The Social Sciences in Public Policy

Wednesday 25 February, 10:00-14:00
Hybrid | Manor Road Building, Oxford OX1 3UQ
people sitting have a conversation

Sign up for this unique DTP opportunity.

This half-day event will start with two talks by leading experts Prof Victoria Nash and Prof Stefan Dercon who will give practical hands-on advice around engaging with policy makers in the UK. The talks will be followed by a panel discussion with five social scientists from range of disciplines and career stages who will talk about their own experiences. The event will be interactive with lots of time for questions and there is the option to join online as an audience member. 

Lunch will be provided to those attending in-person

 

In person places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis and once at capacity, only online attendance will be available.

Please only register if you are certain of your availability and commitment to attend.

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Training Programme

10:00    Coffee and Welcome | GUDTP Director, Prof Rebecca Surender

10:15    Talk 1: How can Social Science be adapted to be relevant to public policy audiences? | Prof Victoria Nash

Professor Nash will explore: Beyond academic publishing, what does it mean to translate research so that it can be accessible and influential among key decision-makers? Theory versus impact? Though researchers and policy professionals share an interest in better use of evidence in public policy, when it comes to engaging with each other, are they two communities divided by a common language?

10:45    Talk Q&A

11:00    Talk 2: The practicalities and realities of engaging with government policy. | Prof Stefan Dercon

Professor Dercon will explore: The practicalities and realities of engaging with government policy forums. How to take the initial steps to begin networking/identifying relevant resources/networks/forums. What are the trade-offs and politics of collaboration and commissioning, intellectual property rights, anonymous contributions to reports, the hidden curriculum? The key dos and don’ts, common pitfalls, and practical strategies for navigating them.

11:30    Talk Q&A

11:45   Comfort Break

12:00   Panel: Sir Andrew Dilnot, Dr Caitlin Hafferty (Environmental Change Institute), Prof Victoria Nash (Oxford Internet Institute), Dr Kevin Grecksch (School of Geography and the Environment), Prof Stefan Dercon (Blavatnik School of Government)

12:50   General Q&A

13:15   Lunch provided