Work programme

A POSTnote on distance learning will look at the ways in which digital technology is currently used in the education sector, the opportunities it offers, and its limitations. It will cover trends in distance learning alongside evidence for effectiveness compared to traditional classroom-based courses. Provisional start date: January 2021.

A POSTnote on product sustainability will summarise the core environmental considerations relating to design, and the policy measures promoting design of sustainable products. It will look at and how this relates to wider circular economy measures and material use efficiency. Provisional start date: July 2020.

The POST board has approved 7 new POSTnotes. Strategic approached to ecosystem services, reformulation of food products, testosterone and sports performance, machine learning for environmental remote sensing, marine renewables, natural mitigation of flood risk, food fraud. To contribute please click below on the scope of the topic you are interested in.

A POSTnote on food fraud will examine the different types of food fraud and a summary of its prevalence in the UK and globally. It will look at techniques used to authenticate food and drink and existing regulations and legislation in place to prevent food fraud. It will present the current laboratory capacity for testing food imports in the UK and how this may be impacted upon Brexit. It will explore other potential challenges of Brexit including loss of EU certification schemes and intelligence databases.

A POSTnote on cloud and edge computing will look at the current role of cloud computing and the benefits it provides. It will explore security, resilience and data ownership concerns. It will examine how Brexit might effect cloud computing in the UK and how the UK can remain competitive

A POSTnote on natural mitigation of flood risk will focus on recent research on natural flood measures and climate change at the catchment scale (modelling and observational) that can inform flood management. It will examine the current evidence for the effectiveness of different land management measures on mitigating flood risk, such as riparian woodland, wetlands and flood meadows. It will look at barriers and opportunities for implementing land management-based solutions, including managing community perceptions of effectiveness.

A POSTnote on marine renewables will examine the different technologies that underpin marine energy, including tidal stream, tidal range, and wave power. It will focus on the potential for marine energy to contribute to the net zero target, and to a stable, low-carbon electricity supply. It will examine at recent progress in the research, development, and commercialisation of marine energy, and the potential for cost reductions with further deployment. It will also look at Engineering and environmental challenges associated with deployment and commercialisation of marine energy. Finally it will review the potential for policy support for marine energy in research, development, and deployment stages.

A POSTnote on machine learning for environmental remote sensing will focus on setting out the ways in which machine learning analysis adds value to remote sensing data. This POSTnote also examine the environmental applications of this interface. It will look at the challenges facing the effective use of machine learning and the effective policies for realising opportunities.

A POSTnote on testosterone and sports performance will focus on the scientific literature that describes the relationship between sports performance and testosterone. It will examine the implications for transgender athletes and athletes with DSD, and how this informs policymaking by sporting bodies. It will also consider options to facilitate inclusive participation in sports and the ethical debate concerning fairness in sporting competition.

A POSTnote on reformulation of food products will examine the technical issues that it raises for the food sector and review the progress made to date in the UK. It will compare the effectiveness of different policy approaches (such as voluntary agreements versus fiscal measures) and assess the evidence linking reformulation with the anticipated public health benefits at the population level.

A POSTnote on strategic approaches to ecosystem services will provide an overview setting out the challenges of conserving ecosystems and their services efficiently. It will review the scientific evidence needed to support integrated management of ecosystem services. It will examine the potential effectiveness of different approaches and the policy needed for delivery across scales.

The POST board has approved 10 new POSTnotes. 3D printing in medicine, Algorithms and accountability, An update on autism, Bioenergy and carbon capture and storage, Climate change and aviation, Infrastructure and climate change Online extremism, Screen time in young people, Plant genetic resources, Sustainable cooling.

A POSTnote on algorithms and accountability will examine how algorithms can be accountable and transparent. It will look at the design and auditing of data, and present how algorithms can become biased and possible solutions.

A POSTnote on infrastructure and climate change will look at how resilient the UK’s infrastructure is to extreme weather conditions predicted by climate change. It will include the side-effects of extreme weather such as coastal erosion, and examine solutions.

A POSTnote on online extremism will examine the extent of the problem and explore solutions. Following the Government's 2019 Online Harms White Paper companies could be responsible for the safety of users. This note will look at digital & face-to-face solutions.