Research evidence and policy-making: increasing demand, publication speed and public scrutiny
COVID-19 has increased demand for research evidence. In response the research and publication processes have sped up. What does this mean for scrutiny?
On this page
- An introduction to Research for Parliament 2021 skip to link
- Demographic change and public services skip to link
- Environmental pressures and climate change skip to link
- Geopolitical and governance challenges skip to link
- Resource security and sustainability skip to link
- Social and cultural trends skip to link
- Technological advances skip to link
An introduction to Research for Parliament 2021
This publication builds on POST’s previous horizon scans and represents evidence gathered between May 2020 and December 2020.
Demographic change and public services
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The future of UK research: structure and funding
In its 2017 Industrial Strategy, the UK Government set out a target of investing 2.4% of GDP on R&D by 2027. How is it planning to reach this target? What are the uncertainties emerging from COVID-19 and the withdrawal from the European Union?
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Mental health and well-being in the context of COVID-19
The impacts of COVID-19 on mental health remain unclear. Initial research suggests disproportional impact on children, young people and those with pre-existing mental health conditions.
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Health inequalities: research and policy
COVID-19 has brought the drivers behind health inequality into sharp focus. But are there resources available to meet research and policy needs?
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Health inequalities: health conditions and interventions
COVID-19 has renewed attention on unfair and avoidable health differences across the population. But it remains unclear how the pandemic might inform public health policy.
Environmental pressures and climate change
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Biological solutions for environmental challenges
Biological organisms may begin to provide new and better solutions to environmental problems, but wider use of bioengineering may raise ethical concerns with public perceptions unclear.
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Preparing for more extreme climate impacts and disasters
Climate change is expected to worsen the frequency, intensity and impacts of some extreme weather events requiring investment in disaster risk reduction and early warning systems.
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Rebuilding marine biodiversity
Implementing CBD requirements to protect 30% of the global ocean will need to be informed by what interventions can address pressures on marine ecosystems to be successful.
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Soil as an essential national asset
Climate change and poor management pose significant threats to soils and the services they provide; appropriate baselines and data need to be identified to assess changes in soil health.
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Systemic risks arising from escalating biodiversity loss
Biodiversity is critical for maintaining current and future ecosystem service supply and continued loss increases risks of collapses in capacity as stresses such as climate change build.
Geopolitical and governance challenges
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Physical threats to infrastructure
Climate change and decarbonisation efforts are impacting infrastructure. How might these changes intersect with protections against malicious attacks?
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Regulation and state use of social media
The use of social media raises questions around security, state regulation, privacy, and online safety. How can states balance regulation and personal freedom?
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Political polarisation and participation
Political polarisation could affect political participation. How do inequality and socioeconomic factors intersect with extremism?
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Environmental stewardship of the global commons
The global commons include the atmosphere, ice sheets, a stable climate, biodiversity and even space. What is their current state and how can they be protected?
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Business priorities post-COVID
COVID-19, Brexit and consumer behaviours are changing the way businesses operate. What could the impact be on manufacturing, retail and service provision?
Resource security and sustainability
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Transforming the food system to deliver beneficial long-term outcomes
Transforming the food system, to achieve all the UN SDG long-term goals, is challenging and will require a comprehensive, longer term approach to outcomes.
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Reducing the environmental and biodiversity impacts of agriculture
The effective ways of increasing agricultural productivity while minimising environmental impacts are debated, such as if biodiversity gains can be integrated into farming systems.
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Meaningful environmental and social governance reporting for net zero
The reporting of environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks could encourage investments that address climate change targets, but a lack of standards raises reliability concerns.
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Changing consumption behaviours to meet environmental goals
Achieving environmental targets will involve changes in consumption at every level down to households and individuals, requiring effective measures to change consumer habits.
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Differing approaches to reaching Net Zero: pathways and timing
The UK aims to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. While industry support for the target is growing, some argue the target must be brought forward to limit global warming to 1.5°C.
Social and cultural trends
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Economic inequality and recovery
GDP and income inequality both influence population health. How might the COVID-19 outbreak widen economic inequalities in the long-term?
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Inequalities in education, and attainment gaps
Educational inequalities emerge in early childhood and effects continue throughout a person’s life. How might school closures and disruption widen inequalities?
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The impact of early childhood education and care on children’s outcomes, and the sustainability of the sector
Early education and care can have positive and long-lasting impacts on children’s outcomes. What are the impact of changes in Government policy and COVID-19?
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The impact of remote and flexible working arrangements
Flexible working could increase wellbeing and productivity, but benefits are not equally distributed throughout the population and could increase inequalities.
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Upskilling and retraining the adult workforce
Upskilling and retraining adults is key to addressing future challenges and benefits productivity, health and wellbeing, social justice and communities.
Technological advances
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Use of digital technologies to tackle pandemics
Many innovations have improved the COVID-19 response and could be key for future-proofing against pandemics. What are the governance and privacy concerns?
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Developments in the diagnosis of disease for medicine and public health
Advances in diagnostic tools could improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. But how can patient trust and equitable access be ensured?
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AI in policing and security
Artificial intelligence could change policing. But the efficacy of such technologies is not well established. What are the governance and privacy concerns?
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How technology is accelerating changes in the way we work
Many organisations have turned to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid social distancing. Could ongoing automation reinforce existing inequalities?
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Responding to the challenge of antimicrobial resistance
Antimicrobial resistance is a global emergency. The Government has set out a series of strategies to tackle it. What progress has been made?