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SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT

A proton collides with a proton The Higgs boson appears at last

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Physics for All Science and engineering students are important for the future of the UK IOP wants to see more people studying physics www.iop.org

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Last years's winter of discontent was indeed made SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT glorious summer by several sons and daughters of York. So many medals in the Olympics were won by scions of Yorkshire that the county claimed tenth place in the medals table, something hard to accept on my side of the Pennines! As well as being fantastic athletic performances the Olympics and Paralympics were stunning demonstrations of the efficiency of UK engineering, and sip the imagination of British science. The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Surely we have good reason to be all eagerly awaiting Andrew Miller MP Committee. Chairman, Parliamentary The Committee is an Associate Parliamentary the announcements from Stockholm of this year's Nobel and Scientific Group of members of both Houses of Prizes? Surely the Higgs boson will be recognised? John Committee Parliament and British members of the European Parliament, representatives of Ellis recently eloquently described the "legacy" of the scientific and technical institutions, industrial hadron collider and we would be missing an important organisations and universities. opportunity if we didn't use it to help inspire the next generation. This point was not missed by John Wormersley, Chief Executive of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, in the excitement of the 4th July announcement. Meanwhile back in Whitehall, David Willetts has made available some funding for the TSB, and also to help Science in Parliament has two main objectives: universities to meet the costs associated with open access 1. to inform the scientific and industrial communities of activities within Parliament publishing. of a scientific nature and of the progress of relevant legislation; However, within a few weeks we will start to understand 2. to keep Members of Parliament abreast of what effect on science admissions the crippling increase in scientific affairs. tuition fees has had. Let us hope that the salaries offered by future employers will enable graduates to meet their obligations!

CONTENTS MARS – A HAPPY LANDING 2 PLUGGING IN 20 INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION 40 Professor John Zarnecki Paul Davies Dr Ellie Dommett LARGE HADRON COLLIDER COMES TO HIV/AIDS AND TUBERCULOSIS IN THE GOLD SCIENCE AND THE DEVOLVED BODIES 41 PARLIAMENT 4 MINING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA 22 SELECTED DEBATES 42 Professor John Womersley Rt Hon Peter Hain MP and Martin Caton MP HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HOW WE CAN MEET THE MEASUREMENT OBITUARY: The Rt Hon Lord Morris of Manchester 24 SELECT COMMITTEE 43 CHALLENGES OF THE COMING DECADE 6 THE QUEEN’S DIAMOND JUBILEE: A CELEBRATION Kamal Hossain HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON OF SCIENCE 25 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 44 MEETING THE NEED FOR PHYSICS TEACHERS 8 Ken Brown, Brian Cox, Paul Glendinning, Natasha Professor Peter Main McCarthy, Nancy Rothwell, Christopher White, Lesley PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 46 BIOLOGY WEEK 2012 10 Yellowlees HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE AND AN UNSCIENTIFIC CAMPAIGN 36 ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: ENVIRONMENT SECTION 48 ARE EU REGULATIONS ADEQUATE? 12 Bradley Keelor SCIENCE DIRECTORY 50 Addresses to the P&SC by Dr Judy MacArthur Clark, NORTHERN LIGHTS 38 Dr Maggy Jennings and Dr Stephen Mitchell Hazel Gibson SCIENCE DIARY 59 PARLIAMENTARY LINKS DAY 2012 18

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MARS – A HAPPY LANDING

The successful landing of inflated around the precious nylon ropes to a gentle landing. NASA’s Curiosity Rover, or Mars payload during the last stages of This technique has been Science Laboratory (MSL) descent. This works well but dubbed the “skycrane” for mission to give it its full name, there is a limit to the mass (and obvious reasons. But why not on August 6th 2012 was truly a therefore size) of payload which use the retro rockets for a slow great feat of space engineering. can be delivered in this way. controlled final descent all the Why, you may ask, as landers With the proposed MSL, we had way down you might ask? Well, and rovers have been delivered already reached that limit. So the exhaust from the rockets to the surface of Mars since as space engineers had to devise a would have thrown up so much far back as 1975. Well, the new scheme – and what they dust and debris from the Professor John Zarnecki answer, at least partly, lies in the came up with did almost seem Martian surface that the delicate Professor of Space Science, size and weight of the MSL. It like science fiction, even to the instruments would have been Planetary & Space Sciences Research Institute, The Open weighs in at a total of 899 kg, University only about 10% less than my car! Previous rovers, for example, . . . the most sophisticated array delivered to the surface of Mars of instruments ever . . . have ranged from a mere 10.5 kg for the Mars Pathfinder up to 185 kg each for the highly designers themselves! It damaged or even destroyed. successful Spirit and Opportunity involved an initial descent under Furthermore, the landing area rovers (although the total a parachute followed by the would have been significantly “landed” masses in all cases was firing of 8 retro rockets when the chemically altered by the rockets slightly greater than the rover payload was about 1 km above – and one of the prime aims of mass). The “traditional” the surface in order to slow the MSL is to carry out a technique for delivering a down the payload further. At this detailed chemical analysis of the package to the surface of Mars point, the designers’ imagination Martian surface. involved an atmospheric braking really took hold – they Because of the novelty of the at the top of the atmosphere developed a system which landing system, there was real followed by a parachute descent involved lowering the precious trepidation in the MSL team at and finally, if required, a fall payload from a height of some NASA and the research institutes cushioned by airbags which are 8 m above the surface on three and in the worldwide Mars community. But the landing . . . carry out a detailed chemical seems to have happened nearly flawlessly – a tribute to analysis of the Martian surface. . . . outstanding design and a meticulous test programme designed to tease out any flaws on the Earth before launch rather than during the real landing!

And what of MSL’s future? It carries the most sophisticated array of instruments ever sent to the Red planet, including some never before deployed there. We want to study Mars for several reasons – it is our near neighbour, made of much the same stuff as Earth and once, in

NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS its early history, much warmer One of the earliest images taken by the Mast Camera on the Curiosity rover from the landing site. It shows and wetter and with a thicker interesting geology on the lower slopes of the nearby Mount Sharp. The region in the middle distance is believed to be an area of sand dunes which the rover will attempt to circumnavigate in order to reach the base atmosphere than now – of Mount Sharp where water is thought to have existed in the distant past. perhaps not too dissimilar to

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early Earth. But somewhere 150 km sized impact crater . . . evolutionary paths of Earth and along the line, the evolutionary formed about 3.5 billion years paths of Earth and Mars have ago as a result of an asteroid Mars have diverged . . . diverged to make them rather impact with Mars. But the target different worlds today. Why? area was much smaller than this to address the above questions. the first controlled landing on That’s just one of the questions – it is an ellipse of 7 x 20 km at The 12 scientific instruments Mars in 1975. can be divided into the following that Planetologsts want to the base of a mountain within At the time of writing, MSL is broad categories: cameras, answer. Secondly, despite us the crater. This region was just coming to the end of its spectrometers, radiation having found exotic selected after painstaking work commissioning phase – all of detectors, environmental sensors environments elsewhere in the by Martian experts worldwide to the instruments and on board and atmospheric sensors. Taking Solar System, (such as certain of select the region most likely to systems, including the robot up nearly half of the entire the moons of Jupiter and show tangible signs of life arm, are being put through their payload is the SAM (Science Saturn), Mars probably still should it ever have existed. This paces. So far, almost everything Analysis at Mars) instrument for region shows distinctive is working to plan – and the presents the best chance of the purpose of analysing Rover has taken its first tentative elements and compounds that “steps”, moving for example are associated with life. Another 15m on Sol 22 (a Sol is a instrument is the ChemCam Martian day). which will employ Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy, a MSL is a NASA mission with technique used in terrestrial two of the instruments coming applications but never so far also from Russia and Spain. But deployed on another planet. UK scientists, because of their This involves firing a laser pulse particular expertise, are well at a suitable rocky target up to 7 represented on the various metres away and then analysing science teams, with formal . . . most likely to show tangible

ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/G. Neukum signs of life . . . One of the many stunning images taken by Mars Express, the European Space Agency spacecraft currently in orbit around Mars. The image shows the Nanedi Valles valley system, probably formed in part by free-flowing spectroscopically the light involvement as participating water. There is plenty of evidence that significant quantities of water produced by the transient scientists from Imperial College existed on Mars in the past. At the present time, water exists in the form glowing plasma cloud that is London and Leicester University, of ice at the Poles, as permafrost below the surface and as vapour in the atmosphere. momentarily generated to and informal involvement from determine the composition of several other institutions. primitive life having existed there evidence that water flowed here the rock. A great advantage of While MSL is doing its work, sometime in the past, during its in the past. A further attraction this technique is that it can be European space scientists and wetter and warmer phase. It is of this region is the existence of performed remotely thus engineers will not be idle not entirely impossible that life layers of exposed rock which allowing for example a rock face, however. Through the European exists there today somewhere should allow a history of this much of which would otherwise Space Agency’s ExoMars below the surface or in some region to be determined. Apart be inaccessible, to be thoroughly programme, carried out in niche protected from the from scientific considerations, analysed by MSL. conjunction with the Russian harmful radiation which bathes engineering and safety issues At the end of the MSL’s agency Roscosmos, they will be the surface. also had to be factored in – lifetime, officially in just under preparing two Mars missions for amongst these, for example, And third is the fact that one two years, it is unlikely that we launch in 2016 and 2018; the was the need to have a day soon (in the next 25 years?) shall get definitive answers to former will involve an orbiter relatively flat and smooth region astronauts will undoubtedly be many of the questions that we and small landing module while to make a safe landing more despatched to the surface of want answered on Mars – the latter will deliver a likely and to aid subsequent Mars – and before we science rarely works like that! sophisticated rover. Even though mobility of the Rover. undertake that tricky task, we But because of the extent and we no longer see canals on need to know all we can about If all goes to plan, MSL will complexity of MSL’s payload, Mars nor worry about invasion Mars, particularly pertaining to explore a region extending to delivered in this novel and by Martians, Mars continues to potentially harmful aspects of some 20 km or so from the daring way, we can expect engage and fascinate both the local environment. landing site, employing its perhaps our greatest “leap scientists and the public alike. extensive range of instruments forward” since Viking 1 made The landing site for the MSL is an interesting story in itself. It is within the Gale Crater, a . . . Mars continues to engage and fascinate . . .

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LARGE HADRON COLLIDER COMES TO PARLIAMENT

Professor John Womersley is the Chief Executive Officer of the Science and Technology Facilities Council, one of the seven UK Research Councils. UK Particle Physics and our participation in CERN is funded by STFC.

Appleton Laboratory). What was While the LHC still has much to clear and gratifying to see from deliver, we can already point to the MPs in attendance was the real impacts from CERN such as wider impact that the LHC was the creation of MRI scanners having on MPs and Peers, many and the world wide web, of whom were being drawn to together with the inspiration for science for the first time thousands of students to study because of it. Perhaps most STEM subjects. pleasing to see was the presence of Parliamentarians We were joined at the event representing constituencies away by representatives of our physics from the big university towns community, including Institute of and cities who were enthused Physics President Sir Peter about science they were Knight and Professor John Ellis discussing and celebrating. In who both spoke at the event. talking to Sir Peter Bottomley MP Commenting on the resurgence Professor John Womersley and Ed Vaizey MP (Worthing West), Andrew of science and physics in our George MP (St Ives), Jim Dowd schools, Sir Peter reported that Like me, I am sure that many to the Houses of Parliament and of you found the news of the held a reception to celebrate the discovery of a Higgs-like particle achievements of their on 4th July 2012 interesting – constituents with MPs and and exciting. Particle physicists Peers. We will be heading to the have been working towards this devolved assemblies in discovery for no less than forty- Scotland, Wales and Northern eight years and it was great to Ireland in the coming months to celebrate our success in do the same. Parliament as the Large Hadron It was great to welcome Collider (LHC) prepares for the many of the Parliamentarians next phase upgrade. who have actively supported the Working alongside the project over the years, such as Institute of Physics and the Andrew Miller MP, Chi Onwurah Professor John Ellis Sir Peter Knight Particle Physics community, the MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP, Science and Technology Facilites Graham Evans MP (whose Council has been touring the constituency includes STFC’s MP (Lewisham West and the number of students country holding exhibitions Daresbury Laboratory), as well Penge) and David Amess MP choosing A-Level Physics has celebrating the UK’s involvement as our parliamentary host, Ed (Southend West) it was clear increased by 10,000 in the past in the LHC. In the first week of Vaizey MP (whose constituency that the opportunity to year, partly because of the September, we took our exhibit includes STFC’s Rutherford understand blue skies science exciting nature of projects such not only as a thing of intrinsic as the LHC. While we still have and academic value, but also as work to do in encouraging more . . . the resurgence of science and a pursuit with the capacity to young females to enter the physics in our schools . . . produce real-life outputs and discipline, this rise is returns to the UK is something nonetheless highly encouraging. appreciated and understood. Professor John Ellis spoke

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passionately about securing the legacy of the Higgs boson discovery and of the UK effort that has gone into making the LHC a success – pointing out the role of British Director- General of CERN, Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, in persuading the Member States to approve construction of the LHC project in 1994; Lyn Evans, who led the LHC construction project; and Dr Lyn Evans and Ann Clwyd MP Sir Peter Bottomley MP and Tim Bestwick Steve Myers who now heads With the LHC now entering the final stages of its 2012 operations before it undergoes upgrade and maintenance throughout 2013, I am delighted that the project has not only delivered science results which have captivated physicists across the globe, but inspired school children to take up physics and Parliamentarians to support our cause. The John Womersley and Gavin Barwell MP Stephen Metcalfe MP and Royal Holloway PhD connection between discovery student, Tim Brooks and inspiration is set to continue. the team operating the LHC so successfully. Needless to say, the man whose name has been synonymous with the project, Professor Peter Higgs is claimed by both the people of Newcastle (where he was born and raised) and Edinburgh (where so much of his work has taken place) as one of their own. All of this demonstrates the UK’s leading role throughout the life of this project. Andrew Miller MP Professor John Butterworth and Julie Hilling MP

At the event, I invited those Parliamentarians present to register their interest in visiting CERN during its downtime in 2013 to see first-hand the awe inspiring science of the LHC. To register your own interest, please contact STFC Public Affairs on 01235 778082

Dr Beth Taylor and Andrew Miller MP Professor Phil Allport, Andrew Miller MP and Professor John Butterworth

FRONT COVER: Image of the result of a proton-proton collision event detected by the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. This is superimposed on a photograph inside the 27km circumference LHC tunnel located 100m beneath Switzerland and France, where beams of particles are accelerated to velocities close to the speed of light, at temperatures near to absolute zero, before being collided into one another.

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How We Can Meet The Measurement Challenges Of The Coming Decade

support UK innovation. In What will this mean outside reliability of these systems and today’s age of austerity this is research laboratories like NPL? If provide investors with the essential – we need to be sure we examine the three areas we confidence to bring about a step that what we are working on will believe will drive research into change in security of supply and help to meet the challenges of the 2020s, we can show how consumption. the not too distant future. metrology can address these Measurement will help with Decisions on where to focus challenges through real world new structural health monitoring activity are not made lightly. Our applications. techniques which could identify vision is based on consultations A SUSTAINABLE LOW- micro-scale and chemical with stakeholders in changes – underpinning the Kamal Hossain CARBON ECONOMY Director of Research and Government, industry and the long term accuracy and integrity International at the National research community – including Monitoring the state of the of structures. Similarly, traceable Physical Laboratory (NPL) our own world class scientists. planet measurement will provide the From these discussions we have Our need to monitor the parameters associated with new identified that technological generation fission plants, Measurement is important. It Earth will drive measurements progress in the 2020s will be particularly in materials, has a critical role in sustaining a of climate and the environment. driven and constrained by the temperature and neutron fair, efficient and technological We need to be able to monitor need to achieve the following: fluence. society. Whether you are accurately the changes in our developing new products, • A sustainable low-carbon climate, to be able to assess SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, services and processes, or economy how policies to address this are INNOVATION AND R&D looking to trade successfully working. Autonomous, self- • Innovation through scientific INTENSIVE GROWTH internationally, you will rely on calibrating and self-validating discovery measurement and an networks of sensors will help us Big science established infrastructure of • The well-being and security of to achieve this – measuring Metrology is critical to the traceable measurements linked the citizen atmospheric and ocean successful delivery of large-scale seamlessly to internationally composition as well as land and basic science or high investment As one of the top three recognised standards. The UK’s sea temperature. R&D. These will be the most National Measurement Institutes leading measurement laboratory, ambitious projects of the future, (NMIs) in the world, the work This could include traceable NPL, needs to assess thoroughly aimed at pushing the we do with academia and data publicly accessible in real what the future metrology needs boundaries of science and industry is at the cutting edge of time via embedded sensors in of our society are, and plan technology to meet society’s contemporary metrology. mobile devices or cars, helping accurately to meet them. challenges. Through this activity, NPL and its individuals to monitor and In the 1950s Louis Essen led partners have an understanding minimise their personal An example is deep space a team to develop the first of what the future needs of exposure. Also, improved exploration. Accurate navigation atomic clock at NPL. At the time measurement will be. We know measurement through the new would need atomic clocks to be none of them could have the state of the art across all quantum SI could provide direct stable to better than parts in known how far their work would areas of metrology and what traceability for Earth observation 1017 to ensure that expensive impact on our everyday lives, potential there is for progression. systems at uncertainties of missions safely reach their providing timing for GPS, mobile We have an idea of the type of 0.01%. intended targets. Another phones and the internet more new technology emerging over example is cyber security. than half a century later. the next 10 years and what end Efficient and diverse energy Through the use of single- However, for our work at NPL to users will expect of it. Perhaps, More efficient energy and a photon measurement continue to underpin prosperity most importantly, we know how more diverse supply are key to technologies we could enable and quality of life in the UK, we all of this interacts with the achieving ambitious targets quantum key distribution over need to make informed metrology supply chain from the around carbon reduction and existing fibre networks that will decisions about where we SI units to measurement maintaining security of supply. provide the ultimate in secure should direct our work to systems. Measurement will ensure the communications.

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The future factory individuals. A further example is TAKING THE VISION industry and academia to help The future factory will be a accurate and reliable FORWARD us refine further our vision. smart facility where design and implantable multi-analyte Our vision is not carved in An online version is available manufacture integrate into a sensors with operating lives of stone. It is open for discussion for comment, together with a years rather than weeks. single process that enables and debate, and can only be series of questions at: bespoke products to be Managing key resources and developed further in partnership www.npl.co.uk/2020vision accurately fabricated on infrastructure with our customers, stakeholders demand. By the mid-2020s the and collaborators. We welcome Measurement will need to planet’s population will surpass contributions from the assess and guarantee the fit, eight billion which will present a parliamentary community, performance and functionality of challenge in terms of managing every part. Metrology will also resources such as food and support the interconnection of water and stretching the lifetime THE FOUR THEMES WITHIN WHICH THE these new factories to form an of infrastructure. NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY (NPL) independent industrial base that Measurement is critical in BELIEVE METROLOGY WILL DEVELOP IN THE merges production and R&D accurately monitoring the status 2020s: and achieves the lowest energy of resources, and ensuring we consumption and environmental move to a more sustainable 1. The new quantum SI impact possible. future. Microbial and Traceability of measurement results to National This could result in machine temperature sensors in food Measurement Institutes like NPL are the tools that calibrate themselves packaging using remote data cornerstone of metrology. By introducing the new with traceability to the SI and acquisition could assess food quantum SI we will see several units revised and can be used as in-situ metrology quality to prolong shelf life and redefined, removing the last physical artefacts and devices for factories around the help reduce waste and shortage fixing values to fundamental physical and atomic world producing parts in parallel of supply. Measurements can be constants enabling the chains of traceability to be and monitored and controlled integrated over wide areas of substantially shortened and support research at the via a customer’s design soil fertility, carbon content, vanguard of scientific and technological department. biodiversity, water retention development. THE WELL-BEING AND capacity, and contaminants with 2. Measurement at the frontiers quality of water and air to SECURITY OF THE As science advances it naturally takes measurement mitigate the linked risk of food CITIZEN with it driving the need for new capabilities that go shortages and climate change. beyond what we can currently measure. In the next A healthy population WHAT WILL THIS MEAN 10 years this is expected to include measuring Future healthcare systems TO THE MEASUREMENT everything from the atomic to the extremely large, will provide personalised COMMUNITY? measuring in extreme and harsh environments, in medicine tailored to the needs the presence of interference and at timescales from of individuals. They will increase Metrology in the 2020s will attoseconds to millennia. health and well-being lead to some basic changes in throughout their life using point how the research and capability 3. Smart and interconnected measurement of care diagnostics, better- we develop reaches users. The availability of networked information will enable targeted therapies, and 24/7 new capabilities in computing, software and The services that NPL and assessment of critical patient communication technologies. It will be driven by other NMIs deliver could parameters and health new sensors developed on quantum-, bio- and eventually be superseded by indicators. nano-technologies being integrated into self-calibrating portable measurement networks, integrating data from To make personalised standards that enable in-site myriad systems and enabling calibration across diagnostics that are both traceability. NMIs may move networks. economically viable and clinically towards delivering traceable effective, new measurement measurements to end users 4. Embedded and ubiquitous measurement techniques must provide the seeking to achieve traceable New products and systems will have in-built knowledge to underpin them. measurements in harsh or metrology capability. This will be embedded into One example of this in practice challenging situations. As a machines at the design stage and will be easily is calibrated diagnostic devices result, this will see a shift from accessible through functionality, ensuring that critical directly connected to knowledge traditional traceability models to measurement systems will be permanently on and databases and treatment plans a problem solving approach that always calibrated. to provide therapeutic utilises the expertise of interventions tailored to measurement scientists.

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MEETING THE NEED FOR PHYSICS TEACHERS After a longstanding shortage of specialist physics teachers, recruitment is increasing. But there’s still work to be done

A good teacher can be a powerful influence on students’ minds, nurturing abilities that are used not only throughout the school years but also far beyond. The Institute of Physics is pleased, then, that the future is starting to look a lot brighter for the recruitment of physics teachers.

The subject had suffered a Over the past five years or There are several things that shortage of specialist teachers so, however, teacher recruitment we believe have contributed to for a long time. Where it would has been on the rise. Last year the growth in the number of Professor Peter Main have taken 450 new teachers saw the largest number of trainee physics teachers. The first Director, Education and Science, Institute of Physics qualifying every year just to keep people starting physics-teaching is increased marketing activity on the already woefully low number courses for 30 years, and initial university campuses, directly of active physics teachers level, figures suggest that that number promoting physics teaching as a only around 400 people were will be surpassed once again career choice to undergraduates being recruited into physics this year for another record in physics and engineering. teaching. On top of this, many number of new trainee physics The second is the creation of leave within five years and only teachers. half of them will remain after 13 new teacher-training The setting of separate years. The situation has been scholarships, funded by the targets for the recruitment of compared to a bath with the Department for Education and physics, biology and chemistry plug out and the taps only half administered by the Institute. teachers, rather than “science” on, and it left around 500 state The scholarships are worth teachers, may have helped, schools in England without any £20,000 each to graduates with having been recently introduced specialist physics teacher at all. a first- or upper-second-class by government following degree, and 115 of them were This matters. Specialists have longstanding campaigning by offered out of 550 applicants. been shown to teach higher- the Institute. But, interestingly, quality lessons, on average, this increase has not been As well as increasing the compared with non-specialists. matched in the other sciences – number of trainee teachers, With good teaching a recruitment of biology teachers another aim of the scholarships prerequisite for educating a is roughly static while numbers – and one that the Institute future generation of physicists for chemistry and for maths shares with the government – and engineers to maintain the have fallen. Something is was to attract more graduates UK’s strong science base, and different in the case of physics, with high academic the importance of physics to the and we think it is the result of achievement. They have been country’s economy generally, work by IOP along with the successful in doing so: the this could add up to a serious Teaching Agency and proportion of overall applications problem. Department for Education. from graduates with these top . . . Something is different in the case of physics, and we think it is the result of work by IOP . . .

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degrees has increased from around 40% to 60%. In turn, the increase in the academic quality of applicants has helped to increase the prestige of teaching as a career – so that it is seen more and more as something that the best and brightest graduates choose to do.

Finally, the Institute has taken steps to remove one of the possible barriers to recruitment – the requirement to generalise. Because the individual disciplines of physics, chemistry and biology are lumped together under the umbrella of “science” in schools, prospective teachers . . . For the first year of these new teacher-training of physics also have to train to teach one of the other subjects. courses there were more than 300 applications. . . This can be off-putting – many physicists won’t have studied difficult to quantify, but we do to train as teachers of maths, for number of new teachers is biology themselves since the know that around a quarter of which they are eminently approaching that target. It will age of 16. The exact number of the physics graduates who enter qualified , rather than their own need continuing support from potential teachers it puts off is the teaching profession choose subject. The solution was to policymakers if it is going to be allow them to train to teach achieved. We therefore welcome physics with maths rather than the Department for Education’s with one of the other sciences decision to continue funding the and in 2012, pilot courses were joint teacher-training launched by the Teaching scholarships programme for a Agency . Not only were these further year. We also hope that removing one factor that puts combined physics and maths off physics graduates, but they teacher-training courses are were also designed to attract continued and developed to engineers, who come with a meet the demand which we have seen is there. very similar set of skills to those of physics graduates – but who Our goal is a realistic one, are usually even further from and an important one. If we can chemistry and biology in terms raise and maintain teacher of their training. For the first year recruitment to the desired level, of these new teacher-training as we believe the recent courses there were more than changes will, then the UK can 300 applications. count on having enough physics teachers to produce a All this work has generated a scientifically literate population, a marked improvement in the highly skilled workforce, and a recruitment of physics teachers. science base that is among the But there is still some way to go best in the world. before we can consider it a job done. To reach teacher numbers at the same level as biology and chemistry – around 10,000 teachers of each, across England’s state schools – we need to see 1000 physics teachers recruited annually. The

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The first ever Biology Week is being held on 13-19 October, organised by the Society of Biology.

Biology Week will inspire SHOULD WE SAVE THE Biology Week invited panellists people of all ages and PANDA? and members of the public will backgrounds with the fascinating discuss whether the panda’s As one of the world’s most science of biology, and give extinction is inevitable or charismatic species, the panda is everyone the chance to get whether we should continue the arguably one of conservation’s involved with life science events. fight to save it. greatest success stories. After These are taking place around years of decline the panda You can have your say about the UK, including an attempt to population is thought to be whether ploughing resources set the world record for the increasing. New reserves have into the panda is taking largest memory game, and a been created, poaching and resources away from more debate on whether we should illegal logging have been worthy causes, or if the attention save the panda. reduced, and conservation the panda receives, and the Biology Week will become an projects have helped people reserves it lives on, benefit annual celebration of biology, and pandas coexist. global conservation. Cast your and its launch is being vote at www.societyofbiology. But at what price? Could the celebrated in the House of org/panda resources used to protect Commons, organised by the pandas be put to better use Society of Biology, in partnership HOW BIOLOGY CAN elsewhere? Insects and plants with the Biotechnology and SAVE THE WORLD attract less attention, but often Biological Sciences Research Biology is at the heart of have a far greater impact on the Council (BBSRC). MPs and many challenges we now face, health of humans and Peers have been invited to the from food security, to species ecosystems. Churchill Room on 17 October extinction, and from climate from 7pm-9pm. In a special debate during change to an ageing population. Arabidopsis embryo ᮊRicardo Randall The Society of Biology’s 2012 photography competition was themed ‘how biology can save the world’, and received thought-provoking photos of biological problems and solutions. The winner will be announced in an awards ceremony during Biology Week and the other shortlisted entries will be on display at the Parliamentary launch and can also be seen at www.societyof biology.org/newsandevents/phot ocomp/2012winners

Water shortages and contamination are set to be huge problems globally, and Microbial Ecology lab ᮊMohammad Moniruzzaman biological research to reduce the

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impact includes development of FLYING ANT SURVEY Alongside the game, drought-resistant crops and resources for adults and school Flying ant day is one of the research into water-borne pupils are available on the greatest spectacles of the British diseases. Khalid Rayhan Society of Biology’s website. To summer, and for many people Shawon’s photo from Gabura, learn more about how the brings back memories of sunny Bangladesh shows the villagers’ memory works you are invited afternoons during the school solution to drinking water: rain. to visit www.societyofbiology. holidays. To turn people’s The village was submerged in org/memorygame anecdotes into a scientific study, Cyclone Aila, 2009, and since the Society of Biology launched then salt has left the water REGIONAL EVENTS a flying ant survey, and the undrinkable. Black Garden Ants, ᮊPhilip Gould Charities, learned societies, science centres, schools and “After such a wet summer it was universities have partnered with wonderful to see so many flying the Society of Biology to run ant reports coming in, their own Biology Week events. interestingly starting at a very Here are three snapshots of similar time to last year. We what is going on. expect flying ant day to be different around the country, and In Scotland, researchers from we’re really interested to learn Glasgow University and more about this.” Strathclyde University will be demonstrating their exciting Despite its size, the black research at the Glasgow Science garden ant has a huge impact Centre. This will include on our countryside, from interactive activities, objects to Gabura, Bangladesh ᮊMd. Khalid Rayhan Shawon improving soil fertility to handle and the opportunity to pollination and pest control. Ants As biologists tackle the results from 2012 will be ask lots of questions. are also important as food for challenge of feeding a growing presented during Biology Week. wildlife; many people are alerted At the Society of Biology’s population, basic research is Most ant swarms seen in the to the presence of flying ants by offices in London, scientists and needed into plant genetics and UK are the black garden ant. the sound of feasting gulls and policy officers will discuss the physiology. Ricardo Randall used Throughout the year it is swifts. future of research careers at an fluorescence confocal common to see the workers, event organised with the microscopy to photograph an Dr Mark Downs, CEO of the sterile females collecting food Biochemical Society and the embryo of an Arabidopsis plant Society, commented: “The for the nest, but each summer British Ecological Society. – a species widely used for support we have had from there is a spectacular laboratory research. Imaging scientists and members of the Throughout the week the emergence of flying ants. These seeds this way reveals public has been amazing and Marine conservation charity are males and young queens information about the cellular we’ve had over 6,000 records of ORCA will be organising leaving the nest for their mating structure of embryos lacking flying ants. We could never workshops for schools about flight. Having mated, the new certain genes. This can help collect this kind of data without British whales and dolphins. queens will drop their wings identify genes used to make the help of amateur recorders.” and found their own colony. To find out what is happening bigger seeds, and can tell us WORLD RECORD in your constituency please visit why germination times are The survey has been ATTEMPT http://www.societyofbiology.org/ different in plants lacking designed to reveal whether newsandevents/events particular genes. Germination of flying ant day is the same across At 2.30pm on Friday 19 seeds can lead to farmers the UK, and study how it is October, the Society of Biology having to throw away produce. connected to the weather. It is is aiming to set the record for important that the mating flights the world’s largest memory Microbial ecology provides are synchronised between nests game. At venues around the UK valuable information about the because the ants need to and beyond children and adults role of microorganisms in maximise the chances of will spend 10 minutes testing climate change, and research meeting ants from other their memories, and will learn contributes important colonies with which to mate. about the intricate science of the information to help mitigate the brain. In order to claim the title, effects of climate change. Dr Adam Hart, an ecologist the Society needs over 1,000 Mohammad Moniruzzaman’s and insect expert at the people from at least 10 venues photo shows a graduate student University of Gloucestershire, is to take part. studying algae in a Microbial working with the Society of Ecology laboratory. Biology on the survey. He says: Student with dolphin skull. ᮊORCA

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ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: ARE EU REGULATIONS ADEQUATE? Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday 12th June ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: Are EU Regulations Adequate?

INTRODUCTION amendments to the Bill are not benefit from scientific advances, possible during either debate, but also to be reassured that Over the last four years, I and we have to present to animals are not suffering my colleagues in the Animals in Parliament the best possible unnecessarily. Furthermore, Science Regulation Unit (ASRU) proposal, balanced to carry the there is strong evidence to show in the Home Office have been widest support. that good animal welfare leads heavily engaged first in to better scientific outcomes. negotiating the new Directive To achieve such regulatory (2010/63/EU) to protect balance, we follow a simple NO REDUCTION IN animals used in research, and principle illustrated in the WELFARE STANDARDS Judy MacArthur Clark CBE MRCVS then in ensuring the proper diagram. Head, Animals in Science Given this need for balance, Regulation Unit, Home Office implementation of that Directive into UK legislation. much of the new legislation will continue the strong regulatory The process of negotiation control we currently exercise. A took two years and was starting principle has been “If it completed on 10 November ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Hence, 2010 when the Directive came regulatory processes which into force. Thus our new UK currently work well will remain legislation has to be on the largely unchanged. Where statute book by 10 November current UK standards are higher 2012 – no time to spare given Figure: The ASRU Regulatory than those in the Directive, we the various steps we need to Balance have used Article 2 to retain have completed to ensure the those higher standards. However new legislation has the support we have also sought ways to not only of Parliament but also On the one hand, it is simplify the regulations where of our other stakeholders. This essential to ensure that we have perceived no welfare community covers the full bureaucracy and rules do not cost in so doing. spectrum of interests from those become so burdensome as to who are licensed to perform inhibit scientists from proposing One example is the personal research procedures on animals scientific projects which will licence. We have opted to retain to those who are morally address important questions. We the control which a personal opposed to any use of animals still need to understand better licence offers but to propose in research. Quite a challenge! diseases for which we do not significant simplification of the yet have effective therapies. On content. Current personal Since we are not attempting the other hand it is important to licences contain detailed lists of to make any revisions to the law ensure that animals do not permitted techniques and other than those required by the suffer unnecessarily, and that consequently often require Directive, we are able to amend only soundly justified projects regular amendment. However, the 1986 Animals (Scientific are authorised to go ahead. these lists are no guarantee of Procedures) Act as a Statutory competence. By placing the Instrument under the European Thus the legislation needs to responsibility for ensuring Communities Act. This involves ensure a careful balance the “affirmative resolution between the needs of the competence squarely on procedure” requiring the science and the needs of the establishments (through the approval of both Houses. Since animals. It is this balance newly created role of named between science and welfare individuals responsible for . . . animals do not suffer which provides the public with training, supervision and confidence in the regulatory competence), we have created unnecessarily . . . system. The public wants to a system which is less

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Both these topics will require plan to appoint a Chair by the . . . The public wants to benefit detailed consultation involving all end of this year as well as some from scientific advances . . . stakeholders to ensure we take members shortly thereafter. the right steps. We plan to do No debates can take place this once the current pressure bureaucratic, more effective at a expressed about the role and during the summer recess but for new legislation is relieved, local level, and can be membership of the Animal these will occur soon after both commencing during 2013. monitored by inspectors. Welfare Body under the Houses have returned in mid- Directive. We envisage this role In addition, we are aware that October. Meanwhile we are A second example is the being similar to that currently documents such as a new working through a range of protection for embryonic fulfilled by our Ethical Review Guidance to the Act and Code transitional arrangements to mammals, birds and reptiles Processes and we will retain of Practice can be readily ensure that, by January 2013, which will in future be limited to updated, using modern existing authorities are either the last third of gestation since Guidance to this effect. technology, in the light of deemed to continue or have there is no evidence of The Code of Practice for experience and new knowledge. been amended. sensitivity prior to that point. housing and care of animals will We therefore aim to create both Finally we are conscious of Many other standards will be retain all the current UK higher these as ‘living documents’, the need to communicate strengthened. The ban on the standards but it will be written in accessible electronically and frequently and effectively with all use of great apes will continue. a way which clarifies those subject to regular review. our key stakeholders who will be Likewise, the current upper limit requirements which are directly affected by the new on permissible severity will mandatory. WHAT STILL NEEDS TO regulations. In addition to the remain. However prohibition of BE DONE? Finally, we will not permit the many consultations outlined both will now be part of the Act use of neuromuscular blocking In May 2012, we published above, and our regular meetings and it will not be possible to use (paralysing) agents without the government’s response to with all our stakeholder groups, any of the safeguard clauses in appropriate anaesthesia and the 2011 public consultation on we have triggered a series of the Directive without the specific analgesia and then only by implementing the Directive. This special newsletters to those agreement of Parliament. specially trained individuals. outlined our proposed approach holding certificates of Special protection for cats, and the draft regulations, which designation to ensure that they WHAT WILL CHANGE aim to implement this approach, and their colleagues are fully dogs, horses and primates will LATER? continue to be a feature of our were published in July. We have prepared for the changes ahead. now completed the Regulatory new legislation. This will mean A few features of the new This is a very busy time but I Impact Assessment and, also in that any projects using these regulations can be implemented am confident that, in January July, it received a ‘green flag’ species will have to be later. For example, a key aim of 2013, we will all be ready for from the Regulatory Policy especially justified and will be the Directive is to increase the transition to our amended subject to retrospective transparency about work which Committee. We will publish that Animals (Scientific Procedures) assessment towards the end of is performed under licences. assessment shortly. Act. Furthermore, in answer to the project. No use of stray cats Our current approach is Meanwhile, we are the question in my title, I am and dogs will be permitted and compliant since we currently ask completing the draft regulations equally confident that the EU this will now be prohibited by for lay abstracts of each and gaining approval from the Directive, as it is being the Act. By contrast, the use of authorised project. We currently Home Affairs Committee, the implemented in UK legislation, feral domestic animals may be have no powers to enforce this Reducing Regulation Committee will not lead to any reduction in permitted but only under very whereas, under the new Act, we and the Joint Committee on welfare standards. Indeed, we strict controls and largely for will be able to require detailed Statutory Instruments. At the have successfully found ways to their benefit. non-technical summaries for all same time, we are drafting minimise much of the Many questions have been projects. We will publish these. Guidance to the Act and will be bureaucracy of our current system of authorisation while asked about the role of the Nevertheless we are sharing this with stakeholders retaining our high standards of Inspectorate under the new Act. committed to reviewing Section shortly to seek their views. The Directive introduces welfare. 24 of ASPA (the so-called We published a draft Code of inspection in all Member States ‘confidentiality clause’) and to Practice late last year and, based I am grateful to all our but at a lower minimum than considering an extended range on the feedback, we are stakeholders, as well as my we practise in the UK. We of penalties which can be currently completing a final draft. colleagues in ASRU, for guiding intend to continue our current applied. Under RESA (the We are also drawing up a this balance. It is through approach to inspection, based Regulatory Enforcement & working protocol for the new achieving this balance that we on risk, and are committed to Sanctions Act) we may have National Committee, based on are able to reassure the public maintaining a well-resourced and to retain their confidence. additional sanctions available to advice from stakeholder and professional inspectorate. us such as monetary fines for discussions and from the Animal Likewise, concern has been infringements. Procedures Committee, and we

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ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: ARE EU REGULATIONS ADEQUATE? TRANSPOSITION OF THE EU DIRECTIVE: Backwards, Forwards or the Status Quo? The RSPCA has been closely involved with the revision of the Directive and currently participates in the European Commission’s expert working groups drawing up guidance for some member states on some of the more complex issues. If implemented properly, the Directive should make a positive difference for animal welfare in many member states. However, it is weaker than the UK Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 (ASPA) in places, so simple ‘copying out’ could reduce UK standards in a Dr Maggy Jennings OBE Research Animals Department, number of areas. This would be to the detriment of animal RSPCA welfare, public confidence and ultimately the UK science base.

Many of the RSPCA’s the transposition process to clearer picture to the public of concerns about reducing UK improve on what we have. the levels of suffering that standards were shared by animals experience. colleagues in the scientific RETROSPECTIVE community. The Home Office ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATION, TRAINING has responded positively and ACTUAL SUFFERING AND COMPETENCE we are pleased that the ASPA The Directive requires the full The need for achieving, now appears to be retaining lifetime experience of the animal demonstrating and maintaining much of what it currently has – to be taken into account when competence is a key although we have yet to see predicting harms, and classifies requirement in the Directive and what the final texts of the levels of suffering into mild, will mean additional revised legislation, Codes of moderate and severe. It also responsibility for implementation Practice and Guidance actually introduces a new concept – a at the local establishment level. say. requirement to assess and If taken seriously, it could mean We do still have concerns report the actual harms suffered major improvements to both over specific issues such as by animals rather than the animal welfare and science. primate use, licence predicted harms, as is currently Although UK legislation already amendments, increased severity the case. This should encourage requires staff to be ‘competent’ levels, potential use of closer focus on individual in the procedures they neuromuscular blocking agents animals’ experiences and undertake, there are problems in (that paralyse animals but have provide a driver for better some establishments, where no anaesthetic or analgesic recognition, assessment and some scientific staff seem not to effect) without anaesthesia, re- hence alleviation of suffering. It understand or accept the need use, and the use of animals for will supply information to to spend time gaining an training. However, for this paper, prioritise procedures for appropriate level of training for I will focus on areas where refinement, and, if done the sake of their science, let there is an opportunity to use honestly, will present a much alone for animal welfare.

. . . the Directive should make a positive difference. . .

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The Commission wants The functions of the AWB consistent standards of training roughly map on to the ERP, but . . . additional responsibility for the key issue is whether it and competence across the EU. implementation . . . This requires definition of should consider project licences training objectives, learning before submission to the Home Office. Some have lobbied hard like to see establishments give be interpreted as similar to the outcomes, competence criteria, to have this function removed, more thought as to how they APC, although it must also criteria for reassessment, record considering it an unnecessary select and train their members ‘ensure sharing of best practice’ keeping and roles and duplication and extra and to be more adventurous in which is new. It must also responsibilities – a significant bureaucratic step in the licensing selecting lay participants. ERPs exchange information on would also benefit from greater operation of AWBs and project task, on which an EU expert process. However, most people focus on issues other than just evaluation, and share best working group is working, with find the ERP extremely helpful, project review, eg reducing practice within the EU. The ASPA relevant UK organisations provided the establishment severity, aseptic surgery, defines the APC membership, playing leading roles. understands that the review is environmental enrichment and requiring at least 12 members 3Rs activities. They will need to (including those with . . . full lifetime experience grapple with the reality of appropriate biological of the animal . . . retrospective assessment of qualifications, eg medics and suffering and will also need to vets, with at least one accommodate a completely new barrister/solicitor/advocate) plus MAINTAINING intended to be from a local requirement stemming from the the chair, but the Directive does EFFECTIVE LOCAL ERPS perspective; knows what it Directive – to communicate with not go into this detail, nor does should be trying to achieve; and the new National Committee. it require the interests of animal Probably the RSPCA’s biggest sets up a well designed and welfare to be “adequately concern throughout the efficient process that will add transposition process was that THE NATIONAL represented” as in the APC. value. Most establishments COMMITTEE the UK would lose the local therefore want to keep their The APC runs on a shoestring Ethical Review Process (ERP) in ERPs because of the benefits, The National Committee and the Government has said it: its current form. ERPs were set shared responsibilities and (NC) will replace the Animals “…assume[s] no additional up in 1998 as a local framework greater public accountability they Procedures Committee (APC). resource…” for the NC. This is a “…to ensure that at a local level bring. This will be even more The APC provides independent, all use of animals is carefully important in the future, given strategic advice to the Secretary considered and justified; that the greater responsibility relevant of State and in doing so must . . . The Commission proper account is taken of all to existing ERP functions that is have regard to the legitimate possibilities for the 3Rs and that likely to be expected at an requirements of science and wants consistent high standards of accommo- establishment level. industry and to the protection of standards . . . dation and care are achieved”. ERPs deal with ethics, welfare, 3Rs and public accountability, . . . better define their objectives . . . pity because now is the time for provide advice and support to a serious review of what a body It is therefore most welcome animals against avoidable staff, and have an educational like this should deliver, but that the government plans to suffering and unnecessary use. and awareness-raising role. They progress will be stifled with “align legislation and guidance Its advice covers: codes of are highly valued, and when set insufficient resource. There are as closely as the Directive allows practice, specific project licence up well, have a very positive several challenges including: applications, infringements, impact at establishment level. to current arrangements for the doing something useful that development of alternatives, There are similar processes in ERP including its membership, adds value in a reasonable time enhancement of welfare and many countries in Europe and functions and title”, although at frame; achieving a balanced contentious issues or reports. It we had hoped that some form this stage we do not know what committee of people who are also has, or should have, a of ethics committee would be the final text of the legislation prepared to contribute time and function in public accountability. formalised in the Directive. and Guidance will say. Looking energy; opening avenues of Unfortunately, the concept of to the future, it is important that The role of the NC is to communication that do not exist ‘ethics’ was lost and replaced the project review function advise the Competent Authority (with ERPs, EU National with an Animal Welfare Body remains, with the emphasis on and AWBs on acquisition, Committees) to share best (AWB), with a reduced remit local issues. ERPs could better breeding, accommodation, care, practice; deciding how to make and membership, lacking the define their objectives and and use of animals, which could judgements on what ‘best range of expertise and outcomes, and how these are perspectives that enables the monitored, and develop more . . . information to prioritise ERP to make its positive challenging and constructive procedures . . . contribution. discussion of projects. We would

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practice’ is; and developing an a ‘level playing field’ within informative and interactive . . . some form of ethics committee . . . Europe. It is very hard to public face. A well thought out understand why one might want ‘protocol’ of what it will do, and role in reviewing licences, To conclude, the UK has a to compromise UK standards, how, would be helpful. assessing compliance, providing good piece of legislation in the especially since it is recognised expertise and advice and ASPA, with a history of world that better animal welfare HOME OFFICE implementing many of the leadership in laboratory animal means better science and that INSPECTORATE improvements for animal science and welfare and in high standards make good welfare that we want to see – establishing better standards in economic as well as scientific My last point is aside from not just in the UK, as their this field. This is a point often sense. The playing fields in the Directive. We are fortunate influence extends to the EU and made by stakeholders in Europe are never going to be in the UK to have the Home other regions. Notwithstanding science, industry and level. We should look to Office Inspectorate and there is the current financial constraints, government. Nevertheless, enhance our leadership role, not a broad consensus that it is it is imperative that the UK throughout the transposition reduce standards to the lowest fundamental to achieving an maintains an authoritative, process, we have seen some of common denominator. effective regulatory system that challenging and well resourced those same stakeholders lobby works. Inspectors are widely Inspectorate. powerfully to reduce UK respected and play an invaluable legislation, ostensibly to promote

ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: ARE EU REGULATIONS ADEQUATE? ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION: Are EU Regulations Adequate? Dr Stephen Mitchell Eli Lilly and Company

The EU Directive on animal experimentation, care and . . . minimise actual or welfare is a very positive potential pain . . . development as it standardises practice across many countries implementation of alternative distress or lasting harm and/or with wide variations in approaches and ethics. That approaches to animal testing in improve animal welfare (eg much of the legislation is line with the 3R’s – using non-invasive techniques, derived from the Animal Replacement, Reduction and appropriate analgesia and (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 Refinement. These include anaesthetic regimes for pain speaks highly of the work done methods that avoid or replace relief, appropriate by the Home Office Inspectorate the use of animals (eg accommodation, environmental since its implementation and computer modelling, in vitro enrichment). this will continue to have a methodologies), methods which It is a requirement in the UK positive impact on public minimise animal use (improved for those performing regulated confidence. experimental design, imaging procedures to hold an Ethically, the EU Directive is techniques, sharing data and appropriate Personal Licence aligned with the major resources), as well as (PIL). The PIL essentially cornerstone of the UK’s improvements to scientific ensures that the holder has the requirements and code of procedures and husbandry necessary background and practice as it promotes the which minimise actual or education to perform animal development, validation and potential pain, suffering and experimentation, and lists the

. . . speaks highly of the work done by the Home Office . . .

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techniques that are to be used only two people – a person on a relevant Project Licence. responsible for care and welfare Under the EU Directive the PIL of animals and a designated vet, . . . functions of the ERP which are will be replaced by one that or appropriate expert. Their role documents a “demonstration of is to provide advice on animal beneficial and add value will be requisite competence”. Although welfare, the 3R’s, to establish retained. . . this is not currently a and review internal processes requirement per se, it is normal and monitor projects. In the UK, practice for an individual’s current legislation requires that competency to perform Designated Establishments have rats >250g), which may inhibit of the EU Directive. Site visits natural rearing behaviour. procedures or techniques to be an ethical review process (ERP) will be based on a risk assessment and will be more monitored as part of their with the operational There will be a requirement formal – by appointment and continuous training and requirements more involved and under the EU Directive for the run more like an audit, which development. However, the EU extensive than those for an retrospective assessment of projects involving non human could last several days. It seems . . . a “demonstration of requisite primates (NHPs), using unlikely that Inspectors will have the time to schedule separate competence” . . . procedures that are categorised as “severe”, and with the option consultation, training or advice Directive makes it a requirement AWB. For instance, local ERPs to assess some classified as sessions if the Inspectorate is for this process to be formalised. involve more people – including “moderate”. This process is not not properly resourced. In my Staff must be supervised until a lay person – and operationally, currently a UK requirement, view, the benefits of the Animal they become competent. All have more than just an advisory although it does occur for (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 training will have to be role – in particular there is a applications for the renewal of a have been almost entirely documented, signed off and requirement from the Home project licence and as part of brought about by the direct archived, and with a Office that any project licence the ERP. It is also a requirement contact between scientists and requirement for maintaining or application or amendment has in the UK to collect and publish Inspectors with the latter’s checking the level of ERP approval prior to annual statistics on the use of promotion of the 3Rs and good competency over time, submission for authorisation. It is animals in regulated procedures. experimental design and analysis especially if procedures are used generally agreed that in Under the new Directive annual approaches. This needs to be infrequently (as yet undefined). establishing an AWB, those returns will now have to indicate maintained. functions of the ERP which are the severity limit as well as the In order to co-ordinate and In summary, the EU Directive beneficial and add value will be origin and species of NHPs monitor this process a overall is a positive development retained. used. designated Training Compliance – it strengthens the measures Officer (or similar) with overall . . . This new process makes sense required to protect animals used responsibility for maintaining in scientific procedures, and it such a record will need to be ethically and scientifically . . . promotes the development, appointed. This new process validation and implementation makes sense ethically and The EU Directive also sets Currently, Designated of means to replace, reduce and scientifically, and formalises out requirements for the care Establishments can be visited by refine animal use. It attempts to current practices. One additional and accommodation of animals a Home Office Inspector at any create a level playing field across benefit could be that the training kept in establishments. These time. The frequency of visits has the EU with respect to records become transferrable differ in a number of respects to in the past allowed the Inspector experimental control and animal across the EU – with the caveat current requirements in the UK to establish a working welfare, and may be less that there will be a period of – but are generally higher, relationship with care staff and bureaucratic. However, here in time to enable competency to particularly with respect to living licence holders alike so that the UK we should be careful not be checked. The process should space. This may have cost and advice on best practice, to devalue the role of the Home be less bureaucratic, as PIL’s space implications where large promotion of the 3Rs and Office Inspectorate and allow currently need to be sent back numbers of animals – reinforcement of compliance is them the resource to maintain to the Home Office for particularly rats – are maintained. However, this and cultivate close working amendment, or in order to bred/supplied or used, as the extremely useful relationship relationships with the scientists change the designated requirement for larger cages will may have to change in the light involved. establishment. reduce holding capacity. Under the EU Directive, However, there are some . . . cultivate close working Designated Establishments are differences in cage dimensions required to set up an Animal that may be detrimental, as the relationships with the scientists . . . Welfare Body (AWB). This is to stipulated cage height is lower be comprised of a minimum of than current UK standards (for

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PARLIAMENTARY LINKS DAY 2012 This year’s Parliamentary Links Day, now organised by the Society of Biology on behalf of the science and engineering community, was held in the House on 26th June. The theme was SCIENCE AND SPORT in view of the approaching Olympic and Paralympic Games.

It was the biggest ever Parliamentary Links Day and around 250 MPs, Peers, Parliamentary staff, athletes and distinguished scientists from an exceptionally wide variety of scientific organisations listened to a stream of interesting presentations and networked over lunch.

The event was chaired in the “I know, from my unique Commons by Andrew Miller MP, vantage point in the House, that Chair of House of Commons Members on all sides continue Science and Technology Select to raise issues that have a Committee and in the Lords by scientific aspect to them. It is all Lord Willis of Knaresborough, a the more important that every member of the House of Lords Member of Parliament should Committee on Science and be able to benefit from non- Technology. partisan assistance of the kind “I know, from my unique vantage offered by professional scientific The Speaker of the House of bodies like the Society of point in the House, that Members on Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow Biology, the Institute of Physics, MP, welcomed everyone to a all sides continue to raise issues that the Royal Society of Chemistry packed Attlee Suite and praised and many others with their the Society of Biology for its role have a scientific aspect to them. proven commitment to public in Links Day which exists to interest.” strengthen the dialogue Mr Speaker Bercow between Parliament and the Subsequent speakers science community. included the Science Minister, Rt Hon David Willetts MP, and Dr Julian Huppert MP (a co-sponsor of the event) along with sportsmen and sport scientists passionate about the Olympic legacy. The Minister observed that “Often the sporting environment is one of the first places where technical innovations are seen and can be tested. Sport drives innovation.”

Baroness Campbell, Chair of policy. She also thanked soil UK Sport, spoke about working scientists for their work with scientists to show that sport decontaminating 2000 tonnes is a fundamental right for every of polluted soil and 20 million child. Rt Hon Dame Tessa gallons of groundwater at the Jowell MP, Shadow Minister for Olympic site, regenerating an the Olympics, pointed to the area of wasteland the size of importance of using science in Hyde Park into housing, an

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urban parkland and a wildlife operations: both athletes and (2.45m) and long jump record haven with wildflower beds and patients have bodies under (8.95m). Both those records boxes for roosting bats. The park extreme stress.” remain. But, as expected, later claimed the world record records were broken at the An Early Day Motion on the for the most bird boxes (525) at London 2012 Olympics as Order Paper congratulated the any Olympic Park. athlete performance continues Society of Biology on organising to improve. Some striking In the first of two panel this year's Parliamentary Links performances included the discussions Andy Parkinson, Day and welcomed the fastest ever 800m, run by chief executive of UK Anti- contribution that scientific Doping, explained how new societies make to assisting Kenyan athlete David Rudisha, scientific techniques meant Parliament. and a record time for the Great samples from athletes could be Britain team in the 3km David Gordon, head of Media tested over long periods – up to THE OLYMPIC AND women’s cycling pursuit. On Events Coverage at the BBC, eight years – and that the UK PARALYMPIC GAMES behalf of the Society of Biology, described the advances in digital Dr Mark Downs said “UK sport was leading the way in doping The enthusiasm of the technology that would make has received a boost from the detection ahead of London speakers at Parliamentary Links coverage of this year’s Olympic Olympics and a boost from 2012. Day paved the way for a Games more comprehensive science. Support from across the fantastic Olympic Games. Team Steve Ingham from the than ever – with every sport science and engineering sector GB won a staggering 65 medals English Institute of Sport told available to watch and up to 24 has been essential to the to secure third place in the how advances in the science of events being broadcast success of the Games. I look medal table, and over 7.4 altitude training are improving simultaneously. Gordon also forward to seeing how the the performance of UK athletes. revealed that the BBC would million spectators visited Olympic venues around the UK. Olympic legacy unfolds, and for The Institute can now soon be broadcasting in Super a continued relationship consistently increase athletes’ Hi-Vision, a broadcast technology At the Games the UK anti- between science and sport.” haemoglobin mass by up to 16 times higher definition than doping agency worked tirelessly 12%, where once not everyone existing HD. to ensure that London 2012 CONCLUSION would respond to this type of was as clean as possible, and Dr Mark Downs, Chief Mr Speaker Bercow had training. He reported that simple carried out over 6,000 tests for Executive of the Society of opened Parliamentary Links Day advances in warm-up banned substances in athletes’ Biology, commented that “Links 2012 by saying that although techniques have recently blood and urine. Andy Day was extremely successful there is a “great distance to improved 400m sprint times by Parkinson, UK Anti-Doping Chief and highlighted the many ways travel” in terms of promoting up to a second. Executive, said: “The World Anti- in which science and scientific understanding among Doping Agency reported that UCL’s Director of the Institute engineering work together to MPs, there has been a great over 100 potential Olympians of Sport, Exercise and Health, have a positive impact on the deal of progress in recent years. Professor Fares Haddad, Olympics. The Games rely on were stopped from competing The largest ever attendance explained to the audience how the latest technologies, from at the Games because of doping, while the International for a Links Day showed the Olympic Committee announced appetite that exists for scientists a number of positive tests and MPs to share their during the course of the Games. knowledge in order to improve This is good news for clean the use of science in policy athletes around the world.” decisions.

Speakers at Links Day had Science and Universities amazed the audience with Minister, Rt Hon David Willetts MP, some examples of world records rightly observed that – tapes along the wall and the Parliamentary Links Day has floor of the Attlee Suite marked become “the biggest gathering of the world high jump record scientists coming to Parliament”.

advances in medicine for elite techniques for detecting doping athletes often translates into to ways of improving athlete Parliamentary Links Day has become better treatment for non- performance. These “the biggest gathering of scientists athletes. The University is technologies can have far wider currently working on the ‘holy effect than competitive sport. For coming to Parliament”. grail’ of knee injury prevention, example, nutrition for elite the ability to repair surface athletes can also be valuable for David Willetts cartilage. patients recovering from

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PLUGGING IN – the relative costs of new grid connections

It is well documented that the example, wind farms are often technologies and their differing UK is facing significant sited on remote hill-tops or off- environmental and visual challenges to its energy supply shore, and nuclear power impacts. However, direct cost due to the combined stations are usually placed in comparisons are not easy, problems of climate change coastal locations. Both of these particularly when taking into and energy security. Plans are might be some distance from account different locations, being drawn up and being the nearest grid circuit and the technologies, geology, capacities implemented to install new majority of electricity etc. For example, tunnelling forms of electricity generation consumers. The answer to this through fractured rock in a to replace coal fired power problem is to join them into the mountainous area can be stations and the UK’s ageing existing electricity transmission significantly more expensive Paul Davies Head of Policy nuclear fleet. Without grid through new connections than through clean clay in an The Institution of Engineering and replacements the UK faces a or “circuits”. easily accessible location. It was Technology cold, dark future. There are this variability that led the The technologies to do this many issues related to these Infrastructure Planning are well established. Electrical new installations and one of Commission to ask the circuits can be constructed using the biggest is their location. Department for Energy and overhead wires and pylons or Climate Change to produce a The UK’s electricity supply cables laid underground or definitive cost comparison study. system was designed in the under the sea. Choosing which 1940s to connect efficiently technology (or mix of It was important that such a electricity generation (then technologies) to employ study should be carried out mainly located near coalfields depends upon many factors independently and gather and industrial areas) with the such as cost, capacity, information from as wide a main urban areas of demand. It topography, geology and range of sources as possible. To was designed to be a resilient, environmental impact. this end, National Grid plc asked one-way network. Generate – the Institution of Engineering The planned installation of Transmit – Distribute – Use. and Technology (IET) to set up new circuits has become a hot Large electricity generating and run the study. Under the topic in many places, with local stations are connected to a IET’s guidance, the consulting people opposing the erection of national electricity grid to move firm Parsons Brinckerhoff was lines of pylons across the the electricity around the country engaged to carry out the study. countryside. Many of the efficiently at high voltage. At A Project Board, chaired by the arguments have revolved various points this is connected IET, was created to oversee the around the relative cost to the low voltage distribution project, and two senior IET network by which the electricity differences between circuit is delivered to consumers. So when you flick a light switch, the light bulb is instantly connected to a generator somewhere in the UK that has to work that little bit harder.

This system works well until new types of electricity generation need to be connected. These are often sited nowhere near existing power stations, or embedded in the distribution network, or located in a place that will put extra strain on the existing grid. For

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Fellows were recruited to review and approve the quality of the . . . the UK faces a cold, dark future . . . final report. The study sought data from equipment transmission circuits, including provides details on the different manufacturers, installers and the build and operating costs. technologies and future network operators from around This highlighted a possible developments, including the world and asked for input source of confusion caused by explanations of terms such as from interested parties, including the common practice of superconducting cables. comparing overhead and buried local authorities and pressure The report was published in cable costs in terms of simple groups. January 2012 and has been ratios. All circuits suffer from The work took five months, widely accepted as authoritative. energy losses due to the laws of resulted in a 300-page report It has been referenced by both physics – the electrical which details comparable cost National Grid and various resistance of a wire causes the estimates for overhead, pressure groups in wire to heat up when an underground and subsea documentation and in press electrical current flows through it. transmission technologies. This The intention of the report coverage relating to transmission Whilst the losses will vary is further broken down to was not to produce a quotation planning applications. The between the different estimate the costs of installing checker, but to allow interested Planning Inspectorate has transmission technologies, for underground cables directly in parties to gain a deeper reported that it has found the the levels of power typically the ground and in tunnels, as understanding of the figures study to be of value, although it experienced on National Grid’s well as the cost of installing Gas presented in planning is too early to determine its circuits the costs of losses are of Insulated Line (GIL) circuits. GIL applications, and in particular to value in the context of the the same order for all the is a relatively new technology make realistic cost comparisons examination, recommendation technologies. However, although but, so far, rarely used in the UK. between the various and decision stages of a the annual costs of these losses transmission technologies for a planning application. The report In the final report the costing are small in comparison to the particular application. does of course have a shelf-life build cost, when they are results are presented in and, as both technology and the considered over the lifetime of summary and also in The study found that an UK energy system continue to the circuit they can have a considerable detail. The latter overhead line circuit (ie using develop, it will need to be considerable impact on the allows the reader to “flex” the pylons) is the cheapest reviewed and updated at regular technology cost ratio calculation. estimates to get better indicative transmission technology, with intervals in order to maintain its This is because, whilst the costs costs for real life routes and costs varying between £2.2 usefulness. installations, as well as estimate million and £4.2 million per of losses experienced by all the impact of changes to kilometre. Directly buried technologies are similar, they are material costs, raw material underground cable costs vary also roughly equivalent to the prices and exchange rates. between £10.2 million to £24.1 total cost of building an million per kilometre, with overhead line circuit. The total A transmission circuit is made tunnel based underground lifetime costs of the overhead up of three conductors (or wires installation and GIL technologies line are thus, roughly, twice the in the case of pylons), and a costing considerably more. The build cost, whilst those of typical pylon supports two study did not attempt to answer underground cables are only circuits comprising six wires in whether the additional cost of around 10% above their build total, suspended from its six burying a particular transmission costs (as their build costs are arms by ceramic insulators. circuit could be justified, as it did considerably higher). This Because the length and power not seek to estimate the value significantly changes a straight carrying capacity of each of a particular landscape, or the cost ratio calculation, from for installation has a direct bearing amenity value to tourism etc. example 10:1 underground to on the costs, each technology However it has set a benchmark overhead to 5:1. It is therefore has cost estimates for circuits of by which the relative costs of worth being very cautious when 3, 15 and 75 km in length and the commonly discussed considering arguments based The report can be found on low, medium and high technologies can be assessed. simply on cost ratios. the IET website at capacities. Each of these options http://www.theiet.org/factfiles/ is further broken down to show The study considered the The final report includes a transmission.cfm the fixed and variable build costs whole life costs of the comprehensive appendix which along with the whole life (40 year) operating costs. Also . . . the whole life costs of the included is an indication of the major cost sensitivities of each transmission circuits . . . technology.

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HIV/AIDS AND TUBERCULOSIS IN THE GOLD MINING INDUSTRY IN SOUTH AFRICA Rt Hon Peter Hain MP and Martin Caton MP

Rt Hon Peter Hain MP and Martin Caton MP co-chaired a meeting held by the All-Party Parliamentary Groups on HIV/AIDS, Global Tuberculosis (TB), and Earth and Environmental Sciences, to discuss the issue of HIV/AIDS and TB in the Gold mining industry in South Africa. Martin Caton opened the meeting, noting that both his From left to right – Dr Sahu Suvanand (Stop TB Partnership), Martin Caton MP (Chair, APPG Earth and Environmental . constituency and Peter’s Sciences Group), Rt Hon Peter Hain MP, and Jonathan Smith (Epidemiologist, researcher and film-maker) neighbouring constituency in South Wales share a nickel RESULTS UK to look at the South Africa is at the centre conditions in which miners live mining history. Referring to the TB/HIV epidemics in South of this dual TB/HIV epidemic and work, and more specifically nickel mining and associated Africa, the steps being taken to and data show that TB and HIV the silica content of the rocks illnesses, he appreciated the address them and the in the region are further and soil from which gold in need to ensure that the challenges currently faced, exacerbated by conditions South Africa is mined at depth wellbeing and health of mine including TB/HIV in gold mining. associated with gold mining. rather than the more common workers is paramount, no matter He spoke about the scale and Despite a TB control programme surface mining. When silica dust where they are. Martin scope of the problem and his in the mines following is inhaled, it causes damage to introduced presentations by experiences: during a site visit international guidelines, a the worker’s lungs, which are Peter Hain, Jonathan Smith (Yale he learnt about the relationship significant number of mine then more susceptible to University, Director of ‘They Go between HIV and TB and was workers develop TB every year. infection by TB. With the to Die’) and Dr Sahu (Director of shocked to learn that South This is due both to the introduction of HIV amongst TB REACH, Stop TB Partnership, Africa has the highest rates of TB Geneva). Discussion followed. anywhere in the world, and accounts for 25% of the world’s Peter Hain had recently The Stop TB Partnership is leading the way population living with HIV. Drug visited South Africa with a to a world without tuberculosis (TB), a resistant strains of TB also delegation organised by present worrying challenges to disease that is curable but still kills three Advocacy to Control TB TB control. people every minute. Founded in 2001, the Internationally (ACTION) partner Partnership's mission is to serve every . . . South Africa has the highest rates person who is vulnerable to TB and ensure that high-quality treatment is available to all of TB anywhere in the world . . . who need it. http://www.stoptb.org/about/

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many of the gold mine workers, their immune systems are further compromised allowing . . . TB is the largest killer of people living with HIV . . . their bodies to be more easily affected by TB/HIV co-infection. HIV sufferers die more quickly Many mine workers are some of the challenges that Community (SADC) on 27 April when they also have TB and migrant workers from remain including: 8.8 million 2012 in Angola, National TB most die within 6 months of neighbouring countries, from all incident cases of TB and 1.1 Managers agreed that this issue contracting TB. TB is the largest over Southern Africa, and also million deaths; a further 0.35 must be addressed, and began killer of people living with HIV in from as far as Madagascar. Mine million deaths in those who are by drafting a declaration to be developing countries, accounting workers, once diagnosed with HIV-positive; a million TB signed by SADC minister of for 25% of all deaths. TB, are deemed unfit to work sufferers whose whereabouts health in August 2012. He and are then sent home to their are unknown; and Millennium stressed that this is an issue that Migrant workers all too often communities, often without Development Goals (MDG) affects multiple stakeholders and return to their communities proper access to medicines and targets for TB that are unlikely to we must therefore strive to work without treatment, both sealing health care. their fate and leaving their friends and families exposed to An estimated 760,000 cases a high risk of contracting TB. The annually of incident TB in the RESULTS’ particular focus is unique: working process of returning home has general population of sub- at a grassroots, national and international been titled ‘being sent home to Saharan Africa is directly level to create the political will to end die’. attributable to the mining hunger and the worst aspects of poverty. At industry. Each year South Africa Jonathan Smith (lecturer in the heart of RESULTS is a network of has about 350,000 cases of TB Global Health and Epidemiology where there is no continuation volunteers who work together in local of Microbial Diseases at Yale of care. TB kills with alarming groups to become effective advocates for University) studies the efficiency, though it is fortuitous change. The RESULTS network is supported epidemiology of TB and HIV in in that a quick death means that the context of migrant by a small staff working in coalition with there is less time to infect populations. After his parliamentarians and organisations around others. Without treatment HIV+ presentation he showed part of patients that contract TB have an the world to advocate on global poverty his documentary film ‘They go 83% fatality rate within 6 issues. http://www.results.org.uk to die’ months. (http://twitter.com/#!/TheyGoto DieFilm). The film investigates Dr Sahu Suvanand (Team be met by the African Region. together to address the problem the life of four former migrant Leader, TB REACH, Stop TB Dr Sahu Suvanand went on to with large as well as smaller to explain TB REACH project medium-sized mining . . . Many mine workers are migrant funding opportunities and the companies, the private sector, benefits of fast-track short term public sector and government. workers . . . funding and shared results of some of the projects including: Acknowledgements: 33% increase in patients gold mineworkers in South Partnership) highlighted what is The authors would like to thank Simon detected with TB; and some Africa and Swaziland, who being done and what more is Logan (Coordinator, All-Party plateau areas in Asia. He Parliamentary Group for Global contracted drug-resistant TB/HIV needed to tackle this problem. stressed that if innovative Tuberculosis), Heather Alcock He gave an overview of the while working at a gold mine, approaches are implemented (Coordinator, All-Party Parliamentary Southern African Development Group on HIV and AIDS), and Cally and follows the workers as they quickly, good results can be Community (SADC) process and Oldershaw (Administrative Secretary, All- return home to their villages. achieved and documented. TB REACH, specifically its Party Parliamentary Group for Earth and With or without silica, Environmental Sciences) for organising potential to help in the response Peter Hain ended the the meeting and for their help in someone with HIV is more likely to TB/HIV in mining in South meeting by noting that there are preparing this article, and to Aparna Barua to contract TB as the risk factors Africa. signs of recognition of this (ACTION Project Coordinator) and others are multiplied. HIV+ increases problem. At a meeting of the at RESULTS UK for their support. Considerable progress had Southern African Development the affected person’s risk of been made between 1995 and contracting TB four fold; Silicosis 2010 including: 55 million TB increases the affected person’s patients treated; an estimated . . . an issue that affects multiple risk of contracting TB four fold; 6.8 million lives saved; and TB Silicosis and HIV together have a incidence and mortality have stakeholders . . . multiplicative effect of 16. started to fall. He also outlined

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OBITUARY THE RT HON LORD MORRIS OF MANCHESTER

ALF MORRIS was one of a rare breed – an MP who genuinely changed Britain for the better.

In 1970 he successfully introduced the Chronically Sick & Disabled Persons Act which was the first legislation globally to recognise and give rights to people with disabilities.

The then premier Harold Wilson recognised his passion and commitment and in1974 Alf became the first Minister for the Lord Morris sharing a word with Arthur Butler at the Parliamentary and Disabled, not just in Britain, but anywhere. Scientific Committee 70th Anniversary Lunch on 15th October 2009

He turned disability rights into a mainstream political issue. He followed that up with more legislation in 1991 as a ferocious activist in the campaign to recognise Gulf War Syndrome. He was educated at Brookdale Park School along with his fellow pupil Harold Evans, who, as editor of The Sunday Times, wrote a Many obituaries omitted that he was similarly committed as a leader saying that: "As time ticked away to the 1970 general long-time member and trustee of the Parliamentary Science and election, Alf Morris's Bill was the only piece of legislation worth Technology Information Foundation (PSTIF), set up in 1988 by saving." the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (P&SC) to support the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology. He was chairman Evans was the editor who exposed the thalidomide scandal. of the P&SC from 1989 to 1992 and served on its Council until Alf worked from 14 as a clerk in the local Wilson's Brewery, did his death. national service in the army, mainly in the Middle East, from 1946- Alfred Morris, Baron Morris of Manchester (23 March 1928 – 48, studied at Ruskin College, Oxford (1949-1950), St Catherine’s 12 August 2012) was MP for Manchester Wythenshaw from College, Oxford (BA modern history 1953) and the Department of 1964 until 1997. His main front bench role was as PPS to Education. agriculture minister Fred Peart. But that brief resumé does not He became a Manchester schoolteacher and university reflect his impact on public life. It is a great pity that he did not extension lecturer in social history (1954-1956) and an industrial live long enough to be a spectator at the London 2012 relations officer to the electricity industry (1956-1964). Paralympics. He was created a life peer as Lord Morris of Manchester in His concern for the disabled started young. His father George 1997. He was a life member of the GMB union and served as lost an eye and a leg and was gassed while serving in World War President of the 1995 Co-Operative Congress. One, and then suffered a long decline in health and eventually death arising from his injuries. His mother Irene was not entitled His brother Charles Morris and his niece Estelle Morris have also to a war widow's pension! served as Labour MPs, and of course Estelle is also a Peer.

“The injustice of that confirmed me as both a socialist and a He died in hospital on Sunday 12 August 2012 after a short fighter,” he said decades later. illness, aged 84. He is survived by his wife Irene and their two sons and two daughters. It took Alf 40 years to put the matter right by changing the law affecting armed forces pensions. Andrew Miller MP

His childhood proved to be one of his main motivators in life, being raised in poverty-stricken Ancoats, Greater Manchester. In Acknowledgement: with thanks to Ian Hernon for background 1935 the family moved to a new purpose-built housing estate on information. farmland in Newton Heath.

“I saw fields and cows and sunshine,” he said. “I realised that life need not be grim.”

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HAPPY AND GLORIOUS Thanks to some Diamond Geezers

Queen Elizabeth II is not, of course, the first lady monarch to reach a Diamond Jubilee. Sadly, this journal was not around in 1897 to review British scientific achievements during Victoria’s reign. It is safe to say that the UK could have been just as smug at the end of the 19th century about our science, as the next ten pages show we are at the beginning of the 21st.

There were no Nobel prizes to win, and no citation rankings to dominate.

Nonetheless, her reign provided many heroes, whose names are still household words.

ᮊ Wellcome Library, London

Michael Faraday’s development of electromagnetic induction gave us the electric motor.

Patients used to die of bacterial infection, rather than their original ailment until Joseph Lister gave us antisepsis.

It is now impossible to imagine operations conducted with brandy as the anaesthetic. The chloroform introduced by James Simpson is no Sir William Henry Perkinᮊ RSC library Michael Faraday, reproduced by courtesy of the Royal Institution of longer used, but a whole new science Great Britain opened up.

James Clerk Maxwell’s analysis of waves in the ether allowed us to develop radio, television, radar, the internet and WiFi.

Brunel gave us tunnels, and bridges as well as trains and ships.

Perkin stumbled on synthetic dyes by accident, but spawned a major industry.

Darwin has been both feted and vilified for his theories.

The next few pages demonstrate clearly that Britain still has much to feel proud of when it comes to scientific innovation.

James Clerk Maxwellᮊ Peter Reid, FUSION: Focusing on University Science Interpretation and Outreach Needs, University of Edinburgh Isambard Kingdom Brunel

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BRITISH ACHIEVEMENT IN ENGINEERING OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS

comments on it tweeted around email utilising the first link turned what was a system the world. between computer systems in created and used by experts into the UK and US. The occasion a system usable by anyone with The significance of these was the formation of the Royal a PC, and ultimately into a differences is that Queen Signals and Radar Establishment, movement which would change Elizabeth’s reign almost exactly and the email utilised ordinary people’s lives. matches the span of the digital connectivity provided by ARPA in revolution. This revolution in the It was Berners-Lee’s vision the US for the use of the way we live was enabled, that ordinary people would be defence community. inspired and shaped by able to use the technology engineering. British engineers That initial connection was behind the world wide web, so Dr Natasha McCarthy have been at the heart of this augmented by links between all that anyone could add Head of Policy revolution, and have played continents, which have now information and content to the The Royal Academy of Engineering pivotal roles in each of its major developed into the internet, the web themselves, sharing it with stages. British engineers have global network of computers all users. This vision has been also changed our world in many connected for the sharing of realised through the other ways over the last 60 information. It requires no development and rapid adoption The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee years, by exploiting the demonstration that the internet of social media. From Facebook was a highlight of an Olympic opportunities presented by has become integral to to YouTube to Twitter, people are year which has seen Britain digital technologies. individuals’ and societies’ lives publicising their thoughts, celebrating and revelling in and has changed many people’s reflections and creations to community spirit from a local Just four years before experience of the world. groups of friends and the world to a national level. Like the Elizabeth’s coronation, ‘Baby’, However, the reason that the at large. Coronation, the Jubilee was a widely acknowledged as the first networking of computers has landmark in British social life, modern computer, ran its initial British engineering has been been so impactful is due to the when the majority of the programme at the University of central to enabling this work of a British engineer, Sir country was sharing a Manchester where it was democratisation of the web, Tim Berners-Lee FREng FRS. common celebration. developed by British scientists making it the accessible and When working at CERN, Berners- However, there has been and engineers. This ancestor of constantly changing system it is Lee developed the basis of the nothing less than a revolution the computing devices now now. The British-based company world wide web. The now in the ways that those events available bears little resemblance ARM has developed processors common concepts of Uniform were experienced. to the laptop or smartphone. that power many smartphones Resource Locators (URLs), However, from the point of and other mobile devices which The broadcast of the Hypertext Transfer Protocol Baby’s invention, the have enabled this further stage Coronation was watched on (HTTP), Hyper Text Mark Up development of computer of the digital revolution. These black and white televisions with Language (HTML), were the science and software processors have brought the whole family gathered work of Berners-Lee. These gave engineering accelerated, with computing power not just into around, often with neighbours unique addresses for webpages developments in hardware and every home, but into every who had no set of their own. so that they could be found by software occurring at pace. pocket. Mobile computing But the coverage of the any user; a common means of enables connectivity everywhere, Diamond Jubilee events was A crucial aspect of the digital computers to communicate enjoyed by millions on revolution is connectivity – information on webpages; and a television, PCs and phones, communication between common language to ensure anywhere and at any time. computers in local and global that webpages were displayed There was instant global reaction networks. In 1976, a year before faithfully on any machine. These to what was broadcast – with a the Queen’s Silver Jubilee, and devices allowed this global video of a hula-hooping Grace the year that The Royal network of computers to share Jones at the Jubilee concert Academy of Engineering was information in such a way that it hitting YouTube within seconds established, the Queen herself ARM technology powers mobile can be viewed in a common devices such as smartphones - of the performance, and with hit the ‘send’ button on an format on any computer. It image courtesy ARM

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and it has led to the development of manifold applications including those that allow just the kind of real time sharing of information and data that has enabled the uptake of social media, and which has played a crucial role in making the Jubilee and Olympic events of 2012 truly social experiences – this being the first truly ‘digital’ Olympics, broadcast on the web as well as television. It has created an industry of creative design of ‘apps’ in which the UK plays a major part.

The digital revolution The ethos of the internet was presented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee at the Olympic opening ceremony - image highlights just how closely and copyright Press Association intimately engineering affects influence their behaviour. downloaded into the grid. This opportunities it creates across all people’s lives at an individual Transport systems are creates a more efficient system, areas of engineering. Engineers and societal level. However, all increasingly intelligent, and the better able to use low carbon have both initiated and aspects of engineering have separate systems which govern energy, reducing carbon stimulated the rapid significant impact on everyday land, air, rail and sea can emissions. development of computing become a technologies. The biomedical engineering single system. sector is also utilising digital The last 60 years have This will be technologies to revolutionise the without doubt seen many leaps valuable to way that healthcare is delivered forward by British engineers. I travellers to and managed. ‘Telehealth’ or ‘e- have not sought here to allow them to health’ exploits mobile enumerate or list individual manage computing to allow healthcare to achievements but have better be better tailored to an illustrated how British engineers journeys and individual, and to allow a patient have had a key role in a will enable to be treated in their own home movement that has transformed the better use Digital technology is powering a revolution in healthcare without need for frequent both everyday life and of new - image courtesy ARM lengthy trips to hospitals. A engineering itself. However, there transport patient’s heart rate or blood is value in noting individual life, be that in the delivery of technologies, such as electric pressure can be regularly engineering achievements and utilities such as power and water and even driverless cars. Data monitored by a device on their celebrating them. For this reason, to homes and businesses, can be collected about quietest body which relays readings to a Her Majesty has lent her name transport infrastructure, or the routes and related directly to service that tracks the patient’s to the Queen Elizabeth Prize for technologies that support vehicles, to manage better the wellbeing, only making contact Engineering, which will be modern medicine. The digital system and improve individual when a problem arises. Such awarded for the first time next revolution has transformed, and journeys. Analogously, a smart systems are being developed by year. The Prize will identify and will continue to transform, the electricity grid is one which uses Professor Lionel Tarassenko celebrate the kinds of truly life- ways in which these services are data about demands in real time FREng at the University of changing technologies that have delivered and managed. to manage the way that power Oxford, with the aim of had a global benefit to humanity is distributed and used. delivering healthcare which and will no doubt continue to Infrastructure will become Depending on demand at a better serves the patient and change the way we live over the increasingly ‘smart’ through the given time, devices can be allows them greater freedom next 60 years and beyond. use of computing power. charged, switched off, or even and autonomy during their Whether it is awarded to a British Smartness consists in collecting add power to the grid. For treatment. or international engineering data about the status of a example, electric cars could be achievement, the development system and using that data to charged when the grid is In these ways, engineers of the Prize shows that Britain is manage better the system, experiencing low demand, or have not only been the proud of the achievements of either automatically, via a human batteries in some devices could instigators of the digital engineering and their capacity to operative, or communicating it be used as distributed storage revolution over the last six change our world. to users of the system to with that stored power decades, but have grasped the

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BRITISH SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday 10th July SIXTY YEARS OF SUCCESS IN UK LIFE SCIENCES

DNA AND THE GENE sequence a genome, today it’s of bird flu and safeguard future “REVOLUTION” about $10 thousand; by 2015 it flocks and eggs. will probably cost less than $1 In 1953, James Watson, Genetically modified crops thousand and may be a Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins – can greatly improve yields and standard diagnostic in doctors’ and not to forget the key role of much needed foods for surgeries. Rosalind Franklin – published desperately struggling the structure of DNA. Aside from WIDER IMPACT OF populations and have huge revealing the true beauty of the GENOMICS societal benefits. GM crops need structure, this changed our much less agrochemicals Genetically modified (GM) Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell understanding of life with the (pesticides and fertilizers) with crops and animals is a sensitive President and Vice-Chancellor, realisation that DNA is the massive environmental benefits. University of Manchester; issue, where we must inform fundamental building block of all President, Society of Biology. and debate much better, not FUNDAMENTAL life and is the code that least because this is a means by DISCOVERIES WITH determines all our proteins. which we can change global MAJOR IMPACT Since the early 1950s, the This was followed by a flood food supplies and have This section could occupy period marked by the Jubilee of discoveries and innovations, environmental impact. For literally hundreds of pages. I celebrations, Life Sciences in the many in the UK. Fred Sanger example, genetically modified have chosen just three UK – by which I mean all areas discovered how to do fast and “purple tomatoes” have anti- illustrative examples. of biology, biomedical and accurate sequencing of DNA, inflammatory and anti-oxidant medical science – has wholly new disciplines of properties which could lead to Peter Mitchell’s experienced a remarkable molecular biology and genomics reductions in cancer, “chemiosmotic hypothesis” revolution. We have seen major were born and the Sanger cardiovascular disease, diabetes showed how organisms use discoveries in fundamental Centre was established in 1993. and other major disorders. Many oxygen and energy from food to science, transformations in In the 1990s the genomes of such manipulations of our convert this in the cell medicine and health, major important organisms such as normal foods could have similar compartment known as impacts on food supplies with worms and yeast were solved. health benefits. mitochondria into a “currency” significant economic, social and Then as the new millennium of energy that can be used by Animal health influences our health benefits. The UK is, by dawned, the first draft of the all cells – stored in a molecule farm stocks, wild animals and many measures, amongst the human genome was published, called ATP. Mitchell, often our pets. We have made great world leaders in this area. On jointly by researchers in the UK described as a “typical British advances in understanding and one recognised measure, and the US. eccentric”, was the founder of treating diseases of animals. For citations of our published work, this important field which led to A second explosion of example: hundreds of millions we are second only to the USA. other major UK discoveries in discoveries followed, with faster of chickens had to be killed as a When this and other measures energetics and mitochondria and and cheaper genome result of avian flu. Genetically are adjusted for population or several Nobel Prizes. sequencing resulting in a better modified chickens developed in for national research spend, the understanding of how small the UK should limit the spread As a very different example, UK comes top worldwide. The changes in the genome can Kathleen Drew, a “cryptogamic UK also has an impressive array have massive implications for botanist” of my own University, of Nobel Prizes in Life Sciences disease, and opening the devoted her life to seaweeds. – most in Physiology or potential for new treatments and She discovered a previously Medicine, but many biological “personalised” medicine. Alec unrecognised stage in the life- discoveries have also won the Jeffreys brought us DNA cycle of the seaweed known in Prize in Chemistry. fingerprinting. We learnt that just Japan as Nori. Her discovery The Queen’s coronation one gene separates human enabled Nori to be cultivated coincided with what is widely males from females and started rather than then simply recognised as the biggest to discover specific mutations Figure 1: Purple tomatoes, collected, and the world genetically modified to include anti- breakthrough in Life Sciences of that cause disease. In 2000 it oxidant genes. Thanks to Dr Cathie production of this seaweed had the last century. cost about $1 billion to Martin, John Innes Centre. risen from 21,000 tonnes in the

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1950s to over 500,000 tonnes the results of numerous trials to thinnest, strongest, most made by those who “broke the today. This is just one of give an overall assessment of conductive (and so many more rules”. A worry is that we are numerous examples of the efficacy of any intervention. superlatives) material ever under ever increasing “red unexpected impacts of “curiosity known. There are huge tape” and legislation. The UK has also provided driven” research on society. possibilities for Life Sciences. As leadership in governance and • Creativity. Fundamental a UK discovery and one of My last example of discovery in science is a regulatory issues, including many UK Nobel Prizes, this fundamental science discoveries creative endeavour which we research ethics and integrity, gives us a great opportunity for is “model organisms”. This must continue to fund. Some animal experimentation, GM future innovation. means using lower species, like organisms, the Human feel that a push towards worms and flies, to understand Fertilisation and Embryology There is always a temptation, application and impact could especially in times of limited have a stifling effect. the biology and diseases of Authority, NHS guidelines, our funding, to focus funding and higher organisms, like humans. assessments of medical costs vs • Interdisciplinary research. Big effort on one or two areas such This has been a hugely benefits (through NIHCE), and breakthroughs often depend as life sciences or physics. This successful area and none more the advocacy for open access on scientists with different skills so than the first sequencing of would be a grave mistake. Much publishing. coming together. We must of the UK’s success has the genome of a worm – for break “silo mentalities” and depended on interactions which our scientists shared yet INTERDISCIPLINARY ensure funding for cross between the very best scientists another Nobel Prize. This is APPROACHES disciplinary activities. close to my own area of across disciplines. I was delighted to speak research (on brain disease) and • The NHS and patient data. alongside leaders in physics and WHY IS THE UK SO This is a huge resource so we I often tell schoolchildren and SUCCESSFUL? students the story of “a small chemistry in highlighting UK must ensure it is not damaged worm” where genes were first achievements. But the reality is Unless we can answer this by changes in and funding of discovered that determine if that it is increasingly difficult to important question, we can’t the NHS. distinguish between scientific cells will live or die. This is now ensure success in the future. THE JUBILEE a fundamental basis of disciplines – perhaps more so in There are no definitive answers, degenerative diseases – where the UK than in many countries. but I suggest below some likely Over the 60 years of the too many cells die, and cancer – Interdisciplinarity is a great UK reasons for UK success, in each Queen’s reign, life span in the where aberrant cells don’t die. strength. case followed by possible UK has increased dramatically – UNDERSTANDING DISEASE AND NEW MEDICINES It is only possible in a short space to highlight the major leads from the UK. These include modern antibiotics, histamine blockers to treat stomach ulcers, beta blockers to lower blood pressure and Figure 2: Magnetic Resonance Imaging developed by Sir Peter Mansfield. Figure 3: Therapeutic antibodies. alleviate heart disease, Reproduced with permission of the Medical Research Council. Monoclonal antibodies were first isolated by Drs. César Milstein and therapeutic antibodies – then Again the list of our threats that we need to be Georges Köhler. Reproduced with later personalised antibodies to permission of the Medical Research successes is long. Advances in target diseases. Some drugs aware of: Council. understanding biological were developed through • Outstanding training. But we structures (which is fundamental by an average of 5 hours a day. “serendipity” which always need to consider how the new to understanding functions), fast There are a number of reasons needs the observant and genome sequencing, CAT and University student fee regime for this, but discoveries in Life prepared mind, as is illustrated ultrasound scanning, magnetic may influence student choices Sciences are a major contributor by the case of Viagra! resonance imaging, medical and entry into postgraduate to the health, wealth and quality The UK has often led on devices such as hip training. of life in the UK and more “evidence based medicine”, replacements, cochlear implants, • Open challenge. We need widely. most notably in Richard Doll’s artificial lenses, cardiac stents urgent reform of our libel laws Acknowledgements careful studies providing the and prosthetics – all depend on to protect valid and valuable Thank you to my colleagues at The clear links between smoking and our strengths in engineering, University of Manchester, the Society of scientific critique. cancer. We also developed physics, chemistry, maths – as Biology, MRC, BBSRC and the Wellcome randomised controlled clinical well as biology. Here I can’t pass • Supporting “mavericks”. Many Trust for giving me so many great examples of UK advances in Life trials, and developed Cochrane on the great opportunity and UK discoveries and breakthroughs Sciences. Sorry I could only include a collaborations that bring together lead on graphene! This is the challenged dogma and were small fraction.

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BRITISH SCIENTIFIC ACHIEVEMENT OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday 10th July BRITISH ACHIEVEMENT IN CHEMISTRY OVER THE LAST 60 YEARS

Since Martin and Synge, those answers – a recent report example, Azoxystrobin the chemists have gone on to show by the Committee on Climate agricultural fungicide, developed that understanding the building Change showed the pace of UK by UK-based chemists in the last blocks of the world around us is emissions reductions needs to thirty years that has increased the way to build that second increase fourfold – and it is only yields of more than 120 types Elizabethan era. Chemistry is technological advance that can of crop in over 100 countries. behind state-of-the-art make that happen. And a healthier world. technologies including screens Fuels. Energy. Materials. All Blockbuster therapies which and batteries in our are chemistry. And they come serve the needs of a wide Professor Lesley Yellowlees MBE smartphones and laptops. John together in the planes that move patient population have President, The Royal Society of Goodenough’s identification and Chemistry us round the globe in a way few transformed healthcare in recent Professor of Inorganic development of Lithium Cobalt could have imagined. Airbus’ decades and most are made in Electrochemistry, University of Dioxide (LixCoO2) as the next-generation A350 XWB Britain. At least ten of the top- Edinburgh cathode material of choice for aircraft will be lighter and more selling drugs worldwide have the Li-ion rechargeable battery efficient because more than half UK-trained PhD organic means I can carry my phone in of it will be built from lightweight chemists as named inventors. my pocket everywhere and work composite materials that Amlodipine is one of those on my laptop until too late at chemists constructed; a far cry drugs underpinned by UK night. And I’m able to see all this from the small and slow plane chemistry patents: 2.2 million In celebrating our Queen’s information through a liquid that brought the new Queen Britons take it to ease angina Diamond Jubilee it is crystal display, which is based on back from Kenya after her and this drug has reduced the appropriate that we reflect on the cyanobiphenyl materials father’s death. number of days a patient visits the period as one of invented by Professor George hospital, cutting costs to both phenomenal scientific Not just a more efficient Gray and colleagues at the patient and the NHS. Or, for advance. From the discovery world, but also a safer world. University of Hull. example, Tamoxifen, which has of the structure of DNA in the Chemistry is working for revolutionised breast cancer coronation year to the Chemistry is developing people’s security, building faster, treatment. In 1957 a woman discovery of the Higgs Boson sustainable alternatives to fossil smaller and more sensitive who developed breast cancer this year, all the sciences have fuels and lowering carbon devices able to detect had a less than 70% chance of made bold steps forward in emissions, increasing energy microscopic levels of explosives. surviving more than 5 years, explaining our world and efficiency in areas ranging from And chemistry is also working while today she now has a 90% improving it. domestic electronic products to for a larger, safer and better chance of survival. An amazing nuclear power stations. We need distributed food supply. Take, for Far beyond our size, we are a turnaround. nation of Nobel Laureates. For chemistry, the Queen’s reign British chemistry discoveries began in style with the award of are everywhere transforming our the Nobel Prize, in 1952, to world and they are central to our Archer Martin and Richard Synge economy – and to economic for the invention of partition recovery. In 2007 Chemistry- chromatography. They had related industries supported 6 discovered a method for the million jobs and contributed separation of substances from £258 billion to the UK economy complicated mixtures, a new – 21 per cent of GDP. Workers powerful tool. Thanks to their in the UK’s chemicals industry work, once hopelessly produce £83,500 per employee, complicated problems across all double the UK average labour the sciences were now solvable. productivity. A new era was dawning. Azoxystrobin, the leading agricultural fungicide, was developed by UK-based chemists.

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has taken sixty years. But the In order to continue to have legislation to clean the air was great British scientific quick because we already achievements we need proper understood the chemistry to funding of the sciences. On- clean the air. The Clean Air Act going fundamental research is of 1956 banned emissions of essential to ensure a continuing black smoke and made homes flow of scientific and and industry move to smokeless technological breakthroughs. fuels. Many thousands of lives Fundamental research, like the have been saved through good work of Dorothy Hodgkin, is science and good legislation. essential also to ensure that the UK maintains a highly skilled We’ve done it before and we and innovative workforce. To be can do it again. With good Fundamental chemistry research remains indispensable to the search for well placed to adopt, and solutions to some of the most important technological and societal science contributing to good advance, new ideas, to exploit challenges facing us. legislation and a wide, diverse successfully new technologies, To tackle the big issues of the medical importance. She was science base we really can and to develop new and better next sixty years we need to use the first one to describe the make the world a better place. products and services we need all our talents. The Queen, our structures of the antibiotic It is these inspiring stories the profound discoveries that second longest-reigning penicillin and of vitamin B12. and global challenges that will come from fundamental monarch, is beaten only by The determination of structure is bring in the next generation of research. As it has been done in Queen Victoria. A lesson to us the crowning triumph of X-ray Dorothy Hodgkins and Nobel the past decades, these will fuel all, perhaps, about the steeliness crystallographic analysis in laureates. At the RSC we work to our economy. They are a and determination of women to respect of both the chemical inspire young people to study necessary condition for attracting stick it out! I have the honour to and biological importance of the chemistry, and to raise the inward investment to the UK – be the first female president of results. With her colleagues she public’s awareness of the and contributing to the 21% of the RSC in its 171-year history. unravelled the structure of importance of chemistry. We are GDP that is in the chemical- But I know it won’t be another insulin so that millions could the largest non-governmental related industries. Fundamental 171 years because I am manage their diabetes. supporter of chemistry chemistry research remains determined to help diversify the education in the UK. In the last indispensible to the search for people who make up the She was a great scientist first and foremost. But she was an decade we have spent more solutions to some of the most science establishment. Not to than a quarter of a billion inspirational woman too. important technological and squeeze out those already there, pounds advancing the chemical Dorothy Hodgkin was a rare societal challenges facing us. but to widen, deepen and sciences. We pursue excellence talent, but British chemistry The Queen’s reign has been strengthen the great British in our work, with our scientific simply cannot afford to look one full of great British scientific talent I see coming through my journals, our educational and back sixty years from now and achievements. We must be university month after month. public engagement activities and see her as unique for her proud but we must hold tight to Of 103 Nobel laureates in our work with policy makers. gender as well as her talent. the spirit of enquiry, challenge Chemistry, only four are women. To borrow a biologist’s and thirst for new knowledge Of those four, only one is British: To use all our talents we analogy, everyday we plant that has taken us so far. That is Dorothy C Hodgkin. She was need policy makers and seeds, with fruits of success to how science and the chemical awarded the rare honour of an scientists working together and be harvested whether that is in sciences will thrive for the next unshared Nobel Prize in 1964 listening to each other. We are the next month, next year, or ten sixty years. both the kind of people who "for her determinations by X-ray years down the line. techniques of the structures of want to change the world. And important biochemical we’ve shown that we can do substances." Knowledge of a that together in the past. compound's structure is Sixty years ago London was essential in order to interpret its engulfed in the Big Smog. Not properties and reactions, and to the first or last of the era of the decide how it might be peasouper. But the point at synthesised from simpler which people said something compounds. Hodgkin’s must be done. Deaths and ill contribution to the field was health were not a price worth enormous: she carried out a paying. large number of structure

determinations primarily of London itself still bears the Lithium batteries and liquid crystals are ubiquitous in today's portable substances of biochemical and scars to this day. The cleanup electronic devices. They are both British achievements of the last 60 years.

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PHYSICS – FORCES OF NATURE This article is a transcript of the talk given by Professor Brian Cox to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on 10th July, prepared by Christopher White of the Institute of Physics.

Back in July we made what is The LHC, where the Higgs speed of light. It collides protons one of the biggest scientific was discovered, is a proton together up to 600 million times discoveries if not in the Queen’s collider. It bangs protons every second; the proton beams reign then of all time – the together, and that’s how it gets themselves are less than the discovery of the Higgs particle. energy into small regions of diameter of a human hair, but space, so that we can investigate carry the energy of an aircraft That might seem hyperbolic the universe as it was around a carrier travelling at 30 miles an – it’s just another subatomic billionth of a second after the hour. Yet we can take pictures of particle – but to step back and big bang. That technology is those collisions; we can make look at the story in which that particle plays a part is instructive. . . . That technology is British The universe began in a big bang 13.75±0.11bn years ago, technology . . . which in itself is a remarkable measurement – a measurement British technology. One of the high-precision measurements, that not only was not known first two proton colliders was and in July we discovered the with that degree of precision built in Birmingham in 1953 – Higgs particle. the year of the coronation. That when the Queen took the The LHC has four giant throne, but the idea that the machine was looking at nuclear detectors, all of which have universe had a beginning was structure – the structure of important contributions from UK not known to be the correct nuclei was not well known. It universities. The ATLAS detector description of the universe at also wanted to find some clues is 44 metres wide, 22 metres in that time. What we now know is as to the nature of the force that diameter, and at its heart there are silicon detectors, which are . . . The universe began in a like CCDs in a digital camera, big bang . . . but in an extremely high- radiation environment. UK that around a billionth of a holds the nucleus together. We universities manufactured and built those silicon detectors. It is second after the universe began, didn’t know about one of the a tremendous engineering as it was expanding and cooling, four fundamental forces of the achievement. With it we can see something happened that universe – the strong nuclear Higgs-candidate events. We caused a condensate to force. detect other particles produced condense out of empty space. Fast forward 60 years and we by the decay of the Higgs, and if This is the Higgs particle. So the have the Large Hadron Collider. you measure the energy and picture today is that every cubic It’s the same technology – it’s a momentum of those with centimetre of space is rammed proton synchrotron. It precision, and trace them back, full of Higgs particles that accelerates beams of protons, you find out that they came condensed out of the vacuum now not slowly around from a new particle weighing less than a billionth of a second something the size of a garage, around 126 times the mass of after the universe began. but to around 99.999999% the the proton. Go back to 1953 in Birmingham, and the accelerator . . . This is the Higgs particle . . . had the energy to make one extra proton. The Higgs particle weighs 126 times the mass of the proton, and that’s why we

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Where do we go next? What Sainsbury. But he goes on to say . . . four fundamental forces of is the next discovery? Could why he thinks the Nobel Prize the universe . . . there be a replacement for the was brought to Manchester and transistor? The answer is yes, to the UK. He thanked the and it’s yet another British Engineering and Physical need something as big as the description of three of the four success story. The 2010 Nobel Sciences Research Council. This LHC to make it. forces of nature didn’t work – it Prize was given to University of funding system – in responsive was logically inconsistent; it Manchester physicists Andre mode, he emphasises – “is There has been a long road failed mathematically – without Geim and Konstantin Novoselov democratic and non- to the discovery of the Higgs. the introduction of the Higgs The two famous papers by Peter field. So back in the 1960s this Higgs were published in 1964. idea was postulated. . . . the prediction was entirely There were also papers published by Tom Kibble, The standard model of mathematical . . . another British theoretical particle physics is itself based on physicist. Two of the five quantum mechanics, and the for their discovery of graphene. xenophobic; your position in an theorists who contributed most pivotal moment in the One of its most exciting academic hierarchy or an old- to this theory are British. How development of quantum applications is in answer to the boys network counts for little. was it that they were able to mechanics was the publication question of what replaces the Also visionary ideas and grand make this prediction? What a of the Schrödinger equation, transistor. Graphene transistors promises to address social, bizarre thing to suggest – that which showed how particles have already been cultural and economic needs manufactured: IBM play little role when it comes to . . . 126 times the mass of the manufactured one in April last peer-review. In truth, the year that was ten times faster responsive mode distributes its proton . . . than anything manufactured in money on the basis of a recent silicon. In February this year, the track record, whatever that Manchester group demonstrated means in different subjects, and empty space is stuffed full of behaved as waves. That was in the technology that allows these the funding usually goes to Higgs particles, and we get mass 1926, the year of the Queen’s by bouncing off those Higgs birth. Without doubt the best particles. The answer to that is example of the use of quantum . . . showed how particles the standard model of particle theory is the invention of the physics – in itself one of the transistor, ubiquitous today. In behaved as waves . . . greatest achievements of the one year there are more 20th century. Its equations transistors manufactured than grains of rice have been describe three of the four to be packed together – one of researchers who work both consumed on Planet Earth since fundamental forces of nature – the big problems had been how efficiently and hard. No system the Queen came to the throne. everything that we know of, to build graphene chips. Now is perfect, and one can always Transistors work because atoms other than gravity, is described we know – we did that in hope for a better one. However, talk to other atoms in a very by this simple equation. And it Manchester. paraphrasing Winston Churchill, strange way. They work because predicts the Higgs field. the UK has the worst funding single particles won’t go into the This is an interesting example research system – except for all It is interesting to note that same energy level around of a discovery that’s based on the others that I’m aware of.” the prediction was entirely different atoms, and when you esoteric physics but has mathematical. It’s the best put that in a crystal of silicon immediate commercial That’s powerful and example of what the great you get what’s called a ‘band applications. It’s a 21st-century important when we decide to try physicist Eugene Wigner called gap’ and you can use this as a discovery in every way. And it’s and fix our research-funding system. Because Andre Geim, “the unreasonable effectiveness switch. Without quantum theory interesting to read Andre’s who used it to great effect, of mathematics in the physical – this most abstract of theories observations in his Nobel Prize sciences”. Higgs, Kibble and thinks it’s the best in the world. – the transistor could not have speech. He was talking about his others noticed that our been invented. history, of why he came to Manchester. He pointed out that . . . empty space is stuffed full of Higgs by 2003 he’d already particles . . . established a lab, as a result of seedcorn funding set up by Lord

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MATHEMATICS IN THE NEW ELIZABETHAN AGE (60 Years of British Mathematics)

In June 1993 Andrew Wiles bigger stories in biology, physics, engineering and pharmaceutical gave a series of seminars at the economics or engineering. industries. newly-created Isaac Newton In this article we want to The rise of computers and Institute for Mathematical redress this invisibility and stress the ubiquity of smart technology Sciences in Cambridge. In the the key international role played form one of the greatest final minutes of the last seminar by British mathematics. changes to our lives since 1952. he claimed to have solved a Mathematics has changed The early prototypes of this 250 year old mathematical problem: Fermat’s Last enormously over the new technology were developed by Ken Brown Theorem. This became headline Elizabethan age, and this has Alan Turing and others at University of Glasgow news across the world because been a global effort. However, Bletchley Park (to decode the of the romance in the story the UK has played an important German ENIGMA machine) and (lone British mathematician role in most of these changes – then at the National Physical solves ancient mystery), and a far greater role than its relative Laboratory (NPL) and the also because the problem itself size would suggest. Thus, for the University of Manchester. Turing is relatively easy to state. The period 1998–2008, Scotland committed suicide in 1954, so interest generated by this and England were respectively he only just makes it into the achievement is rare for second and fourth in the world new Elizabethan age, but his mathematics, though many for citations per paper published achievements in computing, 1 other developments in in the mathematical sciences . logic and mathematical biology mathematical science over the Although we concentrate on have had an immense influence. Paul Glendinning last 60 years are on a par with research in the rest of this As computers began to be used University of Manchester it. This is partly because article, it is worth remembering to solve complex engineering mathematics is often seen as that most researchers are also problems in industries such as too abstruse or specialised for teachers, and we rely on them aeronautics, the UK contribution ‘ordinary people’; and partly to pass on the intellectual thrill was key to creating a new because major advances in of the discipline and to create mathematical discipline, applied mathematics and the skilled workforce needed in numerical analysis, which statistics are often sub-plots of the banking, computing, emerged to ensure that these Crown Copyright ᮊ

A computer generated prediction by the Met Office of the position of a volcanic ash cloud.

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large computations – jubilee years has been Sir David last 35 years, and now the With advances in both computations that can now be Cox’s 1972 paper 3 allowing connecting road is a motorway. methods and computing power, done on a laptop! – were mathematical models to be built Atiyah is one of the six UK Fields the scope of what reliable. Here we mention two on actuarial life tables, so medallists (the mathematical mathematicians can model has examples. James Wilkinson permitting causal inferences equivalent of the Nobel Prize) – expanded. This has led to worked with Turing on the early based on sparse data. This work only France and the US have changes in the way that weather computers at the NPL in has been fundamental to more – and has been a central forecasting is reported (using Middlesex, where he discovered countless medical and actuarial figure in world mathematics ideas from chaos theory) and ways of analysing floating point studies. In a related later during the new Elizabethan age. the increasing use of arithmetic that enable the development, the former The maths-physics motorway is mathematics in modelling accuracy of computer Director General, Knowledge not just one-way: in the striking financial markets. The calculations to be understood. and Innovation, at BIS, Sir Adrian example of mirror symmetry sophistication of computer His methods remain as valid as from string theory, Philip Smith, showed how useful models is such that a model of ever for today's largest Candelas, now at Oxford, and information could be obtained the human heart at Oxford can supercomputers 2 and he went 4 his collaborators were able to from probabilistic models . This be used to make predictions on to develop other now technique, called Markov Chain use the amazing intuition of the about heart treatments without standard tools in algebraic Monte-Carlo inference (or physicists to predict the solution using a living subject. Often, in manipulation. In many industrial MCMC for short), is now of a century-old problem in such applications to the life and scientific problems some ubiquitous throughout the classical geometry (“counting sciences, mathematicians now quantity needs to be optimised. sciences. the number of rational curves in work in teams with other In the 1970s such concerns the quintic”). scientists as equal partners. Mathematical physics itself Mathematical modelling is also . . . lone British mathematician (quantum theories and relativity) used to inform policy decisions: has also changed dramatically. strategies for the foot and solves ancient mystery . . . Stephen Hawking and Roger mouth outbreak of 2001, the Penrose, both working in distribution of vaccines, and the prompted the UK The internet and world wide mathematics departments, safety of air flights through described the mathematical mathematicians Roger Fletcher web brought computers into our volcanic ash clouds in 2010, structure of black holes, stars so and Mike Powell to develop daily lives, with new possibilities were all assessed using massive that even light cannot methods for solving optimisation and problems. The method mathematics. problems numerically that are used to process secure financial escape their gravitational pull. still the basis for many of today’s transactions on-line is based on Hawking went on to show that So what lessons can we learn techniques. UK mathematics number theory, specifically the there is a sense in which black from the success of UK underpins computer simulations difficulty of finding the prime holes actually do emit radiation! mathematical science in the all over the world! factors of large numbers. The The existence of the Higgs jubilee years? Here are some RSA algorithm at the heart of particle that may have been observations from the chalk-face. The speed and memory size this method was first developed observed recently and which is of computers grew rapidly and it by Clifford Cocks, a number became much easier to collect theorist working at GCHQ. . . . ways of analysing floating data. But while data can now be Unfortunately no one at GCHQ gathered on a massive scale, it appreciated its potential (it was point arithmetic . . . is much harder to work out what filed as ‘secret’) and the to do with it. Many of the algorithm is now known by the responsible for mass in quantum • Structures must be flexible fundamental ideas behind the initials of the US-Israeli team theory was predicted by Peter enough to allow many flowers mathematical treatment of data that patented the method in Higgs at the University of to bloom: nobody can predict sets, statistics, were formulated 1978! Edinburgh, with others including what the next breakthrough in the 1920s at Rothamsted by Tom Kibble at Imperial College, will be, far less from where it Fisher. This tradition of Not all new mathematics is using mathematical arguments. will appear. excellence in statistics within the immediately applicable, and a UK has continued during the fundamental development of • The time between formulation new Elizabethan age, making it the new Elizabethan age has of a seminal mathematical possible to analyse the effect of been the renaissance of idea and its application may be new drugs, or the meaning of geometry. Geometry and physics brief (as in Cox’s 1972 work the human genome, much have been intertwined through on regression analysis) or very more efficiently, and also to most of their history, but drifted long (as in Turing’s 1936 analyse models of systems with apart in the 60 years leading up discussion 5 of thinking uncertainty (financial markets, to 1980. However, starting from machines, now at the heart of spread of epidemics, life discussions between Sir Michael Artificial Intelligence). It is expectancy of smokers ….). Atiyah and the American misguided to aim to reward Perhaps the most influential physicist Ed Witten, the picture only a fast pay-off. Worse, even Sir Michael Atiyah ᮊMarc Atkins statistical contribution of the has changed greatly over the with the best intentions this

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that have emerged are similarly Footnotes mysterious and could not have 1 Figures from Thomson Reuters at . . . mathematical models to be built been foreseen in 1952.This http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk does not mean that all future /story.asp?sectioncode=26&storycode= on actuarial life tables . . . 406463 Denmark were first, the USA developments are unpredictable third. – it is clear that the mathematisation of the 2 J. H. Wilkinson, Rounding Errors in Algebraic Processes. Englewood Cliffs, policy tends to lead to base (it is worth remarking that biological sciences will continue New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1963. incremental research rather the Cambridge mathematician apace and holds some exciting prospects, and understanding 3 D.R. Cox, Regression models and life than real innovation, which is and Fields Medallist Sir Tim tables, J Royal Statistical Society B 34 inherently unpredictable. Gowers has never held a climate change provides a (1972), 187-220. research council grant). challenge – but it does make it • The openness and non- likely that the next real 4 A.E. Gelfand and A.F.M. Smith, Sampling-based approaches to hierarchical structure of British The key message from the innovations will, by definition, be culture allows new ideas to last 60 years is that most calculating marginal densities, J. surprises. American Statistical Association 85 gain a foothold, new talent to progress has been through (1990),398-409. find a ready audience. glorious surprises. No one The UK has been at the 5 A. Turing, On computable numbers, except a few crazy science forefront of change over the • Diversity (of scale of past 60 years, and we need to with an application to the fiction writers could have Entscheidungsproblem, Proc. London organisation, of mode of ensure it remains at the cutting predicted the way computers Math. Soc. research – solo/team, would come to pervade our edge of progress for the next 60 interdisciplinary/narrow, lives, nor the way that new years. Not just for the intellectual applications-focused/blue mathematics would be needed excitement of discovery, but also skies) is key. to facilitate this. Modern for its societal impact. How will the next 60 years go? All we can All the above features of UK statistical methods allow say is: watch this space! mathematical science have been information to be extracted from massively aided by the dual data in previously unimagined Acknowledgements: We are grateful to support system for funding ways. The deep interconnections Penny Davies, Patrick Dorey, Jerome Gauntlett, Nick Higham, Oliver Jensen, research, allowing new ideas to between different areas of Stephen Senn, Richard Thomas and Mike start with small first steps, new mathematics, and between Titterington for helpful guidance, some of talent to develop from a wide mathematics and the sciences, which we ignored due to lack of space. AN UNSCIENTIFIC CAMPAIGN

Science has not traditionally Keystone Pipeline which science is structured in much taken centre field in US currently brings crude from the the same way John McCain’s political campaigns and it is Athabascan fields in Alberta to was in 2008; that is, there is no unlikely that this campaign Illinois. Keystone XL would add central science advisor, but small will be an exception. Issues capacity and extend the pipeline teams focusing on issues such around the economy, jobs, to Texan Gulf Coast refineries. as space, energy, and health. healthcare and taxation are Whilst President Obama These teams are often likely to be the battle grounds approved the Cushing, populated by names familiar of the next few weeks. Oklahoma to the Gulf Coast from President Bush’s When science does enter the portion of the Keystone XL, he Bradley Keelor Administration. Former NASA Science and Innovation Team campaign, it will most likely be has delayed, pending further Administrator Mike Griffin British Embassy Washington environmental review, the as a supporting player in the advises on space; former section which would cross the blue touch paper issues such as Missouri Congressman Jim Ogallala Aquifer in Nebraska, climate change, other Talent serves on the energy environmental policy, or stem one of the largest reserves of team; and former Environmental cells. For example, early in the fresh water in the world. Protection Agency Administrator campaign one of Governor At writing, Governor and Health Human Services Romney’s most frequently Romney’s team of advisors on Secretary Mike Leavitt is advising broadcast advertisements highlighted his promise to restart construction on the Keystone XL . . . no central science advisor . . . Pipeline – the extension to the

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Governor Romney on health issues. Mike Leavitt would also lead the Romney Presidency’s transition team following the November election and has been mentioned as a possible White House Chief of Staff. In general, Governor Romney’s team is more centralized than the President’s. The President, of course, can draw upon the large number of presidentially appointed positions inside the Administration and the network that comes along with the Presidency.

Recently, both candidates answered 14 questions on various issues posted to sciencedebate.org. In these questions and in their other of the above” indicating support messaging, there are three for all types of energy . . . key scientific posts remain fairly particular science areas to watch production. Both campaigns for potential differences have used this term and both apolitical . . . between the candidates. The President Obama and Governor first is space. Governor powerful environmental policy is outcome of the November Romney support additional Romney’s advisors favour a liberty.’ elections is the possible time lag drilling for oil and natural gas return to a manned space in nominating and confirming and the increased use of nuclear Thirdly there is life sciences. exploration strategy, whereas the senior science officials in the power. However, as you dig into The major difference between Administration has shown a Administration: a hiatus in the detail areas of difference the President and Governor tendency to focus on robotic leadership being seen as emerge. The Republican Romney is in stem cell policy. missions. With the termination particularly unwelcome in times National Committee (RNC) Mitt Romney has consistently of the Shuttle programme in of budget uncertainly. In 2001, worked hard over the summer opposed embryonic stem cell 2010 and the cancellation of the President George Bush waited to keep Solyndra, the bankrupt research since before his tenure Constellation programme – eight months after his renewable energy company as Massachusetts governor. which was in effect a Shuttle inauguration to appoint a Chief funded by the Administration’s President Obama who famously replacement – the same year, Science Advisor. In 2009, Department of Energy loan said ‘Medical miracles do not NASA has moved almost President Obama waited over guarantee programme, in the happen simply by accident’ has exclusively to unmanned four months to nominate a news. And an RNC policy been clear in his support for missions. If President Obama is NASA Administrator. President statement decries the federal funding for embryonic re-elected, this will probably Obama did name his science Environmental Protection Agency stem cell research and this continue. Governor Romney advisor and a NOAA regulations developed since finally paid off in August this may try to revive a launch Administrator before 2009 as ‘expansive regulations year when the US Circuit Court programme, motivated in part at inauguration, viewed by many in least by a desire to prevent the the community as a step in the US from relying on Russian . . . creating regulatory uncertainty . . . right direction. However, many launch services. Whichever key scientific posts remain fairly candidate is successful, they will that will impose tens of billions of Appeals upheld a lower court apolitical, even though they have to develop a Space policy of dollars in new costs on decision throwing out a lawsuit require Presidential nominations. under tight fiscal constraints in American businesses and that challenged federal funding Directors of the National Science 2013 and beyond. Uncertainty consumers. Many of these new for the research. At present, it Foundation, National Institutes of about the direction of the US rules are creating regulatory has not been raised so far in the Health, and US Geological Space programme will continue Survey are all appointed to six- uncertainty, preventing new 2012 campaign but both for some time. year terms, and in most cases projects from going forward, candidates will have their stay on even after a change in The second area is energy discouraging new investment, arguments ready to deploy. Administration. policy. The popular phrase for and stifling job creation’ As much a concern for the both candidates this year is “all concluding that ‘the most US science community as the

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NORTHERN LIGHTS

The UK Science & Innovation Network has three officers based in Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki. UK stakeholders often tell us that they imagine the Nordic region to be, “green”, “organised”, “quirky”, or “family friendly”. All these adjectives ring true but I would add one important one to this list: “innovative”. Sweden, Denmark and Finland are three out of the four “innovation leader” countries in Europe according to the EU Innovation Scoreboard in 2012.

Hazel Gibson UK Science and Innovation How is the Nordic region an incubators up and down the doubling of its public funding for Network, Stockholm innovation leader? What great country. It is truly an inspiration research. science is going on? What can for an up and coming Sweden, Denmark and the UK policy makers learn and generation of scientists. In Finland are well networked who should our scientists and Finland the Millennium Tech countries, both in terms of links innovators be seeking to Prize is awarded bi-annually for between business and collaborate with? innovations that improve quality academia exemplified by the of life or sustainable Sweden, Denmark and high business investment in development. Finland have their own context, R&D scores above, but also in priorities, and particular brands Governments and businesses terms of the way that people of success when it comes to in the Nordic region have long circulate rather easily between science and innovation although maintained strong investment in these worlds, often double or there is also a shared agenda science and innovation and are triple hatting in a number of especially on developing greener broadly maintaining this despite roles simultaneously. They are economies and growing more the current economic climate. also some of the most sustainable economies through Research and innovation networked nations in the world R&D. performance also remains high. with high ICT access and Sweden has spent around 3 per proficiency amongst their Science and innovation are cent of GDP on R&D for a citizens. It is also relatively easy well respected culturally in the Nordic region and education standards are high. One . . . UK looks to the Nordics spectacle in particular epitomises the region’s cultural on innovation policy . . . elevation of science – the annual Nobel Science Prizes awards ceremony hosted by number of years already to set up a company, or including both the business and innovate a new piece of . . . most networked state shares. Only Israel, Finland Intellectual Property. On the nations in the world . . . and South Korea allocate a other hand companies report a higher percentage of GDP to lack of cash flow in the system R&D. Finland has maintained including venture capital. It can Sweden. A five hour live exceptionally high R&D also be difficult to attract top television marathon of the investment rates including the international talents to research Nobel banquet holds the nation business share (3.73 per cent of institutions on the same scale as spellbound as Sweden’s science GDP in 2011). Denmark also in the UK. Innovation systems community turns out on the TV nudges above the 3% mark. are underpinned by open, to illustrate and explain the work The Swedish Government excellent and attractive research they are doing in labs and announced in early September a systems with a strong supply of

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both excellent fundamental expertise here in materials research and support structures technology crucial to underpin for industrial R&D. Copenhagen new discoveries in all areas of . . . exceptionally high R&D University tops the THE rankings science including the digital investment rates . . . for research in the region with revolution. There is also all three countries boasting a excellent Organic and number of excellent research Atmospheric chemistry. In Life In Finland there is a new will receive even more in the universities. sciences there is considerable wave of ICT, digital and creative future. This development expertise on forestry and industries spurred on by the epitomises Sweden’s ability to heyday of Nokia in the 2000s . . . the annual Nobel Science convince national players to with Rovio, the producer of the work together and focus on Prizes awards ceremony . . . mobile phone games application making changes that will benefit Angry Birds the latest to emerge. all of them in some way. Nokia and Microsoft recently In policy terms the UK has agriculture. In Medical sciences injected €18million to set up an In Denmark the Government, looked for inspiration towards there are strengths in many “App Campus” dubbed as the research community and the North on issues such as the areas including molecular world’s largest mobile companies continue to pioneer new Catapult Centres with biology or oncology. The Nordics acceleration programme. The exciting new energy similar long standing models in are tackling a public health next generation of entrepreneurs developments that make the the region such as the Finnish agenda similar to that in the UK is being provided by the “Aalto country something of an energy VTT centres and SHOKs or the including elderly healthcare, Venture Garage” set up by innovation lab for the rest of Swedish Vinnvaext centres. chronic diseases, allergies, and entrepreneurial students at Aalto Europe, such as the EcoGrid EU There is good collaboration MRSA/infectious diseases. between the innovation There are many industrial agencies in the UK and those in strengths in the Nordic region . . . investing in infrastructure . . . Sweden, Denmark and Finland giving the countries a powerful on a number of issues such as export offering, including service innovation or public University. These developments project, voted one of the world’s domestic and multinational sector innovation. In the last few epitomise the Finnish emphasis “100 powerful sustainable on renewal within its innovation solutions” at RIO+20. The . . . Microsoft setting up an system, and also the constant project will integrate renewable emphasis on innovation from energy and transport solutions in App Campus . . . the perspective of the user. a smart grid with 2000 households “live” on the system In Sweden there is currently years Finland and Denmark companies for example in and show how demand can be a focus on ensuring the best have both gone through major forestry and mining, electronics met safely even with a high research infrastructures are in reforms in their university and communications (Nokia, proportion of renewable energy. place to underpin national sectors. Sweden has recently Ericsson), agriculture and food All in all, the Nordics are open introduced fees for foreign export as well as logistics capability in a number of areas. for business and research students and is now providing interests (Maersk), retail (IKEA) One example of this is the new collaboration with the UK. These more concentrated research and a strong biotech sector national Science-for-Life countries have a great attitude funding to key nationally (NovoNordisk, AstraZeneca). All laboratory, a step change in when it comes to breaking strategic research groups. boundaries. Just think of The UK is also historically . . . exciting new energy Tetrapak, the pacemaker or in a interested in many aspects of developments . . . more modern context Spotify or energy and environmental Angry Birds. They are prepared innovation policy as the Nordic three countries are experiencing national infrastructure to support to tackle issues in both practical countries have led the way in growth in the Cleantech sector. not just research but also and creative ways. To anyone many areas such as Carbon Sweden maintains car innovation in the areas of who is interested in the region, I Capture and Storage, combined manufacturing interests (Volvo translational medicine. The would say come and explore it. heat and power systems, and SAAB) and Finland facility has attracted significant biomass, recycling, or green maintains good nuclear energy funding already from the transport. In Physics there is capabilities. Swedish state and business and

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INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION

The APPG on Scientific technology: social/vocational, to beyond the obvious global Research in Learning and impact on learning outcomes collaboration: use of multimedia, Education explores issues at the and as a catalyst for curriculum opportunity for voting polls and interface between scientific reform. Each of these reasons discussion forums. For those research and education. They has barriers to success, for working on the journal as editors recently discussed the benefits example, with difficulty in actually it develops skills in team- and limitations of using measuring impact on learning working, decision-making and innovative technology in and the use of technology time management, but also, and education – at all levels ranging getting in the way of pedagogy. perhaps most critical in the from primary to tertiary He also recognised constraints current day and age, in digital education. Professor Swithenby such as access to appropriate literacy. Dr Ellie Dommett (Open University) focused on facilities and adequate teacher Department of Life, Health and A recurring theme was the Chemical Sciences, The Open the use of technology in training to support use of University sense of ownership that teaching science, although he technology in the classroom. developed with engagement argued that any discipline which However, the picture is not all available through such relied on computer technology bleak. He provided examples of technology. All felt that by in professional practice, such as existing technologies that are developing a sense of design or engineering, could effective and suggested where ownership more effective benefit from the same technology comes into its own learning would occur and may approach. In practice science to support learning: allowing even protect against being the uses technology to collaborate pupils to be creative, visualisation passive receiver of information and collect data. This means of difficult concepts and as a through screen technologies. A that anyone with access to a means of garnering support and discussion followed, with computer should be able to feedback. The latter can also be questions arising as to whether

Anita Corbin engage with scientific research. useful for teachers in developing all pupils should be given ipads ᮊ Moreover, he proposed that to their practice and sharing lesson Baroness Professor Greenfield as a priority and whether such teach science without these ideas. He felt that the way to Co-Chair, APPG on Scientific technologies could replace Research in Learning and Education interactions with technology progress required activity at three teachers. Although a brief vote would be to teach out-dated levels. Teachers must be suggested that the jury was still skills. Prof Swithenby proactive and put pedagogy first. out on whether provision of demonstrated a number of Secondly, school leaders must ipads was a priority, there was excellent, innovative teaching provide suitable support and agreement that these tools including a virtual finally, policy makers must offer technologies could not replace laboratory rat, a digital consistent support for developing teachers. High levels of microscope and a programme pedagogy. engagement could still be for mapping trees across the UK The final speaker was gained through ‘old-fashioned’ called Treezilla. Engagement with Christina Astin, Headteacher of interaction, for example putting these technologies could offer King’s School, Canterbury, and on a lab coat and attempting an authentic experience of STEM co-founder of the Young Scientist experiments in a laboratory. disciplines, opening up access to Journal (YSJ). The YSJ is a Despite this, there are still strong more people and, in the long publication led and written by arguments for the use of run, changing public attitude students and for students technologies, for example, towards STEM subjects. between the ages of 12-20 where access to ‘real world’ Professor Michael Hammond years. It provides an opportunity resources is limited. A final note (University of Warwick) focused for pupils of science all over the of caution: in order to make the on the reasons for using world to publish articles on most of these technologies, they technology, and whether these scientific topics, including original must be produced could be realistically met. There research. She suggested that the collaboratively and their are three main reasons for use of online media for the development must not leave the engagement with innovative journal had considerable benefits teachers behind.

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SCIENCE AND THE DEVOLVED BODIES SETTING THE SCENE Science and Technology have become steadily embedded in the life of the devolved bodies over the past decade, beginning in Scotland, followed by Wales and now with real progress in Northern Ireland. The influence of scientific societies has been crucial in encouraging this process and it has been this influence that effectively created some of its key components.

The first step was to hold major events highlighting science in science community – in the Scottish Parliament, the Welsh each devolved body. This in turn greatly contributed to the pressure Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly. They all comprise on devolved administrations to take science seriously. A Chief Members of the devolved bodies (MSPs, AMs, and MLAs) from all Scientific Adviser [CSA] was first appointed in Scotland and then a the major political parties and include representatives from the few years later in Wales and both played a significant role in leading scientific societies and tend to meet about three times a drawing up a science strategy for the Scottish Government and the year. Welsh Assembly Government. The science community in Northern Major events are now held with each devolved body on an Ireland is now pressing for the appointment of a CSA for Northern annual basis. The inaugural Science and Stormont event is Ireland. scheduled for 15 October, the next Science and the Parliament on Over the years Cross Party Groups on Science and Technology 14 November, and the next Science and the (Welsh) Assembly on have been successfully established – thanks to the initiative of the 21 May 2013.

SCOTLAND The Cross Party Group on Science and Technology is chaired by Elaine Murray MSP, closely supported by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the rest of the science community, and has for several years been holding regular meetings in the Scottish Parliament, most recently last month (in a joint meeting with the CPG on Colleges and Universities).

The Scottish Government announced in September its intention to bring forward a Referendum Bill. As the question of Scottish independence is now on the agenda of Scottish – and British – politics the science community is now starting to address these constitutional issues. What might the consequences of full independence be for science in Scotland? Would they be beneficial or damaging? What might ‘Devo Max’ mean for science? How might these potential options affect the future of science in Scotland? What effects would the possibility or fact of independence have elsewhere in the UK? These questions will be debated at this year’s major science event Science and the Parliament being held on 14 November.

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WALES The Cross Party Group on Science and Technology is chaired by David Rees AM, closely supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry and the rest of the science community, and has for many years been holding meetings in the Welsh Assembly. The Welsh CSA, SACW reports directly to Professor Chris Pollock. A annual major event Science and Professor John Harries, spoke Professor Harries, rather than to National Science Academy has the Assembly will be held in recently about the Science for Ministers, and has no statutory also been established and it is May which will include an Wales strategy document exhibition in the Senedd. published in March. He also or financial responsibilities. The currently engaged in a survey of presides over the Science appointments are unpaid and it all STEM activity in Wales. Advisory Council for Wales. has an independent co-chair, Looking ahead to next year the

NORTHERN IRELAND Progress in the NI Assembly has been encouraging and the All Party Group on Science & Technology was formally established this year, chaired by Basil McCrea MLA. At its autumn meeting in September it discussed the issue of ‘fracking’. An inaugural Science and Stormont event has been planned for 15 October in the Parliament Buildings at Stormont, co-sponsored by a wide range of scientific societies, Northern Ireland including and Integrated Bioengineering Included in the programme is a on the theme of Innovation: speakers from Queen’s Centre, the Engineering Panel discussion with MLAs and How Science and Engineering University, Bombardier Research Institute, Ulster an exhibition in the Long Gallery. can drive economic growth in Aerospace, the Nanotechnology University and SiSaf Ltd.

SELECTED DEBATES

Aviation Food and Health Aviation 4.7.12 HoC 249WH Cosmetic Surgery 5.7.12 HoC 327WH Defence AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria 4.7.12 HoL 745 Listed opposite (grouped by Defence Equipment and Support High Energy Caffeine Drinks 11.7.12 HoC 417 subject area) is a selection of 17.7.12 HoC 845 NHS: Specialised Services 18.7.12 HoL 293 Debates on matters of scientific Education Rickets 4.9.12 HoC 59WH interest which took place in the Higher and Further Education 11.9.12 HoC 203 Industry House of Commons, the House Energy Aerospace Industry 12.9.12 HoC 105WH of Lords or Westminster Hall Energy Resources 18.9.12 HoC 262WH International Competitiveness 6.7.12 HoL 793 between 1st July and 18th Energy Supply 6.9.12 HoC 137WH Science Policy September. Nuclear Power 4.7.12 HoC 309WH Behaviour Change 11.7.12 HoL GC561 Environment British Council: Funding 19.7.12 HoL 452 Oceans & Marine Ecosystems 11.7.12 HoC 98WH Science and Public Service Broadcasting Protecting the Antarctic 4.9.12 HoC 51WH 12.9.12 HoC 136WH Transport High Speed 2 (Heathrow) 17.7.12 HoC 223WH Horses: Transportation 6.7.12 HoL 843 Railways: High Speed 2 11.7.12 HoL 1209

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HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SELECT COMMITTEE

The members of the Committee Regenerative medicine Science and Heritage follow-up (appointed 16 May 2012) are Lord Broers, Lord Cunningham of Felling, The Committee launched an inquiry into In December 2011, the Select Committee Lord Dixon-Smith, Baroness Hilton of regenerative medicine before the summer recess. launched a short follow-up inquiry to its report Eggardon, Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, Lord Krebs (Chairman), The deadline for submissions was 20 September into science and heritage in session 2005-06. Lord Patel, Baroness Perry of 2012. It will cover current research in regenerative The Committee wrote to Government and Southwark, Lord Rees of Ludlow, the medicine and potential treatments which could contributors to the original inquiry seeking an Earl of Selborne, Baroness Sharp of Guildford, Lord Wade of Chorlton, be developed in the next 5 -10 years, barriers to update of developments since the publication of Lord Willis of Knaresborough and translation of this research to applications and the original report in 2006 and the update of Lord Winston. Lord Lucas of Crudwell commercial products, and to compare the UK’s October 2007. The deadline for written and Dingwall and Baroness Neuberger were co-opted to Sub- efforts with international examples. The submission was 31st January 2012. Oral Committee 1 for the purposes of the Committee expects to report in 2013. evidence sessions were held from February until inquiry on higher education in STEM March 2012. The Committee published its report subjects. Higher Education in Science, Technology, on 11th May. The Government response was Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects published on 16 July. It is anticipated that the In September 2011, the Select Committee report will be debated in the House in the current appointed a Sub-Committee, chaired by Lord session. Willis of Knaresborough, to conduct an inquiry into higher education in STEM subjects. The The role and function of departmental Chief inquiry considered how the UK can ensure that Scientific Advisers (CSAs) the supply of graduates in STEM subjects meets In July 2011, the Select Committee launched current and future needs, looked at 16 -18 maths an inquiry into the role and function of provision, and undergraduate and postgraduate departmental Chief Scientific Advisers. This looked education. A call for evidence was released on at a number of aspects concerning the role of 13th September 2011 with a deadline for CSAs including: the ability of CSAs to provide submissions of 16th December. Oral evidence independent advice to ministers and policy sessions began in December and finished in April makers; the extent of their influence over 2012. The Committee published its report on 24 research spend; and their role in providing July 2012. The report will be debated in the independent challenge and ensuring that House following receipt of the Government’s departmental policies are evidenced-based. A call response, due in early October. for evidence was released on 20th July 2011 with a deadline for submissions of 16th Sports and exercise science and medicine September. The Committee took oral evidence In May 2012, the Select Committee launched from October to December and published its a short inquiry into sports and exercise science report on 29th February 2012. The Government and medicine to consider how the legacy of published their response to the report on 11th London 2012 can be used to improve May 2012. The report will be debated in Grand understanding of the benefits exercise can Committee on 17th October at 3.45pm. provide, and in treating chronic conditions. The Committee explored how robust this science is FURTHER INFORMATION and how lessons learnt from the study of athletes The written and oral evidence to the can be applied to improve the health of the Committee’s inquiries mentioned above, as well population generally. The Committee held a as the Calls for Evidence and other documents seminar on 29th May 2012, and took oral can be found on the Committee’s website. evidence during the month of June from sports Further information about the work of the and exercise scientists and clinicians, UK Sport, Committee can be obtained from Chris Atkinson, and officials and Ministers from the Department Committee Clerk, [email protected] or of Health and the Department for Culture, Media 020 7219 4963. The Committee Office email and Sport. The Committee published its report on address is [email protected]. 17 July 2012. The report will be debated in the House following receipt of the Government’s response which is expected in October 2012.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Science and Technology CURRENT INQUIRIES Dibden, Joint Heads of the Government Social Committee is established under Research Service. Standing Order No 152, and Engineering in Government: follow-up charged with the scrutiny of the The written evidence received is on the expenditure, administration and On 14 September 2011 the Committee policy of the Government Office for Committee’s website. A Report was published on Science, a semi-autonomous announced an inquiry following up its 21 September 2012. organisation based within the predecessor’s inquiry into Engineering in Department for Business, Government. The Committee invited written Innovation and Skills. Risk perception and energy infrastructure submissions by 1st November 2011. On 9 November 2011 the Committee The current members of the Science and Technology Committee On 7 December 2011 the Committee took announced an inquiry into Risk perception and are: evidence from: Chris Aylett, Chief Executive, energy infrastructure. The Committee invited Caroline Dinenage (Conservative, Motorsport Industry Association, and Philip written submissions by 14 December 2011. Gosport), Jim Dowd (Labour, Greenish, Chief Executive, Royal Academy of Lewisham West and Penge), Gareth On 18 January 2012 the Committee took Johnson (Conservative, Dartford), Engineering. evidence from: Andrew Bloodworth, Head of Stephen Metcalfe (Conservative, South Basildon and East Thurrock), On 14 December 2011 the Committee took Science – Minerals and Waste, British Geological Andrew Miller (Labour, Ellesmere evidence from: Sir John Beddington, Government Survey, Professor Nick Pidgeon, Director of Port and Neston), Stephen Mosley (Conservative, City of Chester), Chief Scientific Adviser. Understanding Risk Programme, Cardiff Pamela Nash (Labour, Airdrie and University, and Professor David Spiegelhalter, Shotts), Sarah Newton The written evidence received is on the Royal Statistical Society. (Conservative, Truro and Falmouth), Committee’s website. A Report was published on Graham Stringer (Labour, Blackley and Broughton), Hywel Williams 30 April 2012. The Government response to this On 25 January 2012 the Committee took (Plaid Cymru, Arfon) and Roger report was published on 17 July 2012. evidence from: Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Williams (Liberal Democrat, Brecon Sense about Science, Fiona Fox, Director, Science and Radnorshire). The Census and social science Media Centre, and Mark Henderson, former Andrew Miller was elected by the On 9 November 2011 the Committee Science Editor, The Times; Bob Brown, Corporate House of Commons to be the Chair of the Committee on 9th June announced an inquiry into The Census and social Director, Sedgemoor District Council, Richard 2010. The remaining Members science. The Committee invited written Mayson, Director of Planning and External Affairs were appointed to the Committee on 12th July 2010. Caroline submissions by 30th November 2011. for Nuclear New Build, EDF Energy, and Dr Rick Dinenage, Gareth Johnson, Sarah Wylie, Executive Director, Applied Policy Sciences Newton and Hywel Williams were On 7 December 2011 the Committee took appointed to the Committee on evidence from: Professor David Blane, Deputy Unit, University of Central Lancashire. 27th February 2012 in the place of Gavin Barwell, Gregg McClymont, Director, ESRC International Centre for Life Course On 1 February 2012 the Committee took Stephen McPartland and David Studies, Professor Heather Joshi, President, Society evidence from: Dr Paul Leinster, Chief Executive, Morris. Jim Dowd was appointed to for Lifecourse and Longitudinal Studies, and the Committee on 11th June 2012 Environment Agency, Dr Jill Meara, Deputy in place of Jonathan Reynolds. Professor Les Mayhew, City University. Director of the Centre for Radiation, Chemical On 14 December 2011 the Committee took and Environmental Hazards, Health Protection evidence from: Professor Tim Allen, Local Agency, Geoffrey Podger, Chief Executive, Health Government Association, Aleks Collingwood, and Safety Executive, and Dr Mike Weightman, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Professor David HM Chief Inspector of Nuclear Installations and Martin, Royal Statistical Society, and Professor Phil Executive Head of the Office for Nuclear Rees, Royal Geographical Society; Adrian Alsop, Regulation. Director of Research and International Strategy, and On 19 March 2012 the Committee took Jeremy Neathey, Deputy Director of Policy, evidence from: Charles Hendry MP, Minister of Economic and Social Research Council, Glen State for Energy, and Professor David Mackay, Watson, Census Director, and Peter Benton, Chief Scientific Advisor, Department of Energy Deputy Director, Office for National Statistics. and Climate Change. On 18 January 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Richard Bartholomew, and Jenny

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The written evidence received is on the Committee’s website. R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Dr David Tapolczay, Chief Executive Officer, The Report was published on 9 July 2012. The Government’s Medical Research Council Technology, Dr Gareth Goodier, Chair, response is awaited. Shelford Group (Chief Executives of ten leading Academic Medical Centres and large teaching hospitals); Chief Executive, Cambridge Science and international development University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Dr Andy Richards, On 11 November 2011 the Committee announced an inquiry Biotechnology entrepreneur and business angel. into Science and international development. The Committee invited written submissions by 16th December 2011. On 25 April 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Katie Potts, Herald Investment Management, Anne Glover, Amadeus On 1 February 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Capital Partners Ltd, Matthew Bullock, and Stephen Welton, Professor Graham Furniss, Chair of the Africa Panel, British Business Growth Fund. The Committee also heard from: Dr Richard Academy, Professor Peter Guthrie OBE, Fellow, Royal Academy of Worswick, Cobalt Light Systems, Dr Peter Dean, Cambio, Dr Trevor Engineering, Professor Robert Souhami CBE, Foreign Secretary, Francis, Technical Director, Byotrol Technology Ltd. Academy of Medical Sciences, and Dr Beth Taylor, Director of Communications and External Relations, Institute of Physics. On 20 June 2012 the Committee took evidence from Sir David Cooksey and Sir Peter Williams; David Sweeney, Director (Research, On 8 February 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Innovation and Skills), Higher Education Funding Council for Professor Anthony Costello, Professor of International Child Health England (HEFCE), Professor Ian Haines UK Deans of Science and and Director, UCL Institute for Global Health, Dr John Kirkland, Professor Nick Wright, Russell Group. Deputy Secretary General, Association of Commonwealth Universities, Professor Melissa Leach, Director, STEPS Centre, and On 2 July 2012 the Committee took evidence from Rees Ward Professor Andrew Westby, Director, Natural Resources Institute, CB, Chief Executive Officer of ADS; Professor Keith Hayward, Head University of Greenwich. of Research, Royal Aeronautical Society; Henner Wapenhans, Head of Technology Strategy, Rolls Royce; Dr Ruth Mallors, Aerospace, On 22 February 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Dr Jo Aviation and Defence KTN and Sir John Chisholm, Engineering the Beall, Director Education and Society, British Council, Kate O'Shea, Future. Deputy Director, UK Collaborative on Development Sciences, Sir Mark Walport, Director, Wellcome Trust, and John Young, Director of On 5 September 2012 the Committee took evidence from Tim Impact Assessment, Partnerships and Head of the RAPID Bradshaw, Head of Enterprise and Innovation, CBI and Tim Crocker, Programme, Overseas Development Institute. SME Innovation Alliance; Fergus Harradence, Deputy Director Innovation Policy, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, On 25 June 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Professor Iain Gray, Chief Executive, Technology Strategy Board and Research Christopher Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for Councils UK International Development; Professor Tim Wheeler, Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser, Department for International Development and On 12 September 2012 the Committee took evidence from Rt Stephen O'Brien MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Hon David Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and International Development Science.

The written evidence received is on the Committee’s website. A The written evidence received is on the Committee’s website. A report is being prepared. report is being prepared.

Bridging the “valley of death”: improving the commercialisation Medical implants of research On 26 March 2012 the Committee announced an inquiry: On 16 December 2011 the Committee announced an inquiry: ‘Regulation of medical implants’. The Committee invited written Bridging the “valley of death”: improving the commercialisation of submissions by 26 April 2012. research. The Committee invited written submissions by 8 February On 23 May 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Dr Carl 2012. Heneghan (GP), Reader in Evidence-Based Medicine, Director of On 18 April 2012 the Committee took evidence from: Professor the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine, Dr Thomas Joyce, Reader Luke Georghiou, Vice-President (Research and Innovation), in Biotribology, University of Newcastle, Professor Stephen Westaby, University of Manchester, Dr Paul Nightingale, Science and Cardiac Surgeon, John Radcliffe Hospital and Dr Suzette Woodward, Technology Policy Research, University of Sussex, David Connell, Director of Patient Safety, National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA). Senior Research Fellow, Centre for Business Research/ UK On 13 June the Committee took evidence from: John Howlett, Innovation Research Centre, Judge Business School, University of British Standards Institute (BSi) and Peter Ellingworth, Association of Cambridge, and Dr Douglas Robertson, Chair, Praxis-Unico. The British Healthcare Industries (ABHI). The Committee also heard Committee also heard from: Dr Ted Bianco, Director of Technology from: Jacqueline Minor, Director of Consumer Affairs, European Transfer, Wellcome Trust, Dr Ian Tomlinson, Senior Vice President, Commission. The Committee then heard from: Sir Kent Woods, Head of Worldwide Business Development and Biopharmaceuticals Chief Executive of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory

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Agency (MHRA) and Lord Howe, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of On 11 July 2012 the Committee published its Second Report of State for Quality, Department of Health (DH). Session 2012-13, Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the Chair of the Medical Research Council, The written evidence received will be available on the HC 510-I. Committee’s website in due course. A report is in preparation.

Pre-appointment hearing GOVERNMENT RESPONSES The Committee held a pre-appointment hearing with the Government Response to the Science and Technology Government’s preferred candidate for Chair of the Medical Committee report ‘Engineering in government: follow-up to the Research Council. The Committee’s report was published on 11 2009 report on Engineering: turning ideas into reality’ July 2012. On 17 July 2012 the Committee published the Government’s Engineering skills Response to the Committee’s follow-up report on Engineering in government, HC 511. The Committee announced an inquiry into engineering skills on 30 April 2012.Terms of reference are available on the Committee’s FURTHER INFORMATION website. The Committee will start hearing oral evidence for this Further information about the work of the Science and inquiry in October and November 2012. Technology Committee can be obtained from the Clerk of the Marine Science Committee, Stephen McGinness, or from the Senior Committee On 4 July 2012 the Committee announced an inquiry into Assistant, Darren Hackett, on 020 7219 2792/2793 respectively; or marine science. Terms of reference for the inquiry are available on by writing to: The Clerk of the Committee, Science and Technology the Committee’s website. The Committee is currently accepting Committee, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. written evidence for the inquiry. It will start hearing oral evidence Enquiries can also be e-mailed to [email protected]. later in the year. Anyone wishing to be included on the Committee’s mailing list should contact the staff of the Committee. Anyone wishing to REPORTS submit evidence to the Committee is strongly recommended to Devil’s bargain? Energy risks and the public obtain a copy of the guidance note first. Guidance on the On 9 2012 July the Committee published its First Report of submission of evidence can be found at www.parliament.uk/ Session 2012-13, Devil’s bargain? Energy risks and the public, HC commons/selcom/witguide.htm. The Committee has a website, 428 www.parliament.uk/science, where all recent publications, terms of reference for all inquiries and press notices are available. Pre-appointment hearing with the Government’s preferred candidate for the Chair of the Medical Research Council

PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST)

RECENT POST PUBLICATIONS Drug Resistant Tuberculosis July 2012 POSTnote 416 Preventing Diabetes Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death globally. Progress July 2012 POSTnote 415 in the control of TB is threatened by drug-resistant TB strains. This The number of people in the UK with diabetes is projected to note examines the extent of, and risks posed by, drug-resistant TB. It rise from 3.1 million to 3.8 million by 2020. Managing the gives an overview of national and international TB surveillance, condition and treating its complications costs the NHS £3.9 billion a research into treatments, and policy options to limit infections. year. This POSTnote describes the causes of diabetes and the known risk factors, and examines policy options for diabetes Energy Use Behaviour prevention. August 2012 POSTnote 417 Behaviour change concerning energy use is an emerging area of research which has important implications for policy. This note

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introduces the factors and interventions that can influence CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS behaviour. It also discusses the behavioural aspects of the Green Bioenergy Deal and the smart meters programme. On 10th July, POST and NERC organised a parliamentary Balancing Nature and Agriculture seminar to discuss bioenergy, the use of renewable natural material September 2012 POSTnote 418 for electricity, heat and liquid fuels. Currently, the UK sources This POSTnote explores two approaches to managing land for approximately 3% of its primary energy from bioenergy feedstocks. balancing nature conservation with sustainable food production. Its cost-effectiveness compared with other renewable technologies Land sharing integrates the objectives of agriculture and benefits to makes it an attractive option for contributing towards the delivery of wildlife on the same land. Land sparing on the other hand energy targets, such as those set by the EU Renewable Energy separates intensive farming areas from protected natural habitats at Directive. However, growth of bioenergy both in the UK and abroad larger scales. is reliant on the availability of affordable, sustainably-sourced biomass, as well as the development and uptake of second Water Resource Resilience generation technologies. Sustainable approaches to producing September 2012 POSTnote 419 bioenergy on existing cropland include using waste, by-products The availability of water is fundamental for society and economic and dedicated energy crops. Intensification of agriculture and activities. This POSTnote describes the reasons for uncertainties in changes to forestry practice can also yield the necessary biomass. water availability in the medium term, and possible responses to However this may have negative impacts if not appropriately this in the management of future supply and demand. regulated to ensure sustainability, such as a net gain in greenhouse gas emissions from land use change. The event was chaired by Advanced Manufacturing Lord Oxburgh. Presentations were made by: Jo Howes, Strategy and September 2012 POSTnote 420 Emerging Issues Adviser, BP Biofuels; Caroline Season, Senior Policy Adviser, Bioenergy, Department of Energy & Climate Change Advanced manufacturing is a key part of the Government’s ‘Plan (DECC); Hugh Whitall, Director of Nuffield Council on Bioethics; and for Growth’. This POSTnote looks at the opportunities for growth Ian Tubby, Principal Adviser, Business & Markets, Forest Services, through advanced manufacturing and related new business models. Forestry Commission, England. Policy initiatives to encourage advanced manufacturing, barriers to its adoption and the skills required for the advanced manufacturing ICT for Disabled People workforce are also considered. On 5th July, POST and the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Measuring National Wellbeing Disability held a seminar with leading experts about the potential for September 2012 POSTnote 421 ICT to improve the quality of life of users with disabilities, how the accessibility of ICT can be improved and what is currently standing Governments and other institutions worldwide are increasingly in the way of progress. As Information and Communication interested in measuring and monitoring wellbeing at the individual, Technologies (ICT) underpin so many aspects of modern life, it is social group and national levels. This briefing summarises the latest vital that the 10 million disabled people in the UK have access to research on measuring national wellbeing, its components and them. However, there are barriers which can make the use of ICT causes, and examines some policy implications. challenging – for example, almost half of all disabled people do not CURRENT WORK access the internet regularly. Attendees also had the chance to view exhibits and network with representatives from charities, academia, Biological Sciences – HIV, developments in prevention and government and business. The event was chaired by Anne treatment, Review of Stem Cell Research, Setting Limits for Drug McGuire MP, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Disability. Driving, Preventing Mitochondrial Disease. Presentations were made by: Léonie Watson, Director of Environment and Energy – Heat Pumps, Biodiversity in UK Accessibility, Nomensa; Graeme Whippy, Senior Manager of Overseas Territories, Environmental Planning for Nature, Disability Program, Lloyds Banking Group; and Robin Biopharming. Christopherson, Head of Digital Inclusion, AbilityNet.

Physical sciences and IT – Open Public Sector Data, Reporting Science for MPs’ Researchers Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Infrastructure for Machine-to-Machine On 5th July, POST and the House of Commons Library Science Communication, Maximising Value of Recycled Materials. and Environment Section (SES) held an event for MPs Researchers Science Policy – Science, Technology, Engineering, and to: Mathematics (STEM) Education for 14-19 years old. • advise them of the range of science advice and resources Science, Technology and the Developing World – Uncertainty in available in Parliament for Members and their staff; Population Projections.

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• meet staff from POST and SES and tell them about the science James Lawrence, University College London, Institution of Chemical and technology issues that matter to their MP and Engineers/Ashok Kumar Fellowship constituency; and, Victoria Charlton, Imperial College MSc Course on Science • have the opportunity to suggest areas of research and future Communication. POSTnote topics based on the concerns of their MP and Staff constituency. Dr Stephen Allen, the POST Energy Adviser, left POST to join an The event was chaired by the POST chairman, Adam Afriyie, MP energy consultancy in Bristol (www.sustain.co.uk) on 5th for Windsor. Presentations were made by Dr Chris Tyler, Director of September. A replacement is being recruited. POST; Dr Patsy Richards, Head of SES and MPs’ Researchers. INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES STAFF, FELLOWS AND INTERNS AT POST POST African Parliaments Programme Fellows POST’s programme of capacity building work in the Parliament Ian Passmore, Cambridge University, Biotechnology and Biological of Uganda comes to a close at the end of September. A three Sciences Research Council month evaluation will start in October and the results will be Laura Harrison, Leeds University, Natural Environment Research presented at a parliamentary seminar in early 2013. POST has Council obtained a Commonwealth Professional Fellowship for Ms Charity Alesi, a researcher at the Parliament of Uganda, for 3 months from Lisette Sibbons, University of Hertfordshire, Science and Technology January 2013. Facilities Council

Kathryn Wills, University of Bath, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION

Scientists and other staff in the Higgs Boson SN/SC/6375 The Government has introduced a range of Science and Environment Section provide confidential, bespoke Scientists at CERN have announced the measures to tackle the problem. However, it briefing to Members and their believes that additional regulatory controls on offices on a daily basis. They also discovery of a new subatomic particle, thought to scrap metal dealers are required to reduce the provide support to Commons be the Higgs Boson. Postulated in the 1960s, the Select Committees, and produce opportunities for metal thieves to sell stolen longer notes and research papers Higgs Boson would explain why some particles material. which can be accessed on line at have substance and thus fill a gap in the standard http://www.parliament.uk/topics/to pical-issues.htm model of particle physics. The latter describes the These controls will be taken forward by the behaviour of matter and energy since the Scrap Metal Dealers Bill 2012, Richard Ottaway’s Opposite are summaries of some recently updated published Universe was about a hundredth of a billionth of Private Member’s Bill. The Bill extends to England briefings. a second old. and Wales. The Bill passed its Second Reading on For further information contact Dr 13 July 2012. Patsy Richards Head of Section Tel: Scrap Metal Dealers Bill 020 7219 1665 email: Research Paper 12/39 Richard Ottaway said that the Bill will [email protected] “empower local authorities with a more robust Incidences of metal theft are thought to have and enforceable licence regime for all those who grown in recent years with rising global metal prices. deal and collect scrap metal”. Metal theft is estimated to cost the UK economy some £220-260 million per year – although the The Green Deal SN/SC/5763 total costs could be up to £800 million. The Green Deal is the Government’s “flagship

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piece of legislation, which will deliver energy efficiency to homes The current Antarctic Bill is a hand-out Bill which has been taken and buildings across the land”. It will start to come into effect from up by Neil Carmichael MP, who will take it through the House of October 2012, although the full package including financing will not Commons as a Private Member’s Bill. The Bill has Government be available until January 2013. support and is due to have its Second Reading on 2 November 2012. It will be based on the Bill consulted on by the previous Through the Green Deal, energy customers in England, Wales Government, although it will not contain what was Part 2 of the and Scotland will receive loans to make energy efficiency original Bill covering the requirement for contingency and safety improvements. The repayments will attach to the energy bill at a planning for all British operators. property, rather than to an individual, passing to any new occupier or bill payer. 4G Spectrum SN/SC/6383

The “golden rule” is that the instalment payments should not Like 2G and 3G networks used by mobile phones and other exceed the savings on an average bill, but because this is on an devices, 4G (fourth generation) networks rely on the transmission average bill, there is the chance that in some cases, a household’s of radio waves. Different services operate at different frequencies to energy bill savings may not cover the cost of the Green Deal avoid interference. Ofcom is responsible for allocating the package. This, together with concerns about the interest rate to be frequencies from what is referred to as the radio spectrum to charged on Green Deal loans, has led to concern about Green Deal different mobile network operators. There are currently four UK take up. mobile network operators: Vodafone, Telefonica O2 (known as O2), Hutchison 3G (known as Three) and Everything Everywhere A new energy company obligation (ECO) will underpin the (which resulted from the merger of Orange and T-Mobile). Green Deal for ‘those most in need’ and for measures that do not fit the golden rule. This will take over from current energy supplier The allocation of spectrum is managed by means of licences – obligations due to end in 2012. It will have three elements, effectively licences to transmit radio waves over defined frequency “Affordable Warmth”, the “Carbon Saving Obligation” and the ranges. Ofcom intends to auction radio spectrum in the 800 MHz “Carbon Saving Communities Obligation”. (megahertz) and 2.6 GHz (gigahertz) frequency bands to provide spectrum for new mobile services in the UK. Some estimates are The Green Deal was provided for by the Energy Act 2011, and that the auction could raise between £2bn and £3bn for the following a consultation, the Government published its final Government. As Ofcom notes, this spectrum is essential to meet proposals and impact assessment on 11 June 2012. During July the UK’s rapid increase in mobile traffic, fuelled by the growth of 2012 the implementing statutory instruments were approved by smartphones and mobile broadband data services such as video both Houses. streaming, email, messenger services, mapping services and social Deepwater and Arctic oil drilling SN/SC/5981 networking sites. All of these services depend on spectrum.

This note outlines examples of how previously inaccessible The new spectrum will provide much needed capacity for the sources of hydrocarbons are starting to be exploited. It covers fourth generation (4G) of mobile technology, set to deliver faster deepwater drilling, drilling in the Arctic Circle, and potential future mobile broadband services such as internet access – at speeds exploitation of methane hydrates. approaching those available today down copper telephone lines.

The UK regulatory regime is probably second only to the The spectrum in the 800 MHz band is becoming available as a Norwegian system in terms of stringency. However, as exploration consequence of digital television switchover. Digital television moves to increasingly fragile ecosystems and difficult environments, broadcasts are more efficient than the traditional analogue ones the European Commission is seeking a role in regulating offshore they supersede so less radio spectrum is required to carry these activity in the North Sea. The Environmental Audit Select services. One current issue, which Ofcom is investigating, is the Committee has just called for a moratorium on Arctic drilling until potential for 4G services interfering with digital television reception. regulatory regimes are improved. Lloyd's/Chatham House have 0845 numbers SN/SC/6235 highlighted the potential for increased exploration in the Arctic as sea ice retreats and oil prices rise. The use of non-geographic telephone numbers, such as those beginning 0845, has been controversial – particularly in the context The Antarctic Bill SN/SC/6388 of the delivery of public services by bodies such as HM Revenue The original proposal for an Antarctic Bill was put forward by the and Customs. previous Government who published a consultation and Draft Bill in Ofcom is consulting on detailed proposals for new tariff December 2009. This Bill would implement a new annex to the principles which are expected to be fully implemented by 2014. Antarctic Treaty that was agreed in 2005. The Annex, on Liability Arising from Environmental Emergencies, requires anyone undertaking activities in Antarctica to ensure measures are in place to prevent any environmental damage, together with contingency plans to deal with any damage that might occur.

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SCIENCE DIRECTORY DIRECTORY INDEX

Aerospace and Aviation Institution of Engineering Designers Royal Society of Chemistry GAMBICA Association Ltd EPSRC Institution of Engineering and Technology STFC Institute of Physics and Engineering in Institution of Engineering Designers National Physical Laboratory Society of Biology Medicine National Physical Laboratory The Welding Institute The Welding Institute LGC The Welding Institute Medical Research Council Cosmetic Science Engineering National Physical Laboratory Agriculture LGC EPSRC The Nutrition Society BBSRC Royal Society of Chemistry EngineeringUK The Physiological Society CABI Society of Cosmetic Scientists GAMBICA Association Ltd The Royal Institution The Food and Environment Research Agency Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Engineering Designers Earth Sciences & Technology Society for Applied Microbiology LGC The Geological Society Institute of Measurement and Control Society for General Microbiology PHARMAQ Ltd Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Institute of Physics and Engineering in Society of Biology Royal Society of Chemistry & Technology Medicine The Welding Institute Society for Applied Microbiology The Linnean Society of London Institution of Chemical Engineers Society for General Microbiology Natural Environment Research Council Institution of Civil Engineers Heart Research Society of Biology Natural History Museum Institution of Engineering Designers ABPI UFAW Society of Biology Institution of Engineering and Technology Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Institution of Mechanical Engineers The Physiological Society Animal Health and Welfare, Veterinary Ecology, Environment and Biodiversity National Physical Laboratory Society of Biology Research The British Ecological Society The Royal Academy of Engineering ABPI CABI Society of Maritime Industries Hydrocarbons and Petroleum Academy of Medical Sciences Economic and Social Research Council STFC The Geological Society LGC The Food and Environment Research Agency The Welding Institute Institution of Chemical Engineers The Linnean Society of London Institution of Chemical Engineers LGC PHARMAQ Ltd Institution of Civil Engineers Fisheries Research Natural History Museum The Physiological Society Institution of Mechanical Engineers Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Royal Society of Chemistry Society for Applied Microbiology LGC & Technology Society for General Microbiology The Linnean Society of London Marine Biological Association Industrial Policy and Research Society of Biology Marine Biological Association Society for Applied Microbiology AIRTO UFAW Met Office Society of Biology Economic and Social Research Council National Physical Laboratory GAMBICA Association Ltd Astronomy and Space Science Natural Environment Research Council Food and Food Technology Institution of Civil Engineers Institute of Physics Natural History Museum British Nutrition Foundation Institution of Engineering and Technology Institution of Engineering Designers Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew CABI The Royal Academy of Engineering Natural History Museum Royal Society of Chemistry The Food and Environment Research Agency STFC STFC Society for Applied Microbiology Institute of Food Science & Technology Society of Biology Society for General Microbiology Institution of Chemical Engineers The Welding Institute Atmospheric Sciences, Climate and Society of Biology LGC Weather Society of Maritime Industries The Nutrition Society Information Services The Geological Society Royal Society of Chemistry AIRTO Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Economic and Social Research Society for Applied Microbiology CABI & Technology Economic and Social Research Council Society for General Microbiology LGC Met Office Society of Biology The Welding Institute Natural Environment Research Council Education, Training and Skills STFC ABPI Forensics IT, Internet, Telecommunications, Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Measurement and Control Computing and Electronics Biotechnology AIRTO LGC EPSRC BBSRC Biochemical Society The Linnean Society of London Institution of Civil Engineers Biochemical Society British Science Association Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Engineering and Technology CABI The British Ecological Society Society of Biology National Physical Laboratory Eli Lilly and Company Ltd British Nutrition Foundation STFC Institution of Chemical Engineers British Pharmacological Society Genetics The Welding Institute LGC British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy ABPI National Physical Laboratory CABI BBSRC Intellectual Property Royal Society of Chemistry Clifton Scientific Trust LGC ABPI Society for Applied Microbiology Economic and Social Research Council The Linnean Society of London The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Society for General Microbiology EPSRC Natural History Museum Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Society of Biology EngineeringUK The Physiological Society NESTA Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Society of Biology Brain Research & Technology Society for Applied Microbiology Royal Society of Chemistry ABPI Institute of Measurement and Control Society of Biology Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Institute of Physics Large-Scale Research Facilities MSD Institution of Chemical Engineers Geology and Geoscience The Food and Environment Research Agency Society of Biology Institution of Civil Engineers The Geological Society National Physical Laboratory The Physiological Society Institution of Engineering and Technology Institution of Civil Engineers Natural History Museum Institution of Mechanical Engineers Natural Environment Research Council STFC Cancer Research LGC Royal Society of Chemistry The Welding Institute ABPI The Linnean Society of London Society of Maritime Industries Lasers Eli Lilly and Company Ltd NESTA Institute of Physics Institute of Physics and Engineering in National Physical Laboratory Hazard and Risk Mitigation National Physical Laboratory Medicine Natural History Museum The Geological Society STFC National Physical Laboratory The Nutrition Society Institute of Marine Engineering, Science The Welding Institute The Physiological Society The Physiological Society & Technology Society of Biology Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Institute of Measurement and Control Manufacturing The Royal Institution Institution of Chemical Engineers ABPI Catalysis The Royal Society LGC AMPS Institution of Chemical Engineers Royal Society of Chemistry Met Office EPSRC Royal Society of Chemistry Society of Biology Society of Biology GAMBICA Association Ltd The Welding Institute Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Chemical Engineers Chemistry Society for Applied Microbiology Institution of Engineering Designers EPSRC Energy The Welding Institute Institution of Engineering and Technology Institution of Chemical Engineers CABI Institution of Mechanical Engineers LGC EPSRC Health National Physical Laboratory The Royal Institution GAMBICA Association Ltd ABPI Society of Maritime Industries Royal Society of Chemistry Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Academy of Medical Sciences The Welding Institute STFC & Technology Biochemical Society Society of Biology Institute of Measurement and Control British In Vitro Diagnostics Association Materials Institute of Physics British Nutrition Foundation Institution of Chemical Engineers Colloid Science Institution of Chemical Engineers British Pharmacological Society Institution of Engineering Designers Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Civil Engineers British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy LGC Institution of Engineering Designers Economic and Social Research Council National Physical Laboratory Construction and Building Institution of Engineering and Technology Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Royal Society of Chemistry The Geological Society Institution of Mechanical Engineers EPSRC STFC Institution of Civil Engineers LGC The Food and Environment Research Agency The Welding Institute

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Mathematical Sciences Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Radiation Hazards Sustainability Council for the Mathematical Sciences: Royal Society of Chemistry Institute of Physics and Engineering in The British Ecological Society Institute of Mathematics and its Applications Society of Biology Medicine CABI London Mathematical Society Institution of Engineering and Technology EPSRC Royal Statistical Society Physical Sciences LGC The Food and Environment Research Agency Operational Research Society Cavendish Laboratory Society of Biology The Geological Society Edinburgh Mathematical Society EPSRC Institute of Marine Engineering, Science The Geological Society Science Policy & Technology Medical and Biomedical Research Institute of Marine Engineering, Science ABPI Institution of Chemical Engineers ABPI & Technology Academy of Medical Sciences Institution of Civil Engineers Academy of Medical Sciences Marine Biological Association Biochemical Society The Linnean Society of London Biochemical Society National Physical Laboratory The British Ecological Society Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew British Pharmacological Society Royal Society of Chemistry British Nutrition Foundation Royal Society of Chemistry British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy British Pharmacological Society Society of Biology CABI Physics British Science Association The Welding Institute Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Cavendish Laboratory CABI LGC Institute of Physics Clifton Scientific Trust Technology Transfer Medical Research Council Institute of Physics and Engineering in Economic and Social Research Council AIRTO MSD Medicine Eli Lilly and Company Ltd CABI The Physiological Society National Physical Laboratory EPSRC The Food and Environment Research Agency The Royal Institution STFC EngineeringUK Institute of Measurement and Control Society for Applied Microbiology The Food and Environment Research Agency Institution of Engineering and Technology Society of Biology Pollution and Waste GAMBICA Association Ltd LGC UFAW ABPI Institute of Physics NESTA The Welding Institute The Geological Society Institution of Chemical Engineers National Physical Laboratory Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Institution of Civil Engineers Research Councils UK Motor Vehicles & Technology Institution of Engineering and Technology Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Engineering Designers Institution of Chemical Engineers LGC STFC The Welding Institute Institution of Civil Engineers The Linnean Society of London Society of Biology LGC Marine Biological Association The Welding Institute Oceanography Marine Biological Association Medical Research Council The Geological Society National Physical Laboratory NESTA Tropical Medicine Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Natural Environment Research Council National Physical Laboratory The Linnean Society of London & Technology Royal Society of Chemistry The Physiological Society Natural History Museum Met Office Society for Applied Microbiology Prospect Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew National Physical Laboratory Society of Biology Research Councils UK Society for Applied Microbiology Natural Environment Research Council Society of Maritime Industries The Royal Academy of Engineering Society for General Microbiology Royal Society of Chemistry The Welding Institute Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Society of Biology Society of Biology The Royal Institution Society of Maritime Industries Psychology The Royal Society Viruses, Fungi and Bacteria British Psychological Society Royal Society of Chemistry ABPI Oil Economic and Social Research Council STFC The Linnean Society of London The Geological Society Society of Biology Society for Applied Microbiology Society for Applied Microbiology Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Society of Biology Society for General Microbiology & Technology Public Policy UFAW Society of Biology Institution of Chemical Engineers Biochemical Society LGC The British Ecological Society Sensors and Transducers Water The Welding Institute British Nutrition Foundation GAMBICA Association Ltd The Geological Society British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Institute of Measurement and Control Institute of Measurement and Control Particle Physics Economic and Social Research Council Institution of Engineering and Technology Institution of Chemical Engineers Institute of Physics EngineeringUK STFC Institution of Civil Engineers STFC The Food and Environment Research Agency Society of Maritime Industries LGC Institution of Civil Engineers The Welding Institute Marine Biological Association Patents Institution of Chemical Engineers Royal Society of Chemistry The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Institution of Engineering and Technology SSSIs Society for Applied Microbiology NESTA LGC The Geological Society Society for General Microbiology Society of Biology The Linnean Society of London The Linnean Society of London Society of Biology Royal Society of Chemistry NESTA Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Society of Maritime Industries The Physiological Society Society of Biology Pharmaceuticals Prospect Wildlife ABPI Royal Society of Chemistry Statistics The British Ecological Society AMPS Society of Biology Economic and Social Research Council The Food and Environment Research Agency British Pharmacological Society EPSRC The Linnean Society of London British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Quality Management EngineeringUK Marine Biological Association Eli Lilly and Company Ltd GAMBICA Association Ltd Natural History Museum Institution of Chemical Engineers LGC Surface Science Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew LGC National Physical Laboratory STFC Society of Biology MSD The Welding Institute UFAW PHARMAQ Ltd

Association AIRTO of the British Contact: Professor Richard Brook OBE FREng Pharmaceutical AIRTO Ltd: Association of Independent Contact: Dr Helen Munn, Industry Research & Technology Organisations Limited Executive Director c/o The National Physical Laboratory Contact: Dr Louise Leong Academy of Medical Sciences Hampton Road Head of Research & Development 41 Portland Place Teddington 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London W1B 1QH Middlesex TW11 0LW London SW1E 6QT Tel: 020 3176 2150 Tel: 020 8943 6600 Tel: 020 7747 7193 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 8614 0470 Fax: 020 7747 1447 Website: www.acmedsci.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.airto.co.uk Website: www.abpi.org.uk The Academy of Medical Sciences promotes AIRTO – The Association for Independent Research and The ABPI is the voice of the innovative pharmaceutical Technology Organisations – is the foremost membership advances in medical science and campaigns to industry, working with Government, regulators and other body for organisations operating in the UK’s intermediate ensure these are converted into healthcare benefits stakeholders to promote a receptive environment for a research and technology sector. AIRTO’s members deliver for society. The Academy’s Fellows are the United strong and progressive industry in the UK, one capable of vital innovation and knowledge transfer services which providing the best medicines to patients. Kingdom’s leading medical scientists and scholars include applied and collaborative R&D, frequently in The ABPI’s mission is to represent the pharmaceutical from hospitals, academia, industry and the public conjunction with universities, consultancy, technology industry operating in the UK in a way that: validation and testing, incubation of commercialisation service. The Academy provides independent, • assures patient access to the best available medicine; opportunities and early stage financing. AIRTO members authoritative advice on public policy issues in • creates a favourable political and economic environment; have a combined turnover of over £2Bn from clients both at medical science and healthcare. • encourages innovative research and development; home and outside the UK, and employ over 20,000 • affords fair commercial returns scientists, technologists and engineers.

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AMPS The British Ecological Contact: Tony Harding Contact: Kate Baillie, CEO Society Biochemical Society 07895 162 896 for all queries whether for The British Ecological Society membership or assistance. Charles Darwin House 12 Roger Street Contact: Ceri Margerison, Policy Manager Branch Office Address: British Ecological Society Merchant Quay, London WC1N 2JU Tel: 020 7685 2433 Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, Salford Quays, London, WC1N 2JU Salford Email: kate.baillie@biochemistry.org Website: www.biochemistry.org Email: [email protected] M50 3SG. Tel: 020 7685 2500 Fax : 020 7685 2501 The Biochemical Society exists to promote and Website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Website: www.amps-tradeunion.com support the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. We Ecology into Policy Blog have over 6000 members in the UK and abroad, http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/ We are a Trades Union for Management and mostly research bioscientists in universities or in Professional Staff working in the pharmaceutical, industry. The Society is also a major scientific The British Ecological Society’s mission is to advance chemical and allied industries. ecology and make it count. The Society has 4,000 publisher. In addition, we promote science policy members worldwide. The BES publishes five We also have a section for Professional Divers working debate and provide resources, for teachers and internationally renowned scientific journals and globally. We represent a broad base of both office and pupils, to support the bioscience curriculum in field based staff and use our influence to improve organises the largest scientific meeting for ecologists in working conditions on behalf of our members. schools. Our membership supports our mission by Europe. Through its grants, the BES also supports organizing scientific meetings, sustaining our ecologists in developing countries and the provision of We are experts in performance based and field related publications through authorship and peer review issues and are affiliated to our counterparts in EU fieldwork in schools. The BES informs and advises Professional Management Unions. and by supporting our educational and policy Parliament and Government on ecological issues and initiatives. welcomes requests for assistance from parliamentarians.

British British In Vitro Nutrition Diagnostics Association Foundation

(BIVDA) Contact: Professor Judy Buttriss, Contact: Jonathan Brüün Director General Chief Executive Contact: Doris-Ann Williams MBE 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RQ British Pharmacological Society British In Vitro Diagnostics Association 16 Angel Gate, City Road (BIVDA), 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, Tel: 020 7404 6504 London EC1V 2PT London SW1H 9BT Fax: 020 7404 6747 Tel: : 020 7417 0110 Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7957 4633 Fax: 020 7417 0114 Fax: 020 7957 4644 Websites: www.nutrition.org.uk Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.foodafactoflife.org.uk Website: www.bps.ac.uk Website: www.bivda.co.uk The British Pharmacological Society has been The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) was supporting pharmacology and pharmacologists for BIVDA is the UK industry association representing established over 40 years ago and exists to deliver over 80 years. Our 3,000+ members, from companies who manufacture and/or distribute the academia, industry and clinical practice, are trained diagnostics tests and equipment to diagnose, authoritative, evidence-based information on food to study drug action from the laboratory bench to monitor and manage disease largely through the and nutrition in the context of health and lifestyle. the patient’s bedside. Our aim is to improve quality NHS pathology services. Increasingly diagnostics are of life by developing new medicines to treat and used outside the laboratory in community settings The Foundation’s work is conducted and prevent the diseases and conditions that affect and also to identify those patients who would communicated through a unique blend of millions of people and animals. Inquiries about benefit from specific drug treatment particularly for nutrition science, education and media activities. drugs and how they work are welcome. cancer.

British Science British Society The Association for Antimicrobial British Contact: Sir Roland Jackson Bt, Chemotherapy Psychological Chief Executive Mrs Tracey Guise British Science Association, Executive Director Society Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen’s Gate, British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy London SW7 5HD. Contact: Lucy Chaplin Griffin House E-mail: PR & Marketing Manager 53 Regent Place [email protected] The British Psychological Society Birmingham B1 3NJ Website: www.britishscienceassociation.org St Andrews House T: 0121 236 1988 48 Princess Road East Our vision is a society in which people are able to W: www.bsac.org.uk Leicester LE1 7DR access science, engage with it and feel a sense of Founded in 1971, and with 800 members Tel: 0116 252 9910 ownership about its direction. In such a society worldwide, the Society exists to facilitate the Email: [email protected] science advances with, and because of, the acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in the Website: www.bps.org.uk involvement and active support of the public. Established in 1831, the British Science Association field of antimicrobial chemotherapy. The BSAC publishes the Journal of Antimicrobial The British Psychological Society is an organisation is a registered charity which organises major Chemotherapy (JAC), internationally renowned for of over 48,000 members governed by Royal initiatives across the UK, including National Science its scientific excellence, undertakes a range of Charter. It maintains the Register of Chartered and Engineering Week, the British Science Festival, Psychologists, publishes books, 11 primary science programmes of regional and local events and the educational activities, awards grants for research Journals and organises conferences. Requests for CREST programme for young people in schools and and has active relationships with its peer groups information about psychology and psychologists colleges. We provide opportunities for all ages to and government. from parliamentarians are welcome. discuss, investigate, explore and challenge science.

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CABI Cavendish Chartered Science and development organization Laboratory Institute of The Administrative Secretary, The Cavendish Laboratory, Patent Attorneys Contact: Dr Joan Kelley, Executive Director, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. Contact: Lee Davies – Chief Executive E-mail: [email protected] Global Operations, CABI The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT Tel: 01491 829306 Fax: 01491 829100 The Cavendish Laboratory houses the Department of Physics Tel: 020 7405 9450 Email: [email protected] of the University of Cambridge. Fax: 020 7430 0471 Website: www.cabi.org The research programme covers the breadth of E-mail: [email protected] CABI is an international not-for-profit development contemporary physics Website: www.cipa.org.uk organization, specializing in scientific publishing, Extreme Universe: Astrophysics, cosmology and high CIPA’s members practise in intellectual property, research and communication. We create, energy physics especially patents, trade marks, designs, and communicate, and apply knowledge in order to Quantum Universe: Cold atoms, condensed matter theory, copyright, either in private partnerships or industrial improve people’s lives by finding sustainable scientific computing, quantum matter and semiconductor companies. Through its new regulatory Board, CIPA solutions to agricultural and environmental issues. physics maintains the statutory Register. It advises We work for and with universities, national research Materials Universe: Optoelectronics, nanophotonics, detector physics, thin film magnetism, surface physics and government and international circles on policy and extension institutions, development agencies, the Winton programme for the physics of sustainability issues and provides information services, promoting the private sector, governments, charities and the benefits to UK industry of obtaining IP foundations, farmers, and non-governmental Biological Universe: Physics of medicine, biological systems and soft matter protection, and to overseas industry of using British organizations. We also manage one of the world’s attorneys to obtain international protection. largest genetic resource collections: the UK’s The Laboratory has world-wide collaborations with other National Collection of Fungus Cultures. universities and industry

Clifton The Council Eli Lilly and Scientific for the Company Trust Mathematical Sciences Ltd Contact: Dr Eric Albone Contact: Anne Bennett Contact: Thom Thorp, Head External Affairs Clifton Scientific Trust CMS Secretariat Tel: 01256 315000 49 Northumberland Road, Bristol BS6 7BA De Morgan House Fax: 01256 775858 Tel: 0117 924 7664 Fax: 0117 924 7664 57-58 Russell Square, London WC1B 4HS Eli Lilly and Company Ltd, Lilly House E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7927 0803 Priestley Road, Basingstoke, Hants, Website: www.clifton-scientific.org Fax: 020 7323 3655 RG24 9NL Email: [email protected] Email. [email protected] Website: www.lilly.co.uk Science for Citizenship and Employability, Website: www.cms.ac.uk Science for Life, Science for Real Lilly UK is the UK affiliate of a major American We build grass-roots partnerships between school and The Council for the Mathematical Sciences is an pharmaceutical manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company the wider world of professional science and its authoritative and objective body that works to develop, of Indianapolis. This affiliate is one of the UK’s top applications influence and respond to UK policy issues affecting pharmaceutical companies with significant • for young people of all ages and abilities mathematical sciences in higher education and investment in science and technology including a research, and therefore the UK economy and society by: • experiencing science as a creative, questioning, neuroscience research and development centre and • providing expert advice; human activity bulk biotechnology manufacturing operations. • engaging with government, funding agencies and • bringing school science added meaning and other decision makers; Lilly medicines treat schizophrenia, diabetes, cancer, notivation, from primary to post-16 • raising public awareness; and osteoporosis, attention deficit hyperactivity • locally, nationally, internationally • facilitating communication between the disorder, erectile dysfunction, severe sepsis, (currently between Britain and Japan) mathematical sciences community and other depression, bipolar disorder, heart disease and Clifton Scientific Trust Ltd is registered charity 1086933 stakeholders many other diseases.

The Food and GAMBICA Environment Association Ltd Research Agency

Contact: Miriam Laverick Contact: Professor Robert Edwards Contact: Dr Graeme Philp PR and Communications Manager Chief Scientist Broadwall House EngineeringUK The Food and Environment Research Agency 21 Broadwall Weston House, 246 High Holborn Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ London SE1 9PL London WC1V 7EX Tel: 01904 462415 Tel: 020 7642 8080 Tel: 020 3206 0444 Fax: 01904 462486 Fax: 020 7642 8096 Fax: 020 3206 0401 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.defra.gov.uk/fera Website: www.gambica.org.uk Website: www.EngineeringUK.com The Food and Environment Research Agency’s over EngineeringUK is an independent organisation that GAMBICA Association is the UK trade association arching purpose is to support and develop a for instrumentation, control, automation and promotes the vital role of engineers, engineering sustainable food chain, a healthy natural laboratory technology. The association seeks to and technology in our society. EngineeringUK environment, and to protect the global community promote the successful development of the industry partners business and industry, Government and the from biological and chemical risks. and assist its member companies through a broad wider science and technology community: range of services, including technical policy and producing evidence on the state of engineering; Our role within that is to provide robust evidence, standards, commercial issues, market data and sharing knowledge within engineering, and rigorous analysis and professional advice to export services. inspiring young people to choose a career in Government, international organisations and the engineering, matching employers’ demand for private sector. skills.

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The Institute of Food Institute of Geological Science & Marine Engineering, Science and Society Technology Technology (IMarEST) Contact: Angela Winchester Contact: Nic Bilham 5 Cambridge Court Contact: John Wills Head of Strategy and External Relations 210 Shepherds Bush Road Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Burlington House London W6 7NJ and Technology (IMarEST), Aldgate House, Piccadilly Tel: 020 7603 6316 33 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1EN London W1J 0BG Fax: 020 7602 9936 Tel: +44(0) 20 7382 2600 Tel: 020 7434 9944 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44(0) 20 7382 2667 Fax: 020 7439 8975 Website: www.ifst.org E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.imarest.org Website: www.geolsoc.org.uk IFST is the independent qualifying body for food professionals in Europe. Membership is drawn from Established in London in 1889, the IMarEST is a The Geological Society is the national learned and all over the world from backgrounds including leading international membership body and learned professional body for Earth sciences, with 10,000 industry, universities, government, research and society for marine professionals, with over 15,000 Fellows (members) worldwide. The Fellowship development and food law enforcement. members worldwide. The IMarEST has an extensive encompasses those working in industry, academia IFST’s activities focus on disseminating knowledge marine network of 50 international branches, and government, with a wide range of perspectives affiliations with major marine societies around the and views on policy-relevant science, and the relating to food science and technology and promoting its application. Another important world, representation on the key marine technical Society is a leading communicator of this science to committees and non-governmental status at the government bodies and other non-technical element of our work is to promote and uphold standards amongst food professionals. International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well audiences. as other intergovernmental organisations.

The Institute of Institute of Measurement Physics and and Control Contact: Joseph Winters 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Engineering Contact: Mr Peter Martindale, Tel: 020 7470 4815 CEO and Secretary E-mail: [email protected] in Medicine The Institute of Measurement and Control Website: www.iop.org Contact: Rosemary Cook CBE (CEO) 87 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AF Fairmount House, 230 Tadcaster Road, Tel: +44 (0) 20 73874949 The Institute of Physics is a leading scientific York, YO24 1ES Fax: +44 (0) 20 73888431 society promoting physics and bringing Tel: 01904 610821 Fax: 01904 612279 E-mail: [email protected] physicists together for the benefit of all. E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.instmc.org.uk Website: www.ipem.ac.uk Reg Charity number: 269815 It has a worldwide membership of around (Robert Neilson retired 31st July) The Institute of Measurement and Control provides a 40,000 comprising physicists from all sectors, as IPEM is a registered, incorporated charity for the forum for personal contact amongst practiioners, well as those with an interest in physics. It works advancement, in the public interest, of physics and publishes learned papers and is a professional to advance physics research, application and engineering applied to medicine and biology. It examining and qualifying organisation able to confer education; and engages with policymakers and accredits medical physicists, clinical engineers and the titles EurIng, CEng, IEng, EngTech; Companies and the public to develop awareness and clinical technologists through its membership register, Universities may apply to become Companions. understanding of physics. Its publishing organises training and CPD for them, and provides Headquartered in London, the Institute has a strong company, IOP Publishing, is a world leader in opportunities for the dissemination of knowledge through publications and scientific meetings. IPEM is regional base with 15 UK, 1 Hong Kong and 1 Malaysia professional scientific publishing and the licensed by the Science Council to award CSci, RSci and Local Section, a bilateral agreement with the China electronic dissemination of physics. Go to RSciTech, and by the Engineering Council to award Instrument Society and other major international links. www.iop.org CEng, IEng and EngTech.

Institution Institution of of Civil Engineering Engineers Designers

Contact: Joanna Gonet, Public Affairs Manager, Contact: Libby Brodhurst One Great George Street, Westminster, Courtleigh London SW1P 3AA, UK Westbury Leigh Tel: 020 7665 2123 Westbury Fax: 020 7222 0973 Wiltshire BA13 3TA E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01373 822801 Website: www.ice.org.uk Fax: 01373 858085 E-mail: [email protected] ICE aims to be a leading voice in infrastructure Website: www.ied.org.uk issues. With over 80,000 members, ICE acts as a The only professional membership body solely for knowledge exchange for all aspects of civil those working in engineering and technological engineering. As a Learned Society, the Institution product design. Engineering Council and Chartered provides expertise, in the form of reports, evidence Environmentalist registration for suitably qualified and comment, on a wide range of subjects members. Membership includes experts on a wide including infrastructure, energy generation and range of engineering and product design disciplines, all of whom practise, manage or supply, climate change and sustainable educate in design. development.

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Institution of LGC Mechanical Queens Road, Teddington Engineers Middlesex, TW11 0LY Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 Contact: Kate Heywood Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767 Contact: Paul Davies 1 Birdcage Walk E-mail: [email protected] IET, London SW1H 9JJ Website: www.lgcgroup.com Michael Faraday House, Tel: 020 7973 1293 Six Hills Way, LGC is an international science-based company and E-mail: [email protected] market leader in the provision of analytical, forensic Stevenage, Website: www.imeche.org SG1 2AY and diagnostic services and reference standards to Tel: +44(0) 1438 765687 customers in the public and private sectors. Email: [email protected] Under the Government Chemist function, LGC Web: www.theiet.org The Institution provides politicians and civil servants fulfils specific statutory duties as the referee analyst and provides advice for Government and the wider with information, expertise and advice on a diverse analytical community on the implications of The IET is a world leading professional organisation, range of subjects, focusing on manufacturing, analytical chemistry for matters of policy, standards sharing and advancing knowledge to promote energy, environment, transport and education and regulation. LGC is also the UK’s designated science, engineering and technology across the policy. We regularly publish policy statements and National Measurement Institute for chemical and biochemical analysis. world. Dating back to 1871, the IET has 150,000 host political briefings and policy events to establish members in 127 countries with offices in Europe, With headquarters in Teddington, South West a working relationship between the engineering London, LGC has 36 laboratories and centres across North America, and Asia-Pacific. profession and parliament. Europe and at sites in China, Brazil, India and the US.

Marine Biological Met Office Association

Contact: Dr Elizabeth Rollinson, Contact: Dr Matthew Frost Contact: John Harmer Executive Secretary Marine Biological Association, The Met Office The Linnean Society of London Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB 127 Clerkenwell Road Burlington House, Piccadilly, Tel: 07848028388 London EC1R 5LP. London W1J 0BF Fax: 01752 633102 Tel: 020 7204 7469 Tel: 020 7434 4479 ext 12 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: mba.ac.uk Website: www.metoffice.gov.uk Website: www.linnean.org For over 125 years the Marine Biological The Met Office doesn’t just forecast the weather on The Linnean Society of London is a professional Association has been delivering its mission ‘to television. Our forecasts and warnings protect UK learned body which promotes natural history in all promote scientific research into all aspects of life in communities and infrastructure from severe its branches, and was founded in 1788. The Society the sea, including the environment on which it is particularly active in the areas of biodiversity, weather and environmental hazards every day – conservation and sustainability, supporting its depends, and to disseminate to the public the they save lives and money. Our Climate Programme mission through organising open scientific knowledge gained.’ The MBA has extensive delivers evidence to underpin Government policy. meetings and publishing peer-reviewed journals, as research and knowledge exchange programmes Our Mobile Meteorological Unit supports the well as undertaking educational initiatives. The and a long history of providing evidence to support Armed Forces around the world. We build capacity Society’s Fellows have a considerable range of policy. It represents its members in providing a clear overseas in support of international development. biological expertise that can be harnessed to inform independent voice to government on behalf of the and advise on scientific and public policy issues. All of this built on world-class environmental marine biological community. science. A Forum for Natural History

The National National Endowment Physical Contact: Rob Pinnock for Science, Technology Laboratory Licensing & External Research, Europe Hertford Road and the Arts Contact: Fiona Auty Hoddesdon Guy Bilgorri National Physical Laboratory Herts EN11 9BU Public Affairs Officer Hampton Road, Teddington Tel: 01992 452850 1 Plough Place Middlesex TW11 0LW Fax: 01992 441907 London EC4A1DE Tel: 020 8977 3222 e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7438 2611 Website: www.npl.co.uk/contact-us www.merck.com Fax: 020 7438 2501 Email: [email protected] The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the United MSD is a tradename of Merck & Co., Inc., with Website: www.nesta.org.uk Kingdom’s national measurement institute, an internationally respected and independent centre of headquarters in Whitehouse Station, N.J., U.S.A. NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts – an independent organisation with a mission excellence in research, development and MSD is an innovative, global health care leader that to make the UK more innovative. It operates in three main knowledge transfer in measurement and materials is committed to improving health and well-being ways: by investing in early-stage companies; informing science. For more than a century, NPL has and shaping policy; and delivering practical programmes developed and maintained the nation’s primary around the world. MSD discovers, develops, that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the measurement standards - the heart of an manufactures, and markets vaccines, medicines, future. NESTA’s expertise in this field makes it uniquely qualified to understand how the application of innovative infrastructure designed to ensure accuracy, and consumer and animal health products designed approaches can help the UK to tackle two of the biggest consistency and innovation in physical to help save and improve lives. challenges it faces: the economic downturn and the measurement. radical reform of public services.

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Natural The Nutrition History Society

Museum The Science of Nature Contact: Frederick Wentworth-Bowyer, Chief Executive, The Nutrition Society, PHARMAQ Ltd Contact: Joe Baker 10 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road The Director’s Office London W6 7NJ Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 0228 Contact: Dr Benjamin P North Natural History Museum Fax: +44 (0)20 7602 1756 PHARMAQ Ltd Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Email: [email protected] www.nutritionsociety.org Unit 15 Sandleheath Industrial Estate Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5478 Fordingbridge Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5075 Founded in 1941, The Nutrition Society is the premier Hants SP6 1PA. E-mail: [email protected] scientific body dedicated to advance the scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of Tel: 01425 656081 Website: www.nhm.ac.uk human and animal health. Fax: 01425 657992 Highly regarded by the scientific community, the Society E-mail: [email protected] We maintain and develop the collections we care for and is the largest learned society for nutrition in Europe. Website: www.pharmaq.no use them to promote the discovery, understanding, Membership is worldwide and is open to those with a Web shop: www.pharmaqwebshop.co.uk/shop responsible use and enjoyment of the natural world. genuine interest in the science of human or animal We are part of the UK’s science base as a major science nutrition. Principal activities include: infrastructure which is used by our scientists and others from 1. Disseminating scientific information through its PHARMAQ is the only global pharmaceutical across the UK and the globe working together to enhance programme of scientific meetings and publications company with a primary focus on aquaculture. knowledge on the diversity of the natural world. 2. Publishing internationally renowned scientific learned Specialising in the manufacture and supply of Our value to society is vested in our research responses to journals, and textbooks veterinary pharmaceuticals for the global challenges facing the natural world today, in engaging our 3. Promoting the education and training of nutritionists aquaculture industry including vaccines, visitors in the science of nature, in inspiring and training the anaesthetics, antibiotics, sea lice treatments and next generation of scientists and in being a major cultural 4. Engaging with external organisations and the public to tourist destination. promote good nutritional science biocide disinfectants.

Prospect

Contact: Dr Philip Wright Contact: Sue Ferns, Chief Executive Prospect Head of Research and Specialist Peer House, Verulam Street Services, New Prospect House Contact: Iffat Memon London WC1X 8LZ 8 Leake St, London SE1 7NN Tel:+44 (0) 20 7269 5716 Public Affairs Manager Tel: 020 7902 6639 Fax: 020 7902 6637 The Royal Academy of Engineering Fax: +44 (0) 20 7269 5720 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 3 Carlton House Terrace Website: www.physoc.org www.prospect.org.uk London SW1Y 5DG Prospect is an independent, thriving and forward- Tel: 020 7766 0653 The Physiological Society brings together over 3000 looking trade union with 120,000 members across E-mail: [email protected] scientists from over 60 countries. Since its the private and public sectors and a diverse range of Website: www.raeng.org.uk foundation in 1876, our Members have made occupations. We represent scientists, technologists significant contributions to the understanding of and other professions in the civil service, research Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering biological systems and the treatment of disease. The councils and private sector. promotes the engineering and technological welfare Society promotes physiology with the public and of the country. Our activities – led by the UK’s most Parliament alike, and actively engages with policy Prospect’s collective voice champions the interests of eminent engineers – develop the links between makers. It supports physiologists by organising the engineering and scientific community to key engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a world-class conferences and offering grants for opinion-formers and policy makers. With national academy, we provide impartial advice to research. It also publishes the latest developments in negotiating rights with over 300 employers, we seek Government; work to secure the next generation of the field in its two leading scientific journals, The to secure a better life at work by putting members’ engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s Journal of Physiology and Experimental Physiology. pay, conditions and careers first. engineering community.

Royal Botanic The Royal The Royal Gardens, Kew Institution Society RBG Kew is a centre of global expertise in plant and Contact: Dr Gail Cardew Contact: Dr Peter Cotgreave fungal diversity, conservation and sustainable use Director of Science and Education Director of Fellowship and Scientific Affairs housed in two world-class gardens. Kew receives The Royal Institution The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace approximately half of its funding from government 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS London SW1Y 5AG. through Defra. Kew’s Breathing Planet Programme has seven key priorities: Tel: 020 7409 2992 Fax: 020 7670 2920 Tel: 020 7451 2502 Fax: 020 7930 2170 • Accelerating discovery and global access to plant E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] and fungal diversity information Websites: www.rigb.org, www.richannel.org Website: www.royalsociety.org • Mapping and prioritising habitats most at risk Twitter: rigb_science • Conserving what remains The Royal Society is the UK academy of science The core activities of the Royal Institution centre • Sustainable local use around four main themes: science education, comprising 1400 outstanding individuals • Banking 25% of plant species in the Millennium representing the sciences, engineering and Seed Bank Partnership science communication, research and heritage. It is • Restoration ecology perhaps best known for the Ri Christmas Lectures, medicine. It has had a hand in some of the most • Inspiring through botanic gardens but it also has a public events programme and an innovative and life-changing discoveries in scientific Contact: The Director’s Office online science short-film channel, as well as a UK- history. Through its Fellowship and permanent staff, Tel: 020 8332 5112 wide Young People’s Programme of science and it seeks to ensure that its contribution to shaping Fax: 020 8332 5109 mathematics enrichment activities. Internationally Email: [email protected] the future of science in the UK and beyond has a Website: www.kew.org recognised research programmes in bio- and nanomagnetism take place in the Davy Faraday deep and enduring impact. Inspiring and delivering science-based plant Research Laboratory. conservation worldwide, enhancing the quality of life

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Society for Applied The Royal Society Microbiology Contact: Dariel Burdass of Chemistry Head of Communications Contact: Philip Wheat Society for General Microbiology Contact: Mr Wes Ball, Parliamentary Affairs Manager Society for Applied Microbiology Marlborough House, Basingstoke Road, Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive Spencers Wood, Reading RG7 1AG. Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA Bedford MK41 7PH Tel: 0118 988 1802 Fax: 0118 988 5656 Tel: 020 7440 3306 Tel: 01234 326661 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7440 3393 Fax: 01234 326678 Website: www.sgm.ac.uk Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sfam.org.uk SGM is the largest microbiological society in Website: http://www.rsc.org Europe. The Society publishes four journals of http://www.chemsoc.org SfAM is the oldest UK microbiological society and international standing, and organises regular aims to advance, for the benefit of the public, the scientific meetings. The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned, science of microbiology in its application to the SGM also promotes education and careers in professional and scientific body of over 48,000 environment, human and animal health, agriculture microbiology, and it is committed to represent members with a duty under its Royal Charter “to and industry. microbiology to government, the media and the serve the public interest”. It is active in the areas of SfAM is the voice of applied microbiology with public. education and qualifications, science policy, members across the globe and works in partnership publishing, Europe, information and internet with sister organisations to exert influence on An information service on microbiological issues services, media relations, public understanding of policy-makers world-wide. concerning aspects of medicine, agriculture, food science, advice and assistance to Parliament and safety, biotechnology and the environment is Government. available on request.

Society Society of Society of of Biology Cosmetic Maritime Scientists Industries Contact: Dr Stephen Benn Contact: John Murray Director Parliamentary Affairs Society of Maritime Industries Charles Darwin House Contact: Gem Bektas, Secretary General 28-29 Threadneedle Street, 12 Roger Street Society of Cosmetic Scientists London EC2R 8AY London WC1N 2JU Langham House West Tel: 020 7628 2555 Fax: 020 7638 4376 Tel: 020 7685 2550 Suite 5, Mill Street, Luton LU1 2NA E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.maritimeindustries.org E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01582 726661 Fax: 01582 405217 The Society of Biology has a duty under its Royal E-mail: [email protected] The Society of Maritime Industries is the voice of the Charter “to serve the public benefit” by advising Website: www.scs.org.uk UK’s maritime engineering and business sector Parliament and Government is a single unified voice Advancing the science of cosmetics is the primary promoting and supporting companies which for biology: advising Government and influencing objective of the SCS. Cosmetic science covers a wide design, build, refit and modernise ships, and supply policy; advancing education and professional range of disciplines from organic and physical equipment and services for all types of commercial development; supporting our members, and chemistry to biology and photo-biology, dermatology, engaging and encouraging public interest in the life microbiology, physical sciences and psychology. and naval ships, ports and terminals infrastructure, sciences. The Society represents a diverse offshore oil & gas, maritime security & safety, Members are scientists and the SCS helps them membership of over 80,000 - including, students, progress their careers and the science of cosmetics marine science and technology and marine practising scientists and interested non- ethically and responsibly. Services include renewable energy. professionals - as individuals, or through learned publications, educational courses and scientific societies and other organisations. meetings.

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Contact: Dr James Kirkwood Chief Executive and Scientific Director Contact: Chris Eady The Old School, Brewhouse Hill The Welding Institute, Granta Park, Great Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN. Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL Tel: 01582 831818. Fax: 01582 831414. Tel: 01223 899614 Email: [email protected] Fax:01223 894219 Website: www.ufaw.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Registered in England Charity No: 207996 Website: www.twi.co.uk UFAW is an international, independent scientific The Welding Institute is the leading engineering and educational animal welfare charity. It works to institution with expertise in solving problems in all improve animal lives by: aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management. • supporting animal welfare research. Personal membership provides professional • educating and raising awareness of welfare development for engineers and technicians, and registration as Chartered or Incorporated Engineer, or issues in the UK and overseas. Engineering Technician. • producing the leading journal Animal Welfare Industrial membership provides access to one of the and other high-quality publications on animal world’s foremost independent research and technology care and welfare. organisations. TWI creates value and enhances quality of life for • providing expert advice to government Members and stakeholders through engineering, departments and other concerned bodies. materials and joining technologies.

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Research Councils UK Contact: Alexandra Saxon Head of Communications Research Councils UK Polaris House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1ET

Tel: 01793 444592 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rcuk.ac.uk

Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and humanities. Research Councils UK is the strategic partnerships of the seven Research Councils. It aims to: • increase the collective visibility, leadership and influence of the Research Councils for the benefit of the UK; • lead in shaping the overall portfolio of research funded by the Research Councils to maximise the excellence and impact of UK research, and help to ensure that the UK gets the best value for money from its investment; • ensure joined-up operations between the Research Councils to achieve its goals and improve services to the communities it sponsors and works with.

Biotechnology Economic and and Biological Social Research Sciences Research Council Council (BBSRC) Contact: Jacky Clake, Head of Communications, Contact: Jenny Aranha, Economic and Social Research Council, Public Affairs Manager, Contact: Matt Goode Polaris House, North Star Avenue, EPSRC, Polaris House, Head of External Relations Swindon SN2 1UJ North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ET BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue Tel: 01793 413117 Tel: 01793 442892 Swindon SN2 1UH. Tel: 01793 413299 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] http://www.esrc.ac.uk Website:www.epsrc.ac.uk Website: www.bbsrc.ac.uk The ESRC is the UK’s leading research and training EPSRC is the UK’s main agency for funding research agency addressing economic and social concerns. BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research in engineering and physical sciences, investing We pursue excellence in social science research; and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is around £800m a year in research and postgraduate work to increase the impact of our research on training, to help the nation handle the next to further scientific knowledge to promote policy and practice; and provide trained social generation of technological change. economic growth, wealth and job creation and to scientists who meet the needs of users and The areas covered range from information beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. BBSRC technology to structural engineering, and research is helping society to meet major competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the mathematics to materials science. This research effectiveness of public services and policy, and challenges, including food security, green energy forms the basis for future economic development in quality of life. The ESRC is independent, established the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, and healthier, longer lives and underpins important by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, government. Research Councils with responsibility for other areas industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. of research.

Medical Natural Science & Research Environment Technology Council Research Council Facilities Council Contact: Sophie Broster-James, Public Contact: Judy Parker Mark Foster Affairs and External Comms Manager Head of Communications Public Affairs Manager 14th Floor, One Kemble Street, London Polaris House, North Star Avenue Rutherford Appleton Laboratory WC2B 4AN. Swindon SN2 1EU Harwell Science & Innovation Campus Tel: 020 7395 2275 Fax: 020 7395 2421 Tel: 01793 411646 Fax: 01793 411510 Didcot OX11 0QX E-mail: sophie.broster- E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01235 778328 Fax: 01235 445 808 [email protected] Website: www.nerc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.mrc.ac.uk Website: www.stfc.ac.uk The UK’s Natural Environment Research Council The Science and Technology Facilities Council is one of For almost 100 years, the MRC has been improving the funds and carries out impartial scientific research in health of people in the UK and around the world by Europe’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the supporting scientists and engineers world-wide. The supporting the highest quality science on behalf of UK next generation of independent environmental Research Council operates world-class, large-scale taxpayers. We work closely with the UK’s Health scientists. research facilities and provides strategic advice to the Departments, the NHS, medical research charities and NERC funds research in universities and in a UK Government on their development. The STFC industry to ensure our research achieves maximum partners in two of the UK’s Science and Innovation impact as well as being of excellent scientific quality. network of its own centres, which include: Campuses. It also manages international research MRC-funded scientists have made some of the most British Antarctic Survey, British Geological projects in support of a broad cross-section of the UK significant discoveries in medical science – from the link Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and research community, particularly in the fields of between smoking and cancer to the invention of National Oceanography Centre. astronomy, nuclear physics and particle physics. The Council directs, co-ordinates and funds research, therapeutic antibodies – benefiting millions of people. education and training.

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SCIENCE DIARY

THE PARLIAMENTARY AND Atwood and Lord Rees FRS. Friday 9 November 13:00 SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Highlights in the next few months include Teaching language to the deaf in the the following. Details of how to attend all 17th century: the dispute between John Tel: 020 7222 7085 these, plus information on many more Wallis and William Holder [email protected] events can be found on our website at Dr David Cram www.scienceinparliament.org.uk royalsociety.org/events: Monday 12 November 18:30 Tuesday 16 October 17.30 Monday 22 and Tuesday 23 October Sustainable materials: with both eyes Energy - The Next Generation Regulation from a distance: long-range open Speakers: Dr Gordon Edge control of gene expression in Dr Julian Allwood Director of Policy, RenewableUK development and disease Frans van den Heuvel Scientific discussion meeting organised by Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 November Chief Executive Officer, Solarcentury Professor Wendy Bickmore and Professor Energy transduction and genome Francis Egan Veronica van Heyningen FRS function – an evolutionary synthesis Chief Executive Officer, Cuadrilla Resources Scientific discussion meeting organised by Monday 22 October 18:30 Dr Nick Lane, Professor John Allen, Wednesday 31st October How does your body know what time it Professor William Martin and Professor John Annual Lunch is? Raven FRS Guest of Honour: Professor John Womersley Cafe scientifique with Professor Debra Chief Executive Officer, Science and Skene Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 Technology Facilities Council November Please contact Secretariat for tickets Wednesday 24 and Thursday 25 October Bioenergetics and the major evolutionary Regulation of gene expression from a transitions Tuesday 6th November 17.30 distance: exploring mechanisms Satellite meeting organised by Dr Nick Lane, Energy - How to use less Satellite meeting organised by Professor Professor John Allen, Professor William Speakers to be confirmed. Wendy Bickmore and Professor Veronica Martin and Professor John Raven FRS van Heyningen FRS Tuesday 11th December 17.30 Friday 16 November 13:00 Climate Change and the Polar Regions Friday 26 October 13:00 Iron from the sky: the potential influence Speakers to be confirmed. Spooks and spoofs: psychologists and of meteorites on ancient Egyptian psychical research in the inter-war years culture Discussion meeting dates Professor Elizabeth Valentine Dr Diane Johnson 2013 Tuesday 22 January 17.30 Friday 2 November 17:30 Monday 19 November 18:30 Tuesday 26 February 17.30 Standing on the shoulders of giants: What’s going on inside volcanoes? ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– cumulative culture and social learning Cafe scientifique with Dr Alison Rust strategies THE ROYAL SOCIETY Dr Rachel Kendal at the Manchester Wednesday 21 November 18:30 Museum, part of the of the Manchester Finding patterns in genes and proteins: Website: royalsociety.org Science Festival decoding the logic of molecular interactions The Royal Society hosts a series of free Friday 2 November 13:00 Dr Sarah Teichmann events, including evening lectures and Wellcome’s collectors conferences, covering the whole breadth of Ross MacFarlane Friday 23 November 13:00 science, engineering and technology for Science in the news: regional public, policy and scientific audiences. Sunday 4 November 14:30 independent television in the British Events are held at the Royal Society’s offices Massive: the particle that sparked the Midlands during the 1950s and 1960s in London, at the Royal Society at Chicheley greatest hunt in science Dr Sally Horrocks Hall, home of the Kavli Royal Society Ian Sample at the John Rylands Library, part International Centre in Buckinghamshire and of the of the Manchester Science Festival Monday 26 November 18:30 other venues. Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Many past events are available to watch or Books 2012 Award Ceremony listen to online at royalsociety.org/events. The collection includes events with speakers such as David Attenborough, Margaret

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Monday 3 and Tuesday 4 December Dr Alessandro Olivo and Professor Ian INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL Achieving food and environmental Robinson ENGINEERS security – new approaches to close the 1 Birdcage Walk gap Wednesday 13 and Thursday 14 February Scientific discussion meeting organised by Real and reciprocal space X-ray imaging Westminster Professor Guy Poppy, Professor Paul Jepson, Satellite meeting organised by Dr Alessandro London SW1H 9JJ Professor John Pickett CBE FRS and Dr Olivo and Professor Ian Robinson http://www.imeche.org Michael Birkett Wednesday 24 October Wednesday 13 February 18:30 How to solve friction, wear and Wednesday 5 and Thursday 6 December Milner Award Lecture lubrication problems Can science help us get back to the Professor Gordon Plotkin Belfast countryside? Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1690 Satellite meeting organised by Professor Tuesday 19 February Wednesday 7 November Guy Poppy, Professor Paul Jepson, Professor Michael Faraday Prize Lecture Significant seven: hot topics in John Pickett CBE FRS and Dr Michael Birkett Professor Brian Cox OBE airworthiness Bristol Monday 10 December 18:30 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1683 Nature’s glass: half-full or half-empty? Thursday 22 November Professor Andrew Balmford FRS THE ROYAL INSTITUTION Tribology at sea Southampton 21 Albemarle Street Tuesday 22 January 18:30 Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1691 Royal Society GlaxoSmithKline Prize London W1S 4BS. Lecture Wednesday 28 November Impact, damage, protection, simulations Professor Adrian Bird CBE FMedSci FRS All events take place at the Royal Institution. Details of future events can be found at and evaluation Bristol Monday 28 and Tuesday 29 January www.rigb.org UK-China workshop on the chemistry and For more information and to book visit Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1734 physics of functional materials www.rigb.org Wednesday 5 December Theo Murphy international scientific meeting Donald Julius Groen prize lecture organised by Professor Henning Sirringhaus, Tuesday 6 November 19.00-20.30 Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1736 Professor Anthony Cheetham FRS, Professor The science of fear Wednesday 12 December Wenping Hu and Professor Deqing Zhang MX Club Visit Carl Zeiss Microscopy Thursday 8 November 19.00-20.30 Cambridge Thursday 7 and Friday 8 February Gravity’s engines: The other side of black Details: www.mxawards.org/mx-club holes Storage and indexing of massive data Thursday 31 January Theo Murphy international scientific meeting Residual stresses: when do they matter? organised by Professor Costas Iliopoulos, Dr Tuesday 13 November 19.00-20.30 Manchester The fear of science Simon Puglisi and Professor Maxime Details: www.imeche.org/events/s1693 Crochmore Tuesday 20 November 19.00-20.30 ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 February You’re going to die! Taking X-ray Phase Contrast imaging into mainstream applications Wednesday 21 November 19.00-20.30 Scientific discussion meeting organised by How the Internet works –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT 3 Birdcage Walk OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY London SW1H 9JJ & SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE T: 020 7222 7085 sip F: 020 7222 7189 President: The Rt Hon the Lord Jenkin Dr Desmond Turner www.scienceinparliament.org.uk of Roding Mr Robert Key Editor: Professor Alan Malcolm Chairman: Mr Andrew Miller MP Mr Paul Ridout Editorial Assistant: Annabel Lloyd Deputy Chairman: Mr Tom Blenkinsop MP Mr Philip Greenish CBE Mr John Slater Hon Treasurer: The Lord Willis of The production of this issue has been supported by Knaresborough Advisory Panel: Dr Stephen Benn contributions from the Science and Technology Facilities Mr David Youdan Hon Secretary: Mr Stephen Mosley MP Council, the Institute of Physics, the Society of Biology, the Dr Stuart Taylor Vice-Presidents: Dr David Dent National Physical Laboratory and those organisations who have Professor Peter Saunders Secretariat: Professor Alan Malcolm entries in the Science Directory (pages 50-58). Mr Robert Freer Mrs Annabel Lloyd Dr Douglas Naysmith

Published by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Published four times a year. The 2012 subscription rate is £70.00. Single numbers £17.50 ISSN 0263-6271 All enquiries, including those from members wishing to take the front or back covers, advertise in the journal or appear in the directory to Mrs Annabel Lloyd, Tel 020 7222 7085 60 Science in Parliament Vol 69 No 4 Autumn 2012 Copyright ©2012 by Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. All rights reserved. None of the articles in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Typeset and printed by The Bridge Press. sip AUTUMN 2012 8/10/12 13:20 Page 63

Andrew Miller MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP and Dr Julian Huppert MP invite you to attend

The Society of Biology and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council launch of the inaugural Biology Week

Biology Week 2012 aims to inspire people of all ages and backgrounds with the fascinating science of biology and give everyone the chance to get involved with life science events Wednesday 17 October 2012 7.00pm—9.00pm The Churchill Room at the House of Commons

In partnership with:

Science in Parliament Vol 69 No 4 Autumn 2012 61 sip AUTUMN 2012 8/10/12 13:20 Page 64

How can we meet the measurement challenges of the coming decade?

Contribute to our vision at www.npl.co.uk/2020vision