In this episode we meet with to Dr Jane Parry, Associate Professor in Work and Employment, and UK Parliament Thematic Research Lead in Business, Economics and Trade, and Tiffany Withers, Parliamentary and Communication Officer for Public Policy | Southampton.

It’s been a brilliant occasion to discuss the benefits and avenues of engaging with the UK Parliament and generate impact, as well as demystify the differences between Parliament and Government.

Have a listen if you want more information on:

• What is the role of a Thematic Research Lead in Parliament? - from 3:40 to 5:57;
• Dr Jane Parry’s key tips to facilitate the academics’ task of making their evidence more visible and meet Parliamentarians’ needs. - from 5:57 to 6:36 and from 15:51 to 17:37;
• The benefits of engaging with Parliament - from 9:38 to 10:54;
• The different routes to engage with Parliaments especially for Early Career Researchers - from 13:08 to 20:36;
• What does a good Evidence submission look like? - from 21:50 to 29:03;
• What happens after you submit evidence to a Select Committee? - from 33:05 to 36:51;
• What should change in the interaction between academia and policy? (with some mentions to AI) - from 36:57 to 43:01.

See the following links for more information:

PPS webpage on Parliamentary Calls for Evidence with recent submissions: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy/support-for-policymakers/Consultations/2-parliamentary-index.page

Dr Jane Parry’s recent House of Lords Insight briefing: “Hybrid working and UK Government policy” https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/hybrid-working-and-uk-government-policy/

In this episode we discuss air quality and the consequences of air pollution with Professor Sir Stephen Holgate, Clinical Professor of Immunopharmacology, and Doctor Natasha Easton, Air Quality Researcher and Specialist Policy Officer for the Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences.

Their engaging conversation explores the major steps taken so far to mitigate the acute effects of air pollution, as well as ongoing concerns related to long-term, life-course exposure and its role in accelerating disease and inflammatory processes. Nat also highlights the risks posed by this largely invisible form of pollution, which she brought to the attention of the Environmental Audit Committee in December 2025, subsequently securing a new Parliamentary Inquiry into air pollution.

Stephen and Nat discuss emerging research frontiers, including ultrafine particles, non-exhaust emissions, indoor air pollutants, and findings from a recent study on port emissions. They also mention potential developments in air quality monitoring systems in the Southampton area. In addition, they address issues of inequity, examining how poor air quality disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities, and outline key recommendations for urban design.

This is a particularly rich episode, in which our guests share their expertise to inform and empower the public, as well as stakeholders involved in raising awareness and shaping policy on air quality and environmental change. A central theme of the discussion is how to engage effectively with policymakers, combining academic research with public policy engagement to generate meaningful impact. The episode also emphasises the importance of early collaboration, sustained engagement, and the development of strong storytelling and communication skills.

As Professor Sir Stephen Holgate reflects at the end of the episode: “It’s important not to let opportunities miss you by. There will always be opportunities along the way – whether it’s talking to school children or participating in science festivals. Whatever the particular opportunity, you can’t go wrong by having a go, because everybody fails at times. What you may consider as failure can often be viewed as success through another pair of spectacles. Don’t be afraid to go out there and project yourself and say it like you would like to say it because you will be surprised what impact it can make”.

Read more about these topics below:

Nat Easton’s pitch to the Environmental Audit Committee: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/caad4680-d514-44f8-9b31-277b7e13090e

Nat Easton’s blog on securing the Parliamentary Inquiry: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy/dr_nat_easton_secures_aq_parliamentary_inquiry.page

University of Southampton response to the Environmental Audit Committee call for evidence – Air Pollution in England: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/publicpolicy/Air_Pollution_in_England_University_of_Southampton_Respo…

Mums for Lungs website: https://www.mumsforlungs.org/

In this episode of the Policy Pod, we spotlight the NERC funded project C-Floor and discuss this project, alongside ongoing complementary research, and implications it has on future ocean use and policy with Professor Martin Solan and Professor Susan Gourvenec from the University of Southampton.

C-Floor explores how human activities disturbing the seafloor can affect the carbon cycle in the ocean and knock on impacts like the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere. The project focuses on single activities like bottom trawling and then explores the cumulative impact of several activities, including climate change pressure, happening together.

With team members from a range of background (marine ecologists, social economists, geotechnical engineers, policy officers) the project will also explore what society values when managing the marine environment, coastal community impacts, and how we can continue fishing sustainably to deliver a tool to policymakers to support evidence-based decisions.

Read more about the project and the interdisciplinary team on the C-floor webpage.

Read more about the related project, Bowie, investigating how fixed offshore wind (OW) farm impact the marine ecosystem: https://ecowind.uk/projects/bowie/