The Importance of Policy Engagement for Biofilm Researchers

Academics today face growing pressure to engage with policymakers, practitioners, the public, media and industry. This is a balancing act in the best of cases and can present ethical, practical and personal dilemmas.

For biofilm researchers, who usually work in an interdisciplinary way, due to the nature of biofilms and their ubiquitous research applications, this is especially important. Biofilms, communities of microorganisms, are found everywhere—from the human body to industrial pipelines. Their ability to adapt and thrive makes them essential in addressing global challenges like wastewater treatment, healthcare (e.g. antimicrobial resistance or dental care), agricultural sustainability, climate change (e.g. carbon capture), to name but a few. Understanding biofilms is key to developing innovative solutions in many varied subject areas of global interest.

Importance of Policy Engagement for Biofilm Researchers

Funders are placing more and more importance on scientists’ science communication and public engagement abilities (cf Wellcome Trust or UKRI). Scientists are encouraged to consider their work within broader societal contexts, addressing global challenges like climate change and public health. The UK’s Research Excellence Framework stresses the need for academic impact, urging researchers to communicate their work to non-academic audiences [1].

Policy scientists like Cairney and Oliver believe it is important for researchers to engage more with the policymaking process nowadays, concluding:

“The UK’s impact agenda is a sincere attempt to provide new incentives and rewards to scholars. The older peer review dominated system tended to reward scientific work that appeals primarily to an academic audience, and the rewards for impact perhaps encourage a change of mind-set in some academics, or provide more reward for academics already invested in social and political impact.”[2]

Therefore, engaging with policy and the policymaking process is not only important for successful funding opportunities but also for career development within academia.

However, it should also be of interest for researchers wanting to transition into new roles within government such as becoming a civil servant or scientific advisor (cf Government Office for Science prioritising building a scientifically informed civil service [3]).

Engagement with policymakers can guide future research directions, aligning them with government priorities and increasing chances for early grant funding. Understanding research roadmaps and focus areas offer valuable insights into funding opportunities.

While senior researchers may find it more straightforward to engage with policymakers, unfortunately limited access to policy networks, lack of experience and institutional/structural constraints can hinder early career researchers (ECRs) engaging in policy. However, engaging in policy work helps ECRs develop key skills like communication and negotiation while offering networking opportunities that lead to collaborative projects and increased societal impact down the line. ECRs already involved in science-policy interfaces report fewer barriers and more opportunities throughout their career [4].

Achieving policy impact presents challenges such as attribution and time delays. Success should be pragmatically defined, understanding that research, as research rarely translates directly into policy and often takes years.

It is essential to recognise the uneven distribution of resources for seeking impact [2]. Current systems often highlight prominent scientists, overshadowing contributions from underrepresented groups. Women and people of colour face barriers in engaging with impactful activities and are less likely to engage in professionally rewarding impact activities such as giving evidence to parliaments.

Biofilm researchers have highly sought-after skills, as they naturally work across fields, which enhances evidence-based policy solutions by integrating different available perspectives [5]. The global challenges of our time are inherently complex and cannot be addressed or resolved by any single discipline [6]. By engaging with policy, scientists play a vital role in tackling these complex problems, providing evidence-based policy solutions. Their expertise in navigating diverse scientific fields positions them uniquely to contribute valuable insights to policy discussions aimed at solving pressing global issues. This integration of interdisciplinary research and policy engagement is essential for effective evidence-based policymaking.

Policy engagement is essential for crafting informed, evidence-based policies. For biofilm researchers, understanding the global significance of their work enhances its impact. The National Biofilms Innovation Centre provides resources to support your policy engagement journey.

As a starting point, consider:

Watching this 30 minute training video by the UK Parliament Knowledge Exchange Unit (Parliament for Researchers: how to engage with the UK Parliament);
Signing up to the University Policy Exchange Network newsletter (bottom of their page);
Reflecting on the societal, environmental and economic implications of your research;
Checking the UK Parliament Advisory Committees or All-Party Groups to see where your research would be most applicable and watch some of their proceedings (e.g. generic Science, Innovation and Technology Committee or Life Sciences All-Party Group)
Sharing your insights in a blog (feel free to contact Ines for help with this!), either via LinkedIn (do make sure it is updated) or the NBIC Blog;

Your research is vital. By engaging with policy, biofilm researchers can shape a sustainable and informed future for all.

If you want to work with us or learn more about our policy engagement and activities, please contact Ines Foidl, our Policy Engagement Officer.

References:

[1] Durrant, H. & MacKillop, E. (2022) University policy engagement bodies in the UK and the variable meanings of and approaches to impact. Research evaluation. 31(3), 372–384. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvac015

[2] Cairney, P. & Oliver, K. (2020) How Should Academics Engage in Policymaking to Achieve Impact? Political studies review. 18(2), 228–244. https://doi.org/10.1177/1478929918807714

[3] GO Science (2024), About us, Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-office-for-science/about, (Accessed on 6/11/2024).

[4] Filyushkina, A. et al. (2022) Engaging at the science-policy interface as an early-career researcher: experiences and perceptions in biodiversity and ecosystem services research. Ecosystems and people. 18(1), 397–409. https://doi.org/10.1080/26395916.2022.2085807

[5] D’Este, P. & Robinson-García, N. (2023) Interdisciplinary research and the societal visibility of science: The advantages of spanning multiple and distant scientific fields. Research policy. 52(2), 104609-. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2022.104609

[6] Okamura, K. (2019) Interdisciplinarity revisited: evidence for research impact and dynamism. Palgrave communications. 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-019-0352-4.