Impacts: Success in Shaping Public Policy and Services, the third in Research
Councils UK's (RCUK) series of publications celebrating the impact of research,
was launched today, 1 July, at the World Conference of Science Journalists in London.
The publication provides a variety of case studies highlighting how research provides
a vital evidence base to inform public policy and services, as well as showcasing
the benefits that research brings to society and the economy.
Professor Alan Thorpe, Chair-Elect of Research Councils UK, spoke at the launch
to an audience of journalists and science communicators from around the world about
the importance and impact of UK research.
"The UK’s vibrant research environment helps produce the kind of research which
plays a vital part in answering the big questions faced by humanity, such as environmental
change, security in a changing world and coping with an ageing population. Here
in the UK we have a world-class research base which is a formidable resource for
policy-makers, ensuring effective policy making that is both informed and evidence
based.
"To enable researchers to maximise the impact of their work on public policy
and services, the Research Councils play an important role in providing them with
the skills and opportunities to work with policy-makers, through a variety of creative
collaborations."
Impacts: Success in Shaping Public Policy and Services is available to
download
here
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Notes
The previous publications in the Impacts series are available to download from
the RCUK website.
Impacts - Successful collaborations with Small and Medium Sized Enterprises
(2008)
Impacts:
Successes from UK Research
(2007)
Contact:
Chloë Somers
RCUK Press Officer
Tel: 01793 444592
Research Councils UK is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research
Councils; they invest annually around £3 billion in research, covering the full
spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy,
physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, and the arts and
humanities.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).