Public policy
Providing evidence to support policy-making processes
The University of Plymouth has a prestigious record of engaging with and influencing policy, from legislation on microplastics, to innovation in offshore renewable energy and improving the health of coastal communities.
We work with local, regional, national and international partners across a range of complex policy issues including soil erosion, anti-microbial resistance and digital interventions for people with Parkinson’s disease. Our academics regularly brief Parliamentary Select Committees and All-Party Parliamentary Groups, engage with Government officials, and provide evidence for Government policy consultations and 'POSTnotes' issued to Parliamentarians by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. Policy engagement also occurs through academic membership of National and Regional bodies, such as the Microbiology Society Council and the Integrated Care Board for Devon.
Delivering on the UK’s defence and security priorities
Discover how the University and its partners are enhancing our national resilience in line with the UK's 2025 Strategic Defence Review.
To find out more about public policy engagement at the University of Plymouth, please contact
Dr Rosie Langridge
Following the success of our workshops last year, we are now running four workshops relating to policy engagement and confidence in building your policy network.
Find out more and book your place (UoP log-in required)
Spotlight on policy impact
International Marine Litter Research Unit
Since the first publication on microplastics in 2004, our academics have dedicated much of the last two decades to understanding the global distribution, abundance and environmental impacts of marine plastic pollution.
Their research has influenced policy worldwide, informing the new UN Global Plastics Pollution Treaty. The International Marine Litter Unit (IMLRU) team are now working to provide the evidence to drive a solutions-oriented approach to this global crisis, starting with the design stage of plastics.
Engaging with Policy: information for academic researchers
Our policy engagement toolkit provides academics with information on the policy environment and how policy making works. Providing knowledge and evidence to policy makers can help to change policy and impact substantially on society. Engaging with evidence-based policy making can also help to enhance your research profile to strengthen grant applications.
Public policy news
Satellite monitoring of the world’s oceans is being restricted by legal barriers
New research led by the University found that unclear regulations are preventing authorities from acting on evidence of suspicious vessel activity
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Study provides unprecedented assessment of seabed diversity off the Isles of Scilly
The new findings are the result of work by experts in marine conservation and monitoring from the University of Plymouth
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House of Lords event highlights the challenges facing England’s coastal communities
The event was held to launch a new coastal classification and to showcase data that can be used by local and national policymakers
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Why fathers in prison need to maintain contact with their families
“It helped me stay part of their lives – but some people simply can’t in the current system”
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