You can find the full range of Pandemic and Beyond projects and teams on the website: https://pandemicandbeyond.exeter.ac.uk/

Beyond the Pandemic: Policy and decision-makers urged to join expert sessions to learn lessons for the future

The team behind the Pandemic and Beyond – a national programme of over 70 projects supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – are launching a series of webinars to help policy and decision-makers learn the critical lessons for the future.

Experts from across the UK are joining forces to provide evidence and recommendations on topics ranging from public information and messaging; the role of the arts and creative industries in health and wellbeing; and ethics, law and governance. The first two webinars specifically designed for policy and decision-makers but open to all are:

• Pandemic & Beyond: Ethics, law and decision-making during COVID-19 - Tuesday 8th March 2022 14:00 – 15:00
• Pandemic & Beyond: Communication and messaging during Covid-19 - Tuesday 15th March 2022 14:00 – 15:00

The first session on ethics and law will look at ethics in the treatment of healthcare staff; engaging the public in decision-making; tackling an increase in fraud; best practice and reform of procurement processes; and the equitable distribution of vaccines. The second session on communication and messaging will look at improving public communication and understanding; combating misinformation, disinformation and rumour; engaging migrant and minority communities; managing behaviour on public transport; and addressing shame and stigma.

Professor Pascale Aebischer, from the University of Exeter and national Pandemic & Beyond lead says: “This is a unique opportunity to engage with leading UK experts who have dedicated the past two years to understanding the impact and consequences of Covid-19 policies and decisions, the responses of communities and local organisations and the lessons we can learn for the future. This is a critical moment for policy and decision-makers to reflect and build better solutions for their communities. If you want to know what policies do and don’t work then these sessions are for you.”   

Kristine Zaidi, Associate Director of Programmes at AHRC says: “The Covid-19 pandemic has transformed the way in which we live and work with major lessons for policy and decision-makers. The Arts and Humanities Research Council has invested in outstanding research expertise so that we can ensure that these lessons are taken on board and that we can create a better world beyond the pandemic. Now is the time to study the actions and innovations of the past two years and we urge policy and decision makers across the UK to join these sessions to shape a future based on evidence, experience and expertise.”

You can find the full range of Pandemic and Beyond projects and teams on the website: https://pandemicandbeyond.exeter.ac.uk/

The webinar series will be led by the Pandemic and Beyond team in conjunction with support from Culture Commons who amplify the voices of creative, cultural and research organisations to have an impact on policy at a local, national and international level.

The AHRC funds outstanding original research across the whole range of the arts and humanities and has funded all of the Pandemic and Beyond projects.

Date: 25 January 2022