European Commission: Science Advice and Pandemic Response

In this session we will be joined by Dr Gerjon Ikink, Scientific Policy Officer at the health department of the European Commission, working on health emergency response and vaccines. Before transferring here during the COVID-19 pandemic, he was working in the Commission as Scientific Advisor and Policy Officer in the Scientific Advice Mechanism, with the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors and the Special Advisor to the Commission President on the response to the coronavirus and COVID-19. Join us to hear more about Gerjon's career path and his role in the EU's science advice and pandemic response.

About Meet the Policymaker

The world of policymaking can be a ‘black box’ for many. Who are policymakers and how do they actually ‘make’ policy? How are experts selected for advisory committees? Who can influence policy decisions? Questions like these can make engaging with policy seem a daunting task to take on as a researcher.   

The Policy Impact Unit is running a lunchtime seminar series this Autumn to provide UCL researchers and students with an opportunity to hear first-hand from professionals working in a range of policy roles, including in Government and its agencies, Parliament, Local Government, and in Europe. During the sessions, attendees will hear what it is like to work in a policy role, learn more about how research evidence is used in policymaking and hear how researchers can get involved.