Policy Incubator

The Policy Incubator works to translate research findings into policy interventions, strengthening the OU’s national and international reputation for societally aware, policy-relevant research. It works to strengthen the international reputation, visibility and policy uptake of SSGS and OU research, scholarship and teaching. While drawing on existing expertise in producing policy relevant research and building policy-research partnerships, the incubator works to systematically embed policy relevance and dialogue with policymakers in the Centre’s research through active engagement with policy communities.

GCSJ policy report - May 2026 | Dr Thomas Martin

This policy report by Dr Thomas Martin explores public opinion on national security in the UK through a people-centred approach. Drawing on a nationally representative survey, the report examines how people across the UK perceive security and insecurity, the threats they consider most significant, and their policymaking priorities. The findings challenge narrow state-centric understandings of security, highlighting the importance of everyday experiences and local contexts, while also identifying a notable party politics of national security in the UK. 
Read the Executive Summary of the policy report; 
Read the full report.

GCSJ in Parliament - May 2024

Global Challenges and Social Justice Research Centre held a networking session in Parliament on 22 May 2024 to engage parliamentarians in their research findings. Research into many and varied societal challenges were showcased through a series of stalls and discussions - the briefings for all stalls are available for download below.

• Is the Code of Conduct for MPs fit for purpose? - Dr Alex Barber and Dr Sean Cordell (The Open University)
• Changemakers: Improving young adults' understanding of making political and social change - Dr Donna Smith (The Open University)
• How should the UK engage with China? - Giles Mohan and Filippo Boni (The Open University)
• Criminalising Ecocide: Protecting Ecosystems in Post-Brexit Environmental Law - Jodie Bettis (The Open University)
• A New Approach to Violence Prevention - Keir Irwin-Rogers and Luke Billingham (The Open University), Alistair Fraser and Fern Gillon (University of Glasgow), Susan McVie (University of Edinburgh), Tim Newburn (London School of Economics).
• British soft power in a rapidly transforming Africa: The role of education - Parvati Raghuram and Craig Walker (The Open University) and Manu Lekunze (University of Aberdeen)
• Resisting Russia: Three challenges, three responses - Dr Precious Chatterje-Doody (The Open University)
• Eating real: Nurturing diversity-based food futures (Catalysing transformative food futures for global sustainability (CATAPULT)) - Professor Shonil Bhagwa (The Open University)
• Strategic development of the UK-EU relationship - Simon Usherwood (The Open University)
• Arts based Methods for Migrants' Civic Engagement - Prof. Umut Erel (The Open University)