Earlier this month (16–19 March 2026) I took part in the Royal Society Pairing Scheme — four days embedded in the heart of UK Parliament, paired with Baroness Prashar in the House of Lords.
The week included talks on how government and Parliament work, a tour of the buildings, an interactive policy workshop, and time shadowing my pair. I also had the chance to sit in on a live session of the National Resilience Select Committee — you can watch it here — and spend time with Baroness Prashar observing the Lords in action.
The Pairing Scheme is a brilliant entry point for scientists who want to understand how political decisions are made — and how research can meaningfully inform them. It does not turn you into a policymaker overnight, but it gives you the language, the contacts, and the context to start contributing to the conversation.
If you are a researcher wondering how your work connects to policy, I would strongly recommend applying.
Many thanks to the Royal Society for organising the scheme, and to Baroness Prashar for her time and openness.
check the scheme info here: https://royalsociety.org/grants/training-mentoring-partnership-schemes/pairing-scheme/