Scottish Government: Building Resilience in Scotland Cross-Disciplinary Study UKRI Policy Fellowship
Lead Research Organisation:
British Geological Survey
Department Name: Earth Hazards & Observatories
Abstract
Each fellowship will last up to 18 months to cover:
- a 3-month inception phase for set up activity
- a 12-month placement with the host organisation
- an impact phase lasting up to 3 months
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers.
This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
- a 3-month inception phase for set up activity
- a 12-month placement with the host organisation
- an impact phase lasting up to 3 months
Fellows will co-design projects and activities with their host and produce analysis to inform government decision-making across a range of policy priorities. Fellows will also engage across the host organisation, building effective working relationships and supporting wider knowledge exchange with researchers.
This will be supported through their embedded role within the host organisation, including line management support.
| Description | Supporting the review of civil contingencies risk assessment products used by the Scottish Government |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | National Centre for Resilience |
| Organisation | National Centre for Resilience |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | As a member of the Steering Group, I contribute by leveraging my expertise in both policy and geo-hazards and risk science. My role as a policy fellow with the Scottish Government enables me to offer valuable insights into the intersection between disaster risk reduction, policy development, and societal resilience. In my capacity as a geo-hazard scientist at BGS, I bring a scientific and evidence-based approach to the group's discussions, particularly on multi-hazard risks and its use in policy and practice. Additionally, I am actively involved in the grant application assessment process for the next funding period, ensuring a well-informed and strategic decision-making process for projects aligned with the National Centre for Resilience's objectives. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The National Centre for Resilience (NCR) is contributing to my research as a policy fellow by providing access to valuable insights related to the use of civil contingencies risk assessments within the networks it fosters. NCR's collaborates with several partners agencies and organisations (University of Glasgow, Met Office, Natural Hazards Partnership, East of Scotland Regional Resilience Partnership (RRP), North of Scotland RRP, West of Scotland RRP, Scottish Flood Forum, and ClimateXchange) which develop or rely on the use of risk assessments in their operations. Collaboration with NCR will allow me to leverage these networks, helping me maximise the potential use and impacts of my research work by disseminating research outputs beyond the immediate project stakeholder group (Scottish Government) and into the wider resilience audiences. |
| Impact | No outputs yet. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Member of the Risk Assessment Working Group, Civil Contingencies Division, Scottish Government |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | I was invited to join the Civil Contingencies Risk Assessment Working Group (Civil Contingencies Division, Scottish Government) aimed at identifying, examining and recommending improvements to the approach the Scottish Government takes to assessing civil contingencies risks. As an active member, I attended the first meeting which set the scene and introducing the scope and main working themes. Here, I suggested systemic multi-risk assessment (cascading effects and interdependencies) and a deeper understanding of risk drivers (i.e., vulnerability and exposure) as a potential are for future consideration in relation to the work of the group. This was briefly discussed amongst members and captured in the meeting notes for future discussions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |
| Description | Presentation at the Evidence in Policy Fortnight 2025 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The presentation I delivered at the Evidence in Policy Fortnight event on 27/01/2025 (Policy Fellowships in Scottish Government - Strengthening links between policy makers and academic institutions) was part of a session aimed at introducing the UKRI Policy Fellowship programme more widely within the Government. It provided a taster of the current projects undertaken under this scheme. The presentation included a summary of the research project (policy areas, topic, scope, approach/methods), a description of the collaboration developed with the Government team, and insights into the process of working across the science - policy domains (e.g., lessons learnt, challenges, and opportunities). Final highlights included reflections on the expected long-term impacts resulting from the fellowship. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2025 |