BES Policy Guide Series: A scientist's guide to engaging with policy

Summary

In this insightful talk, Alice Mona, a geography lecturer and policy advisor, emphasizes the critical role of evidence in policymaking. She discusses the importance of active engagement between researchers and policymakers, advocating for clear communication and accessible research. Mona encourages co-development of research with policy considerations, the need for concise summaries, and understanding the complexities of the policy landscape. She highlights the role of scientific societies in bridging gaps and fostering connections. Ultimately, Mona stresses that successful engagement requires patience, trust-building, and a proactive approach to make scientific findings relevant and impactful in the policy arena.

Takeaways

• 📊 Effective policymaking relies heavily on solid evidence from scientific research.
• 🔍 Researchers should engage proactively with policymakers to ensure their findings are utilized effectively.
• 📝 Making research papers accessible, such as through open access, helps policymakers find and understand the research.
• 🤝 Co-developing research with policymakers ensures that scientific inquiries address real policy needs.
• ⏱️ Researchers must be aware that policymakers often require quick responses and concise information.
• 💬 Clear and simple communication is crucial; lengthy documents are less likely to be read by busy policymakers.
• 🌐 Scientific societies can facilitate connections between researchers and policymakers, enhancing collaboration.
• 📑 Providing summaries or brief reports can help communicate key findings to policymakers who may not be experts in the field.
• 🚪 Early engagement with policymakers is essential for building relationships and trust over time.
• 🗣️ Understanding the complexities of policy-making can help researchers better position their work for impact.

Q & A

What is Alice Mona's role at Royal Holloway University?

Alice Mona is a lecturer in geography at Royal Holloway University of London and is also seconded to DEFRA as part of a Newark Policy Placement Fellowship.

How can scientists improve the use of evidence in policymaking?

Scientists can improve evidence use by actively engaging with policymakers, ensuring their research is accessible, and providing concise summaries to help policymakers understand implications.

What strategies can researchers use to effectively engage with policymakers?

Researchers can engage policymakers by publishing open-access papers, summarizing their work in accessible language, arranging meetings, and collaborating with others in their field.

Why is it important for researchers to co-develop their research with policymakers?

Co-developing research with policymakers ensures that the scientific questions addressed are relevant to policy needs, enhancing the likelihood that the research will be utilized in decision-making.

What should researchers consider when preparing publications aimed at policymakers?

Researchers should consider the audience, avoid jargon, emphasize policy relevance, and ensure titles and abstracts are clear and informative to capture the attention of busy policymakers.

What is a significant barrier to accessing research for policymakers?

The cost of academic journals is a major barrier, making it difficult for many organizations to access research findings.

What role do scientific societies play in bridging the gap between academia and policy?

Scientific societies help researchers connect with policymakers by providing contacts, networking opportunities, and joint conferences, and they amplify the voices of individual researchers.

What are some key tips for researchers to engage effectively with government?

Key tips include understanding the complexity of policy, engaging early in the research process, and maintaining relationships with policymakers built on trust.

How can researchers ensure that their research is useful for policymakers?

Researchers can present their findings in a clear and concise format, highlight the policy relevance in abstracts, and indicate the certainty of evidence to facilitate understanding.

What does Alice Mona suggest about the time scales in academia versus policy?

Alice notes that while academics may work on issues over several years, policymakers often need answers in much shorter time frames, highlighting a fundamental difference in pace between the two fields.