Dr Thomas Davies talks to Lord Patrick Vallance at Evidence Week 2025
Dr Thomas Davies talks to Lord Patrick Vallance
Researchers from the University of Plymouth have engaged directly with policy makers on a number of the key environmental and educational challenges facing modern society.
Academics, supported by our Marine Institute and Sustainable Earth Institute , took part in the annual Evidence Week in Parliament.
During the event, they spoke to dozens of MPs, peers and policy advisers around three topics – climate education, marine light pollution and offshore aquaculture – where the University and its partners are considered to be world leaders.
They also launched a new set of briefings for policy makers, which highlight the key issues within each of the subject areas and the ways science and policy can collaborate to address them.
Hosted by Sense about Science and the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology (POST), Evidence Week brings together the public, researchers and parliamentarians to discuss how evidence is used and scrutinised at Westminster.
It empowers legislators to engage with evidence and equips them and their staff with critical skills, including tools to handle uncertainty, identify bias, and scrutinise underlying assumptions.
 

Marine light pollution

Dr Thomas Davies , Associate Professor of Marine Conservation, and Professor Tim Smyth from Plymouth Marine Laboratory (PML) spoke to parliamentarians – including Lord Vallance, Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, and Luke Pollard MP, the MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport – about their pioneering work exploring the effects of marine light pollution.
Since Dr Davies led the first study on the topic a decade ago, they have led studies demonstrating the many and varied impacts of artificial light at night (ALAN). Their work led to the establishment of the Global Ocean Artificial Light at Night Network (GOALANN), which in January 2025 was endorsed by the United Nations as one of its new Ocean Decade Actions.
Dr Thomas Davies and Professor Tim Smyth with Luke Pollard MP
Dr Thomas Davies and Professor Tim Smyth with Iqbal Mohamed MP
Dr Thomas Davies and Professor Tim Smyth with adviser Jeremy Williams
 

Long-term ecological monitoring of offshore aquaculture

Dr Emma Sheehan , Associate Professor in Marine Ecology, Post Doctoral Research Associate Dr Llucia Mascorda-Cabre , and Project Manager Amy Cartwright spoke to attendees – including Minister of State for Science, Research and Innovation, George Freeman MP, and Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee – about their work on restorative offshore aquaculture.
Mussels are considered a crucial source of protein to feed the world’s growing population, and the University has worked for more than a decade with the company behind the UK's first offshore mussel farm. Their research has shown such farms can deliver increased food security and economic resilience, but also have other benefits for the wider marine environment.
Dr Emma Sheehan and Amy Cartwright with Chi Onwurah MP
Amy Cartwright, Dr Emma Sheehan, Dr Llucia Mascorda-Cabre and Luke Pollard MP
Amy Cartwright and Llucia Mascorda-Cabre with George Freeman MP
 

Scaling up climate education in schools

Professor Alison Anderson and PhD researcher Kia Shackleton, from the School of Society and Culture , briefed politicians – including Baroness Brown, Chair of the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, and Baroness Bennett – about the need for a step change in climate education. They also spoke about their work with broadcaster Nick Ross.
Professor Anderson has previously led research with the British Science Association which has shown that seven in 10 young people want to learn more about the changing climate. Her research has also shown how engaging young people meaningfully with issues and practical solutions will motivate them to consider a green career.
Alison Anderson and Kia Shackleton with Nick Ross
Alison Anderson and Kia Shackleton with Baroness Bennett and Simon Opher MP
Alison Anderson and Kia Shackleton with Tom Collins MP
 

Read more about our work with parliament and policy makers

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Public policy

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Our research in parliament

Academics from the International Marine Litter Research Unit and Maritime Cyber Threats Research Group took part in Evidence Week

Parliamentary Evidence Week