On Monday, November 4th, I had the opportunity to attend a masterclass on the intersection of research and policy, led by Dr. John Bell, the European Commission's Director for a Healthy Planet. This event, organized by the UCD Earth Institute, brought together PhD students interested in climate, environmental, and sustainability research.
The session began with a brief introduction by Imelda Maher,
the event's organizer, who is the Sutherland Full Professor of European
Law and Director of the UCD Dublin European Institute. Following this,
Dr. Bell shared his reasons for joining us, explaining his interest in
discussing the role of research in policy-making with us, as
early-career researchers. He highlighted how our work, as emerging
scientists, can have an impact on policies enacted by the European Union
and other governmental bodies.
After the introductions, each of us had the chance to briefly present our research topics and pose a question to Dr. Bell. The research areas represented were impressively diverse, ranging from studies on biological systems and social sciences to energy systems, which is my area of focus. I also found it inspiring to see participants of different ages, including some older PhD students, something I don’t often encounter.
My question for Dr. Bell focused on the perception of scientific research by the public. I pointed out that while science aims to deepen our understanding of the world, research often involves hypotheses that may lead to inconclusive or evolving results. This nuance is not always well understood outside academic circles, which can lead to mistrust. I asked him how we might help the public understand that scientific findings are not absolute truths but are instead part of a broader journey of discovery.
Dr. Bell responded by emphasizing the need to keep "universities as lighthouses" that guide the future of policy-making. He stressed that for research to truly influence policy, we as researchers need to become better communicators, making our findings more accessible and comprehensible to a wider audience.
