Dr Kirsty NewmanEvidence-Informed Policy Making
Overview
1.INASP
2.Science policy advisors in parliament
3.Capacity building for science in developing countries
Dissemination
Use
Access
Availability
Research
Journal Access
Bandwidth management &
optimisationAuthorAid
Journals online
Library Development
Research Communication Cycle
Science policy
Research
informed policy
Policy for research
Quiz: What do you know about parliament?
1. The major roles of parliament are:i)ii)iii)
2. The UK Parliament consists of:A: The House of Lords and the House of CommonsB: The Monarch and the GovernmentsC: The House of Commons onlyD: The House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Monarch
3. The UK Government is formed of:A: The CabinetB: All Labour MPsC: All Labour MPs and all Labour PeersD: Ministers and Whips
4. The major difference between the US Congress and the UK Parliament is.....?
5. The only person who is allowed to have an alcoholic drink in the House of Commons is:A: The SpeakerB: The ClerkC: The Prime MinisterD: The Chancellor of the Exchequer
Quiz cont.
A: MP asks parliamentary question about how research funding cuts will affect large research institute in her constituency
B: Parliament amends bill on mental health in light of research on effective treatments
C: MP from a constituency with a high malaria incidence asks a parliamentary question about the scientific evidence to support a ban on DDT use
D: Committee carries out enquiry to establish if government policy on renewable energy is based on scientific evidence
E: Parliament approves bill to regulate research ethics
F: MP asks parliamentary question about amount of funding the government is spending on physics research
Legislation Representation Scrutiny
Science for policy
Policy for science
A
B C D
E F
Science support in UK parliament?
• Specialist committee staff• Parliamentary library• Specialist office- POST
“An Office of both Houses of the UK Parliament providing MPs and
peers with balanced and independent analysis of public
policy issues that have a basis in science and technology”
http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_offices/post.cfm
www.parliament.uk/post.cfm
Science advice in African parliament
• MPs are faced with many policy issues related to science and technology
• To enable parliament to scrutinise government, ALL MPs need access to accurate impartial advice on science topics
• Knowledge– Scientifically knowledge of staff and members– Links to experts
• Skills– Advanced internet search skills– Evaluating quality and bias of information
• Procedures– Expert review of policy briefings– Recruiting science advisors– Timely production of parliamentary schedule
Common gaps in capacity
Evidence-Informed Policy making
Training•Advanced Internet Research and Information Literacy
•Summarising Skills
•Communication Skills
Networking•Linking parliamentary staff and MPs to researchers
•Regional networking
Advocacy•Influencing decision makers on importance of Science, Parliaments and Africa
Evidence-Informed Policy making
ParliamentaryLibrarian
ParliamentaryICT specialist
ParliamentaryResearcher Co-facilitator
LeadFacilitator
ScienceLead
ScienceCo-facilitator
• Administration/Project management
• Travel• Carrying out training• Meeting/networking• Satisfaction...• .. And Frustration
What does my job involve?
My career journey
BSc in Microbiology and Immunology
PhD in HIV research
Post-doc Malaria Research
International Activities team at the Wellcome Trust
Evidence-Informed Policy Officer INASP/POST
• Grab any opportunities in your current job to develop transferable skills
• Get help with CV writing• Network• Proactively seek volunteer/work
experience opportunities• Expect to take a pay cut• Understand the context…
Kirsty’s top tips
Books e.g. The Trouble with Africa, White Man’s Burden, Dead Aid, The Bottom Billion, Its Our Turn to Eat, The Honest Broker
Magazines, journal articles and websites e.g. The Africa Report, Research Africa, Eldis, Scidev.net
Reports and policy documents e.g. DFID research strategy, Overseas Development Agency reports, Paris declaration on aid effectiveness, Millennium Development Goals, Monitoring and Evaluation (e.g. log frames, outcome mapping etc)
Lectures/seminars- e.g. London School of Economics, Overseas Development Institute, All-party parliamentary groups…
Understand the context
•Clubs for parliamentarians and other interested parties
•Download the Register of All Party Parliamentary Groups for more information
All-party parliamentary groups
Any questions??