Y-PERN Chief Policy Fellow Leaving Note: Reflections on 2 years

31 August 2023

Dr Richard Whittle, Y-PERN Chief Policy Fellow

On such a full sea….

It has been just over 2 years since I joined the PERN (later Y-PERN) project, and what a 2 years. The successes are vast and surely only approaching crescendo. To date, Y-PERN academics have published in leading journals, contributed to numerous evidence calls, obtained significant funding, supported the real-world development of evidence based policy, and mentored the next generation of policy engaged academics. We have celebrated new PhDs, early career grants, first publications and trepidatious steps into conference presentations. There have of course been numerous failures, I wouldn’t want anyone reading this to think it has been plain sailing. Competition sometimes trumps collaboration, funders sometimes question our work, editors wonder where we ‘fit’ academically. I am privileged to say the successes outweigh the failures. As I leave Y-PERN and head back over the Pennines, I suspect, I am leaving as Y-PERN only really gets going.

I have often been kindly credited as key to Y-PERN’s success, and whilst these last couple of years have been extraordinarily hard work and amazingly enjoyable, Y-PERN’s success was founded long before my arrival and is based on the tremendous vision and hard work of numerous people. Undoubtedly, I will miss people out here, and I apologise to them, but I wanted to bring attention to those who have supported me and Y-PERN over the last two years. It is these people who have ultimately led to the step change in academic policy engagement we have seen across Yorkshire.

First and foremost, my Y-PERN Co-investigators and Co-directors. Professors Andy Brown and Gary Dymski based at the University of Leeds, and Dr Pete O’Brien, Executive Director of Yorkshire Universities. Andy, Gary and Pete are the foundations of Y-PERN, their vision for how academics can support policy is the culmination of decades of experience. On a personal note, this trio are the best academic and policy mentors one could hope for.

I must also mention Sarah Chaytor, Director of Research policy and Strategy at UCL. Sarah’s support both at my time at UCL and whilst at Leeds University has been invaluable. I have been humbled to receive guidance from the highest levels, both the Mayor of West Yorkshire, Tracy Brabin and the Vice-Chancellor of Bradford University, Professor Shirley Congdon have been key supporters and generous with their valuable time.

Those just beginning their academic journey are equally important, I will draw attention to the stellar work of Dr Chau Chu, a postdoctoral researcher and policy fellow, who began at the same time at me. Dr Chu is one of the best data analysts around, and has been vital in demonstrating Y-PERN’s tangible policy relevance.

The last people I will mention by name are Monika Antal, Kayleigh Renberg-Fawcett, Jo Barham and Sarah Bowes. All of whom have been exceptional in supporting me and Y-PERN. Finally, I would like to thank all the Policy Officers, Policy Professionals, Academics and University Research and Knowledge Exchange Professional who have freely given their time and expertise to make Y-PERN work.

My next steps are homeward bound back to Greater Manchester. My research looks at the impacts of new technology on decision making and I am delighted to have been offered a position at Salford Business School leading a research project investigating AI, dark patterns, decision making and policy. I am honoured to remain a fellow of Y-PERN and will continue to input into a small number of committees and advisory groups across Yorkshire.

I wish my successor, Dr Andy Mycock the best of luck, though I doubt he will need it, and I will continue to watch the careers of the Y-PERN policy fellows with interest. Those involved with Y-PERN are tremendously fortunate, it is a privilege to research so closely with policy and be part of something which is poised for even greater success.

This piece is grandly titled with a snippet of a quote from ‘Julius Caeser’. In full it is:

“There is a tide in the affairs of men,
Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
Is bound in shallows and in miseries.

On such a full sea are we now afloat;
And we must take the current when it serves,
Or lose our ventures.”

I very much believe that Y-PERN is happening at exactly the right time and contributing to a changing picture of academic policy engagement and evidence-based policy. It will continue to be bold, nurturing and special.