ENGAGING WITH DECISION MAKERS

New course from the Walker Academy

Decision makers such as politicians, practitioners and other stakeholders are required to make evidence-informed policy decisions. Scientists and young researchers are in a position to influence this process by effective engagement and vital knowledge sharing.

Starting in 2024, we are introducing a new course ‘Engaging with Decision Makers’ which will be drawing on the Walker Institute’s work in the UK and international policy arena, focusing on natural hazards and applied ecology.

EwDM is a 4-day programme of facilitated in-person training at the end of which students are equipped with a series of practical tools that support research design, maximising policy impact, communication across disciplines and stakeholder groups, and media work.

The course is designed around the theme ‘Achieving policy impact through your PhD’ and involves work on the following topics:

  • Co-production and communication
  • Synthesising evidence from across disciplines
  • Stakeholder mapping
  • Power dynamics and policy influence

For each of these headline topics, students can take away at least 1 practical tool, so they complete the course with an ‘Engaging with Decision Makers ‘SOP’ toolkit and a mini guide they can use as a refresher.

Participants attending the training

When?

13-14 and 19-20 May 2025.

federal chancellery

How to enrol?

For more information on enrolment and fees send us an email in academy@walker.reading.ac.uk .

I very much enjoyed...

“(The most valuable aspects of the training were) …learning new tools outside of lab work. Gaining insight into the other side of research and how you can create impact. Some knowledge on policy, co-production, stakeholder mapping, pathways to impact and the enabling environment. I enjoyed the interview training and personalised feedback.”

Participant Researcher

It all linked...

“It has broadened my mind to areas of science outside my research and future career prospects. It has also made me think more about the impact of my research.”

Participant Researcher

It has broaden my mind...

“It has broadened my mind to areas of science outside my research and future career prospects. It has also made me think more about the impact of my research.“

Participant Researcher

I learnt about...

“I will definitely integrate a lot of the tips and tricks that I was taught in the lesson – I particularly like the conversation around talking about our project to the general non-expert public, I believe that will be very useful whenever I have to engage with decision makers.”

Participant Researcher

I learnt about...

“Even though I am not a climate researcher all the example and case studies given I could relate to in my research.”

Participant Researcher

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