Bringing research into government: Dr Katie Jenkins on her British Academy Fellowship – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Integrating academic insights into government decision-making has become essential as climate risks intensify across communities. Dr Katie Jenkins, through a British Academy Innovation Fellowship, is working to close that gap by focusing on social vulnerability in adaptation planning. Her secondment to the Government Office for Science places her at the intersection of research and policy, where evidence on who faces the greatest risks can shape more targeted responses. This approach builds on her long-standing work modelling the social and economic impacts of heat and drought.
From Academic Roots to Policy Secondment
Jenkins has spent more than fifteen years developing interdisciplinary methods to assess climate consequences, particularly those tied to extreme heat and water shortages. Her connection to the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research began early, after she completed one of the first UK master’s programmes dedicated to the subject at the University of East Anglia. Subsequent roles on projects such as OpenCLIM strengthened her expertise in translating complex data into practical understanding of adaptation needs.
The fellowship, running for twelve months, embeds her within the Climate, Society and International team at the Government Office for Science. Rather than launching entirely new studies, the role emphasises co-design with civil servants to address immediate priorities. She has already delivered teach-ins to share her modelling approaches and identify where her skills align most closely with ongoing work.
Why Social Vulnerability Changes the Picture
Climate assessments have traditionally emphasised physical hazards and exposure levels, showing where impacts are likely to occur. Far less attention has gone to the social factors that determine how severely different groups are affected. Jenkins notes that adaptation measures must account for deprivation, mobility constraints, and reliance on support networks if they are to avoid unintended consequences.
One clear illustration involves urban cooling strategies. Wealthier households installing air conditioning can lower their own overheating risks, yet the waste heat from those units raises surrounding temperatures. Residents without access to such technology then face heightened exposure, widening existing inequalities. Similar patterns appear in flood response, where lack of transport or caregiving responsibilities can prevent timely evacuation even in well-mapped risk zones.
From Inventory to Measurable Outcomes
Before the fellowship, Jenkins developed the UK’s first Adaptation Inventory, a searchable record of real-world actions taken by households and sectors. The database highlights implementation details but also reveals a shortage of data on long-term results. Her current focus includes evaluating social benefits beyond direct economic savings, such as improved biodiversity or health gains from greener spaces created during slope-stabilisation schemes.
These co-benefits could be mapped against vulnerability profiles to guide future incentives. The work explores pathways for assessing effectiveness and encouraging actions that deliver broader community value while reducing targeted risks.
Lessons from Working Inside Government
Operating within the civil service requires a shift toward rapid evidence synthesis rather than open-ended research. Jenkins has found the pace efficient and the resources substantial, with teams handling diverse projects simultaneously. Outputs must speak directly to upcoming policy cycles and identify users who can apply the findings.
The experience has already influenced her perspective on academic work. She plans to carry forward refined approaches to pitching ideas and writing for policymakers when she returns to the Tyndall Centre. This exchange of methods between research and government settings strengthens both sides without requiring entirely new projects.
What matters now
Effective climate adaptation depends on recognising that vulnerability is not uniform. By embedding social evidence in policy design, governments can move from hazard maps to responses that protect those most at risk while delivering wider benefits.