Authored by Anna Conzatti.

Taking part in the 2026 Royal Society Pairing Scheme was one of the most valuable experiences I have had as an early career researcher.

Strong policy depends not only on evidence, but also on communication, timing, and trust. And the scheme is built around a simple but important idea: scientists and policymakers need more opportunities to speak directly to one another.

That message resonated with me straight away. As researchers, we spend years developing expertise, but we are not always trained to explain our work outside academic settings.

We know how to write journal articles and technical reports, but policymaking demands something different: clarity, brevity, and a strong sense of why the research matters now.

The scheme offered a rare chance to see that in practice.

As part of the programme, I joined sessions organised by the Royal Society and spent time shadowing Jayne Kirkham, MP for Truro and Falmouth. I am very grateful to her for giving me such an open insight into her work.

Dr Anna Conzatti at Westminster.

Spending time in Westminster made it immediately clear how broad and demanding the role of an MP really is. In the course of a single day, I saw issues ranging from social housing and wind turbines to heritage buildings and online abuse – all competing for attention.

What struck me most was the pace. Policymakers are handling multiple urgent topics at once, often under significant pressure. Seeing that firsthand changed the way I think about research communication.

If we want our work to influence policy, we cannot stop at explaining what we found. We also need to show why it matters, what the implications are, and what decision-makers need to take away quickly.

One highlight was attending a select committee session at the Palace of Westminster. Committee work may attract less attention than debate in the chamber, but it plays a crucial role in scrutiny and evidence-gathering. Watching that process up close made it feel more tangible and far more relevant to researchers like me.

My own research focuses on vulnerable housing and health, an area where evidence matters enormously. Housing is not just about buildings; it is about safety, dignity, wellbeing, and daily life.

The Pairing Scheme encouraged me to think more seriously about how that evidence can move beyond academic papers and into conversations that shape policy and practice. More than anything, it helped me think more clearly about the kind of researcher I want to be.