DARe Hub attends Department for Transport Academic Engagement Event

The DARe Hub had the pleasure of attending the annual Department for Transport (DfT) Academic Engagement Event on the 10 March 2025, in Leeds. Hosted by Professor Sarah Sharples, DfT Chief Scientific Adviser, the event brought together DfT members and academics to discuss current and future engagement strategies.

Professor Sharples spoke about the challenges going forward and the importance of being cognisant of the need to contribute to economic growth. She presented the ‘Missions’ that the Government are working towards (Plan for Change – GOV.UK), and the strategic priorities that relate to transport (5 key priorities – GOV.UK)

The first panel session, chaired by Professor Alison Tomlin (Science Advisory Council member, University of Leeds), focused on the ways academics and DfT members can work and collaborate to support the development of effective policy solutions. Key challenges identified included understanding each other’s visions, pace, and focus, as well as managing mutual expectations. While ministers often seek quick answers, the process of research and evidence-building requires time, and policy advice must be underpinned by solid evidence. The session addressed the uncertainty in decision-making, primarily due to diverse opinions and interpretations. While data and metric-driven approaches were highlighted as valuable tools in the decision-making process, softer factors such as public perception must also be considered. DfT members Dr Annette Pass, Head of Science, Innovation and Technology Division, and Jenny Raynor, Environment and Adaptation Strategy, cited DARe as a good example of successful collaboration.

The next session was dedicated to the UK SHORE (The UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions) project, led by the Clean Maritime Research Hub. Dr Matthew Ball, Head of Maritime Environment Strategy, DfT, and Dr Claire Copeland, Policy Fellow for the CMRH, Durham University, provided an overview of the project that aims to accelerate maritime decarbonisation and drive the UK towards a sustainable shipping future. They discussed the engagement between the DfT and the Clean Maritime Research Hub, emphasising the need for effective communication channels and an understanding of time constraints. While the DfT often operates under strict deadlines, the research team can find these timelines too tight to provide valuable information, especially considering their other commitments, such as teaching.

DfT emphasised that agility and responsiveness to emerging challenges are essential for any academic Hub to be effective. Therefore, they said it is crucial that Hubs prioritise engagement and leverage their position to convene government, industry, and academia to devise viable solutions. Jane Sykes, Joint Head of Energy and Decarbonisation, UKRI EPSRC, commended the DARe Hub as an excellent example of this approach.

Dr James Tichler, Head of Futures and Emerging Technologies, DfT, chaired this panel session focused on the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and data in accelerating the implementation of smart technologies. This session underscored the need for a cultural shift to recognise the value of data in enhancing efficiency and productivity. It also acknowledged challenges such as the fragmented landscape of data, ethical considerations, commercial sensitivities, and equity issues. 

The discussion highlighted several ‘quick wins’ where AI and data can play a pivotal role, including transport network optimisation, data interpretation, transport resilience, and digital twins. 

The final session, chaired by Professor Sarah Sharples, introduced the Areas of Research Interest (ARIs) website. This platform enables users to search for governmental bodies’ research interests and see how your research could address problems and inform government policy through keyword searches.

The audience engaged in a discussion about the website’s use and understanding, exploring case scenarios, benefits, challenges, and barriers.

Overall, the event provided an excellent opportunity for Department for Transport members and academia to come together and discuss the challenges, synergies, and opportunities for communication and engagement between them.