Ana López Antia, a postdoctoral researcher from the Chemometrics for Environmental Omics and Risk Assessment group at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), took part in the third edition of the Pairing Program organized by the Science and Technology Office of the Spanish Congress of Deputies (Oficina C). The program aims to foster knowledge exchange between the scientific community and the legislative branch.
This year’s program selected 10 scientists from 220 applicants representing various universities and research centers. As part of the initiative, the IDAEA researcher spent three days paired with Congressman Javier Alfonso-Cendón, gaining first-hand insight into how parliamentary activities are organized, attending the presentation of this year’s “C Reports,” and contributing to the thematic planning of upcoming reports from the office. The researcher also participated in a training session on the legislative process and how to integrate scientific knowledge into policymaking.
“The experience has been very positive because it gives researchers the opportunity to understand how to communicate our message to the people involved in decision-making. I have learned a lot, and I’m even more convinced of our responsibility as public employees and scientists to transfer knowledge from our research to society and the political agenda,” López Antia explains.
The Science and Technology Office (Oficina C)
The Science and Technology Office of the Congress of Deputies primarily aims to provide the Chamber with scientific evidence on specific topics of interest, contributing to informed decision-making based on available scientific knowledge.
The Office is jointly directed by the Directorate of Studies, Analysis, and Publications of the General Secretariat of the Congress of Deputies and the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT). It is responsible for presenting an annual proposal of potential topics of interest to the Bureau of the Congress of Deputies and for facilitating relationships with the scientific community and society at large.
