This article is Part III of III of our POST interview series with Dr Abbi Hobbs. In this final section of the interview, we consider the role scientists should have in governing bodies, and Dr Hobbs offers advice to young scientists who want their research to have a real impact on society.

This article is Part II of III of our POST interview series with Dr Abbi Hobbs. In this next section, we discuss Dr Hobbs’s background and her work in the social science department of POST, the relationship between POST and the European Parliamentary Technology Assessment, and the challenges and demands of research in a political context that expects instant responses.

This is Part I of the GIST POST interview series. If you’re interested in learning first-hand about POST’s role in Parliament, the relationship between science and politics, the peer review process, and the importance of young scientists getting involved and making their research count, make sure you read on.