All Arts and Humanities Researchers

The House of Commons Public Accounts Committee is holding an inquiry into UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). All Arts and Humanities researchers might be interested in submitting evidence, as researchers, on UKRI’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, and the extent to which UKRI’s management of grants is consistent with the principles of good funding support for research and innovation. Deadline: 22 May.

Archaeology 

  • The National Planning of Energy Infrastructure inquiry asks whether the UK Government’s draft updated National Policy Statements allow sufficient consideration of archaeological impacts in the design of electricity network infrastructure for renewable energy projects. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The House of Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry into New Towns and Expanded Settlements is looking for evidence on the barriers to the development of good quality new towns; the basis, and metrics, which should be used to determine the location and size of new towns, and where development might be prioritised; and the role of community engagement in planning and developing new towns. 

    For reference, the Committee asks that all submissions consider five core values which “reflect the popular consensus on what make a good new town”: wellbeing, accessibility, connectivity, sustainability and longevity. Deadline: 12 May.

Architecture and Design

  • The House of Lords Built Environment Committee inquiry into New Towns and Expanded Settlements is looking for is looking for evidence on the barriers to the development of good quality new towns; what future modules of the inquiry should examine when considering what makes a successful new town; the basis, and metrics, which should be used to determine the location and size of new towns; and where development might be prioritised. 

    For reference, the Committee asks that all submissions consider five core values which “reflect the popular consensus on what make a good new town”: wellbeing, accessibility, connectivity, sustainability and longevity. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The National Planning of Energy Infrastructure inquiry call for evidence mentions balancing the relative weight of aesthetic with economic (and other) considerations when designing electricity network infrastructure, particularly the question of using pylons or cables laid underground. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may also be of interest, given possible insight from architecture and design for past, current and potential future multifunctional land-use, and how architecture and design might help meet the challenges posed by the competing demand for housing, infrastructure, food, energy and nature recovery, climate mitigation and adaptation. Deadline: 11 June via this form. 

Development Studies (and Area Studies)

  • The Aid for Community-led energy inquiry is interested in hearing about examples of successful programmes or initiatives that have enhanced access to clean, affordable and inclusive energy systems (or examples of energy programmes where UK aid could have been used better). They are also interested in how the UK’s ODA supports decentralised energy initiatives; how development finance institutions are engaging with the potential of community energy; how the FCDO ensures that the voices and rights of women, older people and marginalised communities are heard and protected in funded energy projects; and how these projects might be evaluated. Deadline: 16 May.
  • The Women, Peace and Security inquiry is interested in the extent to which the UK Government integrates Women, Peace and Security principles across its ODA funded programming; current resourcing for this agenda; and whether women’s voices are being sufficiently included. They are keen to hear examples of successful programmes and initiatives, as well as about current trends, the UK’s international role, and the sustainability of the UK Government’s WPS efforts. Deadline: 16 May.

The Committee note: “the deadline date for submissions to this inquiry is Friday 16 May 2025, however, the Committee will strive to consider written evidence submissions that arrive after this date”.

Classics

The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may be of interest, given possible insight from Classics of multifunctional land-use in the past, and how ancient communities governed land-use. Deadline: 11 June via this form.  

Creative and Performing Arts, Drama, Theatre, Film, Music, Visual Arts, Life- and/or Creative Writing, Museum and Gallery Studies, and Arts Policy Management

  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. This might involve prescribing engagement with arts as a means of overcoming social isolation, and so research on that practice (and its effectiveness) might be relevant. Relatedly, you might have insight into the provision of “warm spaces” by cultural institutions, and the impact of this on winter mortality. Deadline: 4 June via this form.

Development Studies (and Area Studies)

  • The Aid for Community-led energy inquiry is interested in hearing about examples of successful programmes or initiatives that have enhanced access to clean, affordable and inclusive energy systems (or examples of energy programmes where UK aid could have been used better). They are also interested in how the UK’s ODA supports decentralised energy initiatives; how development finance institutions are engaging with the potential of community energy; how the FCDO ensures that the voices and rights of women, older people and marginalised communities are heard and protected in funded energy projects; and how these projects might be evaluated. Deadline: 16 May.
  • The Women, Peace and Security inquiry is interested in the extent to which the UK Government integrates Women, Peace and Security principles across its ODA funded programming; current resourcing for this agenda; and whether women’s voices are being sufficiently included. They are keen to hear examples of successful programmes and initiatives, as well as about current trends, the UK’s international role, and the sustainability of the UK Government’s WPS efforts. Deadline: 16 May.

The Committee note: “the deadline date for submissions to this inquiry is Friday 16 May 2025, however, the Committee will strive to consider written evidence submissions that arrive after this date”.

  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may also be of interest, given possible insight from area and development studies of multifunctional land-use, and its governance, in other countries, and how this is impacted by cultural, religious and/or historic factors. Deadline: 11 June via this form.
  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. Research from Area Studies about the cultural reasons for lower raters of winter mortality in colder European countries might make a useful contribution. Deadline: 4 June, via this form. 

Diplomacy and International Relations

  • The Women, Peace and Security inquiry is interested in the extent to which the UK Government integrates Women, Peace and Security principles across its ODA funded programming; examples of successful programmes and initiatives; current trends; the UK’s international role; and the sustainability of the UK Government’s WPS efforts. Researchers investigating the relationship between international relations and the culture, religion and history of relevant regions and countries may have useful insight for the Committee, as well as those who are more concerned with social and economic impacts. Similarly, researchers working on diplomacy with an interest in defence policy may have relevant findings for the Committee. Deadline: 16 May.

The Committee note: “the deadline date for submissions to this inquiry is Friday 16 May 2025, however, the Committee will strive to consider written evidence submissions that arrive after this date”.

  • The AUKUS inquiry asks how far changes in the geopolitical situation have affected the assumptions which underpinned the partnership when it was announced in 2021, and whether these now present a threat to the success of AUKUS. Deadline: 30 May. 

Geography (especially cultural and/or historical geography)

  • The National Planning of Energy Infrastructure asks whether the UK Government’s draft updated National Policy Statements allow sufficient consideration of impacts on landscape and heritage in the design of electricity network infrastructure for renewable energy projects. Cultural geographers with knowledge of the interpretation of the cultural landscape; cultural constructions of nature and environment; and relationships between space, place and culture as well as geographical change over time might have useful insight to inform and contextualise the committee’s lines of questioning. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The Built Environment Committee inquiry into New Towns and Expanded Settlements is looking for evidence on the barriers to the development of good quality new towns; what future modules of the inquiry should examine when considering what makes a successful new town; the basis, and metrics, which should be used to determine the location and size of new towns, and where development might be prioritised; and how communities should be engaged in the planning and development of new towns. Cultural geographers with knowledge of cultural constructions of nature and environment and relationships between space, place and culture may have useful knowledge to help the Committee shape its inquiry and lines of questioning.

For reference, the Committee asks that all submissions consider five core values which “reflect the popular consensus on what make a good new town”: wellbeing, accessibility, connectivity, sustainability and longevity. Deadline: 12 May.

  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality. It will outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. Some key factors in winter mortality (e.g. social isolation) may be of relevance to cultural geographers. Deadline: 4 June, via this form.

Heritage and Heritage Management

  • The National Planning of Energy Infrastructure inquiry asks whether the UK Government’s draft updated National Policy Statements allow sufficient consideration of heritage impacts in the design of electricity network infrastructure for renewable energy projects. Deadline: 12 May.

History

  • The Built Environment Committee inquiry into New Towns and Expanded Settlements is looking for evidence on the barriers to the development of good quality new towns; what future modules of the inquiry should examine when considering what makes a successful new town; the role of community engagement in planning new towns; the basis, and metrics, which should be used to determine the location and size of new towns, and where development might be prioritised; and the long-term support new towns will need to ensure that their delivery is efficient and successful. Historians of 20th century “new towns” and other planned cities/developments may have insight which could usefully inform the Committee’s future modules and lines of questioning. 

For reference, the Committee asks that all submissions consider five core values which “reflect the popular consensus on what make a good new town”: wellbeing, accessibility, connectivity, sustainability and longevity. Deadline: 12 May.

  • The Governance and decision-making on major projects inquiry may benefit from historical research into delivery (or non-delivery) of UK Government “mega-projects” to understand how information has fed into key decisions on projects, and lessons learned. Deadline: 10 June.
  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may also be of interest, given possible insight from history of multifunctional land-use, and the governance of land-use, in the past. Deadline: 11 June via this form. 
  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. Research from historians might help contextualise this issue, and/or raise awareness of long-standing causes (e.g. poor housing or underlying health conditions) in specific areas. Deadline: 4 June, via this form. 

Law

There are a number of Select Committee inquiries currently calling for evidence where specialists in specific areas of law (e.g. planning, transport, regulation, tax, water, and discrimination) may have expertise which is relevant. In addition, there are inquiries into government fees; the Autism Act; and Improving Family Court Services for Children which may also be of interest to lawyers and legal scholars. (More details below.)

  • The Built Environment Committee inquiry into New Towns and Expanded Settlements is looking for evidence on the barriers to the development of good quality new towns; what future modules of the inquiry should examine when considering what makes a successful new town; and what long-term support new towns will need to ensure that their delivery is efficient and successful. (The Committee overtly mentions “legalities” in reference to this last question, but lawyers may have insight into all these questions.)

    For reference, the Committee asks that all submissions consider five core values which “reflect the popular consensus on what make a good new town”: wellbeing, accessibility, connectivity, sustainability and longevity. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The Water Sector Regulation inquiry is interested in understanding the effectiveness of current regulation. Deadline: 26 May.
  • The Autism Act 2009 inquiry asks for input from researchers exploring how to support autistic people, particularly around questions relating to criminal and youth justice. Deadline: 2 June.
  • The Improving Family Court Services for Children inquiry will ask questions relating to capacity to meet demand; a “whole systems approach”; and how to deliver an effective and efficient service. Deadline: 9 June.
  • The Civil Service Pensions inquiry in looking at the impact of the McCloud judgement and issues of age discrimination. Deadline: 23 June.
  • The Government fees, charges and levies inquiry is interested in how effectively government adheres to HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money guidelines in implementing changes; the legal authority of charging fees; and transparency. Case studies are likely to focus on charges around passports, visas, Companies House fees, driving licence fees, data protection fees, court fees, and gambling licenses. Deadline: 26 June.
  • The Resilience to threats from animal disease inquiry will question senior officials from Defra and representatives from other relevant bodies on Defra’s ability to establish and manage the structures, systems and governance processes needed to ensure England’s resilience to animal diseases, and whether England is prepared to respond to animal disease outbreaks and could effectively recover. Deadline: 7 July.
  • Laywers may be interested in the Area of Research Interest recently advertised by Senedd Cymru on Promoting and Facilitating the use of British Sign Language (BSL). This ARI specifically mentions the question of how effective the existing legislative framework is at recognising and protecting the rights of d/Deaf people and BSL users.

    Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in this ARI, add their existing research and any planned research in this topic area to the ARI repository, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking the Welsh Government in the short, medium, and long-term.

Library Studies

  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. Insight into the provision of “warm spaces” by libraries and similar institutions, and the impact of this on winter mortality, may be of relevance. Deadline: 4 June via this form. 

Linguistics

You may be interested in the Area of Research Interest recently advertised by Senedd Cymru on Promoting and Facilitating the use of British Sign Language (BSL).

Academics at all career stages, research institutions, and experts are encouraged to register their interest in this ARI, add their existing research and any planned research in this topic area to the ARI repository, and suggest questions that the Committee could be asking the Welsh Government in the short, medium, and long-term.

Media and Communication Studies, and Journalism

  • The POSTnote on regional differences in healthy life expectancy may be of interest, especially if you have done any work on how/whether the discourse and narrative around “healthy lives” or “deprived areas” impacts people living in different areas (either negatively or positively).  Deadline: 23 May.

Philosophy

  • The National Planning of Energy Infrastructure inquiry call for evidence mentions balancing the relative weight of aesthetic with economic (and other) considerations when designing electricity network infrastructure, particularly the question of using pylons or cables laid underground. Expertise on aesthetics, and particularly on consideration of aesthetic impacts on landscapes might help inform the committee’s consideration of these issues. Deadline: 12 May.
  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may be of interest to philosophers given the POSTnote is interested in how co-production may involve different types of knowledge and expertise. Deadline: 11 June via this form.
  • The POSTnote on regional differences in healthy life expectancy may also be of interest, particularly research on structural inequalities, intersectionality, inter-generational trauma, and/or epistemic justice, and the barriers faced by marginalised communities in accessing the means to life a healthy life. Relatedly, philosophers might have useful contributions to what a “healthy life” means. Deadline: 23 May.
  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. This might be of interest to researchers working on the philosophy of death and/or dying (and the impact of related views on policy and people’s actions, both in England and elsewhere, particularly in colder countries). Deadline: 4 June via this form.

Political Theory

  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may be of interest to political theorists, given its interest in collaborative decision-making models (e.g. scholars who work on democracy, citizens assemblies, and forms of deliberative democracy), and also normative questions about land and land-use and the benefits of different uses and decision-making processes. Researchers in the history of political thought may consider insights from how land-use decisions have been made in the past (or forms of decision-making or collaborative use that have been suggested in the past). Deadline: 11 June via this form.
  • The POSTnote on regional differences in healthy life expectancy may also be of interest, particularly to scholars doing research on structural inequalities, intersectionality, inter-generational trauma, and/or epistemic justice, and the barriers faced by marginalised communities in accessing the means to life a healthy life. Relatedly, political theorists might have useful contributions to what a “healthy life” means. Deadline: 23 May (email post@parliament.uk)

Theology, Divinity and Religion

  • The POSTnote on Multifunctional Land Use Decisions may be of interest, given possible insight from researchers into different religious systems about both collaborative decision-making, and land-use. Deadline: 11 June via this form.
  • The POSTnote on winter mortality will summarise the factors that affect winter mortality and outline evidence for policies to prevent excess winter deaths. This might be of interest to researchers working on religious attitudes to, or understanding of, death and/or dying (and the impact of related views on policy and people’s actions, both in England and elsewhere, particularly in colder countries). Relatedly, insight into the provision of “warm spaces” by religious institutions, and the impact of this on winter mortality, may be of relevance. Deadline: 4 June, via this form.