- CUSPE provides an excellent forum for students, industry and government representatives to engage in informed debate about topical policy issues. The events are well organised, and the organisers are enthusiastic, engaging and impressive. Read more
- The meeting was highly insightful and well organised. As the co-founder of Innovation Forum (IF) (http://www.inno-forum.org), I am delighted that IF supported this excellent CUSPE event. We are very much looking forward to support CUSPE in additional future high calibre events. Read more
- Considering engagement with others is a key role of government, it is valuable to establish this link between policy advisers and another “interest group” (for want of a better term) of academics – we already engage industry, NGOs, other Member States etc but not directly academics. Read more
- The Innovation Forum was delighted to support this event. Excellent follow up on the discussions on university – industry partnerships and true open innovation we had at our recent conference in Cambridge. Read more
- Very engaged community, excited about commercializing so many ideas. A pleasure to be a part of the event. Read more
- I found the workshop very useful in understanding Defra policy areas from a different perspective and to learn about the cutting edge research in these areas. It was also useful to become more conscious of how researchers work in general, and to think about how our work can align in future. Read more
- I found the workshop a valuable and eye-opening experience. Even as an economist using evidence every day, it’s easy to view the academic world as a completely separate area, from which evidence is used when it is published and available. This perception creates a barrier to the potential synergies policy and academia could create. Building these relationships in the early stages of my career I’m sure will be very valuable. Read more
- I would say it is thanks to the CUSPE-CSaP interaction that I received the opportunity to perform a secondment placement at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). Before describing my secondment in more detail, I would like to stress that my experience at BIS has been extremely valuable for many reasons. It gave me a general flavour of how a government department works, it provided me with the opportunity to have an internal view on the process of policy making and gain insights into the dynamics and time-frames in which civil servants operate. Read more
On the Cusp: Tune in to our new podcast
On the Cusp: Tune in to our new podcast
The vast majority of members of parliament do not hold degrees in the sciences, so how do they make legislation on scientific issues?
In the first episode of our podcast On the Cusp, we discuss how governments integrate science into the policy making process. We spoke to Lord Martin Rees, astrophysicist and peer in the House of Lords, and Prof. Michelle Baddeley, a fellow of the Centre for Science and Policy at Cambridge University. We also interviewed Daniel Zeichner, MP for Cambridge and shadow Secretary for Transport, as well as Dr. David Cleeveley, founder of the Centre for Science and Policy. To gain insight into how the public can engage in Science and Policy, we spoke to Anna Perman from the British Science Association.
Latest Articles
Tariff Options
Competition Impacts of Policy Tariff Options: There and Back Again Ensuring sufficient competition in the energy market is a key role of the regulator. One of the most popular measures for measuring competition has been in the analysis of customers switching between tariff plans. Unfortunately, switching rates are comparatively low and the market remains dominated (85%) by the six largest energy companies. Many regulatory interventions have been made, but one of the most significant was a cap on the total number of tariff plans on offer by suppliers.
Remote Sensing
Eye in the Sky: Proliferation of Remote Sensing
The proliferation of commercial remote sensing satellites has increased the availability of satellite images. These images are predicted to increase in spatial and temporal resolution (clarity and frequency) until satellite imagery becomes near real-time. This new technology will have positive and negative effects on society due to the dual nature of satellite imagery. This paper highlights some of the potential consequences of ubiquitous satellite imagery. Furthermore, it examines current regulations and illustrates how these regulations will be unsuitable in the future. Finally, it examines UN regulations surrounding satellite imagery and if international treaties could be used to regulate this technology.
Artificial Intelligence
Advanced Artificial Intelligence: Policy and Strategy
AI technology has the potential to bring huge benefits to society. It is also possible that advanced Artificial General Intelligence – AI capable of performing at or above human level on a wide range of tasks – could be highly destructive, as discussed by an increasing number of experts in the field. There are many misconceptions about the field of AI and its potential dangers. The problem is not that an AI system will suddenly develop human-like emotions of anger or resentment and ‘rebel’. Rather the issues are more subtle. How can we reliably predict the behaviour of an AI system? How can we specify the goals of a system such that we avoid unanticipated side-effects? How do we ensure that those developing advanced AI are paying sufficient attention to ensuring safety, and avoid arms-race dynamics?
Our Events
Evidence-based Education
How to communicate with policymakers
Science in policymaking
About CUSPE
What we do
- Talks – The core of CUSPE are our events, bringing the worlds leading figures in science and policy to Cambridge
- Workshops – By uniting world experts in a single room, CUSPE is not only following, but shaping Government policy
- Policy Visits
- Horizon Scanning
- Much more…
Get involved
If you would like to know more about CUSPE see how to get involved here