People Science & Policy Ltd – A Short History

We have had the privilege of working in an exciting and developing field for just over a decade. PSP has been at the forefront of the use of social research techniques in the development of science-based policy and, to use the term of the moment, our work has had a lot of impact. Here are some of our highlights.

2000

PSP starts trading in the spring, with an empty order book. We win our first major research project in the autumn – a study of the issues surrounding the return of women to careers in science and engineering. The Maximising Returns report underpinned the subsequent work by Susan Greenfield that led ultimately to the establishment of the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science.

2001

We win our first pieces of deliberative research on science-based issues:

a deliberative conference for the Foresight Food Chain and Crops for Industry Panel as part of a project to compare different methods of engaging lay participants in science policy
research to support the development of the UK Biobank for MRC and the Wellcome Trust.

We are commissioned by DfES (now the Department for Education) and DTI (now BIS) to develop the initial concept of a “Science and Engineering Ambassadors” programme, based on a sentence in the 2000 Science White Paper, into a workable national programme that could be handed over to SETNET (now STEMNET) for delivery www.stemnet.org.uk/content/ambassadors. Ten years and well over 20,000 ambassadors later this is a legacy we are happy to have left.

2002

Our first evaluation projects are commissioned by ESRC and PPARC (now STFC) and we win a contract from NESTA to run the Planet Science Outreach programme, more of which later.

A highlight is winning the first of what was to become a series of deliberative research projects for the Health and Safety Executive. We design and run a nationwide dialogue process on train protection to inform the Health and Safety Commission’s advice to Government following the Southall and Ladbroke Grove tragedies. Bill Callaghan the then chair of the Health and Safety Commission wrote:

‘The train protection issues on which we had to advise Ministers were complex and technical. The deliberative approach managed by PSP, with issues systematically introduced, explained and clarified to participants, served our purpose well and proved an excellent means of exploring public attitudes. Our traditional invitation to respond to a consultation document would have evoked little or no response from members of the public outside rail passenger groups … [we] were pleased to be able to reflect fully views from the public in our advice to Alistair Darling. I have no doubt that our own advice was the more robust for having taken the trouble to understand the public.’ HSE Train Protection report.

2003

This is a big year for work to support science communicators. We win evaluation projects for ECSITE UK, Y-Touring Theatre Company and BBSRC, and are commissioned to write a good practice guide on science communication for EPSRC.

2004

Our evaluation portfolio continues to grow and we win a three year evaluation tracking study of the engagement and enrichment activity run by the Centre for Science Education at Sheffield Hallam University – Engineering a Better World – for EPSRC. Our growing reputation helps us to win a commission to produce a good practice guide on evaluation for science communicators, still in use today.

Our research portfolio continues to grow with further work for the Wellcome Trust and the Health and Safety Executive and a major review with Synergy Research and Consulting of the use of evidence and the role of analysts in the then Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now CLG).

2005

Two projects commissioned this year continue to be relevant today.

Our research into academic scientists’ and engineers’ views on public engagement for a consortium of research funders led by the Royal Society provides the evidence base for the Beacons for Public Engagement initiative.

We conduct a Citizens’ Jury on air quality for Defra. This project trials Citizens’ Juries as a way of feeding lay perspectives into Defra policy-making as well as providing an understanding of the ways that England might involve the public in meeting its obligations on air quality. The report is quoted in the section on raising public awareness of air quality in the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee report “Air Quality”, Fifth Report of Session 2009–10 Volume, highlighting its continuing relevance. Air quality citizens jury report.

A steady flow of research and evaluation projects allows the company to grow and we are now employing four people. This year we work with more new clients such as the National Maritime Museum and the Tyndall Centre.

2006

The Planet Science Outreach programme comes to an end. With a focus on schools that had tended not to take part in enhancement and enrichment activities and were in the bottom quartile of attainment, this programme showed that if there was a will to invest the money, then there was the wit amongst science communicators to reach the “hard to reach”. According to Noel Jackson from the Centre for Life the secret of engaging these schools is to “go out and ask them”.

We move into the mainstream of science policy undertaking a project for BBSRC examining the wider economic and social impacts of basic research funding. These case studies pre-date the 2008 RAE, never mind the REF.

We also complete a fascinating research project for the RSC reviewing the funding and institutional support provided in the UK for research at the chemistry-biology interface.

2007

Fieldwork dominates as we conduct our largest ever project – a longitudinal qualitative research project that takes place in five locations in England for DfT – Understanding Public Attitudes to Climate Change and the Links to Travel Choices.

We are now employing six members of staff and all the current team were at PSP during this DfT project. Evaluation of research funding programmes, education support activities and science communication continue to be important aspects of our work.

2008

This year, working with TNS, we complete the 2008 Public Attitudes to Science survey and it launches in Science Week with a panel discussion with the Minister and Jim Al Khalili.

Another highlight of the year is the first in-depth exploration of public perceptions of synthetic biology in the UK. This project for the Royal Academy of Engineering lays the foundations for the later, larger-scale work by BMRB for EPSRC and BBSRC.

We continue to win an eclectic mix of projects, evaluations for amongst others the Wellcome Trust, NESTA and the Royal Society and research for the British Library, BBSRC and the SCORE partnership.

2009

Alongside a steady stream of evaluation projects in the natural sciences and science communication, we are commissioned by the British Academy to develop an evaluation framework for their Small Research Grants, an indication of the growing importance of the impact agenda.

We win one of the most unusual research projects the company has undertaken. Working with East Malling Research, we are commissioned by Defra to undertake a study of beekeeping practices in the UK, with particular emphasis on influences and information sources.

Working with TNS we also win the quantitative follow-up project to our earlier longitudinal qualitative project for DfT.

2010

This year it starts to become clear that PSP’s niche is being squeezed and over the year we reduce staff numbers to the core of four who still remain.

Nonetheless we complete a range of interesting projects for different clients and are still adding new clients, including the Royal Institution.

This year RCUK publishes our research report that supports the Research Integrity Futures Working Group in its review of the arrangements in place in the UK for the oversight of good research conduct and research integrity across all disciplines. The evidence is synthesised into options for the development of the UK’s research integrity function for consideration by the Research Integrity Futures Working Group, whose report was published alongside PSP’s report to the group, on 7 September 2010.

2011

All good things come to an end. Our final legacy will be an updated evaluation guide for researchers undertaking public engagement which will be published this spring by the National Co-ordinating Centre for Public Engagement, RCUK and BIS.

This year will also see the publication of the final report of the DfT study identifying attitudinal/behavioural groups in the population to aid the development of policy on climate change and personal travel choices.

If this story of our highlights has missed your favourite then have a look at the project archive section of the website.