POST ANNUAL REPORT 2016 The Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST) is Parliament’s in-house source of scientific advice. POST is an office of both Houses of Parliament, overseen by a Board of MPs, Peers, and external experts. Working with colleagues across both Houses, POST delivers a number of key services for Parliament:

ADVICE HORIZON SCANNING POST provides advice on research evidence relating to POST identifies trends in science, technology, society, public policy issues. Advisers provide oral briefings to select and policy, and analyses their implications for Parliament. committees on research evidence relevant to inquiries, Horizon scanning is core to all of POST’s work, including assessments of evidence received by committees, and ad working with select committees, for example when hoc peer reviewed briefings prepared at the request of scoping new inquiries. select committees or library research services. POST covers a wide range of areas including health, biological sciences, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT physical sciences, security, engineering, ICT, energy, POST works with people in Parliament who want to environment, and social science. develop their skills in using research evidence, and with members of the research community who are keen to ANALYSIS learn more about policy and Parliament. POST also works POST provides impartial research summaries, placing on capacity building initiatives overseas. findings in a policy context for parliamentary use. These often take the form of POSTnotes, which are peer FELLOWSHIPS reviewed by academia, industry, government, and the third POST manages fellowship programmes for academics, sector, and POSTbriefs, which are longer, responsive policy in collaboration with research funders and professional briefings based on mini-literature reviews and peer review. societies, bringing them into Parliament to conduct research, and support and learn about the activities of BUILDING CONNECTIONS POST, committee offices, and libraries. POST holds a number of events each year that connect parliamentarians to leading experts from the research All of POST’s publications are peer reviewed and are community and other sectors. POST helps identify available at www.parliament.uk/post. experts for Members, library research services, and select committees, for example, upon starting a new inquiry. This Annual Report highlights some of the work that POST completed in 2016, and outlines plans for 2017. MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

It has been an honour to chair the area by working with Parliamentary Outreach Academic engagement has been a priority POSTnote 541 on Genome Editing provided Parliamentary Office of Science and and the House of Commons library to for POST this year. In November we launched an overview of the debate on the safety Technology in 2016. POST, alongside organise a well-attended conference bringing a Fellowship Scheme to offer academics and ethical implications of this technology. knowledgeable colleagues in the libraries together MPs researchers, Parliamentary staff, from different subject areas and at any career This also discussed genetic changes that of both the Commons and Lords and and academic researchers to discuss many stage the opportunity to come and work may be passed on to future generations specialists in the select committees, provides main issues. in Parliament. This scheme was endorsed and prompted an inquiry by the House an invaluable service to Parliamentarians by the Research Councils, in particular the of Commons Science and Technology by supplying them with the information POST’s international reputation goes from Economic and Social Research Council Committee. We provided briefings to they need to carry out evidence-based strength to strength and its briefing papers and the Engineering and Physical Sciences committees on integrating health and social scrutiny and debate. Such advice is more continue to set a benchmark for Parliamentary Research Council. We have also collaborated care, childhood obesity, railway signalling, important than ever given the profound scientific advice. This year, POST signed a with Parliament’s Outreach Service to foster and alternative currencies, to name a few. ADAM AFRIYIE MP changes and uncertainties we face both at memorandum of understanding with the CHANDRIKA NATH engagement between academic research home and abroad, especially as we move Chilean Senate, which plans to set up its own communities and Parliament, for example, We have continued to work closely with towards the implementation of the decision office of scientific advice and is looking to through outreach talks and conferences both colleagues in the Committees and Libraries of to leave the EU. POST plays a vital role in POST for support and guidance. POST also here in Parliament and across the UK. both Houses. The Director General’s review supporting informed debate on scientific and hosted researchers from the parliaments of in 2016 resulted in internal restructuring technological issues as well as enabling the both Kenya and Malawi. In October, our social science section was which gave us the chance to forge new use of research evidence across Parliament awarded a further three year’s funding links and strengthen existing ones within more broadly. POST’s concise and informative The POST Board plays a central role in ensuring from the Economic and Social Research Parliament. Our external links are also crucial briefing papers called “POSTnotes” play that POST continues to provide Parliament Council with the support of University as these stakeholders provide us with vital a crucial role in keeping Members of both with first-rate information and advice. This College London. This will allow POST to support, whether this is reviewing our work, Houses of Parliament informed on topical year we welcomed Professor Sarah Whatmore, continue to embed social science expertise speaking at events, or helping flag up topics scientific issues. This year they have been cited Professor of Environment and Public Policy into its working practices and support which should be on our radar. Particular in debates covering topics ranging from infant at the University of Oxford, and Stephen parliamentarians in using research evidence thanks are due to all the Research Councils mortality and stillbirth through to the impact Metcalfe MP to the Board. We said goodbye when dealing with key social challenges. and professional societies who sponsor our of automated technologies on the workforce. to Sir David Davies, Nicola Blackwood MP, fellows every year, as well as the Economic Liz McInnis MP, and Sir Paul Beresford MP. POST played a role in identifying a number and Social Research Council for funding our The UK’s decision to leave the EU following I would like to say a big thank you to all Board of key upcoming issues for parliamentarians social science section. It has been a pleasure the referendum raises many questions and members, new and old, for their hard work, in 2016. POSTnote 528 on Marine to stand in as acting director since July will have repercussions across a wide range guidance, and encouragement over the past Microplastic Pollution highlighted this and we look forward to welcoming POST’s of policy areas. POST has already played a key year. emerging environmental risk, which was director Chris Tyler back from parental leave role in supporting Parliamentary debate in this subsequently the subject of an inquiry in March 2017. by the Environmental Audit Committee. The Board’s secretary is Simon Fiander, Clerk of the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee. THE BOARD Ex-officio members are Paul Evans, Principal Clerk of Select Committees, House of Commons; Penny Young, Librarian and Director General of Information Services, House of Commons; Edward Potton, Head of Science and Environment Section, House of Commons Library; Tom Wilson, Clerk of Select Committees, House of Lords; and Dr Chandrika Nath, Acting Director, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology.

Adam Professor Lord Haskel The Earl of Lord Dr Roberta Stephen Stephen Carol Matt Dr Alan Heidi Allen Professor Professor Professor Professor Afriyie MP, the Lord Simon is a Selbourne Oxburgh Blackman- McPartland Metcalfe Monaghan Warman MP Whitehead MP Jim Norton Ekhard Salje Sarah Fran Balkwill Chair Winston, former textiles John is an Ron is an Woods MP MP MP MP Matt is MP MP Heidi is MP Jim is a past Ekhard is Whatmore Fran is a Adam is MP Vice-Chair businessman. expert in eminent Roberta Stephen is Stephen is Carol is MP for Boston Alan is MP for for South president Professor Sarah is a Professor for Windsor, Robert is a He is a ecology and geologist is MP for MP for MP for South for Glasgow and Southampton, Cambridge- of the BCS, of Mineral Fellow of of Cancer and has pioneer of IVF member of agriculture, and the City of Stevenage. Basildon North West. Skegness. Test. He shire. She which is the Physics in the the British Biology at been Chair technologies the Secondary and a geophysicist, Durham. An historian and East Carol has He worked holds a PhD holds a Chartered Department Academy, Barts Cancer of the POST and services, Legislation successful former chief She holds a with a Thurrock, a degree at The Daily in Political degree in Institute for of Earth the Academy Institute, Board since and Scrutiny businessman. scientist in PhD in social Masters in and in Laser Telegraph as Science and astrophysics IT, and an Sciences at of Social Queen Mary 2010. He established Committee He is Chair the Ministry science, and Technology previously Physics and a technology is Shadow from expert in the the University Sciences and University was Shadow the Institute and previously of the House of Defence previously Management, worked Optoelectronics editor before Minister for University resilience of Cambridge, the Royal of London, Minister for of sat on the of Lords and Rector served as he is an as a local and was a becoming an Business, College of systems, where he Geographical where she Science and Reproductive House Science and of Imperial Professor of officer for a councillor. secondary MP. He is a Energy and London and e-governance, researches Society. She leads the Innovation and of Lords Technology College Social Policy number of all Stephen has school physics member of Industrial is a member e-business, microstructures specialises Centre for from 2007 - Developmental Science and Committee London. He Sciences party groups been Chair teacher. the House of Strategy. of the Work and ICT in minerals. in human Cancer and 2010. Before Biology at Technology and of the is a member at the including of the House Commons He was also and Pensions regulation. He is a former relations Inflammation entering Imperial Committee. Foundation of the House University of space, of Commons Science and a member Select President of with the and the Parliament, College for Science of Lords Northumbria respiratory Science and Technology of the Committee. Clare Hall. natural Cytokine and he founded London. He and Science and from 2007 - health, and Technology Select Environmental world. Cancer group. a number of joined the Technology. Technology 2010. She child health Committee Committee. Audit Select successful POST Board in Select is Shadow and vaccine since Committee. IT and 1998 and has Committee. Minister for preventable October technology been Vice- Housing. diseases. 2016. businesses. Chair since 2006. HORIZON SCANNING

POST conducts horizon scanning by the technology. The meeting included activities to identify areas of an open discussion of the scope and interest to Parliamentarians, and is balance of projects being considered by the working to strengthen this capacity Government, with relevant academic and through consultations with relevant business representatives. Areas of interest communities of expertise. Building on range from verifying a benefit claimant’s the success of its first formal meeting identity and making welfare payments to discuss futures held in 2015, POST via mobile phone, to replacing the birth, held a second meeting in 2016 to give deaths, and marriage registry and ensuring parliamentarians the opportunity to the long-term integrity of digital public discuss the UK Government’s futures records. work with external stakeholders. Throughout 2017, POST will be Themes covered previously included undertaking a new horizon scanning robotics and autonomous systems, internet exercise based on consultations with of things, financial technologies, cities, and relevant communities of expertise as well the future of ageing. In December, POST as internally. The objective is to encourage hosted a meeting to discuss to discuss the cross-sectoral thinking, and develop a potential future uses of distributed ledgers, systematic shortlist of possible subjects for following the Government Chief Scientific the POST Board to consider for inclusion in Adviser’s review, Distributed Ledger POST’s future work programmes. Technology: Beyond Block Chain, which set out the opportunities and challenges posed SOCIAL SCIENCE

The Social Science Section is now fully Custody, and Academic Evidence on EVIDENCE IN integrated into all of POST’s activities Selective Secondary Education. PARLIAMENT and supports the use of research evidence in many other sections across The social science section has continued Parliament. to support an increasing range of Select As part of the work of the Social Committees. In the House of Lords, this Science Section, POST is running In October, POST was awarded a further has included analysing a survey of young a programme of activity to study three years of funding from the Economic people’s experiences of moving from school the use of research evidence and Social Research Council (ESRC) to to work for the House of Lords Select within parliamentary debate and continue its partnership with University Committee on Social Mobility. In the House scrutiny, including the impact of College London until 2019. The aims of of Commons, it has included providing POST. The programme is now in its this next phase are to continue to embed a briefing for the Education Select final phase and the report will be the social sciences across POST’s work Committee inquiry on selective education published in May 2017. A number programme, maintain a social science and writing a report on the experiences of outputs have already emerged stream of work, complete the study on the and perspectives of individuals personally from this research, including a use of research evidence in Parliament, and affected by suicide for the House of Commons. This included a session on the proposed by offices inside Parliament, as co-authored article with colleagues use the findings to inform POST’s activities. Commons Health Select Committee inquiry EU referendum, jointly run with the ESRC’s well as enabling academics to propose a at University College London in a The social science section will also focus on on suicide prevention. UK in a Changing Europe programme, project of their choosing. The scheme has special issue of the journal Palgrave facilitating academic engagement, and on and on using evidence, jointly run with the been endorsed by the Research Councils, in Communications focused on capacity building opportunities around the Capacity building was a crucial aspect of Alliance for Useful Evidence. Both of these particular the ESRC and the Engineering and Scientific Advice to Governments. use of research. the social science section’s work in 2016 received excellent feedback. Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). supporting both staff and Members. The In collaboration with Research Councils UK, Over the past year the social science section has delivered its second cross-House Increasing academic engagement has as well as colleagues from Outreach and section has contributed to all POSTnotes, research methods course for Parliamentary also been a key feature of 2016. A new the House of Commons Library, we also and further developed a dedicated strand staff, and developed and delivered a fellowship scheme was established to offer ran a well-attended conference on Brexit, of POST social science work. This includes bespoke course on appraising research academics from different subject areas which brought academics together with POSTnotes on Barriers to Healthy Food, for Committee Specialists in the House and at any career stage the opportunity parliamentary staff to network and share Education in Youth Custody, Addressing of Commons. It also continued to play to work in Parliament. Supported by funds expertise. The connections built have already Islamic Extremism, Integrating Health and a crucial role in the House of Commons made available to universities to increase the been used to inform other areas of Brexit- Social Care, and Creating Age Friendly Member’s Professional Development impact of their research (Impact Acceleration related work across both Houses. Cities. It has also published two POSTbriefs Working Group, leading the development Accounts), the scheme includes opportunities on Education of Young People Leaving of on-demand briefings for the House of for academics to work on specific projects ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Following the Paris Climate Change drafting a POSTbrief on energy-economic Agreement in 2015, POST has continued modelling due to be published in early 2017. to support Parliament’s scrutiny of This fed into an inquiry by the House of the UK’s carbon targets. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, Commons reconsidered the accounting on the Treasury and Sustainability. method used for carbon budgets in the 2016 Energy Bill and POST published Support for committees continues to make an analysis on this topic in a POSTbrief. up a significant part of our work and in 2016 Towards the end of the year, attention POST supported the (now disbanded) House shifted to how the UK will meet of Commons Energy and Climate Change upcoming carbon budgets, with the Committee with inquiries on Low Carbon Government’s Carbon Reduction Plan Network Infrastructure and Renewable due to be published in 2017. Heat and Transport, the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee Inquiry on the Since future heating policy is expected to be Economics of Energy Policy, and the House a key part of the plan, POSTnote 523 on the of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs inquiry Carbon Footprint of Heat Generation was on the Electricity Sector in Northern Ireland. published to inform scrutiny of the topic. We have also continued to advise a range of In 2016, the UK signed off its first nuclear committees on future inquiry topics. power plant for decades and POST published POSTnote 531, on how the UK manages In 2017, Brexit will be a significant topic and the world’s largest stockpile of separated POST will be publishing a briefing on Future plutonium. It offered an analysis of the Energy Efficiency Policy and Brexit in February. safety, security, economic, and energy policy This will build on 2016 work concerning implications of different options. Brexit, which has included hosting a roundtable at Parliament’s recent Brexit POST also supported staff to scrutinise the conference and working with committees economic models used to inform high-level and libraries to help identify key energy and energy and climate change policy decisions, climate change issues. running a training session on this topic and ENVIRONMENT

The UK’s exit from the EU is likely to and changes in consumption patterns lead to extensive changes in how the discussed in POSTnote 516 on Trends in UK manages its natural resources over the Environment suggest there will be the long term. This will inform a range increasing demands on water, energy, of publications POST produces in coming and food systems that will need to adapt years on opportunities and challenges to changes in climate. POSTnote 543 on for UK environmental legislation and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus summarises policies. approaches to consider interdependencies between water, energy, and food security For example, the possibility of rewilding and how this information might inform areas to support ecosystem service benefits policies and strategies. POSTnote 538 such as flood alleviation has become an on Green Space and Health summarises area of parliamentary interest. However, what the available evidence tells us about as noted in POSTnote 537 on Rewilding links between human mental and physical and Ecosystem Services, suggested health and access to natural or semi-natural benefits remain largely unproven and spaces in urban areas. while it is likely to be a cost effective approach for managing some areas of This year has also highlighted the land, rewilding does not equate to simple environmental risks the UK faces, with land abandonment. storms in January causing widespread flooding across Northern England, Wales, The creation of the Department for Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Extreme Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy rainfall events are predicted to become also provides the opportunity to address more frequent and severe in the future Pollution; plastic pieces under 5 mm in seafood, but potential risks to human resource challenges, with POSTnote 536 as the climate changes; POSTnote 529 size have become a widespread ocean health are little studied and remain on the Circular Economy highlighting on Adapting Urban Areas to Flooding, contaminant. Sources include fibres uncertain. This was subsequently the how resilient supply chains could summarised measures for addressing from synthetic textiles, microbeads from subject of an inquiry by the Environmental enhance resource security, create jobs, increasing risks from rivers, surface water, cosmetic and industrial applications, and Audit Committee, and the Chief Medical provide environmental benefits, and sewers, and ground water. An emerging large items of plastic debris that break Officer has announced an investigation into reduce energy use. Global projections of environmental risk was highlighted in down into smaller pieces. Studies have the impact on human health of microplastic increasing population size, urbanisation, POSTnote 528 on Marine Microplastic shown the presence of microplastics in particles. BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND HEALTH

The Biological Sciences and Health The importance of good public health in early Section has produced a wide range development was also a theme pursued in of briefings and seminars to inform a briefing on Sugar and Public Health and a parliamentary debate on health and follow-up event on Childhood Obesity, where on the impact of new developments in the Department of Health explained the technology. rationale behind its widely criticised Childood Obesity Action Plan. The focus on early years Health and healthcare provision was a was continued in POSTnote 527 on Infant key issue in the 2015 General Election Mortality and Stillbirth in the UK, which and continues to feature prominently in examined factors contributing to increased Parliament with, for example, the House of risk for infant mortality and the policy options Lords establishing an ad hoc committee to most likely to improve health outcomes for review the long-term sustainability of the infants and their families. This briefing, along NHS. An important aspect of such policy with POSTbrief 21 on Bereavement Care after considerations is improving public health to Baby Loss were widely used when the House help reduce the burden placed on the NHS of Commons debated baby loss in October human therapies. It also explored the safety faced by researchers in this area and the by people suffering from largely preventable 2016. and ethical implications of using genome progress made towards finding drugs that conditions such as obesity, diabetes, some editing for human therapies, including will delay the progression of these diseases. cancers, and cardiovascular disease. POST Another strand of the biological sciences genetic changes that may be passed on published briefings and organised seminars and health section’s remit is to explore the to future generations. New technologies Finally, the Biological Sciences and Health on improving public health acoss a wide impact of new technological developments. were also a theme of a popular seminar on section published a number of other range of ages and settings. This included POSTnote 517 on Intellectual Property and Evidence-Based Policing, which explored POSTnotes and POSTBriefs in the last year POSTnote 533 on Electronic Cigarettes, Plants looked at new developments in plant developments such as the use of GPS in on subjects that featured prominently on which examined their potential to improve breeding, explored the extent to which they hotspot policing, and the impact of body- the Parliamentary agenda. These include public health through helping people had triggered a move towards protecting worn video on policing and prosecution POSTnote 518 on Psychological Health quit tobacco smoking and looked at the intellectual property rights through patents rates. Other technological developments of Military Personnel and POSTnote 519 regulatory issues they raise. A seminar on as opposed to the more traditional plant leading to new dementia drugs were on Electronic Health Records, as well as Pre-conception Health, Obesity and breeding rights, and examined the policy explored in POSTnote 535 on New Drugs for POSTbrief 16 on Climate Change and Pregnancy looked at links between maternal issues associated with any such move. Dementia which described the challenges Infectious Disease in the UK. obesity and outcomes for infants at birth POSTnote 541 on Genome Editing looked and later in life, a theme raised in the Chief at new techniques which have significant Medical Officer’s most recent Annual Report. implications for plant breeding as well as for PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND COMPUTING

Automation technologies were a UK security also featured prominently recurring theme for the Physical in the physical sciences section’s work. Sciences and Computing Section in 2016. The powers available to security and law Briefings looked at software offering enforcement agencies in obtaining access personalised financial advice without to communications were discussed during human guidance, increasing automation debates on the Investigatory Powers Bill in of railway signalling, and potential the first half of 2016. POSTbrief 19 on Data effects of automation technologies on Encryption and POSTnote 520 on Digital the UK workforce. POST also supported Forensics supported Parliament’s scrutiny of other parliamentary teams examining the Bill. In October, we published POSTnote this topic, for instance the House of 540 on Nuclear Security which looked at the Lords Science and Technology Committee prevention of malicious acts involving nuclear during its inquiry into Autonomous or radiological attacks, and are currently Vehicles. researching a briefing on the cyber security of the UK’s critical national infrastructure. In October, POST staff joined with parliamentary science advisers from We have also been working to disseminate across the world at the annual European our work to audiences beyond Parliament. Parliamentary Technology Assessment POST staff featured twice on the BBC World Conference to discuss the implications Service’s technology radio programme of robotics, artificial intelligence, online ‘Click’, discussing access to clean water and platforms, and other technologies for the sanitation as discussed in POSTnote 521 future of labour. Discussions ranged from (broadcast date 11 May 2016), and financial the legal challenges presented by robots technologies as discussed in POSTnote 525 capable of learning and exercising autonomy, (broadcast date 25 May 2016). to the opportunities and risks of crowd- sourcing labour. INTERNATIONAL STAFF

POST has continued to support enquiries. The Malawian Parliament Dr Chandrika Nath, SOCIAL SCIENCE ENVIRONMENT BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES parliamentary-strengthening activities published guidelines for evidence use in Acting Director AND ENERGY AND HEALTH in a number of countries in 2016, as Parliament. The African staff have also run Chandrika previously worked Dr Abbi Hobbs, well as hosting visiting delegations. workshops to share their learnings with at the British Antarctic Survey Senior Adviser Dr Jonathan Wentworth, Dr Peter Border, The main focus was a collaboration with other staff. POST continues to provide and has a PhD in high energy Abbi has a PhD in Science Senior Adviser Senior Adviser a DFID funded consortium led by the bi-monthly mentoring for the staff, and physics from the University of and Technology Studies from Jonny has a background in Pete has a PhD in African Institute for Development Policy Dr Aaron Goater spoke at the recent launch Oxford. She has a particular the University of York. She plant ecology with a PhD in biochemistry from the (AFIDEP). The objective was to engage of the Malawian Parliament’s evidence use interest in international previously worked as a policy plant ecological genetics. He University of Liverpool. high- and mid-level health policymakers guidelines alongside the Speaker and Clerk development. She is standing officer for the Academy of worked in MAFF and Defra Before joining POST he in Kenya and Malawi, and build their of the Malawian Parliament. in for Dr Chris Tyler as Medical Sciences and as a before joining POST. He worked in the agricultural capacity to access and use research Director until March 2017, consultant in science policy heads the Environment and and biotech sector and as a evidence in their work. In May, Adam Afriyie MP signed an and normally heads the and health. She heads the Energy Section. freelance writer. He heads agreement with Senator Guido Girardi, Physical Sciences Section. Social Science Section. the Biological Sciences POST hosted two research staff from the President of the Chilean Senate, stating Dr Aaron Goater, Section. Parliaments of Kenya and Malawi for one that POST would help the Chilean Congress Dr Chris Tyler, Dr Caroline Kenny, Adviser month in March, having previously hosted establish a science advisory body for its Director (Parental Leave) Adviser Aaron is an applied Dr Sarah Bunn, two staff in 2015. The staff engaged in a Members. With support from the British Chris has a PhD in biological Caroline has a PhD in Political mathematician with a PhD Senior Adviser wide variety of placements and meetings Council and the Commission for Future anthropology from the Science from the University in reservoir engineering for Sarah has a PhD in across Parliament, which aimed to offer Challenges, Science, Technology and University of Cambridge. of Birmingham. Prior to carbon capture and storage neuroscience from Imperial exposure to how evidence feeds in to UK Innovation of the Chilean Senate, a member He was previously Executive joining POST, she worked at from Imperial College College London. Before parliamentary processes and practices. The of POST staff visited the Chilean Congress in Director at the Centre for the Institute of Education, London. Prior to working at joining POST she worked programme allowed time for the African December to share POST’s experience and Science and Policy, University studying the use of research POST he was a post-doctoral as a scientific adviser at the staff to develop future plans, and since expertise in providing science advice to policy of Cambridge, and a science in policy and practice. researcher at the British Department for Work and these visits the Kenyan research department makers. A further visit to Chile by a member adviser to the House of Geological Survey. Pensions and as a research have introduced peer review, a standardised of POST’s staff, plus visits by two of our Commons Science and scientist for Novartis formatting for their briefs, and a new Chilean counterparts, are planned for 2017. Technology Committee. Pharmaceuticals. database to store responses to members’ POST FELLOWSHIPS

POST Fellowships are valuable for PHYSICAL SCIENCES COMMUNICATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION funders, Fellows and Parliament. AND ICT Naomi Stewart, Henry Lau, They create a platform for engagement Dr Lydia Harriss, Science Communication Science Communication between funders and Parliament, and Senior Adviser Manager Manager generate valuable knowledge and fresh Lydia has a PhD in biophysics Naomi has a Masters in (on secondment to thinking to Parliament. Most importantly, they from the University of Science Communication from Parliamentary Digital Service) provide training for early career researchers, Oxford. Prior to joining POST, Imperial College London, and Henry previously worked as they spend three months embedded in she spent two years at the previously worked for United at the Institute of Physics Parliament to ‘do’ policy advice. This is an Wellcome Trust, working in Nations University and the as an outreach officer. He essential way to learn how our parliamentary communications, exhibitions, Government of Canada, as has a Masters in Science democracy works, how policy is made, and events, education, and well as a journal editor and Communication from how academic research fits into the policy investments. Lydia is heading science policy consultant. Imperial College London. making process. the Physical Sciences Section until March 2017. Dr Shanna Marrinan, Yasmin McNeil, This year, the opportunities for incoming Science Communication Team Manager POST Fellows grew considerably. While most Harry Beeson, Manager, Interim Yasmin previously worked in remained with POST, supervised by one of Adviser Shanna has a PhD from the finance and IT before moving our Advisers and charged with preparing Harry recently completed Social Policy Research Centre to Parliament 10 years ago. a POSTnote, some spent their time in the his PhD at the University at Middlesex University. House of Commons Library, House of Lords of Cambridge, where She has also worked for Library, and select committees in both Houses. his research focused on the Department of Science, The support that these postgraduates and nanotechnology, having Technology, Engineering and career academics provide across the House previously completed an Public Policy at University is extremely welcome but most importantly, EPSRC fellowship with POST. College London. the range of experiences available for Fellows to learn about Parliament is broader and the growing alumni of POST Fellows is becoming ever more influential. ACCOUNTS

POST is an office of both Houses of POST is supported by indirect funding in Parliament. The House of Commons two main ways. First, this year’s 36 Fellows contributes 70% of POST’s core funding had their three-month secondments and the House of Lords 30%. This is the funded by a range of research funders and only direct funding that POST receives. In professional societies. Five of them spent financial year 2015/16, POST’s budget and their secondments in other sections of expenditure were £609,987 and £581,394 Parliament. Second, POST’s social science respectively (breakdown below). A 4.6% section is funded by the Economic and Social underspend was largely due to temporary Research Council with the staff seconded understaffing. from University College London.

Salaries and other staff costs: 94.9%

Conferences, travel and official entertainment: 3.9%

Publishing and office supplies: 0.8%

Commissioned work: 0.4%