POST in the wider world
Role of POST
POST's main role is to advise parliamentarians. However, our publications are available to everyone and are regularly used by the media, business, academia, learned societies, schools, and others. We also operate a number of fellowship schemes in conjunction with professional organisations and research councils.
POST is a leading member of the network of parliamentary organisations throughout Europe (EPTA) sharing information and working on joint projects. We also liaise with science and technology organisations across the world.
POST Africa Programme
Science and Technology (S&T) is an increasingly important area for African Parliaments, which have to deal with complex issues ranging from controlling infectious diseases to the development of national science policies. With funding from the Gatsby Charitable Foundation, POST is running a programme to help African parliaments strengthen their capacity in this crucial area. The programme started in 2008 and will run until mid 2012.
Activities are centred on the Parliament of Uganda and include:
- Conducting detailed research to understand what challenges the Parliament of Uganda faces when dealing with science and technology (S&T). This research has resulted in the publication of a joint report by POST, the Parliament and Uganda, and the Ugandan National Academy of Sciences, with editorial support from INASP , on “the Use of Scientific and Technological Evidence in the Parliament of Uganda”. A press release can be found here, the report's executive summary here and the full report here.
- Training parliamentary staff, to build their skills in providing reliable information on science and technology to their MPs. Staff have been given training on science communication and information literacy and summarising scientific information. Several Ugandan parliamentary staff have spent time in POST's offices in the UK, with the additional support of the Commonwealth Fellowship Scheme.
- Building MPs' interest in science and technology, and strengthening their links with Ugandan scientists. The programme was instrumental in the launch of Africa's first “MP-scientist pairing scheme” in Kampala in 2008, during which pairs of Ugandan MPs and scientists explored issues ranging from maternal health to solar electricity.
The lessons learned from the programme are being shared with many other countries in Africa and beyond. Further details on the programme can be obtained from the programme manager Dr Chandrika Nath.