Public policy community comes together

12 Jul 2012

The University of Manchester has established Policy@Manchester as a network bringing together a range of academics working in a variety of public policy areas.

Professor Keith Brown, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, is Chair of the Board, and Professor Colin Talbot, professor in Government and Public Administration at Manchester Business School, is Director.

The Policy@Manchester network is a community of researchers involved in public policy engagement work, set up following a survey last year that identified around 350 academic colleagues across the University engaged in public policy dialogues at local, regional, national and international levels.

The network aims to bring the researchers together and also support others to develop their skills and experience in this area. Among the priorities for the new Director will be the development of a comprehensive database of University experts and the creation of a web and social media presence to raise the profile of our policy professionals. In time, the focus will be on developing a coordinated programme of engagement and events with key policy makers at regional, national and international levels, to position the University as one of the leading public policy centres in the world.

The Board also includes:

• Lord Keith Bradley, Associate Vice-President (Governmental, Political and Regional Relationships)
• Alan Ferns – Director of Communications and Marketing
• Professor Adisa Azapagic – School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, EPS
• Professor Bonnie Sibbald – School of Community Based Medicine, MHS
• Professor Cecilia Wong – School of Environment and Development, Hums
• Professor David Challis – School of Community Based Medicine, MHS
• Dr Helen Rees Leahy – School of Arts, Histories and Cultures, Hums
• Professor Matthew Cobb – Faculty of Life Sciences
• Professor Peter Crossley – School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, EPS

Professor Brown said: “If you are involved in public policy or engagement work I would encourage you to sign up to the new policy@manchester network, to keep in touch with these developments, as well as sharing any questions, events, and developments that might be useful.”