Jenny Crane from our team will be speaking about our local-level work at this upcoming workshop, which has been organised by Laura King, Will Gould, and David Churchill, in collaboration with History & Policy. The workshop will explore how historians and historical researchers from other disciplines can engage with local policy-making structures and local practitioners. It will feature historians with a track record of engagement (whether successful or “learning experiences!”) and local policy makers and practitioners. The workshop is designed primarily for post-doctoral and early career researchers, though established researchers interested in exploring this topic are also very welcome.
Tasked with achieving impact from their research, many aspiring and established historical researchers tend to look towards national power structures, sometimes overlooking opportunities on their doorsteps.
Three reasons for developing skills in local policy engagement are:
– Local policy making is closer to the actual practice of the activities it governs. That means that, if you can find the right application for your research, it may be easier to see what impact it has.
– New mayors were elected to represent various cities and regions in 2017. However the future of devolution plays out, many historians have a window of opportunity now to engage with meaningful devolved power structures.
– Universities are often perceived by local policy makers as a prestigious potential source of research and insight. You already have an in-built advantage.
Full details of panels, speakers and location will be released in due course. Attendance is free but places are limited. To book a place please email historyandpolicy@kcl.ac.uk with a couple of sentences outlining your research interests and your current position/affiliation.
