Submit your proposal to lead a session at our 2026 Conference, In Evidence We Trust.
Our 2026 theme: trust
This year’s conference will explore how trust in evidence is built, challenged, maintained, and used in academic-policy engagement. Proposals should focus on perspectives on trust in evidence, drawing on real-world experience from research, policy, funding, or knowledge mobilisation contexts.
All session proposals should be interactive and participatory.
Guidelines for submissions
We are interested in proposals that address one or more of the following areas:
How trust in evidence works, e.g.
Evidence appraisal and assessing different types of evidence
Engaging with diverse research methodologies, disciplines, and knowledges
Navigating tensions between research rigour and policy needs
Trust in evidence under pressure, e.g.
Standards of trust in evidence in times of crisis or high-pressured situations
Managing uncertainty, ambiguity, or incomplete evidence
The role of knowledge mobilisers in countering assumption, misinformation, and disinformation
Building trust in practice, e.g.
Use of narratives and stories
Relational and long-term engagement practices
Co-productional and collaborative approaches
Democratic accountability for evidence use in policymaking, e.g.
Place-sensitive policymaking and local legitimacy
Public trust in expertise, experts, and institutions
Engaging communities and citizens in evidence-informed decision-making
Session proposals on other topics linked to the conference theme of trust in evidence in academic-policy engagement are welcome.
Proposals are invited from anyone who supports, undertakes, or analyses academic-policy engagement including:
University professional services, including but not limited to knowledge mobilisation / knowledge exchange staff
Policymakers and practitioners, including civil servants, local and regional government staff and Parliamentary staff
Are co-delivered. For example, by academics and policymakers, researchers and knowledge mobilisers, or across institutions and sectors, and which reflect shared perspectives and learning.
Consider Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in both the design and delivery, paying attention to whose voices are centred, how participants are able to contribute, and how power dynamics are acknowledged and addressed.
Demonstrate how learning from the session could be embedded beyond the conference, for example through changes to practice, follow-on collaboration, resources, networks, or a UPEN community of practice.
Session proposals should consider the conference audience, which will be a mix of university professionals, knowledge mobilisers, academics, funders, and people who work in government, Parliament, and other policy organisations.
Sessions may be directed towards a specific audience or designed for a diverse group. The conference team will select sessions to ensure a balance across themes, formats and audiences.
Session leads should be available to present on either conference day.
Proposals do not have to be fully formed at this stage. We are happy to work collaboratively with session leads to shape sessions if accepted.
All accepted sessions are required to produce an output following the conference. This could be a LinkedIn post, blog, video or something entirely different. We are happy to discuss these with you.
Session leads should submit via Microsoft Form by 15 February 23:59GMT.
The form will ask you to outline:
Session lead(s) and details
Your working title
An overview of your session (max 200 words)
Promotional copy (max 100 words)
Your target audience and how your session will be of value to them (max 200 words)
How you intend to run your session (max 200 words)
How you are considering EDI in delivery and, where applicable, content (max 200 words)
