Centre for Science and Policy Networks of Expertise and Evidence for Public Policy Annual Report December 2013 To respond effectively to the ever more complex We are all affected in our day-to-day lives by “Networks of evidence and questions they face, civil servants need to be policies drafted in Whitehall, and these are often able to apply the best analytical approaches informed by research and advice from lecture and the most robust evidence. More broadly, halls and laboratories around the country. expertise for public policy can governments need to adapt their systems to be able to draw on relevant expertise when Science and technology also have a vital role make a real difference to how and where it is needed. to play in helping to drive forward the recovery, contributing to the long-term economic plan. This is the opportunity which is now presented The Government’s Science and Innovation government meets the biggest to our leading universities: to help improve Strategy, to be published in 2014, will consolidate the quality of the policy process, both through our long-term commitment to research and challenges we face today. ” teaching and research, and by producing insights innovation. Those of you working in this field which address the needs of policy makers. should be in no doubt as to the immense value The University of Cambridge, home to world- this Government places on your efforts. leading research across the whole spectrum of disciplines, is uniquely well placed to respond I congratulate the Centre for Science and Policy to these needs. for building on this work, with a UK-wide network of some of the brightest academics and scientists The Centre for Science and Policy is central to in the world. Better links between policy makers the University’s mission to contribute to society. and leading researchers mean our approach will By building the networks of evidence and continue to be framed by expert knowledge and expertise for public policy, it can make a real clear evidence. difference to how government meets the biggest challenges we face today. Lord Sainsbury of Turville, David Willetts, Chancellor, University of Cambridge UK Minister of State for Universities and former UK Minister of State for and Science Science and Innovation In the four and a half short years since it Centre for was founded as a catalyst for change in the Networks of University of Cambridge, the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) has spun out a remarkable Science new network of experts and decision makers Expertise and in public policy. While the Centre continues and Policy to play a key role as convenor and facilitator Evidence for – and increasingly, as a focus for leading researchers to meet and work together – it’s the network that represents the real Public Policy difference: a unique community of academics and policy makers collaborating in an innovative environment, building relationships based on understanding, respect and trust. Given the Centre began at Cambridge, it was always going to start from the physical, engineering and life sciences in which the University leads the world. However, our reach quickly grew to cover all the disciplines – including the social sciences, humanities and the arts – which contribute to the production of policy-relevant evidence and expertise, and to a fuller understanding of society. From the very beginning, we understood that the key word in our name was “and” – because what we uniquely do is to join up the worlds of government, academia, industry and civil society, making them available and accessible to one another. The result of these better links is better public policy making, informed both by the expertise of leading researchers, and also by their improved understanding of the needs and concerns of policy makers. The Centre for Science and Policy in 2013 2013 Events in Numbers 5 Number of attendees by event type, 2012 and 2013 2012 (1262 attendees) (Figures in brackets represent number of events in 2013) 2013 (2002 attendees) Events for Policy Fellows (12) During 2013 the Centre for Science and Policy delivering. Policy Fellows report on how the extended the range of its activities and the insights they have gained and connections Policy Workshops (6) reach of its network yet again. they have made are feeding directly into policies from free school meals to a future Defence Distinguished Lectures (4) Highlights of the year included: launching Review. Academics are increasingly carrying the Policy Leaders Fellowship, publishing out new research as a result of contacts they Policy Leaders Roundtables (3) a collection of essays on future directions have made. This report also looks forward to for scientific advice, and piloting our newest the next big steps in the Centre’s development, Research Workshops (3) programme, the Policy Challenges. including the creation of a new Visiting Research Fellowship Programme. Professional Development Workshops (3) Sir Mark Walport, the UK Government Chief Scientific Adviser, and Sir Bob Kerslake, Head We would like to thank all our supporters and Events for network members (3) of the UK Civil Service, gave the keynote partners during 2013. The list at the end of this Policy Seminars addresses to our Annual Conference in April. report shows how many and varied they are. (3) As well as choosing this as the platform for his In particular we thank Lord Oxburgh and other Annual Conference (1) first major speech as GCSA, Sir Mark also used members of the 2013 Development Board, whose his CSaP Distinguished Lecture in October to advice has laid the foundations for our planned 0 100 200 300 400 500 make his first major statement about climate growth during 2014; Cambridge Judge Business change. These events, and three other lectures, School, for hosting the Centre; Pembroke College, 14 workshops and 20 other events we ran in for continuing to welcome our Policy Fellows; 2013, attracted over 2000 attendees. and the David and Claudia Harding Foundation Breakdown of event attendees, 2013 and Isaac Newton Trust for their donations, We welcomed our 120th Policy Fellow, and which made possible the Centre’s creation saw the total number of one-to-one meetings and continued work. 31% Universities - Cambridge convened by the Policy Fellowships Programme pass 3100. During 2013 CSaP was also engaged 16% Universities - other in eleven research projects, receiving funding Government from UK Research Councils and government 26% departments and from the European Union. 14% Industry This report illustrates the tangible benefits that 8% CSaP team CSaP’s activities and its network are already 5% Learned societies, charities, NGOs and other Policy Fellowships Programme 7 of the Fellowship led the seminars on working of the many demands on time which are typical with academia which formed the core of the of these senior roles; whereas Policy Fellows at day. Policy Workshops have been convened at Director and Deputy Director level are encouraged the request of Fellows on subjects as diverse as to devote an initial week to network-building, housing policy, departmental evidence strategy, for the PLF this is compressed into one-day We learned early on that the best way of “An excellent initiative, ecosystems services, and competitiveness. visits to Cambridge. opening up the channels of communication acting as a bridge between Most recently, it is Policy Fellows that have between policy makers and researchers is to get been driving the development of the Policy The programme also inspired a National Security them face-to-face, engaging one-to-one on the the public sector and cutting Challenges (see pp. 18-21), each of which Fellowship – in which officials with interests questions of concern to government, using the edge research, and helping has a Fellow as “champion”. in cyber security and counter-terrorism visited insights arising from relevant research. to translate scientific insights Cambridge, Oxford, St Andrews and London Fellows have also used the links they have to meet researchers from more than 12 different Our flagship Policy Fellowships Programme into the heart of the policy developed to involve researchers in advisory universities – and Cambridge Enterprise’s new has now brokered many more than 3100 such making process.” committees and departmental “evidence days”, Innovation Fellowship, which builds links between engagements. These connections, and the and researchers have used CSaP’s network in senior corporate executives and Europe’s leading ongoing dialogues arising from them, provide Sir Jeremy Heywood, UK Cabinet Secretary Whitehall for research projects and the delivery innovation ecosystem, the “Cambridge Cluster”. a pathway to impact for evidence and expertise, of executive education. Fellows now also regularly and a platform for academics to explore the gather for informal lunchtime meetings every perspectives of the policy makers. Above all, and expertise have contributed to policy, month in London. they provide opportunities for relationships and describe what they have gained from of trust, respect and mutual understanding “time to think” and fresh perspectives on their As well as the core Policy Fellowship (aimed at 1277 to be developed. The seeds that are planted key questions. Ultimately, they illustrate the Director and Deputy Director level in Whitehall 1150 in these conversations produce many different benefits of being part of an active network and their peers elsewhere) and the Junior Policy outcomes, ranging from “direct hits” on policy, bridging