Southwest MEP, Giles Chichester, is to visit the Chemistry Department at Bristol University on October 20 to learn about scientific research as part of an MEP-Scientist pairing scheme organised by the Royal Society.
Dr Hazel Phillips, the scientist who was paired with Chichester, said: “I spent a week in Brussels shadowing Giles and learning about the various European institutions. Giles’s return visit is aimed at showing him a glimpse of what life in academia is really like – which is why we're focusing on him meeting students, post-doctoral researchers and staff.”
Building on the success of the MP-Scientist pairing scheme, the MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme was established this year as a pilot version, under the Royal Society's Science in Society programme. The aim is to:
- make scientists better aware of policy making at the European level
- help parliamentarians understand the scientific process
- facilitate access by MEPs to a network of young research scientists
- help bring high-quality scientific advice into EU policy discussions
- contribute to a wider public understanding of the EU and its institutions
The programme in Brussels comprised meetings with relevant EU Commission, Council and Parliament officials; training sessions on the EU Institutions and on Science and Research Policy in the EU; networking events; and time spent shadowing the scientist's paired MEP.
The reciprocal visit on Friday October 20 includes a visit from Chichester to Hazel’s laboratory in chemistry to learn about her research and see some current experiments; in return, Hazel will spend up to a day with Chichester in his constituency.
While at the University Chichester will also visit The Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC). Also known as 'Children of the 90s', ALSPAC is aimed at identifying ways in which to optimise the health and development of children.