Policy-led impact: engaging with the government science system

Kathryn Oliver

Chapter 3 in How to Scale Engagement and Impact in Universities, 2025, pp 20-32 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: Although many academics are aware of the governmental science system, few university-led impact initiatives seek to engage directly with it. Many attempts to promote impact do so from the starting point of a research project, or a research agenda. Yet, within the UK government, there are roles, teams, and structures specifically designed to support engagement between policy and academia. In this chapter, I discuss the governmental science system in the UK, and the different approaches taken within it to support research policy engagement. In addition to the official roles of the existence of the Government Chief Scientific Adviser (GCSA) and the departmental chief scientists as individuals, there is the Government Office for Science, and the various civil service professions that support their work. Science Advisory Councils (SACs) also offer opportunities for researchers who want to become involved. In addition to these structures, activities such as the production of Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) provide a more open and diverse set of engagement opportunities. I close this chapter with reflections on how researchers can most usefully respond to these opportunities, by situating the government science system within the wider research policy ecosystem in the UK.

Keywords: Science advice; Evidence use; Science for policy systems; Academic engagement; Policy engagement (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781035337422
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