Linking research and policy

Note: Lunch will be available before the seminar, at 12.30pm

About the event

This seminar will be delivered by Nick Bibby, Director of Research and Impact Ltd. He previously founded and led the Scottish Policy & Research Exchange (SPRE), which was established to help build and support connections between policymaking and research in Scotland.

In the seminar, Nick will provide insights from his experience of leading a national research and policy engagement organisation.It will involve a short presentation on the considerations and challenges in developing a culture of engagement and the mechanisms to support it. The session will also allow for discussion and questions.

Topics covered will include:

• Building for the long haul – connecting with policy is a marathon not a sprint
• Different collaborative tools – what works, what doesn’t
• Prioritising multi-institutional and interdisciplinary approaches from the outset
• Beyond core government – developing a varied and robust understanding of policy

This initiative is led by the UCD Policy Interface, a new centralised university support that aims to help foster productive, long-term relationships between policymakers and UCD's researchers.

About Nick

During his five years running SPRE, Nick established a training programme and related resources for academics, built a network of knowledge mobilisers in universities, trialled a range of engagement tools, advised universities and policy institutions on how better to collaborate, and became a valued source of insight for research centres and projects looking to help inform and frame policy.

He founded the Cross Party Group on Social Science in the Scottish Parliament and has been invited to advise governments and parliaments on how to more effectively engage with academics.

Nick is a trustee of Migration Policy Scotland and sits on the board of SCOTCHEM Ltd. He is a fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences and previously served on the board of its Campaign. A former journalist with credits for the BBC, Herald, Scotsman, Sunday Times and Independent, he worked more recently in media management and communications roles for a series of high-profile research projects.

Host or Publisher UCD Research and Innovation