On 3 June, CSaP partnered with the Cambridge NanoDTC and the Royal Society of Chemistry to host a career development day for PhD students interested in nanotechnology policy.

Communicate, join networks, develop lasting relationships and build trust: these were just some of the recommendations put forward by a distinguished line up of computer scientists and policy makers at the CSaP Professional Development Policy Workshop for early-career technology researchers on 31 October.

CSaP explores opportunities for early-career researchers to contribute to the policy process

On 3 May 2012 the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP) held a professional development policy seminar, in partnership with the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR) and the Cambridge Institute of Public Health (IPH).

In December, CSaP and the Engineering Department at the University of Cambridge co-hosted a Professional Development Policy Seminar for early-career engineers. Co-sponsored by the IET, 32 researchers from 7 universities heard from engineering experts and policy professionals on the opportunities and realities of engaging with policy. For Marcus Pelenu, a PhD student at the Centre for Sustainable Development, Department of Engineering, this seminar resulted in a work placement in the Cabinet Office.

11 November saw CSaP host its second professional development seminar for early career biologists. The day-long seminar offered insights into the opportunities, and the associated challenges, for university academics to engage in science policy at the level of UK government.

A number of key posts in Government are held by people who spent most of their careers as academics. These advisers and policy makers are brought into the civil service because of the knowledge that they bring to policy issues, even if they do not have a practical knowledge of policy. Consequently, the transition from university academic to government civil servant can be quite a challenge.