Evidence into Policy / Influencing Policy
Monday 21st of June
3 - 4pm
Rebekah Widdowfield
Rebekah Widdowfield has been Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Scotland’s National Academy, since September 2017. Rebekah worked in academia for a number of years before joining the Scottish Government in 2001. She became a senior civil servant in 2008 serving in a number of analytical and policy roles including as Head of Rural and Environmental Science and Analysis, Chief Researcher and Head of Higher Education and Science. Rebekah supported a number of strategic advances during her time in Government including: leading development of the first carbon accounting of a financial budget; instigating a climate change behaviours research programme and; establishing and then working with the Commission on Widening Access to support a more holistic approach to enhancing access to university.
About this Session
This session looks out how evidence is used in policy making and offers some tips on how to influence effectively.nDrawing on experience as a provider, broker and user of evidence for policy, this session looks at the policy making environment, the challenges of providing evidence for policy and how best to secure influence and impact. It will also consider some of the wider factors that help build confidence in evidence and expertise.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will have gained an understanding of the policy-making environment and how to influence effectively. Participants will also have been exposed to some of different careers you can pursue outwith academia making good use of research skills and training.
Who might be interested?
Doctoral researchers seeking to understand and / or influence policy and practice as well as doctoral researchers thinking about careers or placements that make good use of their research skills and analytical capabilities outwith academia.
First published: 20 May 2021
