Downing Battcock Institute

The new Downing Battcock Institute at the University of Cambridge exists to strengthen bridges between academia and policy. We work to better inform those confronting society’s biggest threats and most persistent challenges with rigorous evidence, global insight, and innovative approaches. We focus on major issues that are ahead of the policy curve, overlooked, or in need of fresh thinking. We also seek to support and nurture a new generation of innovative and evidence-engaged policy entrepreneurs through our internships and skills building activities.

Bridging the gap between academia and policymakers

From our home at Downing College in Cambridge we:  

  • Convene: bring together world-leading scholars, decision-makers and stakeholders for impact-focused policy retreats and other high-level meetings - convening the right voices and the right evidence at the right moment to impact policy decisions.
  • Critically assess evidence & conduct research: consolidate and examine evidence, and where gaps remain, produce new research to better inform policy decisions and shape new approaches.
  • Coach & cultivate: work to develop a new generation of policy entrepreneurs through our internship programmes and ‘evidence into policy’ skills-building activities. 
  • Collaborate: work with policy institutions, funders and stakeholders to amplify our shared impact - from our expert collaborators in Cambridge to a global network in policy and academia.

Who we are 

Dr David Halpern, Director 

Rosa Braune, Head of Programming: rb2171@dow.cam.ac.uk  

Dr Nick Cosstick, Research Assistant: nc518@dow.cam.ac.uk 

Advisory Committee 

The DBI is supported by an expert Advisory Committee comprising leaders in policy, practice, business and academia. The Committee is chaired by Professor Graham Virgo, Master of Downing College, and includes the Institute’s Director among its members.