Trading places: new MPs, civil servants, and scientists swap roles for Royal Society Pairing Scheme 2025

Next week (24 – 27 March), 30 UK scientists will swap places with politicians and civil servants for four days, exploring the world of politics as part of the annual Royal Society Pairing Scheme.

The scheme, which has been running since 2001, is in partnership with the Government Office for Science's GSE Profession Team. It aims to help to build relationships between scientists and politicians, ensuring that policymakers can make decisions based on the best scientific evidence.

It takes place in the week that Chancellor Rachel Reeves will give her Spring Statement, at a time when the role of science and innovation in driving economic growth has never been more important.

Scientists taking part this year are drawn from universities and research institutes across the UK, including the University of Loughborough, UCL’s Faculty of Education and Society, York St John University, and the University of Edinburgh.

They will be shadowing a range of parliamentarians and civil servants, including five newly elected MPs: Jayne Kirkham, Dr Scott Arthur, Laurence Turner, Ian Sollom, and Adam Thompson.

Other parliamentarians include Baroness Sheehan, Lords Chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee; Lord Clement-Jones, Lords Spokesperson for the Digital Economy; and Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle, former Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales.

Over the course of the week, scientists will get a behind the scenes insight into how policy is formed, shadowing a policy maker to learn about their work and how they can best share their expertise.

On Wednesday evening, a Parliamentary reception will be held with speeches from Baroness Brown of Cambridge FRS; Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society; and Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

The scheme will continue later in the year when parliamentarians visit their scientist pairs at their home institutions.

Sir Adrian Smith, President of the Royal Society, said:

“At a time when science and scientists are under threat around the globe, programmes such as the Royal Society Pairing Scheme have never been more important. We must continue to strengthen links between scientists and policy makers. Having this group of UK scientists in Westminster to develop their understanding of policy making and share their expertise to shape it can help ensure research is translated into policy that improves lives.”