What can Paddington teach us about migration policy?
This question will be discussed around a special screening of Paddington in Peru this weekend, which has been organised by The Conversation.
The new movie, in which Paddington receives his UK passport and travels to Peru in search of his family, will be shown at the Genesis cinema in London this Saturday (16 November).
Avery Anapol, Editor of Politics and Society at The Conversation UK will then chair a panel of experts who will “reflect on how the migration policy of today would treat a young person (or bear) stowing away to the UK on a boat”.
Erica Consterdine from the University of Lancaster, Katie Tonkiss from Aston University, and Sunder Katwala, director of British Future, will be speaking at the event, which begins at 18:20. You can book tickets here.
And don’t forget your marmalade sandwiches…
Now, here are the latest opportunities from across the world of research, communications and policymaking.
If you’re interested in economic policy, don’t miss out on this one: the UK Treasury has just published its Areas of Research Interest for the first time. This document sets out a list of questions the department is interested in and includes sections on growth, the labour market, financial sector, tax and public spending. The idea is to help researchers outside government identify the information which would be most useful to policymakers. If you want to “engage and collaborate” with the treasury, you can now get in touch with them. Contact: HMTresearch@hmtreasury.gov.uk.
Writers from around the world can currently submit to a new essay prize from the Scottish Arts Trust. The Edinburgh Essay Award is accepting “features, memoirs, travelogues, philosophical reflections or insightful analyses of historic or contemporary issues”. Essays can be up to 2,000 words, with a ban on any use of ChatGPT. It’s £10 to enter and under-represented writers can apply for a bursary to cover the cost. There’s cash prizes of up to £1,000 available for the winners. Deadline: 25 February.
You can apply for a grant of up to £12,000 from Arts Council England to help with “developing your creative practice”. This fund supports people in the arts to undertake development activities including creating new work, carrying out research or networking. The amount of money available from the fund has been increased to “help make sure you’re paying yourself fairly, especially during the cost of living crisis”. It’s a highly competitive process so make sure you familiarise yourself with the full details before applying. Deadline: 12 December.
There’s up to £270,000 available for research into “bio-based chemicals and materials”. The flexible funding is provided through the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, which works with academia, industry and government to “develop sustainable bioenergy systems that support the UK’s transition to an affordable, resilient, low-carbon energy future”. To apply, you should be based at a UK academic institution eligible to receive UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding. Multiple academic partners are not permitted for this one. Deadline: 8 December.
Apollo Research is an artificial intelligence safety organisation focused on “reducing dangerous capabilities in advanced AI systems, especially deceptive behaviour”. You can currently apply to join the team as an EU Policy Researcher on a six-month contract, ideally based in London. You’d be responsible for providing “ad-hoc written advice to government queries on research topics relevant to AI safety”. The role is supported by the UK Government’s AI Futures programme, which provides grants of up to £10,000 to cover relocation costs. There’s no deadline listed for this one.
There are a number of jobs going with the Responsible Innovation Centre for Public Media Futures, which is hosted by the research and development department at the BBC. The centre is looking at how to make sure technology and innovation “upholds and extends public media values and strengthens the public media sector in the UK and beyond”. Recruitment is underway for research leads looking at personalisation and the public interest, civic participation and digital inclusion and measuring social impact. To apply, you should have a PhD, or equivalent research experience, in a relevant area of the social sciences or humanities. Deadline: 17 November.
You can still apply to join the team of visiting tutors at the University of Roehampton. The university is looking for tutors to teach on a variety of short courses across the social sciences and beyond. A background in industry is considered “highly desirable as is experience with online/hybrid learning environments”. The rate of pay is £55 per hour, which includes contact time and preparation. Additional administrative duties are paid at the rate of £25.96 per hour. Deadline: 15 November.
Jonathan Lambert is an evolutionary biologist turned science journalist who has written and produced audio on some really interesting subjects. He’s now joining the science desk at NPR, the US public broadcaster. For the next six months, he’ll be “covering the wonders of the living world, the forces that threaten them, and how scientists and policymakers can make a difference”. He’s starting in December and is currently interested in story tips.
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All the best,
Adam at Universal Impact
