Early Career Researchers at the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance Summit
Three DICE Network+ early-career researchers — Vin Sharma, Megan Clement, and Leifan Lei — attended the Government Digital Sustainability Alliance (GDSA) Summit in February 2026. The summit brought together policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers to address the challenge of making digital infrastructure sustainable without compromising the public services that depend on it. Here, they share their reflections.
Highlights from the Day
The summit covered significant ground, from keynote provocations to panel discussions on circular design and social risk. For Vin, Mike Berners-Lee’s framing of the sustainability challenge as a race between competing tipping points was a standout moment, as was the “Circular by Design” panel, which connected directly to his own research. He was particularly struck by commentary on the cultural barriers to device reuse: “People rejecting refurbished tech simply because it feels like a hand-me-down” — a reminder that organisational change is as much about identity and norms as it is about policy or procurement.
For Megan, hearing from the Minister for Nature Mary Creagh OBE was a highlight: “Hearing from her put into perspective the impact and importance of the research we carry out as academics and how that is interpreted into government legislation and policies. I believe the connections built will have a pivotal impact on my research as I look towards enhancing digital technology in the future.”
Leifan was most engaged by the session on Addressing Social Risks and Maximising Social Value, which aligned closely with her research on how digital platforms can support community collaboration. A key takeaway was that “technology should be human-centred and should create meaningful value for communities and users” — a principle she felt was reinforced throughout the day.
What Practitioners Want Academics to Understand
A consistent theme across all three researchers’ reflections was the gap between academic frameworks and the realities practitioners face. Vin noted that attendees were not debating whether circular economy or net zero matters — they were navigating budget constraints, cultural resistance, and fragmented accountability. One provocation that stayed with him came from Craig Melson from TechUK, whose blunt assessment that transparent supply chains remain “a fantasy” when it comes to modern slavery risks in digital supply chains underscored how far practice still lags behind policy aspiration.
Leifan drew a similar conclusion: policy frameworks can both support and constrain how technical projects develop, and academic research, particularly user-centred research, needs to engage with those constraints rather than design around them. Megan highlighted the importance of life cycle analysis, noting that sustainability considerations must be embedded from the outset of a project, not treated as an afterthought.
Advice for Other Early-Career Researchers
All three offered practical guidance for ECRs attending similar events. Vin recommended arriving with a plain-language summary of your research — not a thesis title, but a one-sentence hook that invites a follow-up question. He also emphasised the value of breaks: “Some of the most useful exchanges happen in the queue for coffee or lunch.” Crucially, he stressed the importance of following up promptly with new contacts, noting that the value of the day depends entirely on what happens next.
Leifan suggested reviewing the programme in advance and attending with a clear question or theme to explore, even if the event does not fully resolve it. Megan echoed this, recommending that ECRs identify a handful of attendees whose work intersects with their own and take the initiative in making contact.
Looking Ahead
The summit offered DICE Network+ researchers both substantive insight and valuable connections — including leads in NHS digital sustainability, MedTech, and social value in procurement. We are grateful to the GDSA for the opportunity and look forward to continuing these conversations.
DICE Network+ ECR Community
The DICE Network+ has a growing early career researcher community of over 50 members. If you would like to join, please email us or visit the ECR Community page for full details.
We’re supporting ECRs through:
- Regular meetings to share research, advice and collaboration
- Dedicated events and skills development, including Summer Schools
- Funding opportunities, including the ECR Access Fund
- Introductions to wider Networks and ECR groups