Brunel Research Engaging with Public Policy: from AI to public health to domestic abuse

Brunel university academics and researchers have an excellent record of engaging with public policy, using their research findings to solve problems and help decision-makers arrive at better solutions for the local, national and global needs of society.

Would you like to learn more about how Brunel academics have managed to make these connections and impact public policy? We convene a panel from a diverse range of disciplinary backgrounds who all reflect on how they managed to open the door to connections with public policy, and their experience of engaging with public policy in a range of settings.

Our panel will each introduce their research area, which includes domestic abuse, AI in the health sector, and public health interventions, then summarise how they initially made links with policy-makers and how this policy engagement has since progressed. This will be followed by a panel discussion to further explore the similarities and differences in their experiences working with public policy and any areas of interest from the audience.

Our Panel of Speakers Includes:

Dr Allan Tucker (Reader in Computer Science)

Allan leads the Intelligent Data Analysis Group at Brunel and has conducted and led extensive research on Artificial Intelligence, especially in healthcare and ecology settings. In this panel, Allan will focus on his involvement in advising the Medical and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on regulating the use of AI.

Professor Subhash Pokhrel (Professor of Public Health Economics)

Subhash’s research is largely around supporting health systems to deliver efficient healthcare as well as strengthening health research systems to support more healthcare. His research has contributed to several public health policies. In this panel, he will focus on how he built relationships with policy makers on Supporting tobacco control decision making for improved health and economic productivity, which ultimately led to a REF2021 case study.

Dr Adrienne Barnett (Reader in Law)

Adrienne was a practicing barrister specialising in family law, often cases involving allegations of domestic abuse, for over 30 years. As an academic, her specialist area of research is domestic abuse, family courts and parental alienation. In this panel, Adrienne will focus on her active involvement in policy change in the area of domestic abuse and family court proceedings, including work commissioned by the UK Ministry of Justice.

This panel will be chaired by Dr Rosanna Smith, Manager of Brunel Public Policy.

• See examples of how Brunel Academics and Researchers have engaged with Public Policy here
• Join the Brunel Public Policy network for advance notice of our future events and training and for increased involvement in future policy engagement opportunities

This event is free to attend for all Brunel staff and research students, but you need to register here

Refreshments will be provided on arrival.