Where did you go and what did you do?
I did my PIPS with the charity Sense about Science, an organisation that was set up to promote the public interest in sound science and evidence. Through various projects Sense about Science advocates for transparency in all areas across Government, research, and industry. I was able to get involved in many of these projects, the biggest of which was Evidence Week.
Evidence Week is a yearly weeklong Parliamentary event where members of the public can question policymakers on the evidence behind key decisions, Parliamentarians can get briefings on important and topical new research, and the Government can be held to account by itself and others. While the event was scheduled to happen in June (now November due to the Election), I was involved in organising the event behind the scenes – setting up the database of MPs, liaising with different groups, and supporting the research briefings with parliamentarians.
Another part of my PIPS was involved in supporting the Voice of Young Science programme, a network that brings together journalists, established researchers, policymakers, and early career researchers through open ended workshops that promote discussion and collaboration. I was involved in scoping for panellists for the workshops, promoting the event through universities, partner organisations, on social media, and directly to potential attendees, as well as helping to run a workshop at the Norwich Research Park.
I also supported Sense about Science’s recent review of Government policies as part of their Transparency of Evidence in Government campaign, looking at the transparency in their decision making, and helping to score those policies using a red, amber, green (RAG) rating system. We identified policies that met standards for transparency, and explained the failures of those that did not.
What made you want to do that particular PIPS?
I wanted to get some experience in the policy sphere, and I really appreciated Sense about Science’s ethos and approach. I also wanted to get some more experience in science communication. They work with a number of different government bodies (e.g. Office for National Statistics, Office for Statistics Regulation) and think tanks (e.g. Institute for Government, The Royal Society) and so I saw the placement as a good opportunity to get a breadth of experience. From discussion with the team at Sense about Science it was also clear that I would have the opportunity to work on some very different projects, both from each other and from my PhD work, and so I thought it was a really good opportunity to try on different hats and develop new skills.
What skills have you gained from your PIPS?
During my PIPS, I think I further developed my writing and communication skills – I had to engage with a range of different audiences, tailoring content and making sure it was appropriate for a variety of disciplines and points in careers. I had the opportunity to work on a project digitising and modernising a guide for the chronically ill where I had to liaise with staff at another charity and members of the public.
I also developed my ability to see the wider picture of research – to look at research and policy and better understand the relationship and interplay between them. This was in part through my involvement in the Voice of Young Science scheme, where I had the opportunity to discuss issues with journalists, policymakers, researchers, and other ECRs. Facilitating discussions between different stakeholders helped me to understand the different needs and pressures on each group, and how to engage with them in meaningful ways.
What has been the impact (or likely future impact) of your PIPS?
I think my PIPS has helped me to develop various skills but also has given me a better understanding of what I want to do post-PhD. It has led me to more strongly consider non-academic routes post-PhD, or at least be more open to various opportunities. I gained a number of valuable skills that I can apply to my current PhD work but also to my future career; I am more confident in my writing and communication skills and know that if I wanted to pursue a position in science policy, or transparency, I would be well-equipped.
How would you sum up your PIPS experience?
I had a great time at Sense about Science, and learnt a lot about science policy, transparency, and government, things that I hadn’t hugely considered before. I appreciated my time away from the lab bench (and working with big data) and it was a great opportunity to experience a different working environment and pattern.
What advice would you give to other PGRs about PIPS?
Pick a PIPS in something that you’re interested in, but don’t have a huge amount of experience with – you’ll develop a lot of skills and build upon those that you didn’t really know you had. The PIPS doesn’t have to end in you deciding your future career, and I think gaining transferable skills is really important, especially part-way through your PhD. Even if you don’t work in that field in the future, you won’t regret giving it a go – it’s only 3 months.