• Unfortunately, our Science and Policy Forum (conference) has been postponed to a later date, due to the latest government advice on coronavirus. Please check our Facebook page and our website for future updates on the event.

 

The Cambridge Science and Policy Forum is an annual event organized by the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange Society (CUSPE). This year’s event consists of keynotes, panel discussions, and Horizon scanning presentations on a variety of science policy topics related to sustainability.

If you are interested in how scientific research impacts policy, or how as a scientist you can become involved in policy then this is the event for you. Whether you are a hardcore scientist wanting to learn more about the world of policy making, or someone who is considering a career move outside of the lab, then come along and find out more!

The event is intended to encourage debate and interaction between both policy makers and academics, and to help facilitate cooperation between the two sides to create evidenced based policies. We will be debating environmental and sustainability challenges in science and science policy and hear from speakers from academia, policy and beyond.

Speakers of the 2020 Forum (conference) include:

Professor Mark Burgman – Director of the Centre for Environmental Policy at Imperial College London

Andrew Millar – Chief Scientific Adviser to Scottish Government

Dr Emily Shuckburgh – Leader of the UKRI Centre for Doctoral Training on the Application of AI to the study of Environmental Risks (AI4ER)

Professor Colin Talbot – Former adviser to UK Parliamentary Committees

Dr Stuart Rogers – Director of Environment and Ecosystem science at CEFAS

 

This year, there will also be an opportunity for you to get involved in our Horizon 2030 session which is based on the Horizon Scanning exercises of the Government Office for Science. If you are interested in identifying a key trend in your field, predict implications a decade into the future and present the outcomes to a policy maker you can find further information here:

Horizons 2030 Project

 

Do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions: forum@cuspe.org

 

  • Date: Monday, 8 March 2020 18:00-19:00
  • Location: Zoom
  • Speaker: Dr Carey King

Could we have prevented the Texas Power Outages?

Dr Carey King discusses the interactions between science and economics in energy policy.

  • Date: Thursday, 4 March 2020 17:00-18:30
  • Location: Zoom
  • Speaker: Dr Andrew Kaye

Do you want to learn how to:

Influence policy makers?

Better explain the significance of your research?

Write to support policy development?

Provide civil servants and ministers with the information they really need?

Join our workshop with Dr Andrew Kaye, Head of International Resilience, Government Office for Science, to learn more!

  • Date: Wednesday, 26 February 2020 19:30-21:30
  • Location: Webb Library, Jesus College

Do you want to contribute to real-world policy making? Well now is your opportunity! Please join us for the CUSPE-CCC Policy Challenges 2020 Launch Event to hear how you could have the chance to work with a team of researchers from Cambridge University and policy makers at Cambridgeshire County Council to research a real-world policy issue.

The Policy Challenges programme, a collaboration between the Cambridge University Science and Policy Exchange (CUSPE) and Cambridgeshire County Council (CCC), offers an exciting opportunity for early-career researchers to develop knowledge and experience in policy making while working in small teams on key policy issues identified by elected county Councillors. At the launch event for the 2020 Policy Challenges, local policymakers will present key policy issues affecting the lives of Cambridgeshire residents, and how your research can contribute to addressing these issues. You will have the opportunity to discuss the policy challenges with Councillors and council officers during the networking session.

The questions under consideration for this years Policy Challenges are:

1. What does the evidence tell us about the type of support that would have most impact on ensuring our care leavers can make a successful transition from education to work?

2. How can we work with district councils and other partners to prevent homelessness?

3. How could the public sector respond to the pace of growth across Cambridgeshire?

4. How can we use community-based networks and resources to jointly tackle the climate emergency with our communities?

5. How should our property strategy respond to our declaration of a climate emergency?

6. What does a review of progress in comparator local authorities tell us about opportunities and challenges in developing a ‘Health in All Policies’ approach to decision-making?

7. How can the council make best use of monies available to maintain its roads?

8. How can we evaluate the success of work that aims for socially valuable systemic change?

9. How can Cambridgeshire businesses that have set, or are interested in setting, carbon neutral and carbon negative targets invest to reduce carbon emissions and fuel poverty in oil dependent communities?

10. What are the policy and regulatory changes needed to minimise carbon emissions across all sectors in Cambridgshire by 2030, and which public sector bodies have the statutory powers to implement them?

We look forward to seeing you on 26th February, 7:30-9:30pm, Webb Library at Jesus College.

This will be an interactive session, including time for Q&A. It will be followed by a drinks reception.