science

POST – The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

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The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology is a valuable resource for MPs and researchers.

Their website describes the work they do as follows:

What we do

The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is a research and knowledge exchange service based in the UK Parliament. It works to ensure that the best available research evidence and information is brought to bear on the legislative process and scrutiny of Government. It primarily supports the select committees of both Houses.

POST:

  • publishes impartial, non-partisan, timely and peer-reviewed research
  • helps Parliament to access experts and evidence
  • identifies emerging areas of interest to Parliament through horizon scanning
  • supports the exchange of information and expertise between researchers and the UK Parliament through fellowships and other knowledge exchange activities

Latest briefings include: automated vehicles; reducing plastic waste; What is the metaverse and what impacts will it have for society; food waste; Health impacts of ultra-processed foods; and Mental Health Act reform – impacts on autistic people and people with a learning disability.

To find out more about POST and to access it’s research briefings, please go to its website:

https://post.parliament.uk

Evidence-Based Medicine

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A Mini Masterclass for Members of Parliament

From the University of St. Andrews:

We understand that for many MPs, and special advisors, there is a huge demand on your time and, no matter your own pre-existing expertise, a need to quickly obtain even more knowledge in multiple areas.

We can help with one aspect of this. At the University we have a commitment to public engagement and service. We invite you to a free, one hour seminar designed to equip MPs and/or their staff on the most important aspects of evidence based medicine. This will cover:

  • why evidence based medicine? – From opioid overuse to surgical mesh, how to stop medicine doing harm
  • finding disease early – complicated and often counter-intuitive
  • who to trust? – fact and fiction- how to assess health claims
  • real world examples, based on previous political interests; for example: the age cervical screening should start at; and whether patients are protected from doctors’ conflicts of interest

This will be online. Members of staff are welcome.

Conversations with previously elected representatives suggest this information would have been useful, however if you wish other areas covered we would be happy to discuss, including if an in-person seminar is preferred or these times are not suitable.

We have expertise in public health, early diagnosis, screening and risk communication. Dr McCartney is an academic at the School of Medicine and also writes and broadcasts about evidence based medicine, and Professor Donnelly is Director of the Mackenzie Institute for Early Diagnosis.

We are offering this seminar to all MPs and advisors at:

  • Tuesday 27th August at 2pm
  • Tuesday 3rd September at 4pm

To register, please email Dr. Margaret McCartney with your details.

POST Training for Academic Researchers

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POST – the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology – is presenting regional training sessions for researchers to learn how the UK Parliament works and ways to engage with Parliament using research, with a particular focus on framing and communicating your research in a policy context.

What does the training cover?
This training gives an overview of the UK Parliament and covers ways to work with the institution including details on Select Committees, legislative scrutiny, the House of Commons and House of Lords libraries, and POST. It also includes sessions on identifying how your research relates to policy, and communicating your research at Parliament.

How is the training delivered?
Sessions are delivered by officials from POST and Select Committees. The training is interactive and practical. You will leave with an action plan, plenty of resources and the chance to join our alumni network to receive further opportunities and support from Parliament. Refreshments and lunch are included.

Who should attend?
This event is aimed at academic researchers as well as those working in policy brokerage/research impact roles.

What will I learn?
As a result of the training you will:

  • understand Parliament’s role and processes and the difference between Parliament and Government
  • know how research is used in the UK Parliament
  • be able to identify opportunities to feed your research into Parliament’s work
  • know how your research could be relevant to Parliament’s work, and how to frame it in this context
  • learn tips and advice on communicating your research at Parliament including style and tone
  • be aware of where to go for further support

What does it cost?
There is an attendance fee of £40, including VAT. If this fee is a barrier to your attendance, please contact us; we may make exceptions in some circumstances.

More information can be found at www.parliament.uk/academic-training

Have you looked at POST’s publications recently?

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POST provides balanced and accessible overviews of research from across the biological, physical and social sciences, and engineering and technology. It places the findings of this research in a policy context for Parliamentary use.

The best known format for these briefings are ‘POSTnotes’: four page summaries of public policy issues based on reviews of the research literature and interviews with stakeholders from across academia, industry, government and the third sector; they are peer reviewed by external experts. POSTnotes are often produced proactively, so that parliamentarians have advance knowledge of key issues before they reach the top of the political agenda.

Find out more here: https://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and-offices/offices/bicameral/post/publications/

Parliamentary Office of Science & Technology – POST notes

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The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST, for short) has been producing impartial, non-partisan, and peer-reviewed briefing notes for over thirty years on various subjects which may be of interest to Members and staffers.

POST is the UK Parliament’s in-house source of independent, balanced and accessible analysis of public policy issues related to science and technology.  Their aim is to inform parliamentary debate.

More information and the full list of POSTnotes can be found on the main POST site here: https://post.parliament.uk/

Their work programme covers:

    • Biology and health
    • Energy and Environment
    • Physical and digital science
    • Social Sciences

Their analysis covers:

    • COVID-19
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Food Security
    • Transport and Infrastructure
    • Digital Tech
    • Security and Defence
    • Education
    • Crime and Justice
    • Health and Social Care
    • Science Policy

All publications (since 1995) are available in PDF format.  To sign up for their mailing list, please click here: https://mailchi.mp/email.parliament.uk/post

POST also hosts seminars and training events, details of which can be found here:  https://post.parliament.uk/events/