British Ecological Society Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme

The British Ecological Society two day Parliamentary Shadowing Scheme has been running since 2007. The 2014 scheme is now open for applications.

This scheme has allowed early career researchers who are members of the British Ecological Society (BES) to shadow senior policy-makers including several Parliamentary-Secretaries of State at Defra, the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing in Wales, Policy Advisors in Scotland and MEPs in Brussels.

Applicants must have finished their PhD and have completed this no more than 12 years ago.

Participating Ministers, MEPs and Officials in 2014 include:

- Chris Davies MEP, Environment spokesman for Liberals and Democrats across Europe
- Julie Girling MEP, MEP for South West England and Gibraltar; Conservative Agricultural Spokesman
- Professor Ian Boyd and Dr Fiona Harrison, Chief Scientific Adviser and Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
- Alun Davies AM, Minister for Natural Resources and Food, Welsh Government

Expenses

The BES will cover reasonable travel, accommodation and subsistence costs for undertaking the scheme.

Eligibility is limited to ecologists who are:

Current BES members, based at an academic institution or equivalent body who are post – PhD.

Selection will be based on:

- Experience or willingness to actively communicate ecological research to policymakers
- Strong scientific record for career status
- Intent to share what is learned during the Fellowship with students and colleagues
- Desire to become active in the BES’s policy work

Application
Further details on how to apply are available on the BES website