Dr Marloes Peeters and Dr Jim Pritchett joined politicians for a week in Westminster

Dr Marloes Peeters and Dr James Pritchett were part of a unique pairing scheme run by the Royal Society. The scheme pairs scientists with politicians and civil servants so that they can learn about each other’s world, and explore how research findings can inform policy-making.

From December 4-7 they attended seminars and panel discussions at Westminster, and took part in a mock Select Committee.

The visit provided Marloes and Jim with behind-the-scenes insight into how policy is formed, and how they can share their expertise with policy makers. It will offer parliamentarians and civil servants the opportunity to investigate the science behind their decisions and enhance their access to scientific evidence.

Marloes, Lecturer in Chemical Biology, is paired with civil servant and Manchester Met geography graduate Ben Rayner. Ben is a senior policy officer at DEFRA.

“Evidence-based policy is equally important to researchers and policymakers,” she said.

“Researchers increasingly need to demonstrate the impact they make on areas such as policy. Policymakers also need to show that their decisions are based on rationale rather than idealogy.

“This scheme is a great opportunity to gain the practical skills required to engage with decision makers, and gather an insight into how parliament works.”

Jim, Lecturer in Science Communication based in the Department of Life Sciences, is paired with Lucy Powell MP, who is MP for Manchester Central.

Jim said: “I am grateful to the Royal Society and to Lucy Powell MP for the opportunity to visit Westminster, and to see how parliament and policy-making work first-hand.

“I want to find out how biomedical researchers like myself can best contribute to evidence-based policy making. How can I make my research in organ fibrosis relevant to policy makers?”

The Royal Society’s pairing scheme, which started in 2001, aims to build bridges between parliamentarians and some of the best scientists in the UK.

After the week in Westminster, the scheme will continue as parliamentarians and civil servants don their lab coats when they visit their scientist partners in their labs next year.