Breaking down barriers: A researcher's perspective on policy engagement

This post is part of a matched pair exploring different perspectives on the same researcher-policymaker exchange. Monserrat, a researcher specialising in knowledge mobilisation working in the Cancer research Theme, participated in the Connects-UK Science Ambassador Programme and was paired with Natassia, a Policy Manager at the Scottish Government. Read Natassia's perspective on the same exchange to see how the experience looked from the policymaker's side. 

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“How can we ensure that research has a constructive impact in the real-world?”  As a researcher with a special interest in knowledge mobilisation, this question drives much of my work. It sparks frequent  reflections about research-to-action: “how can we better engage with decision-makers? How can we communicate our research more efficiently? How do we adapt to ever evolving systems? Where do we even start…? 

I knew that spending some time talking directly to policymakers would allow me to better understand the practical constraints, political realities, and implementation challenges that shape how evidence gets translated into action in the UK. However, these opportunities for knowledge exchange are not always easy to come by.  

I discovered the Connects-UK Ambassadors for Science programme for EU researchers based in the UK by chance. It seemed like an excellent  opportunity to deepen my understanding of the UK policy system. I applied at the last minute and, to my pleasant surprise, I was selected and paired with Natassia.  

Her work isn’t directly linked to my research field, so, I initially worried whether I could facilitate a knowledge exchange experience that met her expectations and needs. When we started planning our joint activities, I quickly realised that my concerns were unfounded. 

During my visit to the Scottish government, I gained a deeper understanding of complex UK legislative landscape that policymakers and civil servants must navigate.  I was particularly struck by the delicate balance between the Scottish government and UK governments in policy areas where responsibilities intersect or where ‘reserved powers1’ like social security require coordination with devolved areas like healthcare or education. These aspects generate specific challenges, and knowledge needs that researchers should be aware of.   

The Scottish government places strong emphasis on evidence informed policymaking.  I was truly impressed by many ongoing initiatives to foster collaboration between the academic and policy worlds.  

For example, the former Chief Scientific Officer established monthly science talks where academics were invited to present research topics to civil servants working across different governmental sectors.  

I also had the opportunity to attend  a meeting of the champions for academic engagement – a group of analysts who promote research production within government analyst careers to Scottish universities.  

My conversations with civil servants revealed their genuine openness to engaging with researchers. In fact, during my very first interaction, a policy officer quickly enumerated a list of research gaps they believed should be prioritised by researchers. Although these areas fell outside my own research focus, it illustrated how eager stakeholders are to provide this type of input when given the opportunity.  Talking with policymakers and analysts focusing on public health and healthcare, also offered me a clearer view on how research evidence contributes to horizon scanning and informing policy in my research field. 

I also observed how demanding and fast-paced government work can be. Policymakers must address multiple competing priorities with constrained resources and often under pressure. We also operate within very different professional cultures, timescales, and even success metrics. The combination of these factors likely creates many of the challenges in successful policy engagement.  

This experience revealed a genuine shared desire to collaborate and co-create more organic, informal and effective dialogue between our two worlds. We are all mission-driven in our work and share the common goal of addressing current societal challenges. 

Being paired with someone from a different policy area proved crucial to my learning experience. The distance from my specialism allowed me to focus on the broader knowledge exchange dynamics and ‘think outside the box’ when it came to planning Natassia’s visit. This enriched my learning considerably, especially given the programme's unstructured nature.

This experience also prompted deeper reflections on the UK Higher Education System beyond the immediate demands of daily research activities, which was a particularly valuable exercise given that I work within this system yet rarely have the chance to examine it from an external perspective. It also highlighted the relevance of UK-EU scientific collaboration post-Brexit, and ways of bridging academia and policy that were less obvious to me until then. 

It was an overall great experience. My main takeaways centre on how communication lies at the heart of all we do, and the importance to continuing my knowledge mobilisation work, integrating these skills as a core component of my research activities.  

Moving forward, I’m committed to seizing opportunities for constructive engagement whenever they appear. I’d also like to create opportunities for policymakers and civil servants to spend time in research settings, collaborating with researchers and research professionals to bridge the gap between our sectors. 

Our department has a long-standing record of policy engagement, producing research that informs policymaking both in the UK and and internationally.   Working here often means involvement in research projects with potential policy impact. So, my first suggestion for early career researchers would be to talk with senior colleagues in their research groups. Ask them to share some of their thoughts about policy engagement.  

I’m grateful the knowledge that my senior colleagues have shared since joining the department. 

To other researchers, I’d say consider joining OPEN, the university's policy engagement Network,  where you will find useful resources, including a weekly email with opportunities such as open consultations. 

If you like to build bridges, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to connect with anyone with an interest in knowledge mobilisation and policy engagement.

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Acknowledgements: I would like to acknowledge Connects UK for funding my accommodation expenses during my exchange in Scotland.  

I would like to thank the civil servants of the Scottish Government who generously met with me during my visit, as well as the students, researchers, professors and professional staff members of the University of Oxford who kindly took the time to meet with Natassia and I during her visit to the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences.