The second podcast in the series from the TRUUD research programme explores the challenges of translating urban health research into effective government policy and action.

Host Andrew Kelly is in conversation with Professor Sarah Ayres, University of Bristol, and Dr Geoff Bates, University of Bath, about their work on the TRUUD project, specifically examining how to make government take notice of evidence and implement long-term preventative strategies. They discuss the Health Appraisal of Urban Systems model for understanding the costs of unhealthy urban environments, the importance of cross-departmental collaboration, and the potential of devolution and a focus on wellbeing economies.

The conversation also reflects on the impact of COVID-19 and concludes with an optimistic outlook on achieving meaningful change through sustained engagement with civil servants.”

Funded by the UK Prevention Research Partnership which aims to reduce non-communicable diseases such as cancers, type-2 diabetes, obesity, mental ill-health and respiratory illnesses, TRUUD is providing evidence and tools for policy-makers in government and industry.

Find more at the TRUUD website: https://truud.ac.uk/

Books recommended in the episode:

Sarah Ayres:

Managing Complex Networks by Walter Kickert, Erik Hans Klijn, Joop Koppenjan

Managing Uncertainty in Networks by Joop Koppenjan

Geoff Bates:

Muscle: Confessions of an Unlikely Bodybuilder by Samuel Wilson Fussell

Andrew Kelly:

The Child in the City by Colin Ward

Other recommended resources:

About The Green Book from HM Treasury to appraise policies, programmes and projects.

Music credit: New York London Tokyo by Petrenj Music

Produced by Beeston Media.

Policy and governance challenges

ResearchPod