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Applications open for Royal Society’s pairing scheme

Houses of Parliament at night (Image credit: UK Parliament www.parliament.uk)

Houses of Parliament at night (Image credit: UK Parliament www.parliament.uk)

Do you get frustrated about the use of evidence in government policy making?

Do you want to increase the policy impact of your research?

Take part in the Royal Society’s pairing scheme – Applications for scientists open until Wednesday 9th March

Each year the Royal Society’s pairing scheme pairs 30 research scientists with UK parliamentarians and civil servants. By spending time together in Westminster and the researcher’s labs, participants learn about each other’s work and gain a greater insight into how research findings can help inform policy making. If you take part in the scheme you will have a chance to learn how parliament and government work and how you can feed in to the policy making process.

The scheme begins with a ‘Week in Westminster’ in which you will meet your pair. Over the week you will spend two days shadowing them, and also take part in workshops and hear from invited speakers. After the ‘Week in Westminster’ your pair will visit you in your lab to get an insight into the world of research.

Darrin Baines, Professor in Health Economics at Coventry University and Dr Jean-Christophe Nebel, Associate Professor in Computing Science and Bioinformatics at Kingston University were among those taking part in the scheme last year.

Professor Baines has analysed many aspects of health care efficiency over a 20 year career. He was paired with Lord Prior of Brampton who is Minister for NHS Productivity and Efficiency and a member of the House of Lords.

Dr Nebel shadowed Graham Dean, Higher Scientific Officer at the Home Office Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST).

For more information about the scheme and to apply please visit the Royal Society website or contact Rachael Mann at Rachael.mann@royalsociety.org or 02074512218.

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