumption in the UK. It will consider research into environmental, social, nutrition and economic impacts and explore stakeholder perspectives.
    The deadline to submit a contribution to the cultivated meat POSTnote is 21 February 2025.
  • Wearable technologies – health opportunities and challenges: this POSTnote will provide an overview of latest developments in wearable technologies. It will summarise the evidence for how these technologies can accurately provide health data, and how this may impact health, lifestyle choices and behaviour. It will consider opportunities and challenges for wearable technologies to support NHS healthcare.
    The deadline to submit a contribution to the wearable technologies POSTnote is 28 February 2025.
  • Virtual wards: this POSTnote will outline recent advancements in virtual wards, summarising evidence for their potential to improve healthcare accessibility and efficiency in the NHS. The briefing will also consider challenges, including data security, equity of access, staff training and integrating these technologies into existing healthcare systems.
    The deadline to submit a contribution to the virtual wards POSTnote is 21 February 2025.

Please email your contribution to post@parliament.uk.

How to reach out to share your research for a POSTnote 

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) has simplified and updated its guidance for researchers to share their expertise and provide contributions to POST’s work, such as POSTnotes and briefings for parliamentarians.

Researchers can feed into POST research projects by following the instructions on the contributing to POST research as an expert webpage. Researchers need only submit:

  • Their name.
  • A link to their online research/expert profile.
  • A personal statement (maximum 250 words) describing:
    • your relevant skills, experience and knowledge,
    • key issues relevant to the project that you would like to make us aware of.
  • Links to papers, publications, or blogs you have written that are relevant to the project topic, where available. Please link to open access sources if you can.

Please familiarise yourself with the new guidance before submitting your contribution to the new POST projects. 

Reminder: your contributions can be emailed to post@parliament.uk until the deadlines stated above. 

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

Policy goals – thank you!

A big thank you to the researchers who have already pledged a policy goal within the KEU’s new year’s resolution repository. We’ve already had a browse and your plans are brilliant! We can’t wait to see your research making the impacts you’ve aspired to in 2025.

It’s been super helpful to understand your priorities and we’re planning resources to support your goals for our future round ups. If you experienced ‘January brain fog’ last week and didn’t get the chance to pause and consider your goals we’ll be keeping the repository open until 31 January. Please do consider something you’d love to achieve or make a difference on and add it to the goals repository.

Note: your goal doesn’t need to be beautifully polished! Remember you can ask for support through the repository too. As it’s anonymous we can’t come back to you individually but we will share information and resources with the whole knowledge mobilisation community.

Respond before: 31 January 2025

Why should I engage? Writing your goals down, working through the actions needed to realise your aspirations, and breaking challenging tasks into steps increases motivation and commitment. Importantly, it also improves the likelihood of achieving the goal.

The KEU will draw on the aspirations that researchers and knowledge mobilisers record in the goals repository to ensure the community has access to the information and support needed to realise their policy goals. 

More information: Explore resources on the KEU’s website: 

Evidence Week: Reverse committee evidence session (livestream)

Monday 20 January, 5 to 6.30pm

Evidence Week is back in Parliament from 20 to 24 January, bringing together parliamentarians, researchers and the public to discuss how evidence is used and scrutinised at Westminster. This is the seventh annual Evidence Week in Parliament, hosted by Sense about Science and POST. It includes exciting training and policy briefings for parliamentarians and staff from leading researchers across the UK.

The week is kicking off on Monday evening with a unique ‘reverse’ evidence session, where members of the public will be questioning parliamentary committee chairs on the policy areas that matter to them, including the environment, community and the economy. The event will be livestreamed on YouTube and broadcast on ParliamentLiveTV, so make sure to tune in!

Follow this link to find out more or watch the livestream.  

Browse through the full evidence week programme.

Explore parliamentlive.tv

Putting the ‘bill’ in Billingsgate

Veteran round-up readers will know that most bills (draft laws) are proposed by the government, but that individual MPs and members of the House of Lords can also propose new legislation through private members’ bills (PMBs). However, you may be less familiar with a third type of proposed legislation – private bills. Private bills are usually promoted by organisations, like local authorities or private companies, to give themselves powers beyond, or in conflict with, the general law.

A Commons Library briefing on private bills explains: ‘In the 19th century, a majority of legislation passed by Parliament was private business. The principal categories were public works and transport schemes (railways, waterways and harbours), permissions for divorce, and the settlement of estates. Today, the last of these is rarely required; and the need for the first two has been all but removed by the Transport and Works Act 1992, and the Marriage (Prohibited Degrees of Relationship) Act 1986.’

Today, private bills are much rarer. At the time of writing, out of 191 bills currently being considered by Parliament, five are private bills. A further two are actually hybrid bills, but that’s a topic for another day… One of these private bills is the City of London (Markets) Bill which, if it receives Royal Assent, will repeal legislation relating to Billingsgate and London Central Markets, enabling the City of London Corporation to cease providing those markets at those sites.

So what?

Anyone can submit a private bill, however, private bills only change the law as it applies to specific individuals or organisations, rather than the general public. Groups or individuals potentially affected by these changes can petition Parliament against the proposed bill and present their objections to committees of MPs and Lords. If the promoters challenge a petitioner’s right to be heard on their petition, both the promoters and the petitioner will be asked to attend a meeting of the rarely seen Court of Referees. The City of London (Markets) Bill’s first reading in the Commons is expected to take place on Wednesday 22 January 2025 and it is expected that the petitioning period will begin on 23 January and end on 3 February. 

More information: