Professor Sarita Malik has joined the newly-created College of Experts, an initiative launched by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) to give policy makers better access to independent expertise and guidance.
Prof Malik is one of just 49 experts drawn from organisations across the UK to join the College, where she’ll participate in a number of policy-informing working groups, offering advice and direction that could help shape future government decisions.
“The Covid-19 pandemic has really highlighted the value of scientific and technical input for evidence-based decision making,” said Prof Malik, Professor of Media, Culture and Communications, and Director of Research in Brunel’s Department of Social and Political Sciences.
“This new College will offer the opportunity to participate in working groups based on specific themes that feed into the Department’s Areas of Research Interest, as well as to provide ad hoc advice and support to policy and analytical colleagues where appropriate.”
Each of the College’s experts – who were recruited from both academia and industry – will be expected to volunteer around five days per year, when they will be expected to “challenge constructively and/or validate the Department’s perspectives drawing on the available evidence and their own experiences and research”
Prof Malik said: “It is important that policy decisions are shaped by a range of expertise and perspectives. Policy can be better informed by diversification of access and connectivity.
“The College constitutes a broad range of experts from across different academic disciplines, as well as across industry. There is real scope to bring knowledge to DCMS and help to steer emerging strategic priorities and policy development.”
For further information on Brunel’s public policy work, please visit: brunel.ac.uk/about/brunel-public-policy
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