CSaP Annual Reception: A Celebration of science-informed policy making

CSaP Annual Reception: A celebration of science-informed policy making

Reported by Aubin Ramon, CSaP Policy Intern (Sept-Dec 2024)

The Centre for Science and Policy held its Annual Reception at the Royal Academy of Engineering to thank policy professionals and researchers who had engaged and collaborated with the Centre throughout the year.

Welcoming more than 180 guests from CSaP's network of academics and policy professionals, Executive Director, Dr Rob Doubleday, thanked all those who had contributed towards CSaP's programmes during 2024. Dr Doubleday was joined by a senior civil servant and a Cambridge professor to highlight CSaP's pivotal role in bridging policy and research.

Cat Little, Chief Operating Officer for the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary for the Cabinet Office, expressed her enthusiasm for serving as a civil servant under a new government at a time of significant challenges for the UK. Amidst turbulent domestic affairs, economic headwinds, geopolitical tensions, and the UK's evolving position between the US and the EU, Cat Little was thrilled to witness the spring of a new theory of change within the civil service through the creation of cross-departmental Missions. In such a critical time, Little stressed the importance of networks like CSaP's in providing government with the critical thinking and depth needed to ensure the best outcomes for the citizens of the UK. She praised CSaP's unique ability to foster a mindset shift into policy, blending academic curiosity, relentless questioning, and a culture of challenge.

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Professor Dame Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy and Co-director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy, emphasised that connections with Policy Fellows benefit academics too by providing new perspectives, more concrete insights and a deeper understanding of the challenges people face. The current technological transformation is shifting political dynamics and disrupting national identity systems. She argued that the decisions made today will have lasting impacts, shaping the fortunes of citizens for decades to come. Today presented a genuine opportunity for government to drive meaningful change, reignite economic growth, and rebuild the social contract. However, the concept of evidence-based policy making has potentially been jeopardised. With the impending Trump administration, the world is set to diverge significantly from the pre-financial crisis era. According to Professor Coyle, this made it even more crucial for networks like CSaP to persist and thrive.