Generating Impact on Policy

How can my research be picked up by policymakers? How do governments and parliaments use research? Can I engage with policy without being ‘political’? Does government hire PhD students? Is government interested in qualitative research? Are there policy internships? If you have asked any of these questions – or others – about creating an impact in the world of public policy, then this session is for you. It will provide a quick overview of policymaking institutions in Scotland, how they use research, and how academics – including doctoral candidates – can get involved in the policy world. For many social scientists, policy is the obvious field in which their research can have an impact. This session will provide an outline of how to get started and suggest some tools to help increase the visibility and usability of your research. Nick Bibby, is director of the Scottish Policy & Research Exchange (SPRE), which works with all of Scotland’s higher education institutions, as well as the Scottish Government and Parliament to help researchers and policymakers work with each other more effectively.