Politics, Academia and the Real World - Professor Meg Russell (UCL Political Science)

Inaugural Lecture - Professor Meg Russell This lecture reflects on politics from the 'inside' and from the 'outside', and the relationships between the two. In contemporary academia 'impact' has become a buzzword, with academics increasingly encouraged to engage with the real world. But if political scientists do so, will anybody listen? Drawing on her own research journey in British and comparative politics, particularly with relation to parliament, Professor Russell argues that closer engagement between political practitioners and academics is highly desirable - but also challenging - in the quest by both groups to comprehend, and shape, the world beyond. Meg Russell joined UCL in 1998 as a Senior Research Fellow in the Constitution Unit. She has worked closely with policy makers throughout her career - prior to joining UCL as a parliamentary researcher and political party employee, and subsequently as an adviser to both government and parliament. Her primary research specialism is the British parliament, and parliaments comparatively, though she has also published on political parties, representation and devolution.