From Research to Real World Impact: UCL takes part in the GSPI Summer School
Written by Alice Tofts and Daisy Forster
There’s really nothing quite like being in the same physical space to spark meaningful interactions and create opportunities for peer learning. That’s exactly what we experienced when two of our team members, Alice Tofts and Daisy Forster joined four UCL academics in Geneva for the GSPI Summer School, “Science and Policy for Environmental Action.”
Global Engagement coordinated and funded the UCL delegation who took part in the summer school, which is run by the Geneva Science-Policy Interface (GSPI) in collaboration with the University of Geneva. Alongside the two UCL Public Policy delegates, four academic researchers from UCL were invited to participate: Rebecca Clube (Institute for Sustainable Resources), Juliana Gomez Quintero (Department of Security and Crime Science), Marta Koch (Population, Policy & Practice Research and Teaching Department & Engineering for International Development Centre), and Ricci Yue (Institute for Sustainable Resources).
“Juliana, Marta, Rebecca and Ricci were a key addition to the summer school with their sharp insights and fascinating interdisciplinary inputs. We were delighted to host them as another milestone to GSPI’s collaboration with UCL and we hope that the deep science-policy sessions and networking opportunities will strengthen their policy engagement with International Geneva.” Mialy Rann, GSPI
On our first day in Geneva, we heard from the UN Environment Programme on a whole range of issues — from how climate adaptation can support peacebuilding and conflict prevention, to the shocking scale of sand mining, and the importance of proper planning for coastal protection. It was a lot to take in, and got us thinking about some pretty big questions — like, is scientific knowledge actually enough to change behaviour?
One moment that really stuck with us was a talk from Cyrille-Lazare Siewe (Regional Sub-programme Coordinator, Science and Policy Europe Office), who reminded us that:
“Policy engagement is about framing evidence around what matters. Policy is about compromise. Timing is everything.”
GSPI brought this dilemma to the programme with real insight.
As knowledge mobilisers and trainers, it was a valuable opportunity to observe how others bring the complexities of policy engagement to life in the classroom. From re-enacting power dynamics through theatre to mapping stakeholders with human chess pieces, participants were immersed in the perspectives of the many actors involved in knowledge production and use.
This immersive, experiential approach aligned well with the goals of the four UCL academics we spoke to before the programme. Answers focussed on developing understanding of how their research can be applied to the policy context, building on their communication skills, and networking with like-minded professionals.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to engage with the dynamic science-policy ecosystem of International Geneva and gain practical skills for translating research into long-term policy impact.” Marta Koch
Upon our return, we reconnected with them to reflect upon the week and discuss how they might take their learnings forward into their work.
Our participants all felt that the programme shed light on the mechanisms through which international bodies like the UN interact with national governments and researchers. Ricci felt that this helped fill a knowledge gap for those who were more familiar with local or national policy processes. The concept of “windows of opportunity” was particularly impactful for Juliana: learning to identify moments when policy frameworks are under review and how to strategically engage during those times.
“It’s just not just about translating it and putting it out there but also engaging and understanding where other players come from, what they’re in for it, and what they bring to the table.” Juliana Gomez Quintero
The importance of tailoring communication to policy audiences, considering political contexts and stakeholder interests, was a recurring theme; a particular highlight for all our participants was a workshop with Eklipse, where they learned how to frame research questions in a non-partisan yet policy-relevant manner, a skill that is essential for engaging with international organisations.
“Academics are quite often criticised for looking at really deep, specific questions that might lack broader relevance, so making sure that there is potential to make policy impact whenever I’m developing those research proposals is really important.” Rebecca Clube
Each left the programme with a renewed sense of purpose and planned to integrate lessons into their research and teaching. For example, Marta plans to disseminate her learnings through a seminar and blog. While it was too early to predict long-term collaborations, all expressed interest in maintaining contact with peers and policy professionals. Potential partnerships with UN departments and Geneva-based researchers were mentioned, and both Ricci and Juliana were excited to explore future work with UCL Public Policy.
A key reflection from the group was on the tension between academic expectations and the demands of policy engagement. They came away feeling like the experience had encouraged participants to reframe their roles and focus more actively on research impact in policy, but that this was sometimes hindered by university priorities and progression pathways for researchers.
“We talked about the challenge of being someone in the science-policy interface when the university is asking for funding […] It’s not only about how much change I want to make, but also how much change I can afford to make.” Ricci Yue
Overall, researchers returned to UCL feelings equipped with the tools, networks, and confidence to engage more effectively with policy processes. By fostering a deeper understanding of the science-policy interface and encouraging intentional research design, the programme inspired participants to continue working on their academic-policy projects and push for more real-world impact.
“I think for me, as an early career researcher, I’ve always been concerned that my research isn’t having as much impact as I would hope, […] But what this summer school has really emphasised is opportunities for those at all levels to have an impact.” Marta Koch
