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Researcher Stories: Policy Engagement

Across academic disciplines and career stages, Oxford’s researchers continue to generate a rich stream of vital evidence which decision-makers can rely on when tackling society’s most pressing challenges – here in Oxford, across the UK, and elsewhere around the world. Yet all too often, supply is not enough: many researchers are also joining forces with policy professionals to shape together public policy that protects what is valuable and changes the world for the better.

In this video series, research and policy professionals share how they developed their collaborations, and what they have learned along the way.

Find out more about Oxford researchers' experience in policy engagement here.
David Johnson, Comparative education researcher

David Johnson

 David Johnson is University Reader in Comparative and International Education in the Department of Education.  Due to the ongoing conflict, the vast majority of children in Sudan have had a severely interrupted education. David is supporting the Government of Sudan to launch the Nation Reading Programme and to carry out a new national assessment of reading achievement.

This is his story.

Isang Awah - Parenting Support

Isang Awah

Isang Awah works at the Department of Social Policy and Intervention where she serves as Head of Advocacy at the Global Parenting Initiative (GPI). In this role, she works with national governments, UN agencies and NGOs  to support and advocate for the uptake of evidence-based parenting programmes. 

This is her story.

Martha Newson and Harvey Whitehouse outside University of Oxford buildings

Harvey Whitehouse and Martha Newson

Martha Newson and Harvey Whitehouse work together with the UK’s Ministry of Justice, His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and major British football clubs to investigate how football identities could be harnessed to improve behaviour in prison and reduce reoffending. 

This is their story.

Researcher Hannah Budnitz in front of electric car charging

Hannah Budnitz

Hannah Budnitz is a post-doctoral researcher, whose work at the Transport Studies Unit focuses on the transition to electric mobility in the UK from social, behavioural and policy perspectives. Hannah has been working with Oxfordshire County Council to introduce shared electric car clubs in towns and villages around Oxfordshire.

This is her story.

César Palacios-González speaking on Reproductive Ethics

César Palacios-González

César Palacios-González is a Senior Research Fellow at the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. His research interests include bioethics, philosophy of medicine, neuroethics, and applied philosophy. César has been working with policymakers in Mexico to explore the ethics and potential amendments to the law that would legalise uterus transplants in Mexico.

This is his story.

Dr Seena Fazel, forensic Psychiatrist

Seena Fazel

Seena Fazel is a professor of forensic psychiatry in the department of psychiatry. Seena's research focuses on the relationship between mental illness and violent crime, the mental health of prisoners, and violence risk assessment. Seena is a member of the UK's Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody, an arms-length governmental body sponsored by the DHS, MoJ and Home Office. The Independent Advisory Panel on Deaths in Custody provides independent advice and expertise to the Ministerial Board on Deaths in Custody - with the central aim of preventing deaths in custody. 

This is his story.

 
Madeleine Sumption; migration policy

Madeleine Sumption

Madeleine Sumption is Director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford. She is a policy specialist focusing on the impacts of migration policies and the role of migrants in the labour market. Madeleine partnered with the UK Office of National Statistics to provide analysis on migration statistics.

This is her story.

Seth Flaxman and Lucie Cluver

Lucie Cluver and Seth Flaxman

Seth Flaxman (AI and machine learning) and Lucie Cluver (Child and family social care) worked together during the COVID-19 Pandemic to improve global understanding of the number of children 'left behind' by losing a parent or guardian during the pandemic. 

This is their story.

Andrew Thompson History

Andrew Thompson

Andrew Thompson is Professor of Global and Imperial History and a Professional fellow at Nuffield College and co-chair of the Global and Imperial History Centre. His research interests include international humanitarianism and human rights, and the emergence of the modern aid and development sector. Andrew worked with 50 leading NGOs from the UK and beyond to investigate the pressures NGOs are facing in the current climate, and identify changes that need to be made for them to adapt. Read more about Andrew's work with NGOs here, or read the full report here. 

This is his story.

Economist Samira Barzin

Samira Barzin

Samira Barzin is a quantitative and computational researcher in the Mathematical Institute and Fellow on the Oxford Martin Programme on Informal Cities. She researches economic development, in particular cities and environmental factors in developing countries. For her work, she relies heavily on combinations of spatial and big data, econometrics and machine learning. Samira has partnered with the World Bank to use Big Data and Machine learning to help inform development activity such as flood prevention and city infrastructure planning.

This is her story.

Geologist Jack Matthews

Jack Matthews

Jack Matthews is an Honorary Associate at the Oxford Natural History Museum. Jack partnered with The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to help build support for an International Geodiversity day, to promote the many aspects of geodiversity and its importance in our world. Geodiversity is the parts of nature that aren't alive; including everything from minerals and fossils, to soils and spectacular landscapes. 

This is his story.

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce

Jamie Hartmann-Boyce works in the Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine. Her particular interests lie in areas relating to health behaviours, with a focus on interventions to combat tobacco addiction and interventions to improve diet and activity.  Her research aims to facilitate communication of complex information and data to inform policy and public action. Jamie partnered with the UK Office of Health Improvement and Disparities and Action on Smoking and Health to provide research on the potential of  e-cigarettes as a stop smoking aid.

This is her story.

Arlene Holmes Hendserson, classics researcher

Arlene Holmes Henderson

Arlene Holmes-Henderson is a Senior Research Fellow in Classics Education at the Faculty of Classics. She researches the teaching and learning of ancient languages in schools and the intersection of Classical rhetoric, oracy and citizenship education. Arlene has partnered with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Oracy  and the Department for Education to help build an evidence-base to support policy development for ancient languages education in the UK.

This is her story.