Nominate a member
Science Policy Newsletter – a weekly round-up of policy headlines and stories
20 August 2019
Dear readers, the newsletter team will be taking a break for summer, and we will return with the next edition on the week commencing the 9 September 2019.
News
Royal Society of Biology news
Biology remains one of the most popular subjects at A level Thousands of students across England, Wales and Northern Ireland received their A level results today.
Health and biomedicine
Prime Minister orders urgent action to improve vaccination uptake Prime Minister Boris Johnson orders urgent action to improve vaccination uptake after more than 230 cases of measles were reported in the UK during first quarter of 2019
Candida auris: The new superbug on the block
Dental surgeons urge England's schools to go sugar-free
What happens to biopsy tissue after it’s tested? Your cells could be helping important cancer research
New NHS toolkit to speed up diagnosis of MS and Parkinson's It is hoped the initiative will avoid up to 2,500 emergency admissions to hospital each year, saving up to £10m.
Food and drink
Cauliflower shortages as extreme weather kills crops
Public to have their say on the food system of the future British shoppers will be able to buy environmentally friendly, healthy and affordable food under plans for a radical shake-up of the UK’s food industry.
1
Agriculture and fisheries
No-deal Brexit: NI farmers press government on tariffs
Where did all the cod go? Fishing crisis in the North Sea With an international council now on the brink of declaring the species unsustainable – and Brexit looming – what is the future for one of the nation’s favourite meals?
Call for assurances over £160m of Scottish farmer payments
Forestry
11 million new trees to be planted in England by water companies 'The water sector is committed to fighting climate change through becoming carbon- neutral by 2030'
Mobile forests could help cities cope with climate change Cities across Europe are trialling schemes such as roof gardens and ‘mobile forests’ to embed more nature into urban areas in an effort to protect their citizens from climate change events like heatwaves, floods and droughts.
Environment and ecology
Welsh bees threatened by deadly disease American Foulbrood
Climate and energy
Goldsmiths bans beef from university cafes to tackle climate crisis University of London college will also seek to limit single-use plastics
Five ways UK farmers are tackling climate change
Publication of a Joint Science Plan and appointment of Champions for the UK Climate Resilience Programme
Waste
'Plastic recycling is a myth': what really happens to your rubbish? You sort your recycling, leave it to be collected – and then what? From councils burning the lot to foreign landfill sites overflowing with British rubbish, Oliver Franklin- Wallis reports on a global waste crisis
Animal Research
Help us discover more about the secret lives of mice
2
Research funding and higher education policy
To achieve a truly ‘Global Britain’ we need to take international research policy partnerships seriously
No-deal Brexit fears for Erasmus student exchange scheme
Schools education policy
Female students outnumber males in A-level science entries Efforts to improve girls’ take-up of Stem subjects bear fruit, but weaker English exam results drag down UK average
Open access and publication policy
The hidden cost of having a eureka moment, but not being able to put it in your own words
Diversity and inclusion
Deaf pupils in England struggle at every stage of school, report finds Campaigners say children face ‘lifetime of being left behind’ amid cuts to support services
Outreach and engagement
Half of UK children can’t identify stinging nettles, study finds Nearly half of children do not know what brambles, blackberries and bluebells look like
Digital technologies
Glenfield Hospital surgeons use 3D heart map in operations
AI may be the future of radiology as clinicians struggle to meet demand Experts are testing how well artificial intelligence algorithms compare with human expertise by providing secure access to anonymised clinical data
AI is in danger of becoming too male – new research
NHS says sepsis monitoring system has saved hundreds of lives Trials of digital alert technology had ‘major impact’ on deadly form of blood poisoning
International news
Treatment for extreme drug-resistant tuberculosis wins US government approval The three-drug regimen cured 90% of people who had the deadliest form of the disease in a clinical trial.
3
Scientists find way to distinguish male sperm from female, which may allow couples to choose IVF boy or girl Using this technique scientists could produce mice litters that were 90 per cent male
Elephant protection debate to dominate conservation meeting
Tiny pieces of plastic found in Arctic snow The discovery suggests that microplastics are being carried around the planet in atmospheric winds, and that we’re breathing them in.
Bees threatened by indiscriminate use of pesticides
Opinion
The most important healthcare tool is trust
A-levels are tough enough – but they’re made harder for pupils with disabilities On A-level results day, spare a thought for the students who have seen the support services they need drastically cut
Social class still stops too many pupils from fulfilling their A-level potential A record number of disadvantaged students have been accepted into university this year, but there’s a long way to go
Reflections on academic fundraising: the art of getting there
People
Louisa Aldrich-Blake: Google Doodle honours Britain's pioneering first female surgeon Aldrich-Blake trained as a surgeon in the hope of doing 'something useful' and ended up changing medical history
Liane Russell, Who Studied Radiation’s Effects on Embryos, Dies at 95 Her findings led to cautions against X-rays for pregnant women. She also discovered that the presence of the Y chromosome meant a mammalian embryo was male.
Opportunities
Membership of the Veterinary Products Committee The Veterinary Products Committee (VPC) is looking to appoint four new members. Closes: 23 August 2019
Get creative in this biotechnology photo competition This MeMBrane photo competition is an opportunity to get creative and take pictures of 'Biotechnology in Action'. Send your pictures to [email protected] Closes: 1 September 2019
4
RSB Website survey The RSB website survey is now open for anyone to report back on their user experiences of the current website and what features they would like the new website to have. Closes: 30 September 2019
Royal Society of Biology, Outreach and Engagement Volunteering Opportunities RSB are looking for local volunteers to help run our hands-on science activities at Abergavenny Food Festival 2019 at Abergavenny, Wales, on 21st – 22nd September 2019; Big Biology Day Cambridge at Cambridge CB2 8PE, on 5th October 2019; and at Conwy Feast, at Conwy, Wales, on 26th – 27th October 2019. If you live nearby and are interested in volunteering to help the RSB outreach team deliver our hands- on science activities please email Dr Amanda Hardy via [email protected]
Athena SWAN review Advance HE commissioned a Steering Group to undertake an independent review of the Athena SWAN charter. The Steering Group has completed the first part of its review and this has informed the current survey, which participants are invited to complete.
Authors wanted for OUP-RSB biology primers The RSB and Oxford University Press are looking for academic authors to contribute to the ongoing Oxford Biology Primers series of textbooks. Experts in fields including microbiology, stem cells, ageing, and the microbiome are encouraged to contact [email protected] for more details. The third book in the series, Hormones, is out now, with further titles available to pre-order here.
Consultations
Fishing opportunities for 2020 under the common fisheries policy Closes: 20 August 2019
Non-elephant ivory trade: call for evidence Closes: 22 August 2019
Biosecurity and human health: preparing for emerging infectious diseases and bioweapons inquiry Closes: 6 September 2019
National strategy on clinical trial transparency Closes: 6 September 2019
Adding folic acid to flour Closes: 9 September 2019
Management measures for widely spread Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in England and Wales Closes: 12 September 2019
5
Call for evidence on the use of genome editing in farmed animals The Nuffield Council on Bioethics has launched a call for evidence to inform its inquiry into the use of genome editing techniques in farmed animals. The RSB response to this consultation is currently in draft. Please contact [email protected] for more information and if you would like to contribute. Closes: 20 September 2019
Ageing: Science, Technology and Healthy Living Closes: 20 September 2019
Improving higher technical education Closes: 29 September 2019
Standards for biodegradable, compostable and bio-based plastics: call for evidence Closes: 14 October 2019
Developing a national food strategy Closes: 25 October 2019
The Economics of Biodiversity Closes: 6 November 2019
Events
Everything You Wanted to Know about Genomics but Were Afraid to Ask 4 September 2019 Science and Industry Museum, Manchester
EDIS Symposium 2019 - Inclusive Research and Experimental Design 9 September 2019 The Francis Crick Institute, London
Pharmacology and Drug Discovery Workshop 2019 19 - 20 September 2019 Manchester Conference Centre, Manchester
Women in Biotech - Cambridge Edition 26 September 2019 Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge
Insect declines in the headlights 7 October 2019 Royal College of Physicians, London A free Policy Lates on insect decline. This event will explore the evidence behind the headlines. We will consider what we know about insect declines and what we don't know, to better understand the causes and consequences of insect population changes. Our expert panel will discuss how we monitor and conserve this vital and diverse group of organisms, while addressing challenges such crop protection and control of pest species.
6
Bioscience Careers Day 2019 26 October 2019 Middlesex University, London The Bioscience Careers Day (BCD) is the perfect opportunity to get your career on track - whether you are interested in working in research, science communication or even if you just want to know what options are available to you once you finish your bioscience degree. Our top programme will enhance your prospects. Find out what happened last year in our YouTube video. Visit here for full details and to buy your £10 ticket. Direct queries to Harriet McAra at [email protected]
Organ-on-a-chip: Current Gaps and Future Directions 2 December 2019 GSK Medicines Research Centre, Stevenage
Quantitative Methods in Gene Regulation V 9 - 10 December 2019 Institute of Physics, London
And finally...
Plants can tell time even without a brain – here’s how
Royal Society of Biology Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email Science Policy Team are solely those of the author and 1 Naoroji Street do not necessarily represent those London of the Royal Society of Biology. WC1X 0GB [email protected]
Click here to unsubscribe from this publication
Or, manage your subscription to this and to other RSB publications by logging into mySociety and choosing 'My Subscriptions' under 'Me and the RSB'.
© Royal Society of Biology 2019. Registered Charity Number: 277981 1 Naoroji Street, London, WC1X 0GB
7