SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT 8 1 0 2 N M The Journal of the U Parliamentary and T Scientific Committee sip U A Boosting the UK Space Economy This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its Committees. All-Party Groups are informal groups of members of both Houses with a common interest in particular issues. The views expressed in this Journal are those of the Group. This Journal is funded by the members of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. www.scienceinparliament.org.uk sSCIENCEiIN Pp ARLIAMENT Where Science, Innovation and Politics Meet www.scienceinparliament.org.uk STEM for BRITAIN The December meeting of the I should like to draw your Committee will be about Brexit attention to the reports in this SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT and its implications for science edition about the impressive and research. amount of work that the Select Committees of both Houses are Inevitably, much of the focus doing in relation to science and within Parliament lately has technology matters. As been on the Brexit negotiations, sip expected, much of this work is and this will only intensify as the being undertaken by the date for the UK’s departure Science and Technology Select The Journal of the Parliamentary and approaches, along with Committees, on one of which Scientific Committee. Stephen Metcalfe MP, speculation on what sort of deal The Parliamentary and Scientific I’m privileged to serve, but there Chairman, Parliamentary and will finally be reached. I know Committee is an All-Party Scientific Committee is also much relevant work Parliamentary Group of members of the prospect of a ‘no-deal’ both Houses of Parliament and British being done by other Select outcome is troubling many in members of the European Parliament, Committees. Their perceptive, representatives of scientific and the scientific community. It was Welcome to the autumn 2018 analytical reports show how technical institutions, industrial helpful then, that one of the first organisations and universities. edition of Science in Parliament. Parliament is holding the debates when Parliament I hope you will enjoy the Government to account in resumed after its summer plethora of topics presented in matters involving science and recess was on Brexit, Science this issue. The wide range of technology. and Innovation. Several articles it contains – ranging members of the Parliamentary Finally, I should like to thank Dr literally from the Deep Ocean to and Scientific Committee spoke, Isabel Spence for the work she Space – reflects both the range including myself. Despite the did for the Committee while she of topics covered by the different views on Brexit itself, was our Executive Secretary. Her Science in Parliament has two main Committee, as well as how the there was strong cross-party time in that role was much objectives: many advances in science and 1. to inform the scientific and consensus about the shorter than we would all have technology will transform our industrial communities of activities importance of science and wished. Although she stood within Parliament of a scientific lives and the planet we inhabit. innovation, and ensuring that down in May, I’m pleased she is nature and of the progress of relevant legislation; The opening article on Space the UK remains a world class willing to continue to support 2. to keep Members of Parliament Science and Industrial Strategy player and contributor. It was the work of the Committee in abreast of scientific affairs. was the first of the fascinating gratifying to hear the Minister other ways. I’m also particularly presentations at the say “we are determined to be a grateful to Karen Smith for ably Committee’s September top collaborator with the EU and ‘keeping the show on the road’ meeting, and the others will the world in future” and that while we consider the longer- feature in our next edition, along “there is an appetite on their term staffing and financing with articles based on the side as well to continue the EU’s requirements of the Committee. meetings we will be holding in long-established relationship October and November. with the UK.” CONTENTS BOOSTING THE UK SPACE ECONOMY 2 SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS MEDICAL DETECTION DOGS 33 Professor Martin Barstow and Grant Bourhill BETWEEN THE UK AND LATIN AMERICA ARE Dr Claire Guest HELPING TO TACKLE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE, THE UK’S NATIONAL CHALLENGES 17 THE GUT MICROBIOME AND PERSONALISED SYNCHROTRON 4 HEALTHCARE 35 Dr Dan Korbel and Dr Sarah Honour Mr James Kinross OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE DEEP OCEAN: DIGITAL PATHOLOGY – FUTURE PROOFING A CHOICE FOR OUR FUTURE 7 CANCER DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES 19 HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY 38 Dr Jonathan Copley Dr Bethany Williams PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF INTO THE DEEP – DISCOVERING OUR OCEANS 9 THESE 10 GREEN CHEMICALS COULD GIVE UK SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST) 38 Sarah Miles INDUSTRY A BRIGHT FUTURE AND HELP MEET OUR FUTURE METAL RESOURCES AND THE ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS 22 HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEES 40 THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM 11 Simon McQueen-Mason HOUSE OF LORDS SELECT COMMITTEES 43 Robin Armstrong and Richard Herrington PARLIAMENTARY LINKS DAY 25 CAN WE ELIMINATE INTESTINAL WORMS? 14 SCIENCE DIRECTORY 44 CAN WE END THE THREAT OF ANTI-MICROBIAL Dr Tom Littlewood RESISTANCE ONCE AND FOR ALL? 29 Timothy Leighton Front cover image: The Mid Infrared Instrument (MIRI) for the NASA/ESA/Canada James Webb Space Telescope. MIRI is a UK-led contribution, with the University of Leicester responsible for the mechanical and thermal design. Photo ©NASA. Science in Parliament Vol 74 No 3 Autumn 2018 1 BOOSTING THE UK SPACE ECONOMY The Government’s Industrial Strategy 1 highlighted the importance of “Space” to the UK economy. This was amplified at the recent Farnborough Air Show, when the Prime Minister visited the UK Space Zone following her opening address, the first time any PM has done so. Separate Ministerial visits where satellites and instruments need for space platforms to followed from Greg Clark, Sam are mostly hand-built by teams provide it, which the current Gyimah, Chris Grayling and Liam of engineers, technicians and space business models are Fox, representing business, scientists. The largest British- unable to meet. There is a science, transport and trade based satellite manufacturer, growing need for continuous Professor Martin Barstow respectively, reflecting the Airbus, specialises in multi-tonne coverage of particular locations Pro-Vice-Chancellor, breadth of economic and spacecraft for telecoms, remote and high time resolution Strategic Science Projects monitoring, requiring fleets of Director, Leicester Institute of Space societal contributions from the sensing and space exploration. & Earth Observation space industry. Greg Clark’s Surrey Satellite Technology (part small to medium-sized satellites University of Leicester announcement of the UK’s first of Airbus) has pioneered the (“constellations”) hosting commercial space port and development and use of small dedicated instruments. A first promise of a “Space Sector to medium satellites (100 to a step has been taken with the Deal” was an amazing boost to few 100 kg) for specialist creation of launch services in the Air Show, creating a buzz applications and built a thriving the UK, but the ability to rapidly that lasted all that week and international business around construct satellites to fulfil the which continues beyond as the these. International companies downstream sector needs does sector responds to these such as Thales Alenia Space and not yet exist. There is a queue opportunities. Coupled with the Lockheed Martin have of companies wanting to announcement that Virgin Orbit established growing commercial provide data services, but these will operate horizontal launch operations in the UK. are hindered by the lack of services in Cornwall, UK space current satellite capability and activity has a strengthened These companies (and others) cost-effective manufacturing sense of purpose with this in the “upstream” space sector capacity. There is a huge emerging independent launch make important contributions to opportunity therefore for the UK capability and the need to the UK economy, but significant to integrate “downstream” develop the supply chains that value also lies in “downstream” business demand with rapid Grant Bourhill will service it. Brexit, and the applications of remote sensing “upstream” manufacturing Chief Executive Officer data obtained from space Science Parks recent challenges around supply of low-cost satellite 2 University of Leicester Galileo, adds impetus to systems. Early examples are constellations. Many countries enhance UK capacity to make, satellite navigation, logistics, are looking at this and we need launch and collect data from climate and weather monitoring, to respond quickly to make the satellites for security and smarter agriculture and UK an attractive home for “new broader economic reasons. The disaster/incident management, space” companies. but the list is growing and development of new markets in Lowering the time and cost of extending into parts of the high volume, low cost satellite access to space is a key economy not normally thought systems are extremely attractive, challenge that the spaceports of as “space”, such as insurance. but speed is of the essence to will fulfil in part. However, this The Space Growth Partnership allow the UK to compete and needs to be matched by satellite highlights a £20bn UK market capture the targeted 10% share manufacturing moving from the opportunity in Earth information of the global market by 2030. traditional approach towards services. The space business is “industry 4.0” production line changing. Manufacturing is a Increased demand for data will approaches. The UK has bespoke production process, result in a greatly expanded invested significantly in 2 Science in Parliament Vol 74 No 3 Autumn 2018 modernising manufacturing Space Park will provide research sector from apprenticeships is being made in all these.