BGS scientist announced as Scottish Government policy fellow

Forty-four academic fellows have been selected as part of UK Research and Innovation  (UKRI)’s policy fellowship programme to work in 21 government departments and five What Works centres across the UK.

Roxana Ciurean, a geohazard scientist in the Multi-hazards and resilience science area at BGS, has been selected as one of these fellows, who are set to play a crucial role in enhancing policymaking and contributing to a more secure and resilient society.

For the next 18 months, Roxana’s research will centre around understanding how integrated emergency management (IEM) principles are applied in practice, especially in policy development, planning and response to disruptive events. Through mixed methods, research and collaboration with government officials, stakeholders and the public, she aims to provide valuable insights to enhance Scotland’s resilience capabilities.

I am delighted to be part of this transformative fellowship and to be working closely with the Scottish Government. It’s an incredible opportunity to utilise research evidence in response to real-world challenges, influencing policy development and making a positive impact on the safety and well-being of our communities.

Roxana Ciurean, BGS Geohazard Scientist.

Funding

Since it was piloted in 2021, the UKRI policy fellowships programme has more than doubled in scale and expanded the range of research disciplines. The 2023 scheme is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.