Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy

Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy
Name	Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy
Formation	2007
Location	University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
Type	Research and policy engagement centre

Cambridge Centre for Science and Policy is a research and engagement centre at the University of Cambridge focused on improving evidence-informed decision-making by connecting researchers with policymakers, industry leaders, and civic institutions. The centre operates at the intersection of academia and public life, fostering dialogues among scholars from the University of Cambridge, practitioners from United Kingdom, and international stakeholders from bodies such as the European Commission and the World Health Organization. Through fellowships, executive education, and convening events, the centre seeks to translate advances from laboratories associated with institutions like Cavendish Laboratory, Sainsbury Laboratory, and faculties across Trinity College, Cambridge, King's College, Cambridge, and St John's College, Cambridge into actionable policy insights.

History

The centre was established in 2007 amid discussions involving figures from Cambridge University Press, the Royal Society, and the Wellcome Trust to respond to calls from policymakers in Downing Street and the UK Parliament for closer ties between scientists and decision-makers. Early collaborations drew on expertise from departments such as the Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, and the Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, and featured contributions from alumni linked to institutions including Imperial College London, Oxford University, and Harvard University. Over time the centre expanded partnerships with international organizations like the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, convening dialogues involving leaders from NATO, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and national research councils such as UK Research and Innovation.

Mission and Objectives

The centre’s mission aligns with priorities articulated by bodies such as the Royal Society and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to enhance the uptake of scientific evidence within decision processes of institutions including the European Parliament, the House of Commons, and municipal authorities like Cambridge City Council. Objectives include fostering relationships between scholars from colleges such as Queens' College, Cambridge and practitioners from corporations like AstraZeneca, facilitating fellowships modeled on programs at Stanford University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and promoting methodologies referenced in reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the World Bank.

Programs and Activities

Programs include policy fellowships that mirror fellowship structures at Kellogg College, Oxford and executive education akin to courses at London School of Economics, offering placements with organizations such as Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department of Health and Social Care, and agencies like Public Health England. Activities span workshops drawing on experts from National Health Service, roundtables featuring representatives from Goldman Sachs, UNICEF, and Siemens, and seminars with scholars from institutes like the Alan Turing Institute and the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. The centre also runs training for researchers patterned after initiatives at Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and Brookings Institution to improve communication with audiences at venues such as Palace of Westminster and international fora like the G7 Summit.

Research and Policy Impact

Evidence of impact includes contributions to policy dialogues on topics addressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, health policy discussions referencing work from Addenbrooke's Hospital, and innovation policy influenced by reports from the European Research Council and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. The centre’s outputs have informed consultations involving ministers from the Scottish Government and advisers connected to the Department for International Development. Collaborations with research groups at Wolfson College, Cambridge and think tanks such as Chatham House and Demos have helped translate findings into briefings used by committees like the Science and Technology Committee and panels convened by the National Academy of Sciences.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships have involved philanthropic entities including the Wellcome Trust, corporate partners such as GSK and ARM Holdings, and institutional supporters like the University of Cambridge and the Churchill College, Cambridge. The centre has worked with funders that include foundations modeled on the Thatcher Foundation and international donors like the Rockefeller Foundation, and has hosted collaborative projects with organizations such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council.

Governance and Leadership

Governance structures reflect collegiate governance found across University of Cambridge faculties and involve advisory input from senior figures associated with Royal Society fellows, members of Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, and leaders linked to Microsoft Research and Google DeepMind. Leadership has included directors drawn from academic posts in departments like the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge and practitioners with prior roles at institutions such as Cabinet Office (United Kingdom), UK Research and Innovation, and international bodies including the European Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Category:University of Cambridge