The workshop is relevant to anyone seeking to influence policy makers, explain the significance of their research or improve their writing skills. It will cover the key aspects of writing to support policy development. This will be an interactive session, including time for Q&A.

Speaker: Dr Andrew Kaye, Head of International Resilience, Government Office for Science

Dr Kaye is currently responsible for coordinating science advice during emergencies. Previously he has been a ministerial speechwriter, worked in government communications and lectured in American history.

  • Date: 28th November 2018, 17:50 – 20:00 (including a drinks reception)
  • Location: Department of Engineering, Lecture Room 4

What does the UK Parliament do? How can scientists engage with Parliamentary themes?

A lot of scientific research has policy impact. The UK Parliament is the main policy-making body in this country. Come to our event to learn more about how scientific insight is implemented in Parliament. The main topics of the workshop will include current themes discussed by the Parliamentary Office for Science and Technology (POST). The workshop is open to both UK and international students with an interest in scientific research with a policy impact.

The workshop was led by Sky Yarlett, Senior Education and Engagement Officer, UK Parliament.

Sky’s role includes raising awareness of Parliament’s activities and promoting higher engagement from different groups, particularly hard-to-reach ones, such as BAME, women, unemployed or low-income groups. Sky has a degree in Contemporary Media Practice from the University of Westminster and her professional experience includes running different student or LGBTQ+ campaigns and promoting student representation at different levels.

Erin Cullen, Head of Publications 2017/18

An emerging technology is a technology that is in development, or that will be developed in the next decade. It is a technology that is capable of changing the status quo, and to disrupt the business or social environment in which it finds itself. But regulation for these technologies is proving to be a challenge, and it will be necessary to find a balance between protecting society and ensuring that innovation is not stifled.

The Cambridge Science and Policy Forum, held by CUSPE in 2018 was the first in the society’s history. One of the important topics tackled by experts at the forum was opportunities for collaboration in regulating emerging technologies. Artificial intelligence and machine learning were discussed in detail as two of the new technologies that governments will soon need to consider. The impasse that can be reached between policy makers and developers was addressed, along with the perceived usefulness of regulation. The potential of ‘reusing’ existing regulation for new technologies was also discussed in great detail.

All of these articles highlight the challenges for policy makers when legislating in a rapidly changing technological environment. I hope you enjoy reading these articles as much as we have enjoyed editing and working on the publications team this year.

Read the full special issue here ↵

Acknowledgements:
Thank you to the authors that agreed to have their contributions included in this mini-release. And of course a great many thanks to all the fantastic editors who worked hard in the 2017-2018 year: Hinal Tanna, Philipe Bujold, Roxine Staats, Maggie Westwater, Shan Chong, Amber Ruigrok.

  • Date: Tuesday 16th October 2017, 18:30
  • Location: Nihon Room, Pembroke College

Join CUSPE and a number of other organisations for brief introductions to learn more about the science policy community in Cambridge.

This drinks reception is the perfect chance to find out about the role of science in policy making, to hear from policy-related organisations and initiatives in Cambridge – such as CUSPE, The Wilberforce Society and Shaping Horizons – and to meet policy professionals, other researchers and students interested in science policy.

This event is free to attend, with short talks starting at 18:30.

Due to limited places for this event, sign up in advance here.

  • Title: Policy outbreak! Policymaking during health crises
  • Date: 31st October 2018, 18:00 – 20:00
  • Location: Bateman Auditorium, Gonville & Caius College
  • Registration: click here for the Eventbrite page.

Emergence of health crises and outbreaks of infectious disease are a global issue. Mitigation of these crises requires rapid and interdisciplinary solutions. Come and hear about policy making in health crises from our invited experts in the field.

Our speakers include:

Elizabeth Surkovic – the Head of Policy, Resilience and Emerging Technologies at the Royal Society. She has worked as a Deputy Director for Science at the Government Office for Science working at the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies during the Ebola and Zika outbreaks and developed worked on “Emergency Behaviours” during her CSaP Fellowship.

Dr Jane Greatorex – Team leader in Sierra Leone during the Ebola outbreak in 2015 and Honorary Scientist at Public Health England. She is also the Director of Studies in Pre-Clinical Medical and Veterinary Sciences at Lucy Cavendish College. Dr Greatorex has had a long career in academic and clinical science, and remains on the list of scientists that may be called upon to respond in the event of a health crisis.