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Royal Society 350th Anniversary SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT Comprehensive Spending Review Science Engineering and Politics Industrial Strategy sip Autumn 2010

Our Further Education has to reinvent itself to become more innovative, efficient and market-led to drive new prosperity

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Raising professional standards in the food sector The Institute of Food Science & Technology is the leading independent qualifying body for food professionals in Europe and the only professional food body in the UK concerned with all aspects of food science and technology. Our remit of food science and technology is based on the applied sciences and is something we see as one of our greatest EHQH¿WVDQGVWUHQJWKV

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%HQH¿WWKHVXSSO\RIVDIHQXWULWLRXVDQG tasty food through the application of sound science and technology

Communicate innovation and expertise in food science and technology

Protect the public by establishing and monitoring professional standards and ethical behaviour amongst food professionals

Advance education and continuing professional development (CPD) for food professionals. We are licensed to award Chartered Scientist status (CSci)

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Initially people will be swayed by the argument that the Department of SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT Business (BIS) have done well to protect the science from cuts, but of course there are cuts. Not as severe as predicted but flat cash will be about a 10% real terms reduction over the spending round which, taken with other changes will result in a net reduction in science activity even with the most optimistic efficiency savings. Those of us outside the golden triangle will be looking enviously at the capital projects confirmed by the chancellor; the UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation (UKCMRI), the MRC Laboratory of Molecular sip Biology (LMB), the Institute for Animal Health (IAH) at Pirbright and the Diamond synchrotron on the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus. The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific These are all welcome commitments. But all of this occurs within an overall Andrew Miller MP Committee. resource saving within BIS of 25%, comprising 40% savings from the Chairman, Parliamentary The Committee is an Associate Parliamentary and Scientific Group of members of both Houses of reform of Higher Education and an average of 16% savings from the other Committee Parliament and British members of the areas of the Department’s budget. The effect of these, added to the European Parliament, representatives of restrictions imposed by the Home Office on overseas students and scientific and technical institutions, industrial researchers plus cuts in the budgets of every other department that funds organisations and universities. its own science, (with the possible exception of health) means that there will be real pressure on almost every institution in the country. My plea to those charged with distributing the available money during this period is to not to forget their responsibilities towards the whole of the UK. Financial pressures on manufacturers to reduce their use of energy and other hidden costs, especially the loss of the rebate for carbon reduction, in the CSR, plus the uncertainty around regional support mechanisms mean it is far from clear that growth in the private sector will be sufficient to offset Science in Parliament has two main objectives: public sector job losses. The excellent partnerships that I see between our 1. to inform the scientific and industrial academic and industrial sector will not be able to support the quality communities of activities within Parliament science and engineering if the axe is too large. of a scientific nature and of the progress of relevant legislation; Finally, I was delighted to see the Mersey Gateway bridge get the go ahead. 2. to keep Members of Parliament abreast of It is hugely important to the NW economy but it does illustrate why you scientific affairs. have to invest to save. The modeling shows the beneficial impact to the economy so it will be money well spent. But even today at the design stage we need to invest. Our home based engineering talent can, I am sure, solve the challenges and ensure that issues ranging from design to the toll collection to maintenance are cost effective – if we invest in the necessary research today! CONTENTS DIAMOND – ENHANCING THE SCIENCE BIOREFINING: PREPARING FOR THE EDUCATION FOR ENGINEERING 40 BASE AND INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS PERFECT STORM 25 Dr Rhys Morgan Lord Broers FRS FREng 2 Professor Robert Edwards ENGINEERING OUR FUTURE NOW! 41 SEVEN POINT PLAN – AN INDUSTRIAL RUSSIA: MODERNISATION THROUGH Barry McGregor STRATEGY FOR UK COMPETITIVENESS 4 SCIENCE AND INNOVATION 26 IMPACT OF CUTS ON PRIVATE AND Lord Browne of Madingley FRS FREng Dr Julia Knights CHARITABLE FUNDING FOR MEDICAL WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS THE KEY TO TOWARDS IMPROVED RESERVOIR SAFETY28 RESEARCH 43 EFFECTIVE, INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE 5 Dr Peter Mason SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION Dr Robert Verkerk FOOD SECURITY: WHY PLANT HEALTH Speech by the Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP 44 SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND POLITICS 8 MATTERS 30 HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE Addresses to the P&SC by Lord Oxburgh, Dr Julie Flood ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 48 Julian Huppert MP and Pallab Ghosh ACCREDITATION OF BIOLOGY DEGREES HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE AND THE ROYAL SOCIETY’S 350TH ANNIVERSARY Dr Mark Downs 31 TECHNOLOGY SELECT COMMITTEE 50 Martin Rees 14 TEME BANK TRAIL 32 HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE FUTURE 16 Professor Michael Rosenbaum AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION 52 Professor Sa’ad Medhat A DEMAND DRIVEN INNOVATION MODEL PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE THE SCIENCE COUNCIL 18 AND CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT 34 AND TECHNOLOGY 54 Diana Garnham Dr Suzanne King and Mark Dyball SCIENCE DIRECTORY 56 SOUND ANALYTICAL MEASUREMENT FOR CHALLENGED BY CARBON 35 A SAFE, SOLVENT UK 20 Dr Bryan Lovell SCIENCE DIARY 65 Dr Derek Craston SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR A VOLUNTARY APPROACH TO FOOD SAFETY HIGHER EDUCATION 38 Jon Poole 22 Lord Browne of Madingley FRS FREng INNOVATION TO SAVE LIVES IN THE COLLAPSE OF COMPUTING EDUCATION ROTORCRAFT OVER AFGHANISTAN 24 IN SCHOOLS 39 Front cover: NEF Diamond – repositioning and private Dstl Simon Peyton-Jones and Bill Mitchell sector income generation for FE

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OPINION DIAMOND - ENHANCING THE SCIENCE BASE AND INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS

Science and engineering are vital to our long-term economic prosperity. The Government faces tough choices, but it is essential that we continue to invest intelligently in our research infrastructure in order to maintain the UK’s position as a world leader in science, and at the same time to improve the way we develop technological innovation for industry.

At a time when other areas where we can both technical leadership and advanced countries are investing advance science and help commercial promise, is one Lord Broers more in their science base, industry innovate. Simple many of us share. Our resources ministers and business leaders assessments of impact alone are need to be concentrated if we understand that radical cuts in not sufficient. are to be internationally public spending are likely to competitive. Cable also cited Vince Cable has recently severely damage our global the Harwell Research campus as called for a modified version of competitiveness. This is not an effective example of the Technology and Innovation simply a matter of national ‘business driven high technology Centres recommended by the prestige, but of economic clusters with academic links’. Hauser review. I believe this is necessity. The prospect of This reflects the increasing focus the right approach, and the having to do more with less on industry of facilities such as vision for a national network of means that we have to focus the ISIS neutron source and the well-funded technology centres our publicly-funded research in Diamond Light Source focused on areas of clear

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collaborative work in areas such as drug design, materials engineering, nanotechnology, renewable energy technologies, environmental remediation and conservation of heritage artefacts such as the Mary Rose. Collaboration is the key to Diamond’s success. Academic and industry partners are closely involved in the development synchrotron, the UK’s largest Diamond now works with macromolecular crystallography, and refinement of new science project of recent years. almost 30 companies. For optics and magnetism, technology, and in the operation The light from Diamond, which example, Evotec is working on researchers at Diamond are not of the synchrotron. New extends in wavelength from neurodegenerative disease and only advancing our knowledge experimental stations are being infra-red light to hard X-rays, is anti-infective drug discovery. of the finest details of the world developed on a partnership used to enable a huge range of Vertex, a global biotechnology around us, but are also basis, such as the innovative analytical and microscopical company, uses the synchrotron providing advanced techniques Joint Engineering and techniques. in the design and manufacture that enable the development of Environment Processing of important new drugs that new processes and products for The work of Diamond beamline where it will be have progressed into advanced commercialisation. supporting R&D in leading possible to examine industrial pre-clinical studies to treat major companies including Rolls Royce Since opening its first components several metres in diseases. Cambridge-based on aerospace and energy experimental beamlines in 2007, size. Vernalis is using X-ray applications, Pfizer and Diamond has rapidly expanded macromolecular crystallography There are 18 experimental GlaxoSmithKline on drug its capabilities and now works to assess potential cancer laboratories, so called discovery and development, and with over 2,000 leading treatments. beamlines, now operating at Johnson Matthey on improved researchers from around the UK. Diamond, and this is set to grow emissions control catalysts, was Jointly funded by STFC and Scientific output increased by to 22 by 2012. Demand for also highlighted by David Willetts the Wellcome Trust, Diamond is nearly 30% over the past year, beam time is intense, and a at the Royal Institution earlier a good example of how a large- with 2,700 user visits, and 887 peer-reviewed application this summer. He cited Diamond scale national research facility papers and journal articles have process ensures that only the as an example of how publicly can effectively support both now been published. most promising proposals are funded R&D boosts economic basic science and engineering Working across the spectrum taken forward. Industry research performance, and emphasised applications across a wide range of physical, material and life for proprietary applications is set the importance of government of fields. Armed with pioneering sciences, Diamond also provides aside separately. Funding for support for such shared facilities. techniques in spectroscopy, x-ray a platform for multidisciplinary Phase III, which looks at fully diffraction, nanoscience, maximising the facility with an additional 10 advanced beamlines, will increase the scientific capabilities by some 45% for a further investment of under 25% of the original costs. Much of this research can only be done at Diamond.

Overall Diamond is well positioned to consolidate the UK’s leadership in synchrotron based scientific research and enhance its capabilities as a platform for commercially useful innovation and knowledge transfer.

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OPINION SEVEN POINT PLAN – AN INDUSTRIAL STRATEGY FOR UK COMPETITIVENESS A post-election summit, hosted by The Royal Society and The Royal Academy of Engineering, in May 2010, looked at the most pressing issues for the new government to address. At the summit, the following seven point plan for creating an innovation economy was presented.

The long term health of the UK compete with a growing array of about picking winners – either economy will depend on our global players, not just from technologies, companies or ability to compete successfully America and Europe, but from products. But it is about Lord Browne of Madingley FREng FRS with other technologically China and India as well. supporting strategic sectors President, Royal Academy of advanced and entrepreneurial where the UK can enjoy a Engineering The Coalition Government has emerging nations, particularly in competitive advantage. made clear that its immediate the hi-tech and lower carbon priority is to reduce the budget Policymakers should focus on industries of the future. deficit. But decisions must be seven areas. I would like to offer some taken with a clear vision for the First, government can support thoughts about what can be future. business by ensuring that there done to re-tool the British Policymakers agree that a are sufficient numbers of people economy for economic growth diverse, knowledge-based with the right skills. In a global based on science and economy is the best platform for competition for talent the most innovation. British businesses to compete in innovative businesses are We have many cards in our the hi-tech and lower-carbon determined by the quality and favour. Britain leads the world in industries of the future. And they diversity of their workforce. a number of fields including agree that, while businesses Second, we need to keep ideas small satellites, aerospace, life remain the prime vehicle for flowing by funding the best sciences and creative design. wealth creation, government can quality scientific and engineering We have world-class research do a lot more to foster the right research and researchers. We facilities and world-class climate for success. But there is then need an urgent and businesses – both small and confusion about exactly what serious debate on what other large – capable of exploiting it. government should be doing to research we can afford. help. But our track record of turning Third, even the best research British ideas into substantial The scale and urgency of the needs support to bring ideas out business successes is not change needed means it cannot of the lab and into the market. exemplary. Time and time again, be left to chance, the priority Government can play a ideas generated in the UK end must be to create an enabling significant role in building up being exploited commercially environment in which business systems to help bridge that gap. overseas. Improving on this and industry can flourish. This will track record must become a provide fertile ground on which Fourth, only a stable policy priority if we are going to build a new technologies can thrive. We climate will give business the balanced economy. It has as need an industrial strategy that confidence to invest over the much to do with improving our aligns policy, investment, effort long term. That includes an commercial and entrepreneurial and culture across government enabling regulatory framework to skills as it does with inventing departments and brings business provide signals to business, new technologies. Moreover, into the decision-making process. encouraging experimentation British companies must now and innovation. Improving competitiveness is not

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Fifth, more tangible incentives On the other hand, there are community must take a firmer The state of the UK economy is will be needed – whether some areas where it makes less lead, encouraging its great the overwhelming concern of through tax regimes, capital sense for government to take a people to get out there and government and the nation, and grants or seed funding, or a lead. For instance, it is important communicate: through the the available Science and combination of all of the above. that policymaking draws on this media, in schools and colleges. Research budget should be These incentives will work best country’s rich vein of scientific We are doing this at The Royal targeted where it will have most when they are transparent and and engineering expertise. Academy of Engineering, but we impact in the foreseeable future, accessible to small companies Technology councils, businesses can – and will – do more in the as far as possible without as well as large ones. and, of course, the national future. compromising unforeseen academies are full of people developments. Future potential Sixth, government should Great innovation occurs when with skills in management, will never be realised if the recognise its influence as a science and engineering meet research and problem solving. nation has not created the customer in supporting new business and enterprise – where The government should make means to exploit it. technologies and enabling new people can face in two directions full use of these outstanding companies to grow. Public at once, translating the fruits of That is how to create an human resources. procurement must be used as scientific research into oppor- innovation economy. The seven- much as a tool for encouraging There is also an issue of culture. tunities to create wealth and jobs. point plan delivers this and I innovation as for driving down Young people still view science That is not a job for government, wholeheartedly recommend it to costs. and engineering as somehow but it is an area where govern- our government. quite boring – something that ment can play a useful leadership And seventh, all of this must be uninspiring people do behind a role, fostering an environment rolled into a coherent policy desk or laboratory table. This is that harnesses the natural power framework, managed, measured an area where the scientific of business to innovate. and continually refined.

WHY SUSTAINABILITY IS THE KEY TO EFFECTIVE, INTEGRATED HEALTHCARE

OUR DISEASE BURDEN low level of patient engagement It is clear that the overall in personal health was direction of the NHS has There is a fundamental unsustainable. He proposed changed little since 2002. disconnect between the three possible models for the Among the multitude of reasons healthcare needs of individuals in reform of healthcare, the most for this is the fact that the our contemporary society and efficient being one in which the primary burden on healthcare is that which, in the main, is individuals are ‘fully engaged’ in caused by chronic, presently being delivered. Derek relation to their health. Such a noncommunicable diseases, Wanless, in his 2004 report to the scenario was claimed, amongst notably heart disease, cancer, UK Government on the future other things, to extend life diabetes, obesity and needs of the National Health Robert Verkerk BSc MSc DIC PhD expectancy beyond current osteoporosis, all of which are Executive and scientific director, Service (NHS), commented that Alliance for Natural Health forecasts, as well as lead to a multi-factorial in nature and the NHS had become a ‘national International, The Atrium, Curtis dramatic improvement in health strongly associated with diet and Road, Dorking, Surrey RH4 1XA. sickness service’ rather than a status. Aside from this, Wanless’ lifestyle patterns.2 The World ‘national health service’.1 fully engaged scenario was Health Organization (WHO) Wanless upheld that the NHS considered the cheapest to estimated that mortality, remained medically driven and implement, and the only one morbidity and disability preoccupied with inpatient that might be described as attributed to the major services. He also said that the sustainable. noncommunicable diseases

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would account for about 73% of are the norm rather than the PROBLEM 2: to-face consultations between all deaths and 60% of the exception. HEALTHCARE SERVICES integrated healthcare providers global burden of disease by and patients or clients are often It has been estimated that in Given that chronic diseases 2020.3 In developed countries, substantially longer than those in the UK, adverse drug reactions disproportionately impact older such as the UK, the burden general practice. Based on cost the NHS £2 billion populations and in turn take would be higher still given the limited data, extending the time annually.4 A recent Swedish many years, often decades, to lower incidence of infectious of primary care physician’s study has revealed that 3% of manifest, it is deeply inefficient diseases. consultations alone appears not Swedes die from adverse drug to focus the bulk of the to yield significant improvements The WHO has also opined reactions, making them the ‘healthcare service’ on the in diagnosis or patient that these chronic diseases, seventh most common cause of chronically diseased population. outcomes.11 This is likely to be being strongly correlated to diet, death in the country.5 Disease prevention, as proposed the result both of deficiencies in lifestyle and physical activity, are by Wanless, WHO and In the USA, deaths from diagnostic capabilities as well as largely preventable.2 Their numerous others, is a preventable medical and surgical treatments offered. rapidly increasing rate is injuries, 6 preventable infections substantially more efficient and attributed particularly to factors The perceived lack of an in hospitals7 and adverse drug effective approach. In order to such as recent changes in food adequate evidence-base, reactions which follow the non- implement preventative production and processing, as coupled with powerful resistance error prescription of drugs 6 healthcare as the primary well as to shifts in agricultural to integrated healthcare combine as the third leading approach, the existing system of and trade policy. Additionally, modalities by a highly vocal, cause of death. The situation primary care, particularly as alterations in living and working media-savvy minority of opinion appears more or less similar in applied by physicians in general patterns, born out of the leaders in the field of orthodox most other western countries. practice, would need to be ‘computer age’, have led to less abandoned. medicine, continues to provide a physical activity and less physical Aside from the deleterious barrier to better integration of Even from a disease labour for the vast majority of effects of many drug-based multi-factorial, non-drug management perspective, the people in our society.2 treatments, ongoing evaluation approaches to healthcare. by BMJ’s Clinical Evidence group existing average 10-minute Despite the WHO’s Even more fundamentally, currently suggests that only 11% consultation provided by a single recommendations to the disconnection that exists of orthodox medical treatments medically-trained practitioner is governments, heralded by its between healthcare policy, have been shown to have simply not sufficient to deal with launch in 2004 of the Global lifestyle and food production beneficial effects.8 These data complex diseases and disorders, Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity technologies means that only are submitted at 6-monthly especially given that older and Health,3 there has been very small sectors of the intervals directly to the NHS patients typically present with negligible change at population are truly able to Health Technology Assessment co-morbidities. There is governmental or societal levels embrace sustainable, ‘fully Programme (HTA). Furthermore, presently no capacity for the to address the identified failings engaged’ approaches to Dr Allen Roses, vice president of provision of disease prevention in healthcare policy. healthcare that dramatically genetics for the UK’s largest services, nor is there adequate reduce disease incidence. The pharmaceutical company, training in this area among PROBLEM 1: DRUGS AS paucity of studies on the effects GlaxoSmithKline, admitted in mainstream healthcare THE KEY TOOLS IN of high levels of engagement in 2003 that: “…the vast majority providers. CONVENTIONAL personal health, along with the of drugs – more than 90 per It is well recognised that HEALTHCARE effects of appropriate dietary cent – only work in 30 or 50 healthcare providers in the field Drugs are licensed medicinal choices and lifestyles, have not per cent of the people”9. of integrated healthcare products used to prevent or been prioritised in research. A (sometimes also considered as treat disease. Most, however, The clear lack of relative major reason for this is the lack ‘complementary and alternative treat only symptoms rather than effectiveness of new-to-nature of commercial incentive to fund medicine’ [CAM]), are generally the cause of disease. For the last drug-based modalities, their high such research. much more concerned with few decades, most drugs used cost, the scarcity of new drugs in disease prevention than THE GULF IN have been patented by one of the pharmaceutical industry’s orthodox healthcare providers. VIEWPOINTS only a small number of R&D pipeline and the fact that Most integrated or transnational corporations, and most patents for ‘blockbuster’ The huge gulf in opinion 10 ‘unconventional’ healthcare most can also be characterised drugs will expire by 2013, between protagonists of providers will integrate nutrition as being ‘new-to-nature’. strongly point to the need for a conventional and and lifestyle advice as adjuncts Accordingly, given our lack of radical change in our society’s unconventional approaches to alongside any other modality or evolutionary adaptation to such approach to the management of healthcare does nothing to modalities which they are chemicals, serious side effects our health. facilitate better integration of specifically trained to offer. Face-

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non-drug based healthcare and TOWARDS A for sustainable, integrated 4 Boseley S. ‘Adverse drug reactions preventative healthcare SUSTAINABLE (and biologically- cost NHS $2bn’. Guardian, 3 April 2008. approaches into the compatible) healthcare; HEALTHCARE PARADIGM http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/20 mainstream. 08/apr/03/nhs.drugsandalcohol [last The concept of sustainability • Diametrically opposed and accessed 28 Sept 2010]. In fact, if anything, these has been applied to agriculture, firmly entrenched contrasting viewpoints have forestry, energy and an viewpoints on conventional 5 Wester K, Jönsson AK, Spigset O, Druid H, Hägg S. Incidence of fatal become increasingly polarised. versus alternative medicine increasing number of other adverse drug reactions: a population One reason for this is a areas of human endeavour. approaches. based study. Br J Clin Pharmacol. misrepresentation of Generally, sustainable To increase the sustainability 2008; 65(4): 573-9. ‘unconventional’ approaches by approaches are those that work of our healthcare system, it is 6 Zhan C, Miller MR. Excess length of those adopting a restricted in accordance with, rather than necessary to address all of these stay, charges, and mortality approach to evidence-based attributable to medical injuries during against, natural processes. Lip issues, among others. It is medicine (EBM). Such a limited service has been applied to hospitalization. JAMA. 2003; 290(14): proposed that criteria for 1868-74. approach to evaluation of sustainability in healthcare, but, sustainable approaches to unconventional therapies is as yet, there has been no major 7 Jarvis WR. The Lowbury Lecture. The healthcare are developed so that United States approach to strategies epitomised in Singh and Ernst’s effort from either government or any approach meeting these in the battle against healthcare- 2008 book Trick or Treatment? industry to instigate an approach criteria, whether it involves associated infections, 2006. J Hosp Alternative Medicine on Trial.12 to healthcare that, in the dietary advice, use of licensed Infect. 2007; 65 Suppl 2: 3-9. The approach is deficient broadest sense, is sustainable. drugs, alternative modalities, 8 BMJ Clinical Evidence: 13 scientifically. Although http://clinicalevidence.bmj.com/cewe The first step in developing nutrient or herbal discussion of the scientific b/about/knowledge.jsp. [last accessed such an approach is full supplementation, be deemed deficiencies of methods of 28 Sept 2010]. recognition of the lack of acceptable. It would be evaluation used is beyond the 9 Connor S. ‘Glaxo chief: Our drugs do sustainability in existing expected that such an approach scope of the present article, the not work on most patients’. approaches. A second step is would help to dissolve the results of experimental trials Independent, 8 December 2003. the identification of those factors existing antagonism between http://www.independent.co.uk/news/ relied upon cannot be applied that contribute to the most conventional and alternative science/glaxo-chief-our-drugs-do-not- to the effectiveness of a given work-on-most-patients-575942.html unsustainable aspects of the medicine factions. modality in real life. The positive [last accessed 28 Sept 2010]. healthcare system. Thirdly, an experience among members of In the long term, for our appropriate scientific and 10 PatentNav website: the public of alternative healthcare system to become http://www.patentnav.eu/index.php?o regulatory framework is needed. medicine modalities, along with truly sustainable, massive shifts ption=com_content&view=article&id= nutritional approaches (that In the present article, six such in critical aspects of our food 54&Itemid=61 [last accessed 28 Sept 2010]. have never been evaluated by factors contributing to lack of and healthcare systems are Professor Ernst and colleagues) sustainability have been required. This includes a 11 Wilson AD, Childs S. Effects of interventions aimed at changing the is one reason why a large sector identified, these being: transformation of the medical length of primary care physicians' of the public fails to be curriculum, reduced • Inadequate emphasis on consultation. Cochrane Database Syst discouraged from using these dependence on processed Rev. 2006. 25; 1: CD003540. disease prevention among modalities despite adverse foods, increased reliance on primary care providers; 12 Singh S, Ernst E. Trick or Treatment? media reports. regionally and locally produced Alternative Medicine on Trial. 2008. • Lack of engagement in whole foods, increased physical Random House/Norton. It should also be recognised personal health activity among all age groups, that the originators of the EBM 13 Verkerk, R. Professor Ernst: master management by individuals; especially the young, and trickster of evidence-based medicine? concept have complained that changes to the school Alliance for Natural Health Europe the concept has been misused • Lack of adequate education curriculum to allow inclusion of website: http://anh- through its over-reliance on and training of the public europe.org/files/071115-Edzard-Ernst- nutrition, health and lifestyle randomised trials, to the and healthcare providers in exposee_final.pdf [last accessed 28 training. Sept 2010]. exclusion of other forms of methods of disease evidence, such as observational prevention; REFERENCES 14 Sackett DL, Rosenberg WM, Gray JA, evidence and, in particular, 1 Wanless D. Securing Our Future Haynes RB, Richardson WS. Evidence • Over-reliance on expensive, Health: Taking a Long-Term View. Final based medicine: what it is and what it clinical experience.14 relatively ineffective and Report. 2002. HM Treasury, London. isn't. BMJ. 1996; 312 (7023): 71-2. harmful (biologically 2 World Health Organization. World incompatible) drugs; Health Report. 2002. WHO, Geneva.

• Lack of an adequate and 3 World Health Organization. Global appropriate evidence-base Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. 2004. WHO, Geneva.

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SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND POLITICS Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday, 15th June 2010 SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND POLITICS

INTRODUCTION This is not a topic on which I claim to be an expert. I have never written about or studied this subject. I don’t think I have ever spoken about it before. I have however engaged with this topic to some extent. The first half of my career was as an Academic Researcher, then as a Scientific Civil Servant and more recently in Business, so I have been a little bit involved. The first thing to say is that policymakers, politicians and businessmen need professional advice in a number of areas. You Lord Oxburgh can think of Law, Accountancy and Economics, and then Science comes into this spectrum. I suppose what is different about Scientists is that those receiving their advice generally have much less familiarity with the general area than they might have with the others. And for that reason we are a little bit more unconfident about dealing with it.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN five years ago Columbia almost entirely focused on the SCIENTISTS AND University Business School in additional research which still BUSINESS PEOPLE conjunction with their Earth remained to be done to resolve Science Department decided aspects of the fine detail of Let me start with an that something dramatic had got Climate Change and not the observation which sounds pretty to be done about Climate fundamentals. By lunchtime, the banal but I think is quite Change by engaging with US leaders of business were saying important and I will illustrate it Business. They organised a big that they were all very surprised with a story. And that is because meeting and managed to pull in because they had thought that there is a fundamental difference senior representatives from CEO all this was cut and dried – and in the outlook between the level and to the next level down that all the relevant information Scientific Community and most from eighty of the biggest one concerning Climate Change was of those with whom they hundred companies in the US, already known! And, by early interact. Fundamentally, and a stellar cast of seven expert afternoon, a number of them Scientists, and Research speakers on Climate Change – had left the meeting. I came on Scientists in particular, are and I was the eigth speaker at the very end and tried to interested in what isn’t known, – invited, but not as an expert on recover the situation. But by that what has still to be discovered, Climate Change, but speaking on time the Business Community, and what still has to be found behalf of “the acceptable face of as represented there, was out. The rest of us, – and I put business” on this occasion. satisfied that the science was myself on the other side for the Speeches were given by the totally uncertain and that a great moment – Business, Civil experts, which were outstanding more needed to be done. That Servants, Government, – are research talks. While the current was simply the result of both a much more concerned with knowledge base was taken as cultural and a difference of what is known. And this may read, or delivered in a rather approach between two very sound a silly distinction – but let summary fashion, the main different communities, and it is me give you an example. About emphasis of all of the talks was one which is very frequently

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never really appreciated by we of the interesting questions is were stolen and then put on the Change have not altered. I am scientists. where that questioning should Web. It appears that about the still waiting to see a confidently end, or what the limits of that same time as the UEA server firm editorial in one of the UK PUBLIC POLICY AND questioning are in relation to the was hacked into, attempts were newspapers. RESEARCH public interest? also made to hack into the PUBLICITY From the Business point of servers of three or four other Another example, which is view Research is a Cost. From a Climatic Research Institutes The importance of publicity is current in the US, has to do with Business or Government worldwide, which however were that certain industries are clearly proposed Government legislation viewpoint research costs should unsuccessful. Certainly, the going to be seriously damaged if about the sugar content of be limited to those which are publication of the material from Governments take action on canned drinks of various sorts. absolutely necessary, and not a some of the UEA emails was Climate Change. Probably the But, you will also have seen in penny more, in order to be able extremely damaging. It was Coal Industry worldwide will be the US, that the publicity budget to deal with a specific issue of damaging for two reasons, first seriously damaged, but others of the trade body concerned has governance, or to stay just ahead of all because email may be as well. The question is increased by something like a of the competition. From the conversations are extremely are Governments going to be factor of 10 over 18 months, researcher’s point of view, some difficult to interpret, and secondly able to withstand the kind of effectively lobbying against any research is “good”, more because these email organised pressure to which, I change whatsoever. research is “better”. And those conversations contained a great think, they are now being are very, very different CLIMATE CHANGE deal of material which really exposed? And the pressure is approaches. were the sort of thing that clever and it is subtle. More recently, we have seen people might talk casually over a Fundamentally, people in this RESEARCH LEADS TO an example concerning Climate coffee machine, but not the sort country and other parts of the GOVERNMENT POLICY Change. Now, for something of thing which they would ever world are going to be receiving like twenty-five years scientific Now let us just think about dream of going into the public fuel bills within the next twelve groups around the world have public policy and research, and I domain. And these revelations months which are totally been working together in an think there is probably only time were “manna from heaven” to transparent, distinguishing the informal and voluntary way as to deal with one of the many those who wished to discredit cost of producing the electricity part of the Intergovernmental aspects of this intriguing topic. the arguments for Climate and the gas which they get, from Panel on Climate Change Let’s deal with the situation in Change. The fact is, of course, the various imposts which are (IPCC). This voluntary which free and open academic that three different enquiries in there as VAT and a whole range organisation has produced a research has led to some quite this country and one in Holland of additional measures that are series of reports at four to five important implications for have now disproved the most designed to address Climate year intervals, documenting the Government policy. Fifteen or serious allegations concerning Change effectively. And many anthropogenic consequences of twenty years ago one might the UEA researchers, namely that people are going to see fuel bills human interventions on the have thought of the Tobacco they had been dishonest, and which will be up to thirty per environment. These have Industry and the work done by had contrived the presentation of cent more than they would become progressively more Sir Richard Doll and others that their observations in order to otherwise have been without the pessimist. Or looking at it really demonstrated a very clear appear to justify a particular extra charges related to Climate another way, more confirmatory link between smoking tobacco conclusion. I don’t think anyone Change. And clearly those that there is a significant effect. and lung diseases. At that time who has looked at the evidence commercial interests directly This led on initially to the Kyoto the Tobacco Industry mounted a carefully thinks that is the case. involved can take this Agreement, and more recently to really major attack involving They were unwise in all sorts of opportunity to undermine the meeting in Copenhagen at questioning the research, ways; they were perhaps not Government initiatives by which it was hoped that a new smearing the researchers, using the best methods available persuading people that, actually, International Agreement would employing professional lobbyists, for their work, but in terms of it is all a bit uncertain. And this be reached. with the primary goal of deliberate deceit, all of us were thirty per cent added to your bills protecting their industry. Now, As you are already aware, convinced of their innocence. does not really have to be there. you might well expect that any about six weeks before And indeed Le Monde had a It is just some sort of dubious industry threatened by a piece of Copenhagen, the computer very interesting editorial recently scientific fallacy. That is a very research which implies a major system servers at the University in which they said that we have serious problem for politicians! change in Government policy, of East Anglia (UEA) Climate now had all these enquiries and would question that research Group were hacked into, and a they have all demonstrated that very thoroughly. And I think one number of very damaging emails the fundamentals of Climate

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SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND POLITICS THE COMMONS IS CRYING OUT FOR MORE SCIENTISTS – AND FOR THE EVIDENCE- BASED EXPERTISE THEY CAN BRING

One of the things I’ve most real applications: helping us to weakness, inconsistency or plain missed since becoming a understand better the way that dishonesty. This isn’t to say, of Member of Parliament has been cancer cells work, leading to the course, that sometimes it is not the opportunity to talk about my development of better anti- one or all of those! But the other life, as a science academic cancer drugs. We are also intransigence and stubbornness working in the Cavendish hopeful that we will ultimately of some politicians can be Laboratory in Cambridge. be able to use our other strand traced to a more deep-seated Remarkably, there are only two of research, in nano-technology, problem: the deliberate science PhDs in the Commons, to use DNA templates to make dismissal of evidence in favour myself and Dr Thérèse Coffey, large objects, such as improved of head-in-the-sand ideology. Julian Huppert MP the Member for Suffolk Coastal; solar panels. This clash of cultures can if we widen the field to include Such were the esoteric lead to some awkward those with any STEM degree, surroundings from which I came situations. Consultations become employment history or to the famous green benches of less about orderly debate, based committee interest, then we get the Commons. I might have on careful consideration of around 70 names, or a little been forgiven for thinking that available evidence, and more over 10% of the House’s having understood the intricacies about scoring party political composition. It is important to of quantum chemistry, and points. One recent example was emphasise that there are many coped with the Byzantine ways the wrangling over the from non-scientific backgrounds of the University, Colleges and Coalition’s proposals for fixed who have worked hard to Research Councils, Parliamentary term parliaments, where the further the cause of science and life would seem rather simpler! suggestion of a 55% figure for technology; what is needed No such luck, unfortunately: the dissolution of Parliament was principally is interest, not Palace of Westminster is an greeted by animosity and expertise. But overall it is little even more bizarre place, a misunderstanding by some MPs, wonder that evidence, the labyrinth imbued with a sense of despite the widespread use of keystone of scientific and simultaneous urgency and fixed terms and high dissolution technological research, has yet lethargy, where things can thresholds in many countries to become the decisive factor in change either at the snap of a around the world. A more policy-making it ought to be. Minister’s fingers or after years considered response, raising As an RCUK Academic Fellow of committees, debates and legitimate questions over the in Computational Biology, I divisions. purpose of fixed terms, the worked on DNA structure and length of those terms and the There are far more function, particularly on unusual, practical arrangements for differences than similarities. lesser-known structures that dissolution would have been Despite the influence of the nucleic acids are capable of more in keeping with the job plucky few who strive to further forming. We all know about the Parliamentarians are supposed the cause of science in the double helix thanks to Watson to be doing in holding the Commons, there is a and Crick, themselves Cavendish Executive to account. As it was, fundamental clash of cultures men, but my interest was the proposals were updated in between scientific and political especially on four-stranded the light of criticism – only for method. In science it is structures called G-quadruplexes those who had called for acceptable – essential, in fact – and when they might form. changes to crow about ‘U-turns’! to change ideas given new Although much of this was evidence; in politics, any change Of course, I recognise that in fundamental, blue-sky work, it of mind is taken as a sign of politics people have an agenda turned out to have important

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to push. That happens in of civil liberties. The previous make things better? One key a good showcase for what can science too, but thankfully less government’s push for ‘security’ issue at the moment, particularly be done in educating MPs – so. The challenge for people like at all costs led to an in a time of economic austerity, several of whom attended. me is to walk the line between authoritarian apparatus of jury- is funding. While we all However, even then they were the two worlds. Recently I had less secret trials, secret evidence, recognise the need to tackle the largely the usual suspects! the opportunity to do just that, detention without charge, deficit, we also recognise the A lot of the onus rests on the when the British Medical control orders, the DNA need to do it carefully, without scientific community’s ability to Association and the House of database, ID cards and more. jeopardising the long-term make their arguments palatably Commons Science and Most egregiously, it led to the prospects for our economy. clear to people who either have Technology Committee both catastrophic war in Iraq, an STEM subjects hold particular no interest in science, or are called for the National Health example not of evidence-based strategic importance in this positively scared of it. The fact Service to stop funding policy but policy-based regard, and I have been working that this latter response exists is homeopathy on the basis that evidence; denounced by the hard to ensure that leading arguably due in part to our according to current evidence, it former chief of MI5 as the cause overseas academics are still able tendency as scientists to revel is no more efficacious than a of a huge increase in home- to come and work in our somewhat in the esoteric nature placebo. The Government’s grown terrorist activity. In other country to endow our students of our work. The advent of social response to the Committee’s words, it had precisely the with the skills they need, and to networking websites such as findings was equivocal, failing to opposite effect to the policy’s provide innovations that will Facebook and Twitter has given recognise that to provide aim – a clear failure, even make our economy more those of us trying to make unscientific placebo “remedies” discounting the illegality of the competitive and more evidence-based arguments a is fundamentally to mislead invasion. sustainable. very powerful tool; through people, removing their right to We have already seen the In the short term, we need to Twitter, for example, I can access an informed choice and effect of scientific illiteracy on encourage more people from many experts who will pull undermining the trust between health policy. But perhaps the STEM-based backgrounds to together and analyse doctor and patient. This inability most worrying thing about the become part of our political information for me. to look objectively at the lack of scientific knowledge in discourse. It was deeply evidence leads to a kind of Another important area is the Commons is that evidence- disappointing to see Dr Evan doublethink, where the Chief that of scientific journalism. We based policy is crucial in every Harris lose his seat in May, and Scientist at the Department for are lucky to have in this country department. On Home Affairs, not merely because he is of my Health can conclude that “there some excellent writers, such as for instance, there has been a party, but because of his is no plausible scientific Ben Goldacre and Mark lack of attention to what experts excellent credentials as an mechanism for homeopathy”, Henderson, but all too often our are saying about crime, or drugs advocate for evidence. If but at the same time, the DoH newspapers resort to the same policy, and successive Home scientists, mathematicians and can claim that it “wholly old binary-style reporting that Secretaries have favoured the engineers feel like fish out of supports the concept of the leaves no room for nuance, populist, knee-jerk response. water in a Commons suffused informed patient”. By any describing everything as a Climate change will not be taken with lawyers, politicos and PR sensible definition, these stances wonder-drug or a terrifying killer. seriously until there is a far types, we are unlikely to see the are contradictory, as the benefit greater emphasis on the need sort of fundamental change in Unless we in the scientific of placebos is destroyed by for sustainable transport; instead, policy-making that I have community take decisive steps informing the patient of the road-building has dominated the advocated. to make our voices heard, ineffective nature of the placebo Transport agenda for years, whether in Parliament, in the they are being prescribed! One scheme which I despite ample evidence that media or elsewhere, the particularly welcomed was the The report by the Science & congestion can often worsen as likelihood is that vital evidence Conservatives’ manifesto Technology Committee, a result. One ray of hope is in will be ignored, and policy will commitment to require all new incidentally, shows what can be the Ministry of Justice, where continue to be based on Conservative MPs to go on a done if non-scientific MPs put Ken Clarke appears to have ideological and political science awareness course. This their minds to this essential task seen the light (or perhaps considerations, sometimes with was an excellent idea, and one I of changing our policy-making simply revealed his own light) disastrous consequences. For wished had appeared in my culture. Lord Willis, the former on penal reform, accepting that that reason, I intend to carry on own party’s manifesto. MP for Harrogate and correlation between higher beating the drum for evidence- Unfortunately the course turned Knaresborough and the then prison numbers and decreasing based policy whenever possible. out to be a one-hour seminar, Chair of the Committee, chaired crime levels does not necessarily interrupted by a division, and it with great distinction and an imply causation. attended by only about ten MPs. admirable zeal for evidence. I’m well aware of the rather Far better attended was the Another example of ideology gloomy picture I’ve painted so Royal Society for Chemistry’s trumping evidence is in the area far. What can be done, then, to annual Parliamentary Links day,

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SCIENCE, ENGINEERING AND POLITICS

Thank you for inviting me to speak here at your meeting. For me Science and Politics have always been intertwined. They’re intertwined – because an understanding of science is empowering. It enables ordinary people to make rational choices. To see through hype and overstated claims. Key to this is the use of science and scientific advice by government. It’s a system of scientific advice that’s been developed in recent years by successive Chief Scientific Advisors, Lord May, Sir David King and Sir John Beddington.

Pallab Ghosh ROLLS ROYCE files on a Whitehall server – policymaking in order to set out never to see the light of day. standards for the integrity of the Their efforts have put process. And so was born our scientific advice – not so much INCONVENIENT TRUTH Rolls Royce system of scientific at the heart of government – Sir John Beddington loves to advisors, advisory committees but the veins, arteries and quote President Obama that we and arms length bodies – such capillaries of the policy should listen to advice not only as the Food Standards Agency. circulation system. Nearly each when it is inconvenient – but But gradually – almost inevitably department has a chief scientist. especially when it is – Whitehall slipped back into its The advisors themselves work inconvenient. It’s all very well to old controlling, secretive, well in a coordinated and say that Advisors should advise mistake-covering ways. effective manner. It’s a Rolls and Ministers should decide. Royce system. But I wonder FOOT AND MOUTH But that’s only if that advice is how effectively it’s being used. transparent – and if that advice In September 2007 there And at a time when is rejected – the reasons should was a second outbreak of Foot departments are looking for also be publicly available. and Mouth just days after the savings – that Rolls that’s kept Government’s chief Vet, Debbie too long in the garage must look Now let’s remember why the Reynolds, had announced that very vulnerable. system of scientific advice was the virus had been eradicated. developed. HOME ALONE The Department for the In March 1996 the Health Environment Food and Rural Last year a survey by the Secretary, Stephen Dorrell Affairs briefed journalists that this Campaign for Science and announced that humans could was possibly because there had Engineering showed that several become infected and die of been a second leak of the virus secretaries of state had only eating BSE infected beef. Up from a nearby laboratory. A sporadic contact with their until then Ministers had said publicly funded genetic study department’s scientific advisor, beef was safe to eat. showed that this was not true. some meeting with them just The first outbreak hadn’t gone once a year. Eight Secretaries of PHILIPS REPORT away – Defra had simply missed State did not meet at all with A report by Lord Phillips into cases on a nearby farm. The the government’s Chief Scientific the affair recommended that scientists who produced the Advisor John Beddington. And scientific advice in government research said that they had some of the departmental should be independent and difficulty publishing the research advisors and former advisors I’ve available to the public directly because of opposition by Defra. spoken to have often expressed from scientists – and not be frustration at having to be kept interpreted by Ministers. ORGAN DONATION in their box. They have little In 2008 an expert group was access to Ministers and are In 1997 the then asked to investigate whether the asked to make contributions that Government Chief Scientist, Lord system of presumed consent for often don’t see the light of day. May, drafted guidelines on organ donation would save Languishing and rarely retrieved scientific advice and

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more lives. Gordon Brown was leading scientists asking ‘control the message’. But even WICKED WAYS in favour of the plan - but the government to reaffirm the basic on calm days – small apparently And we are spreading our expert group concluded that it principles that arose after harmless decisions are made wicked ways. The Association of wouldn’t work. They handed learning the lessons of BSE. That not to publish the minutes of British Science Writers is their report to the then Chief scientific advice should be free advisory committee meetings, to affiliated to 40 science Medical Officer for England, Sir from political interference. I’m hold back a section of a report journalism associations across Liam Donaldson. He wrote an delighted to see that it was one at DEFRA or the Home Office the world through the World article for the Observer just days of the first acts of the coalition because of perceived media Federation of Science Journalists. before the publication of the government to make those hostility . We’re training African science report – contradicting the basic principles part of the journalists through a five million conclusions of the report that he Ministerial code. THOUSAND CUTS pound mentoring scheme – himself commissioned: It’s these thousand cuts that NOT ONE OFF funded with the kind support of lead to the erosion of NDAS DFID and Canada’s IDRC. But as I’ve explained the Nutt independent advice and breed Already we’re producing African Last year DEFRA published its Affair was not a one off. It was cynicism. Chief Scientific journalists writing and climate impact projections – an an extreme and latest case of a Advisors also need to answer to broadcasting about science ambitious attempt to predict the growing culture of complacency the scientific community as well issues relevant to them in impact of climate change at a within government. as their Whitehall masters. What African media. We’re creating local level. Some scientists had Officials have forgotten the we don’t want are ‘safe pairs of more kick-ass journalists. We’re grave doubts about the scientific lessons of the report by Lord hands’. That’s a Government’s creating more associations of basis of the projections. Defra Phillips. He knew that trust in euphemism for people who tell science journalism. While we are commissioned a scientific review government scientific advice was them what they want to hear. grateful for the resources we are – but all the scientists on the crucial. The reason that so many That’s great for maintaining calm offered by scientific bodies to review board were asked to sign people – so many parts of the in Whitehall departments but it’s “better cover” scientific issues. legally binding non-disclosure media wouldn’t take the another threat to independent agreements. Their review was department of Health’s advice scientific advice. Another NOT CHEERLEAD critical and published on the over MMR was that there was favourite Government But it’s important that science same day as Defra launched its widespread scepticism of the euphemism to watch out for is journalists have our own climate projections to much competence and integrity of the being told that something you conversation. Because we are fanfare. The criticism is scientific advice from have raised is ‘unhelpful’ or here to scrutinise – not to effectively buried. Some government. It had taken a ‘taking us in the wrong direction’. cheerlead. Our motto at the scientists are worried that decade to rebuild that trust – World Federation is government is on occasion, and it’s in danger of being OUR RESPONSIBILITY “Empowerment through interfering, burying and briefing undermined. Not just by big In other words it doesn’t fit (Science) Journalism”. Science against its own independent falling outs between Ministers with the message. So are we left and science advice for me is scientific advice. Of course that and advisors – but by more to be ground down – by what keeps our policies honest. happened to the former drugs subtle and arguably more Whitehall reverting to type? Or do It’s too precious, too important advisor Professor David Nutt and corrosive undermining of the we take responsibility and keep to be undermined and hacked the work of his committee – the process. our policy makers under scrutiny. about with by apparatchiks. It’s Advisory Committee on the Among the science journalism THICK OF IT time to dust down and wheel Misuse of Drugs. media we are taking out the Rolls Royce system we More corrosive – because it’s responsibility. The Association of NUTT STORY have in the Whitehall Garage. become part of the Whitehall British Science Journalists As you may recall the then culture – to turn a deaf ear to organised a conference just Home Secretary Alan Johnson inconvenient truths. No-one likes down the road at Westminster sacked Professor Nutt because to think of themselves as being Central Hall last year – to raise of what he said at a public blasé about evidence or that standards of science journalism. lecture. They said that it was they can’t handle hearing Not just to explain complicated because he was campaigning. awkward advice. But the things better – but to change our But the fear was that the chair pressures on ministers and their culture – to what I’ve called a of a scientific advisory communications staff are very more kick-ass approach to committee was sacked because real. The Television Comedy The science Journalism – to scrutinise he was giving advice that no Thick of It isn’t that wide of the claims made even by the most one wanted to hear. The mark – and it’s when it really revered scientific bodies. episode led to 90 of the UK’s hits the fan their instincts are to

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THE ROYAL SOCIETY’S 350TH ANNIVERSARY

The Royal Society’s 350th anniversary has offered us a pretext to learn more about its origins, and to appreciate more fully how science and technology have transformed everyone’s lives.

At the Society’s earliest essence actually hasn’t changed. every two years. Spin-offs from meetings Christopher Wren, Today’s Fellows – and all the genetics could soon be as Robert Hooke, Samuel Pepys, young scientists we support – pervasive as those from the and other ‘ingenious and have the same motivations as microchip have already been. curious gentlemen’ (as they their forebears. They probe Martin Rees Although the Royal Society’s described themselves) viewed nature and nature’s laws for President of the Royal Society priority has been the backing of all kinds of experiments, their intrinsic value. And their individuals, it also advances sometimes rather gruesome engagement with society and research by its publications – ones – blood transfusions and with public affairs is still strong – printed and electronic – and by the like. They peered through though today’s focus is of its high-quality discussion newly-invented telescopes and course not just on London, but meetings on topical scientific microscopes; they heard on issues that are often global. themes. But its reach extends travellers’ tales, and dissected Science itself is a global beyond the professional weird animals. They were, in culture that should transcend all community – into science Francis Bacon’s phrase, national differences – and all education, and public ‘merchants of light ’– seeking faiths too. But it’s more than engagement. knowledge for its own sake. that. A former President, George Their curiosity seemed In the past the Society wasn’t Porter averred that ‘There are boundless. But for Bacon, much engaged with school-level two kinds of science: applied discovery had a second motive: education. and not yet applied’. He was ‘the relief of man’s estate’. And echoing Francis Bacon’s However, there’s now a crisis our founders were indeed sentiment in different words. that we surely cannot ignore. We immersed in the practical And of course the insights of risk falling behind other nations agenda of their era – improving Newton, Faraday, Maxwell, at all skill levels – top-rate navigation and the navy, Rutherford and others on the postgraduates, but also highly exploring the New World, and distinguished roll-call of our competent technicians and rebuilding London after the Fellowship – have spawned apprentices. There’s an ageing Great Fire. technologies that have population of experts in areas 350 years later, human transformed lives worldwide. such as the nuclear industry, and horizons have hugely expanded; it’s not clear that there will be Indeed innovations happen no new continents remain to be enough replacements of the with staggering speed. Many discovered. Our Earth no longer same quality. Young children things we take for granted offers an open frontier, but are generally fascinated by at would have seemed magic even seems constricted and crowded least some aspects of science – 50 years ago. The World Wide – a ‘pale blue dot’ in the whether it be space, dinosaurs, Web is only 20 years old – and immense cosmos. or tadpoles. But too many bright we’re proud to have its inventor, pupils turn elsewhere in their The Royal Society is also a Tim Berners Lee, as a Fellow. teenage years, because the vastly different institution, but its Computers double their power curriculum and teaching don’t inspire them. The Society intends to provide expert advice . . . The World Wide Web is only 20 years old – and we’re on the science curriculum to policymakers and to support proud to have its inventor, Tim Berners Lee, as a Fellow. . . efforts to enhance the flow of good scientists into teaching. I

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had the privilege of serving last as synthetic biology, climate year on Alan Milburn’s panel on geoengineering and nuclear . . . The Society intends to provide ‘access to the professions’. In security. In March we published science (unlike in law and a report ‘Our Scientific Century: expert advice on the science banking, for instance) the worst Securing our Future Prosperity’, inequalities occur before age 18. which was widely cited during curriculum . . . The playing field is fairly level for the election campaign. And our those who have secured entry well-established ‘pairing scheme’ ‘scientific Ditchley’. In recognition savvy and ambitious young into a high-quality university between young scientists and of a major donation from people will conclude that this course. But that opportunity is MPs can, in a modest way, help American philanthropist Fred country offers poor prospects for foreclosed to all those – to convey some scientific and Kavli, the centre will be known careers in world-class science perhaps half the population – techncal background among as The Kavli Royal Society and engineering. This would who never encounter specialist ‘generalist’ parliamentarians. International Centre. It will seem an ‘own goal’ at a time science teachers. Ensuring that The Society celebrated its permanently enhance the when the government accepts all children receive a high quality anniversary with a year-long Society’s footprint, both the need to boost graduate science education is essential to series of events, exhibitions, and metaphorically and literally. recruitment (in quality as well as sustaining the UK’s edge as publications to increase both the volume) in these subjects. discoverers and innovators. Key The UK is strong in science -- public’s involvement in and the creative ideas of the coming second only to the US, and by Planning in R and D has to profile of science. Our scientific decades should germinate here, some measures number-one in be long-term; the tap cannot be programme aimed to addres the and we must make sure that we ‘brain for the buck’. And it’s not turned on and off. In a global most important cutting-edge have the skills and resources to coincidental that the UK is the context where other nations are topics: ageing, biodiversity, exploit them. only country apart from the US forging ahead, even cuts of 10 consciousness, energy, web with several universities in the per cent are be hard to recover It’s the Society’s responsibility, science, risk analysis, and so premier league. This success is from. An atmosphere of as an independent body, to forth. A series of special achieved despite the fact that ‘confidence’ -- intellectual as well provide independent advice to publications and surveys have OECD comparisons reveal us as as economic -- is essential if our governments, and – through the been published: in partcular, Bill low spenders on R and D society is to sustain vibrant and media – to the public. We Bryson edited a very well- compared to the US – and also innovative science, technology cherish our independence – received book, ‘Seeing Further’, compared to our new and engineering. The perception advice is offered, via our recently which offered the perspective of competitors in Asia. that the UK is losing ground and expanded Science Policy Centre, 20 high-profile authors on lacking commitment compared whether asked for or not. We scientific topics. We made It would be tragic to to other nations will destroy this must confront widely-held special efforts to highlight the jeopardise our competitiveness. confidence. There are all too few anxieties that the uses of Society’s history, as well as a Moreover (and this is crucial in areas where this country is as genetics, brain science and range of programmes delivered the context of the current cuts) high as number two in the artificial intelligence may ‘run with regional museums and other countries have singled out world; it is surely foolish to away’ too fast. To stem the risk cultural centres. A BBC radio R and D for enhanced ‘stimulus’ jeopardise any that remain – of environmental degradation; to series by Melvyn Bragg reached funding despite the overall especially one that is so crucial adopt clean energy, and a wide audience. squeeze. The UK has already to the nation’s long-term sustainable agriculture, to become less attractive relative The anniversary activities prosperity. prevent pandemics, it’s essential for investment to the US than it peaked with a ten-day science to develop appropriate was two years ago, and the Far 350 years ago, the Royal festival at Southbank Centre technology, and to apply it East is rising fast. Additionally, Society helped pioneer a new which attracted 50,000 people: optimally in all parts of the the market for top talent is mode of thought – an its centrepiece was a world. The Royal Society should global. Any leading laboratory, enlightenment, where evidence ‘convocation’ in the Royal be at the forefront of these whether it is run by a university would trump traditional authority. Festival Hall attended by HM the projects – our Fellowship spans or by a multinational company, It’s a mindset that has changed Queen and several other the Commowealth; our contains a similarly broad mix of the world. We can’t now be members of the Royal Family distinguished Foreign Members nationalities wherever it is polymaths as our founders were. along with representatives of hale from all over the world. We located. The UK has had some As knowledge expands, we scientific organisations from join forces with all the world’s ‘brain gain’ in recent years: talent need to specialise. We’re around the world . academies, through the attracts talent. But if public mindful of how much we owe Interacademy Panel and other One of the highlights of the support for UK science is to our predecessors, but also of collaborations, to promote these year was the conversion of perceived to be heading how much opportunity our goals. Chicheley Hall, a grade I listed downwards when it’s being science base can offer – given house in Buckinghamshire, into boosted elsewhere, it will the right support. Our recent policy reports a residential centre for the become far harder to attract and have dealt with topics as diverse advancement of science -- a retain mobile talent. The most

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Invigorating STEM Vocational Education THE TECHNICAL COLLEGE OF THE FUTURE

recognised and flexible skills in question of how to make needs of employers and growth areas. colleges themselves better and investing in the future skills stronger – rather than make needs of the economy. The The period since, however, services improve for employers Leitch Review was of course has been dominated by debate and employees. concerned with both, but its about providers with an focus was on up-skilling the emphasis on size: is larger The UK Commission for Skills entire workforce in distinct better? There have been other and Employment (UKCES) sets strategic areas. significant developments: the out, in ‘Skills, Jobs, Growth’,6 a economic downturn and its vision for the way the ‘Strategic skills’ require proper consequences for public employment and skills sector investment to stimulate increased spending cuts; the transfer of should work in the UK. Clear provision and participation in Professor Sa’ad Medhat, CEO and Founder of the New Engineering responsibility for funding 16-19 principles define the way that those strategically important Foundation (NEF) education to local authorities the content of learning and areas, including significant skills and the associated demise of qualifications should be shaped shortages and emerging sectors. the Learning and Skills Council; by the relevant sector; whilst This must depend on significant Thirty years ago Kenneth the 14-19 curriculum and raising informed customers – employers private investment, but, the Baker famously described the the participation age; the capital and learners – should drive UKCES argues, it should also be Further Education sector as crisis in funding college building; supply, performance and quality. incentivised by price premiums and questions about the to public funding to increase the ‘Cinderella Service’. This When it comes to proposals accuracy of the reliance of data provider commitment and view is still relevant, to make this happen, the that suggests colleges have marketing. particularly in STEM: for attention is focused on three greatly improved. And yes, the example, rarely is vocational areas: Excellent technical education Comprehensive Spending training and FE mentioned in will depend on getting this right Review, and three parliamentary • A ‘balanced scorecard’ to the Science in Parliament – alongside the challenges of bills which undoubtedly will supplant current assessments magazine – reflecting the raising the ‘employability skills’ of have an impact on further and of colleges and make them importance given to the workforce, particularly its vocational education: the more responsive vocational training and young new entrants, and of Welfare Reform Bill, the Public education. This has to change • Simplifying funding through continuing to respond to the Bodies Bill and the Education and for a very good reason: personal learning accounts and immediate training needs of Bill. the right STEM vocational skills increased individual and employers. are vital if innovative and new employer ‘co-investment’ in CHALLENGES AND FREE The three areas identified by technologies are to be FE skills exploited and commercialised UKCES have presented colleges fully. There have been a number • A modular qualifications with real challenges and some system driven by employer of the commentary about their It is five years since Sir of ideas to address some of need success have been at best Andrew Foster’s report on the these post-Foster issues. The mixed. The challenges, however, future of FE Colleges1 held a Learning and Skills Network and Each of these responds to are even more important as the mirror to them and invited NEF have published papers the drive to make demand for world itself changes. colleges and stakeholders to arguing that FE should enjoy the skills shape what the respond. The main conclusion freedoms of HE to raise cash employment and skills sector INDUSTRY of his report was that the key (from students) and create delivers. They are not new 3 4 REQUIREMENTS AND purpose of FE colleges is the qualifications . A paper by ideas but their endorsement by NEW TECHNOLOGIES acquisition of skills and Eversheds for the 157 Group UKCES will carry significant employability. The Leitch argued for the possibility, if not weight. They are congruent with At the broadest level, there Review later the same year2 necessarily the desirability, of the direction of travel suggested are some obvious economic placed greater emphasis on new forms of legal structure and by Foster and the aims for the imperatives on the horizon: the those whom colleges serve, and governance arrangements to system shaped by the Leitch need to develop carbon- set targets on skills at the lower enable more entrepreneurial Review of Skills. neutrality at work and in life; the 5 levels with an eye to progression colleges to emerge. Part of this rapid pace of technological The UKCES report adds a key beyond. The purpose of STEM thinking is about the capacity of change; the continuing message about investing in vocational education and training the colleges to meet the needs revolution in the application of strategic skills. Much of the was confirmed as supporting of their customers better. IT; the decentralisation of semi- debate about what colleges industry in the application of skilled labour away from the But a lot of what is written should do blurs the distinction technology, and enabling advanced economies; the seems still rooted in the between meeting the immediate individuals to develop consequent need for higher-

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level skills to predominate in the apprenticeships. In addition, efficient delivery of training through up-skilling and re-skilling advanced economies. All some of the new proposals truly appropriate to industry based on best practice and a predictions point to the need for such as the University Technical needs whilst driving technical clear idea of emerging needs. the UK to make itself a high- College are also confusing and innovation and exploiting The technical college of the skills economy in which jobs will lack contemporary thinking. capabilities. future needs to grasp these only really be available in work Unfortunately, such initiatives fundamental changes: to see In parallel, colleges can re- demanding either a high level of force artificial relationships and itself as the engine for horizon- assure employers that their technical skill or a high level of structures that are not scanning, partnerships with STEM training provision is of the interpersonal skill – or both. necessarily effective nor do they employers, the incubator for appropriate quality and led by serve business and industry business innovation that is able Demand for flexible, work- industry needs. Quality needs. Moreover, these to deliver skills for tomorrow’s based approaches to training is assurance schemes, such as initiatives tend to be world on time and in the right increasing. This is aligned with NEF’s STEM Assured,10 that unsustainable: it is not training sectors. The wealth of the qualifications that recognise skills assure the use of integrated for the sake of training that is future depends on getting our and abilities – often acquired cross-curricular STEM required; it is training for a vocational STEM education and through experience but strategies in education and purpose. Policy and strategy has training right so that a high- substantiated through further training, enable stronger to address needs first: training skilled, high value-added study. In some economic collaboration between providers requirements will naturally economy can develop. sectors, real emphasis is placed and employers and the delivery follow. on updating these skills and of innovative and multi- References

linking them more clearly with Colleges will need to be disciplinary teaching and 1 Foster, A., Realising The Potential: A career progression. There is encouraged and supported (and learning. review of the future role of further growing demand for even rewarded) to think smartly education colleges, November 2005 Furthermore, there is professional recognition at about their future economic (http://www.bis.gov.uk/policies/further potentially a new role for -education-skills/reforms/future-role-fe- technician level, allied to needs in such areas as low advanced vocational education colleges ) achieving and sustaining the carbon technologies and and technical education centres. 2 Leitch Review of Skills: Skills in the UK: status of a leading-edge advanced manufacturing and to In the last Science in Parliament the longterm challenge, interim report, performer through first-class break away from the existing December 2005; and Prosperity for all magazine, Dr David Dent CPD. For example, developing a mould of embracing more and in the global economy - world class ‘portfolio based learning’ that more beauty and therapy salons commented on the gap in the skills, final report, December 2006, 11 http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov. embraces employability, and catering restaurants! innovation market. Here is an opportunity for forward thinking uk/+/http://www.hm- innovation and professional skills treasury.gov.uk/leitch_review_index.htm Today, there are a number of could be one of the proposed colleges to transform into contemporary approaches that 3 Wolf, A., How to shift power to approaches. power-houses of market-led re-position workplace learning learners- Encouraging FE dynamism, innovation, driving new replacing centralised procurement, The demand for changes in and occupational competence in prosperity and shaping new Learning and Skills Network, 2010 the way we train people is an effective way to be delivered technologies. This could take (https://crm.lsnlearning.org.uk/user/or der.aspx?code=100006) reflected in the deliberate in a just-in-time fashion at the the form of new polytechnic attempt to define career paths point of need. Further colleges that embrace applied 4 NEF, Freeing Colleges From Direct and associated training education colleges can do much and near market research. State Control, July 2010 requirements in a variety of to help themselves and become (http://www.neweng.org.uk/freefe ) sectors of the economy. For more agile and responsive, by TECHNICAL COLLEGES 5 Eversheds LLP, Preparing Colleges for example, in health care, adopting a strategic approach to OF THE FUTURE the Future, 157 Group, Jan 2010, (http://www.157group.co.uk/files/prep ‘Modernising Scientific Careers: improve performance in Developing a Technical aring_colleges_for_the_future.pdf ) 7 8 the UK Way Forward’, proposals planning and funding. NEF College of the Future will be are set out to introduce a new suggests a four-step approach to 6 UKCES, Towards Ambition 2020: Skills, different from what we have Jobs, Growth, October 2009, simplified healthcare science change management (NEF been used to: it will encompass (http://www.ukces.org.uk/upload/pdf/s 9 pathway and to develop new Diamond) : different access points to kills_jobs_growth_finalpdf_231009.pdf) training and education • Carry out an appraisal of learning and training, new 7 Department of Health, Modernising programmes to ensure that Scientific Careers: the UK Way internal capabilities, identifying learning spaces with a variety of tomorrow’s health care provision Forward, 26 February 2010 weaknesses, and more delivery channels and is as good as it can be and takes (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publications importantly strengths mechanisms, and take on andstatistics/Publications/PublicationsP full advantage of perpetual technical innovation and olicyAndGuidance/DH_113275 ) scientific discovery. • Map market trends, involving knowledge transfer capabilities. horizon scanning, to identify 8 NEF, Planning and Funding Cycles for In all this, the learning and the Further Education Sector, DEVELOPING A immediate and future training organisation will need to November 2009 FORWARD THINKING requirements for skills (http://www.neweng.org.uk/resources/ adapt and adopt new thinking to STRATEGY Planning&FundingCyclesforFESector.pdf) • Formulate a strategy to re- sensitise learners, employers Our vocational education and focus, re-shape and re-position and higher education to engage 9 http://www.thenef.co.uk/diamond.asp training strategies tend to focus the college, making clear the and develop new economically 10 http://www.nefassured.org/sector- on the ‘here and now’ and in purpose and focus of the new viable areas. availability many cases are backward organisation 11 Dent, D., A Gap in the Innovation Technical colleges can add looking to what has appeared to Market, Science in Parliament, Vol 67 • Implement the strategy and real value to technical work in the past, for instance No 3, Summer 2010 evaluate impact, so supporting developments and innovation –

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THE SCIENCE COUNCIL WORKING COLLECTIVELY TO ADVANCE UK SCIENCE

When launching the Science Council in 2000, Sir Gareth Roberts, the founding President, said: “There are many challenging issues facing the world in the 21st Century and the science community will need to work both collectively and collaboratively to tackle these: I believe the Science Council will play a central role in enabling this to happen.” The Science Council, which received its Royal Charter in 2003, has the twin aims of bringing together the learned societies and professional bodies in science and advancing professionalism. There are now more than 30 member organisations from across the spectrum of science – learned societies including chemistry, biology, physics, mathematics, psychology Diana Garnham, Chief Executive, and professional bodies from nuclear physics to soil science. The Science Council is funded The Science Council collectively by these organisations and by individual professional scientists through the Chartered Scientist scheme. COLLABORATION AND MULTI-DISCIPLINARITY It is important that the Science Council adds value to the work of its individual member bodies and does not get in the way of the valuable contribution they already make. Through its work on special projects, on science communication and outreach, careers and skills, science policy and advice and input to Government, the Science Council is now demonstrating the value of its role as an umbrella organisation in a sector that previously was often described as fragmented. This commitment to collaboration is illustrated by the understanding of science as a methodology rather than a discipline: the Science Council’s definition of science is that it is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding of the natural and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence. This also underpins the Science Council’s key strengths in its breadth across science and the application of science, and multi-disciplinarity.

As well as providing a forum in which member organisations can share information on their own activities, the Science Council can and does seek to establish shared positions on policy issues. While there are obviously challenges in trying to achieve a single position on all key issues, the organisation has developed ways of working through special interest groups and issue specific round table discussions that have enabled the identification of consensus issues and shared priorities for policy. The Science Council now has a broadly based policy statement that sets out its key areas of concern and policy priorities for science – from investment in research through to science education, careers advice, public engagement and science in government.1 ADVANCING PROFESSIONALISM IN SCIENCE In addition to its role as an umbrella organisation the Science Council promotes professionalism in science. In 2004 the designation of Chartered Scientist was introduced, modelled initially on the well established register of Chartered Engineers. Chartered Scientist – CSci – encapsulates the multi-disciplinary nature of 21st Century science in which scientists can often practise or specialise in different areas of science during their careers. CSci benchmarks standards and codes of practice across science disciplines and professions and recognises high levels of professionalism and competence in science; it also

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offers recognition and portability across employment sectors. The FUTURE MORPH designation is awarded to individuals through 21 Licensed Bodies As part of the Careers from who are also members of the Science Council. To remain on the Science project the register, Chartered Scientists must undertake Continuous Profession www.futuremorph.org web site Development and an annual monitoring process ensures that was launched in November Chartered Scientists operate to a high level of current competence. 2008. Rather than the more The register of Chartered Scientists has grown to 15,000 usual specific employment practising across all fields of science. CSci is gaining recognition as sector, qualification, or occupation the ‘gold standard’ across government, academia, industry and approaches, Future Morph brings all these together developing professional bodies. It has also been described as a badge: “CSci is content around themes such as climate change, the environment a way of saying to the world ‘I am a professional scientist and and health. The aim is to engage with young people and proud of it’ ”. encourage them to appreciate why they study science and maths in CHARTERED SCIENCE TEACHER school. Content is informed by audience need, and a wide range of stories, case studies, games and multi-media all show the Chartered Science Teacher – CSciTeach – is a specialist section breadth of career opportunities that are available from studying of the Chartered Scientist register developed in partnership with the STEM. Working as a portal, the web site links across to a variety of Association for Science Education. CSciTeach is set at the same high existing content and information providers (for example by level as CSci and recognises the combination of skills, knowledge, qualification, occupation, profession, discipline and employment understanding and expertise required by individuals involved in the sector) and makes it possible for young people, and those who practice and advancement of science teaching and learning. advise them, to access information more easily. Alongside this, the Science Council, working with Engineering UK, is developing greater PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TRUST awareness of good practice in careers IAG by providing advice and Through a number of different projects and activities the Science support for science and engineering institutions that produce more Council is increasing the visibility of professionals in science and is sector specific careers information. also raising awareness of the contribution they make to science and SCIENCE IN HEALTH society. These aims are important if we are to encourage people to enter the profession and to achieve both the level of knowledge, The Science in Health Group and the high standards of practice that will serve to underpin public is one of the Science Council’s trust and confidence in science and the application of science. special interest groups and comprises a panel of experts The Science Council is now moving forward with the from within and beyond the development of a professional register for science technicians and Science Council member bodies, for graduate scientists, establishing at long last a progressive extending outside beyond professional pathway appropriate for the practice of science in biological and medical sciences. In January 2008 the Group today’s world. published a report – Integration and Implementation of Diagnostic UK SCIENCE EDUCATION AND SKILLS – CAREERS Technologies in Healthcare, which explored the opportunities for FROM SCIENCE improving diagnostics – from the point of testing to the interpretation of results – taking account of the molecular The Science Council revolution, automation and the application of informatics. For the believes it is essential past 18 months the group has been working on a report looking that the UK invests in into the future careers opportunities in health science which it science, technology, hopes to publish by the end of the year. engineering and mathematics education and skills at all levels to 1 The Science Council’s Priorities for UK Science and Innovation Policy 2010 – 2015 create the highly skilled workforce that will be essential to a high can be found on the web site at added value economy and UK competitiveness. The science http://www.sciencecouncil.org/sites/default/files/WebfinalSciencePolicy.pdf community itself has long recognised the need to attract young people into science and to raise awareness of the career opportunities arising from the study of STEM subjects. One of the leading projects for the Science Council works towards providing better STEM careers information for school students, science teachers, careers advisers and parents. Careers from Science is a collaborative project led by the Science Council which is addressing this need and now works with more than 65 partner organisations across STEM including learned societies and professional For more information about the Science Council and the work of its organisations, government departments, charities, industry sectors member bodies go to www.sciencecouncil.org and for Chartered and individual businesses. Scientist to http://www.charteredscientist.org/about/index.html

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SOUND ANALYTICAL MEASUREMENT FOR A SAFE, SOLVENT UK

privatisation of the Laboratory of specific public functions. independently of businesses and the Government Chemist. As a enforcement authorities. The Let me turn now to those public authority in a corporate referee role is the salient feature functions. While a ‘theory of laboratory, the Government of the Government Chemist’s everything’ may be able to Chemist has benefited from statutory function, which simplify the way we appreciate new networks, strategic currently derives from seven the physical world as a whole, investment and an increasingly Parliamentary acts in all. many of the practical problems global purview. From a standing of day-to-day living remain Prior to enforcement action start 14 years ago, LGC – as the intractably complex. For against a business, officials have laboratory was renamed on Dr Derek Craston example, as an ever-increasing powers to take formal samples, privatisation – has grown to Government Chemist variety of food products appears which they are typically required become a thriving international on the supermarket shelves, to divide into three portions. The science company which recently safety, nutrition and consumer business, which may analyse changed hands for £257 million. choice are paramount; we are one of the portions, sometimes Whereas the laboratory coming to expect that any reaches conclusions at variance employed only 270 around that required packaging will be both with those of the Public Analyst. time, I can now draw on the When George Phillips became, clean and green; and the The Government Chemist may expertise of a multi faceted in effect, the first Government environment should be then be required to analyse a enterprise with 1400 staff. Over Chemist, appointed to help safeguarded from poorly further portion. When a formal the summer, I took on a new protect Her Majesty Queen understood chemical and sample is received, my staff LGC Science and Technology Victoria’s excise revenue in biochemical cocktails. These develop a case-specific work divisional directorship as a way 1842, the strange new world circumstances pose increasingly plan to tackle the main areas of of streamlining input to core of the rare earth elements complex analytical requirements, contention and uncertainty. Government Chemist was unfolding, while organic while global supply chains make Referee analysis usually prompts responsibilities while maintaining chemistry was still in its teens it harder to predict the nature of tactical research on related strategic links with the wider (Wöhler having synthesised chemical risks. sample types and potential genomics, forensics and urea in 1828). I wonder what measurement methods. It also standard reference materials Local authorities are at the my predecessor George would entails advice from a businesses that have grown up forefront of efforts to enforce risk make of today’s challenges, professional statistician and within the company. management legislation. Three and a Government Chemist exploits an array of state-of-the- pillars of the consumer remit that has expanded to In operational terms, the art LGC instrumentation, ranging protection law they uphold are focus on easing business growth of LGC means that from advanced mass the Food Safety Act 1990, the burdens while safeguarding public functions ascribed directly spectrometers to DNA-based Agriculture Act 1970 and the public health and consumer to the Government Chemist technologies. I discuss the Medicines Act 1968. A network choice. He might observe that now represent a relatively small results with experts and senior of Public Analysts (Official my staff still rely on applying part of the laboratory’s portfolio. staff, and sign the certificate of Control Laboratories) provides the best practical methods of However, the company’s new analysis only when I am satisfied valuable scientific support as the measurement to solve management are cognizant of with the quality of the evidence front line of regulatory complex, unpredictable our history, and the sense of presented. enforcement. But because public problems. identity and purpose that the safety and wellbeing are at stake, The particular virtue of this Government Chemist role The need for cutting edge these acts enshrine an additional statutory safeguard lies in its all- continues to engender. LGC’s science and technology has so safeguard – the right of appeal round economy. A Government overarching value statement far been served well by another to a scientific referee, the Chemist opinion can be ‘Science for a safer world’ significant change – the 1996 Government Chemist, who acts obtained without recourse to the succinctly embraces my more

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law courts – or, if a judge orders Aflatoxins are genotoxic carcinogens, implicated mainly in liver cancer, produced by Aspergillus the referral, can be adduced to moulds. Imported consignments of fresh foods, which may have been stored in warm, moist minimise the trial costs. If the conditions, can be susceptible to contamination. UK port health authorities (PHAs) conduct official appeal succeeds, business controls to check on compliance with legal concentration limits, but aflatoxin contamination is operators are spared usually patchy and sporadic. Government Chemist staff have worked with PHAs to validate an unnecessary compliance costs optimised sampling protocol that is protective of consumers and fair to traders. and fines, while regulators and the public they represent benefit In most recent cases, the Government Chemist conclusions confirmed those of the Public Analyst. When the science points to a non-compliance, the risk that the consignment poses to the public from a streamlined means of may be eliminated by requiring re-export. In 2008-09, it is estimated that over 200 tonnes of boosting confidence that only products contaminated with aflatoxins were prevented from entering the UK by direct action of the safe and appropriate products Government Chemist, as well as many more by PHAs and their Public Analysts. Of course, the are available for sale. business under investigation would prefer to be acquitted, but an adverse expert opinion may be a In recent years, most of the blessing in disguise – hard evidence can curtail costly legal proceedings, and forestall an expensive samples referred to me have recall of the contaminated product from the supermarket shelves. Moreover, opportunities for competitive ways of supplying similar products can only be enhanced. been of food or animal feed – a reflection of the variety, department, with the resources approaches will be of concern in Meanwhile, a private sector complexity and rate of change in to tackle just about any sample the months ahead. LGC continues to benefit my these sectors. For instance, the that the many and varied organs work through investment in risk of aflatoxins occurring in Within a privatised LGC, the of government had cause to cutting-edge technology, imported food products has authority of the Government present for analysis. This economies of scale and a global been a persistent issue (see Chemist rests on sound flexibility lives on in a successful perspective. In the UK, I believe inset). Other cases have governance. The National LGC, but more particularly we rightly stake our future on included the nutrient content of Measurement Office (NMO) through the wider function of innovation, but securing animal feed, food choking funds the programme of work the Government Chemist as ‘a prosperity on this basis means hazards, the authenticity of spirit supporting my public functions, source of advice for HM managing risk effectively. Thus drinks and fruit products, and in so doing is advised by an Government and the wider the Government Chemist allergens, banned antibiotics and independent expert working analytical community on the functions as a scientific referee animal remains in organic cattle group representing both public analytical chemistry implications and a voice for effective, food. and business interests. Last year on matters of policy and of evidence-based regulation are an independent audit concluded Perhaps it is to the credit of standards and of regulations’1. increasingly needed to protect that the Government Chemist effective local regulation that the public and provide a level I fulfil this wider advisory function is highly regarded, formal samples are not analysed playing field for business. function by responding to delivers excellence, and fulfils more frequently. And as only a government requirements, the need for an independent proportion are escalated to the bringing together public and and impartial service; 1 Government Chemist Agreement Government Chemist, my staff between the Secretary of State for private sector scientists with a maintaining the historical ties can commit to the samples they Business, Innovation and Skills and LGC common interest in meeting with LGC has worked well, and Limited do receive with an intensity regulatory requirements, and should continue to do so. which often spins off innovation 2 Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 working to ensure that analytical concerning the Registration, Evaluation, such as more powerful and My work depends heavily on science adds value to emerging Authorisation and Restriction of flexible methods of advice and resources available Chemicals measures. For example, my staff measurement. The fruits of this through complementary NMO- recently issued a set of labour are disseminated to all funded projects at LGC. These questions and answers on the www.governmentchemist.org.uk interested parties, for example at share in the vision of a universal measurement implications of a spring conference which is chemical and biological For more information on the REACH 2, designed to help expanding rapidly through measurement system needed to Government Chemist, email industry identify practical collaboration with leading underpin free and fair global [email protected], approaches and avoid the research associations and the trade, rationalise scientific or telephone 020 8943 7403. urgency premiums that could Food Standards Agency. endeavour and create the arise if essential analytical work Queens Road Exchanges with countries such conditions for long-term is put off until the last moment. Teddington as India, China and Korea help prosperity. They contribute to Here, as elsewhere across Middlesex to share best practice worldwide. grand challenges ranging from chemical and environmental TW11 0LY advanced diagnostics and Historically, the Laboratory of regulation, the cost-effective co- www.lgc.co.uk therapies to renewable fuels. the Government Chemist was a ordination of sound scientific free-standing central measurement and modelling

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A VOLUNTARY APPROACH TO FOOD SAFETY

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) is a membership organisation and professional body whose main aims are focused around the advancement of food science and technology.

As with many membership applicability to organisations and technology or related subjects organisations, our activities are individuals working in the food through further or higher focused on sharing and sector. We believe our education are falling well short of disseminating knowledge, in our membership accreditation levels the numbers needed by the case based broadly around food and registers can therefore be sector. There are many reasons science and technology and used to directly support and for this – some understandable Jon Poole related issues – both within the encourage best-practice in the but many based on Institute of Food Science and Technology scientific and industrial food sector. misunderstandings over the communities and to the wider career paths available. There It is around the assessment community. Another important are, however, many other and maintenance of individuals’ activity for IFST is concerned avenues by which people find professional skills, knowledge with setting and upholding their way into food science and and experience that IFST is standards of competence and technology-based roles other currently focusing its attentions. integrity within the profession. than through academic paths. As an independent charity our Our remit of food science objects clearly require us to With a shortfall in the and technology is based on focus on providing public benefit. numbers of food science and applied sciences and is One of the most effective ways technology graduates entering something we see as one of our in which we believe we can the sector, food businesses need great benefits and strengths. achieve this is by encouraging to focus on other ways to attract, Supporting all aspects of food those working in the sector to develop and promote individuals science and technology means strive to achieve the highest who don’t have food science- engaging professionals who levels of professionalism – based degree qualifications. cross-cut many other pure whether they are researching One avenue has been the sciences and disciplines. This and developing novel foods; recruitment of more general brings with it two distinct auditing food processing science graduates and then to advantages: standards within a food cross-train them with the processing plant; processing and necessary food science Firstly, our qualifications, packaging own-grown produce background. Another option is awards and levels of on a farm or displaying food on to develop employees with membership recognise the mix market shelves. Notwithstanding lower academic qualifications, of sciences that make up the a minority of operators intent on providing them with workplace many different applications breaking the law, higher levels of training and development, within the food sector – from professionalism in the sector will sending them on technical bio-engineering and crop generally lead to better food courses and programmes and science, through to food safety safety for the general public. encouraging them to learn and sensory sciences. This through experience. The last eclectic mix helps to attract ACADEMIC VS. NON- two options of providing the members from a broad range of ACADEMIC specific skills and knowledge in- scientific backgrounds. We recognise that house is only really a viable Secondly and most professionalism does not need option for larger businesses with importantly, as our qualifications to be purely about academic the resources to do so. and professional registers have qualifications. As with many There are some other been developed very specifically science degree courses, potential disadvantages in this for the application of food numbers of students interested type of career development science, they have direct in pursuing food science, food

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path. From an employer’s point to at least maintain their After just over three years of CHANGING EMPHASIS of view it can be more difficult to professional standards and operating, most of the UK’s For IFST and many other determine whether individuals currency of knowledge. leading retailers and food service similar bodies membership is have the appropriate level of Registrants are also required to providers recognise and support and always will be a skills and knowledge relating to sign up to a code of professional SALSA thereby demonstrating fundamental part of our the roles they are required to conduct which carries with it the that voluntary codes can deliver activities. It is, after all, through fulfil. When recruiting, individuals power to discipline individuals the necessary standards needed the generosity of our volunteer who have built up their C.V. who fail to comply with the to ensure the supply of safe members that we are able to based on a variety of roles and code. food to the consumer. operate at all. Volunteers deliver experiences can also prove Furthermore, where a register BIG SOCIETY our governance, participate on difficult to assess. From the food defines different levels of our advisory and technical professional’s viewpoint, they Building on the success of professional attainment and committee structures but, most may find it difficult to the SALSA register IFST is now experience, individuals may importantly, they also form the demonstrate they meet the developing a more far-reaching choose to use the different basis of our valuable required standards for a role in ‘Food Safety Professional levels of the register as a independent knowledge base. food science and technology Register’ aimed at all food and benchmark for their professional However, the traditional and may also lack the drink producers and outlets. We development and career – they membership model operated by confidence that they are capable. would like to think of this as an may even target themselves to example of the Government’s many institutes is changing and strive towards higher levels PROFESSIONAL Big Society in action whereby will need to continue to change within the register as an STANDARDS IFST, a registered charity is to cater for very different acknowledgement of their environments in which we find Providing sector-recognised encouraging industry to sign up standing and achievements. ourselves operating. registers, encouraging to a voluntary code of conduct appropriate levels of Within the food and drink with the aim of delivering safe In the past, the main activity membership within IFST or sector, where high levels of and nutritious food for public for institutes and other bodies encouraging food professionals (often scientific) knowledge and benefit. For this to be similar to ours has been focused to apply for Chartered Scientist skills are required by key roles successful, though, the scheme around the sharing of can be an effective way of within most organisations will need to gain support and knowledge in the form of setting and encouraging high relating to food safety, these momentum from all seminars, lectures and events. standards in food safety. By drivers can prove valuable ways stakeholders, such that Whilst these still have an signing up to a specialist register, of raising overall professionalism. employers actively register their important part to play there are key food safety professionals. food professionals are TRACK RECORD now other, sometimes more encouraged to develop their Ideally, then, employers will immediate and cost effective, careers based on three IFST already has experience actively seek out and recruit ways in which individuals can important drivers: in operating professional those who are registered at an share knowledge. Web-based registers within the food sector. appropriate level and employees knowledge hubs and forums can Firstly, to apply to for a One particularly successful will see registration as a provide specialist information qualification or to join a relevant register is linked to the Safe and necessary career development literally at people’s fingertips. register, candidates need to Local Supplier Approval (SALSA) and promotional tool. Much of this information is still prove an appropriate level of scheme, a scheme supported Government support will clearly being provided by professional skills, knowledge and experience. by the Food Standards Agency be critical to its success as well. membership bodies but in Just the application process and DEFRA. much less resource-intensive alone helps to raise an We recognise there will ways. individual’s awareness of the IFST’s role is to accredit and always be the need for tight standards required of them. maintain the register of the food control and enforcement within This change in emphasis Once registered, following a auditors and mentors to ensure certain high risk situations and enables bodies like the IFST to rigorous assessment process, they have the required businesses. However, given the look at new and more direct candidates will have confirmation professional skills and ever increasing pressures on ways in which we can deliver and therefore the confidence experience to operate as both the FSA and Environmental our objects and so deliver that they meet a set of auditors of SALSA suppliers. Health Officers working through valuable public benefit. Many of professionally recognised and Through this voluntary scheme, local authorities, trying to deliver our volunteer members accredited standards. consumers can be assured that within ever tighter budgetary continue to be actively involved micro and small-sized local food constraints, some form of on behalf of the Institute, freely Secondly, to maintain their and drink producers, registered voluntary code seems a very giving of their time and position on a professional through SALSA, meet minimum viable and cost-effective second experience in new ways, helping register, registrants are obliged to levels of food safety and option. us to promote and operate our maintain a log of their continuing hygiene. registers and CPD schemes. professional development (CPD) thereby encouraging individuals

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INNOVATION TO SAVE LIVES IN ROTORCRAFT OVER AFGHANISTAN Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)

The Defence Science and this innovative approach completed, it is anticipated that Technology Laboratory (Dstl), in provides a virtual 3D the technology will be deployed conjunction with industry representation of the landing to front-line helicopters in The ability to penetrate the partners, has developed the zone that stays fixed to the earth Afghanistan. Dstl built a large- dust and allow pilots to see world’s first application and as the pilot approaches. scale dust chamber on their through dust clouds is one of demonstration of a technology 7,000 acre range at Porton With this helmet-presented the areas for future designed to help helicopter Down to assess sensor innovation, the pilot views all the development. The ground- pilots land more safely and technology which might be able relevant information needed to breaking work has earned the efficiently in Afghanistan. Air to see through the dust and judge the height, speed and drift team a nomination for a Civil and Weapons Systems advise aircrew whether there are to replace the real-world cues Service award, designed to Department of the Dstl, part of unseen obstructions. This obscured by dust. The display recognise the very best practice the Ministry of Defence (MOD), innovative, temporary test facility can be also be fitted to night across the civil service. The has led the technical used an inflatable hangar. vision goggles to provide a night team’s research has been development of a pioneering Typical landing site obstructions time capability. As a result, 3D recognised as among the most approach to the problem of a were put inside the chamber conformal symbology developed novel work carried out in Britain phenomenon known as and it was filled with known by Ferranti Technologies was this year as low visibility landing ‘helicopter brownout’. Helicopter concentrations of commercially- selected as the most promising team appeared on the shortlist brownout occurs when a pilot sourced dust specifically chosen short-term solution to address for the innovation award. loses visual references due to for its similar characteristics to the specific problem in dust or sand re-circulating during Afghan soil. The team invited For more information contact Afghanistan. The Dstl/industry take-off or landing, which is a eight different companies to the Dstl press office on 01980 team has conducted flight trials major problem in desert demonstrate the performance of 658088, 07766 134768, that demonstrated the feasibility conditions. This can present their equipment in the facility. [email protected]. of 3D conformal symbology in a potentially life-threatening issues Lynx helicopter from the Army when performing operational Air Corp Development and Trials duties on the battlefield with (D&T) Squadron based at helicopters. Middle Wallop in Hampshire. Working in conjunction with These showed that the system Agusta Westland, Dstl analysed worked in a real helicopter. the incidents to understand The team, comprising what had happened and identify members of Dstl, Ferranti and the causal factors. Over a six Agusta Westland, also conducted month period scientists a further simulator trial using conducted a rapid technology front-line Merlin helicopter crews assessment of as many available to refine the solution and solutions as possible. This conduct a large number of included a simulator trial of one helicopter take-offs and landings of the most promising to show that the system did technologies, 3D conformal indeed make these safer. Once symbology. Presented on a follow-on development and small helmet-mounted display, production work has been

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BIOREFINING : PREPARING FOR THE PERFECT STORM

With news from Russia that grain harvests may be some 30% lower than expected due to drought and an associated export ban on cereals likely, we seem a step closer to Professor Sir John Beddington’s perfect storm of global food, fuel and water shortages by 2030.

As plant scientists are the chemical and fuel industries. the polymerized matrix they mobilized to meet the need to be extracted from. This is the world of challenges of increasing crop Unlocking these sugars from biorefining, where biomass is production, we are constantly plant cell walls (lignocellulose) Professor Robert Edwards, Chief used as an alternative to oil to faced with the debate over food using sustainable biological Scientist, The Food and provide us with the liquid fuels Environment Research Agency. Vs. fuel. In terms of energy, we processing is currently the and chemicals we need to know we have to move from a subject of multi billion dollar operate a modern society. world running on the investments in the private and Furthermore it is not a new photosynthetic products of public sectors around the word. vision. In the 1930s agricultural ancient sunlight to one where As an alternative, chemical chemists fearful of our growing we are part of the ambient processing of lignocellulose is dependence on fossil fuels had carbon cycle. We also know that possible, though the plant already proposed the large scale unless your country is blessed required is expensive, energy use of plants as alternative with spare growing capacity, that intensive and unlikely to be chemical feed-stocks and in the current agronomic model, deployed at multiple small sites. termed the science ‘chemurgy’. biofuel crops are bound to Now some 70 years later we TRANSPORTATION compete with food production. have made significant progress Unlike crude oil, in terms of But what if we could efficiently in realising their ambitions for energy ‘density’ straw is bulky use crops for both food and chemurgy, though in terms of and energetically expensive to non-food uses? competing with the near atom transport. It therefore makes Consider this scenario. As the efficiencies of chemical refining sense to process the biomass to last of the grain trucks depart we still have a long way to go to a more energy intensive form our farms for the granaries the make biorefining a commercially prior to shipment from its site of business of the secondary sustainable industry. production; hence the harvest begins with the residual By examining the scenario bioprocessing of the straw to a straw in the form of pellets fed above and the proposed use of more easily shippable liquid into silos and wetted with water wheat straw as a chemical form on site. Ultimately it may containing degrading enzymes. feedstock we can identify some be possible to both digest and After a week, the syrupy liquid of these challenges. ferment plant material in a extract, full of sugars, is pumped single process, though that into waiting tankers and the THE STARTING would require the generation of solid residue retained by the MATERIAL effectively novel microbes farmer for soil conditioning or While the straw is rich in through techniques such as energy production by sugars, their ability to be synthetic biology. For the combustion. Meanwhile the released into forms which can purposes of the scenario liquid extract is fermented into a be usefully fermented is limited presented here it is instead range of simple precursor by other chemical constituents proposed that the outputs of chemicals at regional centres present and the complexity of primary processing on the farm prior to national distribution to

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would be the nutrients required This is where the ability to ‘Integrated Biorefining Research new traits for feed-stock use in for secondary fermentation at a engineer metabolic pathways in and Technology Club’ (IBTI), in a biorefining, while its analytical regional hub. microbes to produce chemicals partnership with UK-based services would help develop which are entry points into industries. At the regional level, efficient processing technologies AGRICULTURAL existing chemical processes is biorefining has the capability of for the wide diversity of plant SUSTAINABILITY vital. addressing the local needs of materials used by the food Though straw is of secondary farmers and food processors industry. The agency would also importance to grain, it still has a By identifying these with the ability to fine tune the be able to provide expertise in great value to agronomy and challenges we can immediately processes to the needs of the environmental impacts of this some of its carbon and nutrient see that the science of available biomass or waste new industry. Whatever the value needs to be retained on biorefining requires inputs from stream. inputs, importantly in a rapidly the farm. In effect, crop the public and private sectors at changing world organisations utilisation in countries like the levels ranging from the Working at both the national such as Fera need to be able to UK is already very efficient and international to regional. At the and regional level, the Food and flexibly partner with Universities diverting biomass for industrial higher level, biorefining needs Environment Research Agency and industry to develop new processing would need some concerted science and (Fera) has identified biorefining technologies such as biorefining careful environmental evaluation. technology programmes as a key area for development which address national needs in integrating the disciplines of in partnership with public and food security and environmental BIOREFINED PRODUCTS plant breeding, microbiology, private sectors and one which sustainability as we draw closer The outputs of biorefining enzymology and chemical complements its existing science to the storm ahead. need to be compatible with the engineering. In the UK this level capability. For example, its work needs of the chemical industries of organisation is provided with seed breeders could be which have been built up through the BBSRC’s usefully developed to look at around oil refining for decades.

RUSSIA: MODERNISATION THROUGH SCIENCE AND INNOVATION

Dr. Julia Knights, Russia is taking many positive steps efficiency, medical and First Secretary, Science towards modernising its innovation information technology (including supercomputers). and Innovation (S&I), infrastructure and strong opportunities for British Embassy, Moscow A £3.23 billion energy UK industry, consultancy and research efficient innovation city named collaborations exist. "Skolkovo" dubbed "Russia’s Silicon Valley" by the Russian This year the UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN), funded media, will act as a testing jointly by FCO and BIS with a remit to cover international science ground for new economic and innovation, set up a new section within the British Embassy in policies to stimulate Moscow to capitalise on recent opportunities for the UK in research commercialisation of scientific and industry collaboration with Russia. research through the President Medvedev’s Commission of “Modernisation and Commission’s five themes. Technological Development of Russia’s Economy” set up in May International architects have provides one of the major opportunities for the UK. £211 million is been invited to design for the available this year for technological breakthroughs in five themes: masterplan project worth over energy efficiency, nuclear, space and communications, energy £90 million covering 380 ha of

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greenfield on the outskirts of spent over the next three years poor IP protection, weak law Russia’s key science cities. We Moscow.. And up to three major on the new Vostochny enforcement and trained are doing this through a raft of international partners for each of Cosmodrome in the Amur expertise. Most of the civilian activities including science the five themes are being Region, to take on some R&D research budget is spent missions, innovation round invited to set up joint R&D satellite launch duties from the on applied research and links tables, Science Cafes and programmes with Skolkovo’s existing Baikonur Cosmodrome between research and industry business breakfasts throughout university partners as well as in Kazakstan. £370 million will need to be strengthened. Russia showcasing the UK’s business incubation and be spent over nine years on expertise of research to President Medvedev aims to innovation ecosystem support. developing a nuclear-powered commercialisation. tackle all these challenges MIT, Boeing, Google, Microsoft spaceship that will fly to Mars. A through his Modernisation The first business breakfast and Intel have all shown new generation Angara rocket is Commission and in his will focus on energy efficiency to interest. Both S&I and UKTi due to be tested in 2013. And landmark “Forward Russia” coincide with the Nano have made UK business aware “Glonass” a navigation system to article in September 2009 he Knowledge Transfer Network of these opportunities and the rival the US’s GPS is being instilled some confidence in delegation of clean tech first energy efficiency project developed as one of four space businesses with his words “We companies attending the under negotiation is between projects funded under President have to create a modern Rusnano Forum in Moscow in the Moscow Institute of Steel Medvedev’s Commission. efficient judiciary, acting in November. The first Science and Alloys (MISA) and the UK’s UK researchers also have accordance with new legislation Cafe will be held during Moscow Cambridge University. much to gain from Russia’s on the judicial system and Science Festival this October on Investment in National increasing international based on contemporary legal the UK’s and Russia’s joint applied science projects offers engagement. This summer for principles”. contributions to the Linear another opportunity for the UK. example, Russia’s Ministry of Collider. Although the volume of Up to seven designated National Education and Science (MES) research publications has The S&I section is also Research Centres are being announced a call for £254 weakened considerably in recent working to highlight the UK’s created of which the Kurchatov million open to the international years (29,000 papers in 1994 science offer through bilateral Institute (KI), on the outskirts of science community for joint vs 27,600 in 2008)*, Russia agreements including a “Year of Moscow, famous as the research projects lasting three certainly has no shortage of Space Science” in 2011 as a brainchild of the Tokomak, is years with Russian science intellect, remaining notable in follow up to the UK Russia MOU one. Boasting a new state of groups. Involvement in Nuclear Physics, Particle and on Space Science which was the art “Nano Bio Info Cognitive” international large science Fields and Multidisciplinary signed in July between the UK Centre, a new synchrotron facilities is also a reason for UK Physics representing 10.2%, Space Agency and the Russian radiation centre with over 30 researchers to have an interest 9.9% and 8.0% of World Federal Space Agency, beamlines, a neutron research in Russia. The largest financial output. Further opportunities for Roscosmos. This will also reactor for nuclear and solid contributor (£210 million) to the UK researchers to collaborate in coincide with the celebrations of state physics research and a International Thermonuclear joint research can also be found the 50th anniversary of 600 TB supercomputer, its Experimental Reactor (ITER) in in areas where Russia maintains Gagarin’s heroic space flight. director Professor Kovalchuk Hungary, Russia is also a strong its strength including welcomes further collaboration contributor to the European * Thomson Reuters. (2010). in Petroleum Engineering with UK researchers. ExFel project in Hamburg. Global Research Report – Russia (8.9%) and Geochemistry and Whilst around 700 Russian – Research and collaboration in Opportunities for Geophysics (7.9%)*. Key engineers and researchers work the new geography of science collaboration in applied growth areas between 2004- on the Large Hadron Collider at Nanotechnology also exist 2008 which reflect opportunities CERN in Geneva, Russia also through £1.41 billion dedicated for UK researchers include participates in The European for applied nanotechnology over Neuroscience and Behaviour, Synchrotron Radiation Facility 5 years and a “National Environment Ecology, Clinical (ESRF) and the Facility for Nanotechnology Network” Medical and Geosciences*. Antiproton and Ion Research (NNN) encompassing leading (FAIR). MES has requested to The UK is in a strong position Russian universities and research become an Associate Member to forge new and enhance centres. The KI will co-ordinate of EU Framework Programme 7 existing collaborations and their scientific research and which if successful would also industry links in all of President To find out more about the work Rusnano (the Russian involve a substantial financial Medvedev’s five Modernisation of the S&I section in Moscow, Nanotechnology Corporation) contribution from Russia. Commission themes. With that please visit us at will take the nano products to in mind our Science and http://ukinrussia.fco.gov.uk/en/a market. Challenges for any UK Innovation (S&I) section in bout-us/working-with-russia/004 business or researcher do of Space industry opportunities Moscow is working to identify -embassy-departments/science- course exist, not least red tape, exist too. £520 million will be such opportunities within technology

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TOWARDS IMPROVED RESERVOIR SAFETY

The floods in 2007 and 2008 highlighted the vulnerability of some UK infrastructure, such as electrical distribution centres and water treatment works, to inundation and failure. There were concerns that Climate Change could make such floods more common. The Pitt Review in 2008 suggested such works be given greater security against these events.

The near failure of Ulley dam supervision and periodic been pre-decided. One key in 2007, with approx £10 million inspection by specialist change included the option of Dr Peter J Mason Technical Director, International of consequential costs, Engineers selected by peer reducing the size of storage to Dams & Hydropower, MWH Ltd, highlighted the damage potential interview and re-assessed and which the Act would apply from Terriers House, 201 Amersham that could result from a UK dam certified every 5 years. the current 25,000 cubic metres. Road High Wycombe, Bucks, HP13 5AJ and reservoir failure. The changes to the A new threshold of 10,000 cubic Consequently the Pitt Review Reservoirs Act are enshrined in metres is suggested, though not also recommended changes to the Flood and Water yet prescribed. This would more the UK Reservoirs (1975) Act. Management Act 2010, which than double the number of The 1975 Act was built on the was pushed through Parliament reservoirs to which the Act would foundations of the 1930 in the final days of the last apply in England in Wales. Reservoirs Acts but was not fully administration. Consultation To offset this increase in implemented until 1986/87. occurred although many industry numbers it is suggested that The 1975 Act relies on reservoir participants felt that much had “low risk” (or more accurately low hazard) reservoirs be taken out of an active monitoring regime, although they would remain listed. To assist in this assessment government-funded, “broad brush” Reservoir Inundation Mapping (RIM) has now been completed for over 2,000 UK Reservoirs at a cost of £2 million. Emergency action plans for the 100 highest hazard reservoirs will also be prepared with £1.25 million of Government funding. Owners will be expected to fund action plans for the remainder, which is causing some resentment in the industry, especially amongst fishing clubs and recreational or ornamental lakes where available revenue is limited or non- existent. The proposal that reservoir owners fund future Environment Agency reservoir- related costs has also surprised and alarmed many.

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The Pitt Review also recommended future reservoir safety be “risk based” but two problems have emerged. One is mixed legal messages and requirements. The emergency evacuation of a reservoir requires the reliable operation of low level outlet valves. Annual, or ideally three monthly, testing is needed to avoid possible seizure. Inspecting Engineers may stipulate this in their reports with ultimate enforcement of such requirements by the Environment Agency (EA) in its role as Enforcement Authority under the Act. However the EA have also issued a recent protocol, itself a legal requirement, which prevents this being done without costly and extensive risk analysis in terms of effects on downstream flora, fauna and water quality. While laudable there is little doubt that assessing reservoir water level this will put the safety of some during flood and hence likely of our reservoirs at risk by flood magnitude. The Flood discouraging routine outlet Estimation Handbook (FEH) testing. introduced in 1999 was found to be deeply flawed when applied The second problem relates to estimating the long period to assessing risk of dam failure. rainfalls required for reservoir While various methods exist, all safety purposes. Recent work by ultimately rely on judgement. CEH, Wallingford has redressed Probable risk cannot be the matter but the results are not assessed to the level of accuracy available in an industry usable often implied and there is much form. It would seem that the EA controversy among practitioners only fund “research” and not the about the viability of current implementation tools needed to methods. However all such turn such research into practice. methods rely on accurately

This policy will also present problems if and when the new Act is implemented and when the many guides to the existing Act and associated practices need to be revised and re- written. Dr Peter J Mason is currently It took 12 years to fully Chairman of the British Dam implement the 1975 Act. It is to Society, Chairman of the Inst of be hoped that sufficient time will Civil Engineers’ Reservoir Safety also be taken to implement the Advisory Group, Technical new Act to ensure that it is Director for International Dams & workable. Hydropower at MWH Ltd and Director of Damsolve Ltd.

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FOOD SECURITY: WHY PLANT HEALTH MATTERS

Over the last 30 to 40 years spreading. In Kenya, wheat losses Management of pests and there has been chronic under- due to Ug99 are over 70 per diseases is heavily dependent on investment in agriculture at all cent of total production in some early detection so that eradication levels. Development aid to areas. Production losses have can be attempted and, if this is agriculture has declined and led to higher prices in local not possible, management often in-country policies do not markets with a resulting impact practices can be established. Just support the sector. Low crop on low income families and an as there are few systems in place yields are common in many increase in food insecurity. to gather data on pest losses, so developing countries. Imagine what will happen as it systems for effective detection, spreads into the high-yielding identification and monitoring are Improved productivity is vital production systems of South Asia not in place, and in some cases Dr Julie Flood to reducing rural poverty and and beyond. information about new threats CABI increasing food security. Scientists are ignored by the authorities. throughout the world are working Another example of a disease on developing new crop varieties, that has had a significant impact With the right knowledge we improving land use, and is Coffee Wilt disease, which could identify pests and diseases Rapid food price rises enhancing soil fertility and water attacks coffee species in Central earlier, slow down their spread management. This work is and Eastern Africa. Whilst coffee and provide the correct have highlighted serious important, but there is also a way is not a staple food crop, its treatments before yields are concerns about food that we can feed millions more production has indirect significantly affected. For every 1 security globally and people right now, without the implications for food security per cent reduction in crop losses, need for extra land, water, through decreasing income we could potentially feed up to have had a huge impact fertilisers, or chemicals – and security. Coffee Wilt disease kills 25 million more people. on achieving Millennium that’s by making sure that we coffee bushes so that, very soon So how do we get that lose less of what we already after its detection, farmers Development Goal 1. knowledge? A solution will be to grow. experience a complete loss of develop better systems for income from coffee. A 77 per Feeding a predicted Currently, it is estimated that monitoring and detection. In cent loss in yield of robusta world population of 9.5 one third to one half of all food order to do that we need to coffee at the national level in produced is lost from ‘field to make the general public more billion in 2050 when Uganda was reported in 2009. there are an estimated 1 fork’. This is due to pre- and post- aware of the issues involved, as harvest losses as well as waste in Trans-boundary pests and well as governments and aid billion still going hungry the retail sector and at the disease such as these are serious agencies. But with the today will be a consumer’s table. Quantitative threats to food security. They appropriate support, a challenge requiring the data on crop losses is very jeopardise the livelihoods of “knowledge bank” covering all limited, but estimates of 30 to millions, and therefore national major food and cash crops could application of the best 40 per cent are common in economies and political security be up and running within three scientific techniques as scientific literature. A large too. Ug99 is also a threat to years. Indeed, CABI has already well as the development proportion of this is due to pests wheat production worldwide – made a start on developing a of new approaches. and diseases. And with climate and yet few people outside the prototype that could be delivering change, trade flows, and specialist scientific community useful data on a few key crops population movement all are aware of it. There is a need within a year. Using this in increasing, the rate at which for increased awareness about conjunction with the CABI-led these plant health problems arise plant health issues by the public, Plant Health Clinics, which and spread is also multiplying. by policy-makers, and by provide advisory services to the decision-makers who should be hardest to reach smallholder For example, the wheat rust aware of the impact on food farmers, we will have the Ug 99, which was discovered in security and should be beginnings of a field-based early Uganda in 1998 and reported in committing funds to dealing with detection system. 1999, is now established in the plant health issues. Eastern Africa highlands and

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ACCREDITATION OF BIOLOGY DEGREES

of the individual. Nonetheless, if over 200 companies, worth in expectations of employers. But students are to pay the excess of £720 million. Our above all, an accredited degree significantly enhanced fees, their success at post graduate and also needs to meet the interest in employability skills will post doctoral level is clear to expectation and aspiration of inevitably grow. see. But there remains a gap students. for graduates who often lack the The Browne review highlights To try and meet these skills suitable for research something which professional challenges and requirements, careers. Working with the Office institutions have known for a the Society has opted for an for Life Sciences, and with long time – and have been outcomes based approach. We support from the BBSRC, the acting on: that graduates need will not be dictating to Society of Biology has Dr Mark Downs FSB specific skills for individual universities the way in which developed a new framework for Chief Executive professions in addition to their they should teach a subject, or the accreditation of biology basic educational grounding and, the particular topics they should degrees for students who hope once in employment, need to cover. Rather, we will set out to embark upon a research continually develop their clearly the outcomes we (and career. The Society of Biology professional skills. The Society employers) expect from the of Biology, in common with These degrees would Degree programme, based on is a single voice for many other professional typically be at least four years in wide consultation. We believe over 80,000 biologists organisations, offers a chartered length, including a major project this programme, alongside our in the UK, with both route to recognising professional with hands-on experience in Chartered Biologist and individual and skills, alongside a continuous either industry or within a Continuing Professional organisational professional development University research group. Development approaches can programme to ensure standards Intellectual rigour and contribute, along with many members. As both a are maintained. But there is experimental design will be high other professional bodies, to professional body and a also an important role to be on the agenda, along with a helping meet some of the charity, education will played in helping students to capability to demonstrate aspirations outlined in Lord always be high on our identify courses which have the strength in mathematics. Browne’s report. However agenda. strongest likelihood of providing Biology is far from a soft option university degrees are financed, them with the skills and amongst the sciences and a and whatever the debt students education they require for a future career in the life sciences incur, one thing is certain: with a The recently published particular career path. It is for inevitably involves the more market-based approach Browne review recommends that reason that the Society of application of numeric skills. It is the customer, or can we still say sweeping changes to the way in Biology has been working for an issue which has been student, will become which higher education is the last year to develop an ignored for far too long. increasingly demanding in return funded. Understandably the accreditation programme for for the investment they make. media focus has been almost Of course, biology is a huge undergraduate biology degrees. The Society of Biology is keen to exclusively on the student loan field and the Society cannot make sure we can enable element of the proposals and As has frequently been made hope to accredit the entire students to make more the removal of the cap on clear in the run-up to the breadth of degrees in one step. informed choices and to be tuition fees for higher education comprehensive spending review With this in mind, we are starting more certain of the outcomes institutions. But Lord Browne’s announcements, science in its with a pilot programme in in they can expect from their report also seeks to address the totality contributes enormously vivo sciences and biochemistry. university education. gaps between the skills required to our economic and social Host institutions have already by employers and those which prosperity. The life sciences are expressed interest and we hope University graduates are able to a particularly successful story for that the first students will be demonstrate. University the United Kingdom. In many recruited in 2011. The education must, surely, above all areas we are second in the challenge is to ensure that the be about development of World only to the United States system is not over bureaucratic, For more information please intellectual rigour and the and often first. Over the last ten does not place undue cost visit: analytical skills so valuable for years, University life science burdens on universities, and www.societyofbiology.org/educat life whatever the chosen career research groups have spun out meets the needs and ion/hei/accreditation

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TEME BANK TRAIL TAKE A WALK THROUGH LUDLOW’S SILURIAN GEOLOGY 1 Follow the path past the castle until you reach a bench on the left hand side beside a large yew tree SO 508 747. Here, beneath the castle this tiny exposure of rock sets the scene for what you will see on the rest of this walk. The castle stands overlooking the town and countryside, resting on a plinth of rock, the same rock that much of the town is built of. It is hard to believe that these rocks were made beneath a warm shallow sea that was teeming with life, when Ludlow was south of the Equator some 419 million years ago. Now continue down the path and join the tarmac path on the right which joins the road by Dinham Bridge. Cross the bridge to reach Professor Michael Rosenbaum Shropshire Geological Society stop 2. [email protected]

There are eight stops on this walk which 2 allow you to examine the famous rocks along the banks of the River Teme. This walk will take around 1 hour to complete. The paths are generally good but

the ground is uneven in places with some Beside a picnic table you’ll steep slopes and steps in others. You find an information board should always wear appropriate footwear facing toward the river, SO and watch out for slippery surfaces 506 745. Behind this you’ll especially after rain. see a quarried rock face. Start your walk in front of and facing the Stand back a little and look at these rocks. You should gates of Ludlow Castle, SO 510 746 and be able to see that the follow the path to the right. layers or beds in the rock Background are tilting at an angle. Although most key geological exposures are These rocks are made of still known, many are in a state of decay or lime-rich silt and as the overgrown, and few have any readily lime has leached out of the rocks it has formed a accessible description as a guide to their white crust on the surface intrinsic interest or indeed their value. that gives the area its Shropshire has a higher than average name, Whitcliffe or White number of such important exposures: the Cliff. Indeed these rocks result of an accident of geological evolution are called the Whitcliffe which has seen this region located on the Beds. edges of continents as they have evolved. Before you move onto 3 The development of a trail along the banks stop 3, make sure you of the local river: the Teme, uses a dozen remember which direction exposures illustrating not only the local rocks these beds are dipping! and fossils but also an anticline: a broad up- Stop 3 is just a few yards fold of rocks which causes the sequence to up the path which slopes up from the river, and is You should see a difference between these rocks and those be repeated and thereby illustrate some of beside another bench at you’ve just looked at. These are the Leintwardine Beds. The the basic principles of geological science. SO 506 744. layers here are thinner and pock marked, with characteristic orange This has been achieved by a partnership lichen growing on them. The pock marks are due to lime between local government through the dissolving out of the rock, perhaps a fossil, perhaps a limestone Museum Service and volunteers from the nodule once filled the gap but has long since been eaten away by Shropshire Geological Society and the rain and river water. Now return to the lower path and walk along Shropshire Wildlife Trust, experts in their own until you come to the first bench on the right. scientific disciplines.

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4 5 6 7

You are now on the other side of You need to take care at this stop, If you branch off to the right at the the fold, SO 508 742. Look at the the natural rock has been used as top of the first flight of steps you’ll beds; you can see they’re dipping in the path and it can be very slippery. see a large cliff face. This is Whitcliffe Behind the bench at stop 4 are the the opposite direction to those you Some of the fallen blocks at the foot quarry, SO 509 741. Wander along oldest rocks you’ll find on this walk saw at stop 3 but it’s the same rock of the steps are enormous, perfect the path around 35 metres and you at around 423 million years, SO 507 type, the one with the tell-tale for building stone. These are the should find some evidence of 743. They don’t appear tilted like the orange lichen and pock marked Whitcliffe Beds again and this turbulent times. You’ll need sharp other rocks you’ve seen. This surface. Here you can really see the particular rock was used to build eyes, but there’s one layer in the cliff exposure forms the heart of a huge effects of water on lime-rich rocks; it much of the medieval splendour of face, about one third of the way up fold, like an overturned bowl, where has worn out deep holes and Ludlow, and was cut and shaped on that doesn’t appear level, it looks rocks have been bent out of shape crevices in the rock, making a mini the platform above. An inscription scooped and twisted. in response to pressure deep inside cave system (right hand side of commemorates the sweeping away This buckled layer is the result of an the earth. Years of erosion from ice photo). of the old path by a flood and the earthquake millions of years ago, and water have brought them to the construction of this new route. If Now continue up the path for shaking the soft sediments on the surface to form the landscape you look above the inscription you another 100 metres or so until you seabed out of their neat layers. around Ludlow. can see some really thin layers in reach stop 6 which is adjacent to the rock, a huge contrast to the giant The cliff face is sometimes unstable You now need to walk along the the weir at SO 509 742. path past the point where a stream blocks resting at the foot of the but if you look closely at some of runs under it until you reach stop 5, steps. the fallen blocks away from the rock where a large section of rocks filled face you may see layers of semi- with holes can be found. circular holes where there were once fossil shells. Return to the main path and continue up the steps.

8 Follow the path down to the road and on the corner a small metal plaque marks the site of the world famous Ludlow Bone Bed, SO 512 741. Don’t expect to see dinosaur bones poking out of the rocks; the bones are the remains of prehistoric fish and fragments of charcoal, tiny but very important since this marks a change from the shallow seas where the other rocks on this walk were made, to a point much closer to the sea shore, eventually becoming land cloaked in primitive vegetation which caught fire and burned.

Number 8 is the last stop on this walk. You may now return via the The Bone Bed itself is actually beneath ground level at this site and route you took to the centre of town, or alternatively cross the collecting is not allowed as this is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). bridge beside the Charlton Arms and continue up Broad Street, passing through the arch and then up the hill until you reach the Butter Cross at the top. Turn left to return to the Square where you will find Ludlow Museum SO 513 748.

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A DEMAND DRIVEN INNOVATION MODEL AND CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT

who want to see the public resist the drive for more public optional add-on to science- more engaged with research. engagement. Our survey for the based policy making and to the Royal Society (Factors Affecting activities of research Since the House of Lords report Science Communication, 2005) organisations and learned in 2000 Science and Society the found that many cited the lack institutions, and should become concept of ‘public understanding of time and competing a normal and integral part of of science’ has been derided pressures as the main barrier. the process”, public engagement and the focus has been on two- Some researchers fear the remains something of an add- way dialogue between policy- public will veto research in their on. However, Factors Affecting makers, scientists and the public. field, although such a specific Science Communication shows In 2004 Demos published See veto seems unlikely. This year that many academic researchers Through Science which Paul Benneworth’s review of the believe that public engagement championed ‘upstream Dr Suzanne King evidence base surrounding the positively helps their research. engagement’, that is, researchers value of public engagement by Over half (53%) agreed that and policy-makers engaging with scientists for the Science for All public engagement could help the public about new scientific Expert Group (convened by BIS researchers make new contacts developments as technologies to help develop the science and and only a fifth (21%) agreed emerged, rather than waiting society strategy) refutes this that there were no personal until they were close to market. possibility. He states that “there benefits associated with public Survey work from that time is no reasonable prospect of engagement. suggests some public support encouraging engagement for this approach. In the Office Based on this positive response which significantly impinges on of Science and Technology’s we see a role for public scientists’ autonomy to pursue 2005 nationally representative engagement in the innovation interesting avenues”. Indeed, survey of public attitudes to process, not to avoid conflict, but DIUS’s more recent nationally science (Science in Society to promote better, more usable, representative survey of the Mark Dyball Findings from Qualitative and satisfying products that are public published in 2008 (Public Quantitative Research) 79% of commercially viable. We suggest Directors of People Science Attitude to Science) shows that respondents agreed that “I that engaging the public in & Policy Ltd there is public support for basic would like more scientists to innovation as partners could up- research, with 86% agreeing spend more time than they do date and improve our innovation Two articles in the Summer that “Even if it brings no discussing the implications of model and ensure that market 2010 edition of Science in immediate benefits, scientific their research with the general pull complements technological Parliament made us pause for research which advances public” and 74% agreed that drive. After all, market research thought. Both, we think, are knowledge is necessary and “We ought to hear about is increasingly facilitating the co- linked, although perhaps the link should be supported by potential new areas of science production of products that are is not immediately apparent. government”. and technology before they nearer to market with the public The articles are: A Gap in the happen, not afterwards”. Perhaps a more realistic fear, and new commercial products Innovation Market by David given the way that plant science and services have long been Dent and Consumer ‘Upstream engagement’ was was affected by the GM furore tested with potential consumers. Engagement with Emerging largely seen within a policy of a decade ago, is a loss of a Such co-production is becoming Technologies by Rob Reid. context and was described as broader licence to operate. ever more the norm in service having the potential to inform David Dent is commenting on Benneworth suggests that “a delivery, especially in healthcare decisions about the nature of the supply driven model of little more engagement, of the environments. developments before innovation in the UK and Rob sort already being undertaken, “entrenched or deeply polarised We conclude that the innovation Reid on the need for more but more effectively organised, positions appear”. This tends to process could benefit from public engagement early in the can help to secure science’s see public engagement as a tool public engagement, not only in development of new licence to practice in these for averting conflict through early an upstream fashion to technologies. Bringing public increasingly sceptical times”. conversations between “promote and protect” public engagement into the innovation researchers, policy-makers and Despite the recommendation in interests as Rob Reid describes, model could be the way forward the public about research Science and Society that “… but downstream as a potentially for those concerned that priorities. direct dialogue with the public crucial element in David Dent’s innovation models do not should move from being an “market-led” innovation model. consider demand and for those Nevertheless, some researchers

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CHALLENGED BY CARBON: THE OIL INDUSTRY, CLIMATE CHANGE - AND DEEPWATER HORIZON

You can’t argue with a rock. Thanks to geology, the scientific case for human-induced climate change has recently become significantly more plausible. New observational science based on cores taken deep beneath the floor of the Atlantic Ocean offers crucial support for the computer-based forecasts of those creating models of future climate change. Thanks to the work of the late Sir Nick Shackleton and his colleagues, the record of Earth’s past climates recorded in rocks can now be measured with far greater definition than before: divided into Dr Bryan Lovell thousands rather than millions of years. This major scientific breakthrough means that changes in climate that took place long ago can now be examined on a human timescale.

One of these ancient past by adopting a new intellectual edge towards the scale of changes in climate is a framework for energy policy that cooperation that is required. particularly important guide to is based on that awareness. That cooperation clearly has present-day concerns: a This is an unusual challenge to embrace China and India. dramatic warming event that to the established order, These two countries are moving took place 55 million years ago comparable to the greatest along paths of development that (55 Ma). Comparison of the periods of political and social emulate those followed volume of carbon released to change. Successful resolution previously in the developed the atmosphere at 55 Ma and will require an unusual degree world, with heavy reliance on the volume we are now of cooperation between all sorts fossil fuels – especially coal. releasing ourselves strongly of tribes: academic, social, How can such countries achieve suggests that we are indeed financial, industrial, political and their aspirations for rapid facing a major global challenge national. This kind of development while maintaining (see Figure). We are well on our cooperation was the real value their current relatively low per- way to repeating that 55 million- of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and capita output of fossil carbon? year-old global warming event, was the original hope for the Can the developed countries which disrupted Earth for over disappointing successor meeting maintain the confidence of their 100,000 years. That event took in Copenhagen in 2009. That consumers and voters while place long before Homo sapiens hope has now been transferred reducing per-capita output of was around to light so much as to the imminent Cancun climate fossil carbon? a camp fire. Now we have no summit. The Kyoto agreement Here the oil companies may excuses, we are here and we was never going to be a have a chance of redemption are aware of our capacity to sufficient answer in itself to from their classical role as the precipitate major inimical coping with climate change, but villains of climate change, by changes to our habitat on this it was a sign that the global giving a positive response to planet. We can cope, but only community has the capacity to being challenged by carbon. In

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principle they could capture and pumping it out of the ground (in then store safely underground a the form of oil and natural gas)? good part of the fossil carbon And can the major state oil released to the atmosphere companies, who control the through their agency – and that greater part of the world’s of the coal industry. Although reserves of oil and gas, the price in energy and dollars persuade their governments that of that capture and safe storage part of their role should be the is still not clearly defined, I for safe disposal of carbon dioxide? one would put effort into such a Yes, but only if political, venture – given the creation of a economic and financial fungible market for carbon institutions adapt to a global comparable to that we now imperative to regard the safe have for oil. capture and disposal of carbon Can the major international dioxide as an activity as non-state oil companies, who important as taking fossil fuels control only a few per cent of out of the ground. This the world’s reserves of oil and adaptation clearly requires a gas, persuade their shareholders widespread and deep conviction to keep investing when they that there really is a problem to seek to make money by be solved. That depth of disposing of fossil carbon (in the conviction can be achieved by form of anthropogenic carbon reading what is written in the dioxide), as well as profit by rocks. Cores of 55 million-year-old sedimentary rock recovered in 1997 from beneath the deep sea floor of the North Atlantic Ocean by Ocean Drilling Programme.

The oil industry is based on you don’t have to have been rocks found across the planet. involved in oil exploration to Will that industry be able to recognise that loss of life on a seize the advantage of its drilling rig dwarfs all other geological and global considerations. After that come perspective to bring general reckonings of environmental environmental benefit to its impact, costs and corporate and customers, while protecting its personal responsibilities – and own profits? We have long relied assessment of technical on the oil folk to use their competence. ingenuity to supply us with their An extraterrestrial visitor to mighty handy products: now we the scene of the spill in the Gulf need their inventiveness to help of Mexico, versed in geology but us manage our transition from not in history, might ask: why that dependency. But can we does humankind seek high-cost trust the oil companies to help oil and gas here rather than us with that transition, in the drilling much more cheaply wake of the Deepwater Horizon onshore in Iran? As a veteran of blowout in the Gulf of Mexico in early deepwater Atlantic drilling April 2010? The short answer is in the 1980s, and former Middle still yes, but to see why we East exploration manager for BP, need to look at that tragic I’m happy to have a go at that accident from a number of question. angles. Only part of Earth was My first and main comment formerly covered by the ancient on Deepwater Horizon is this:

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Tethys Oceans, the geological to the hundreds of billions of the planet with an unknown potential ally. The oil industry evolution of which led over tens tonnes of carbon that we have outcome: that is no longer can pump carbon dioxide of millions of years to the already released into the true. We can now see quite released by coal-fired power generation and preservation of atmosphere (see Figure). We clearly what happens when stations into safe underground abundant oil in what is now the have dumped this carbon you dump carbon into the storage using routine technology, Middle East. By the 1980s deliberately, not accidentally, as atmosphere at the rate and without depending on the access to much of that oil could we burn fossil carbon taken volume of the past couple of frontier technology used in be gained only on post-imperial from beneath the gulf and centuries. There is significant deepwater operations in the service-fee terms, which had elsewhere: coal, gas and oil. global warming. The Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere. limited attraction for the many temperature of the deep This underground storage will be The fossil carbon spilt in the oil companies used to high risk- ocean waters rises by several opposed by some on the form of oil from Deepwater high reward equity-based deals. degrees centigrade, leading to grounds that it prolongs the life Horizon has been obvious to Hence the move into deepwater a rise in sea-level of several of the villainous fossil-fuel those nearby, and to the world Atlantic exploration, hence the metres. Acidification of the industries. Yet it is inevitable that at large. The invisible and subsequent big successes in oceans contributes to coal will continue to supply odourless carbon dioxide added finding oil for our continuing widespread extinction of much of the world’s demand for to the atmosphere by mankind eager use off the shores of marine life, accompanied by electricity for years. The oil burning fossil carbon is not at all Angola, Brazil — and in the Gulf widespread extinction of life industry should prepare to act obvious. In the atmosphere it is of Mexico. on land. This natural on the heroic scale required to measured in mere traces: if it experiment has been repeated make a dent in the problem of The human spill from smelt, it would catch the several times on planet Earth. carbon release. Deepwater Horizon will wash attention of a springer spaniel Unless we are curious to see across the Gulf to the next but might still not alert a human Deepwater Horizon reminds if our own species can survive, prospectively querulous climate being. Yet the effects are us that terrible accidents may we should stop pulling the summit that is about to begin in significant: the dog barks take the lives of the skilled carbon trigger. Cancun. During the weeks that urgently and we need to act workers who probe rocks to find oil leaked into the gulf from the now. Once most of us are the fossil carbon that has fuelled Macondo well, at rates an order convinced by the message so much of our material It was an early cliché of the of magnitude greater than from the past that we really prosperity over the past century. climate debate that we are natural regional seepage, around do have a problem in the What is written in those same carrying out an experiment with the world we continued to add future we will find an unlikely rocks tells us, with increasing urgency, that we cannot simply burn that carbon with impunity.

Bryan Lovell has been Senior Research Fellow in Earth Sciences at Cambridge University since 1996. He was formerly with BP Exploration, and at Oxford, Harvard, and Edinburgh Universities. Lovell is currently President of the Geological Society, writing here as an individual. This article is drawn from his Challenged by Figure (figure 2.3 in Challenged by Carbon, CUP 2009) Carbon: the Oil Industry and Sketch after a section of an illustration used by Professor Gerald Dickens in his discussion of the work of Climate Change, published by Richard Norris and Ursula Rohl in Nature in 1999. This figure shows the rapid release 55 million years ago of carbon and its subsequent removal (see ‘Excess mass’) from the atmosphere and oceans over 100 000 years. Cambridge University Press in We may use this 55 Ma event as a guide to the effect of our present-day release of carbon, should this remain 2009, and from his article on unchecked. We have so far climbed at least 300 gigatonnes (a gigatonne is a thousand million tonnes) up the Deepwater Horizon in The steep slope of ‘Excess mass’ that begins at zero (55 Ma), so we have already reached at least as far up the curve as the point marked X. Times of 4 August, 2010.

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SECURING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW OF HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING & STUDENT FINANCE 12 October 2010

widely and intensively. Our quality enforced through In formulating our recommendations are based on regulation. recommendations we had to written and oral evidence drawn balance the level of participation, England’s HEIs are very from students, teachers, the quality of teaching and the varied, in the type of student academics, employers and sustainability of funding; they attract, the standards of regulators. We have looked at a changing one component has an attainment they require for entry, variety of different systems and impact on the others. What we the courses taught and so on. at every aspect of implementing recommend is a radical While most of higher education them – financial, practical and departure from the existing way takes place in an HEI called a educational – to ensure that the in which HEIs are financed. university this one word does recommendations we are Rather than the Government not capture the reality of their making are realistic for the long providing a block grant for Lord Browne of Madingley diversity. Our recommendations term. I would like to thank all teaching to HEIs, their finance reinforce this diversity. And since those who have contributed now follows the student who one size does not fit all, we their knowledge, experience and has chosen and been admitted would expect the result to be time to this review. Our findings to study. Choice is in the hands England has an that HEIs will set varied charges are contained in our full report of the student. HEIs can charge internationally respected for courses. system of higher education. and summarised here. different and higher fees A degree is of benefit both to provided that they can show There are now a record Great advances have been the holder, through higher levels improvements in the student number of people enrolled, made in making it possible for of social contribution and higher experience and demonstrate studying an increasingly varied more people from all lifetime earnings, and to the progress in providing fair access range of subjects at a diverse backgrounds to enter an HEI. nation, through higher economic and, of course, students are set of higher education Currently 45% of people growth rates and the improved prepared to entertain such institutions (‘HEIs’). Graduates between the ages of 18 and 30 health of society. Getting the charges. go on to higher paid jobs and enter an HEI, up from 39% a balance of funding appropriate add to the nation’s strength in decade ago. Improvements have Our recommendations will to reflect these benefits is the global knowledge based been made to ensure that lead to a significant change; we essential if funding is to be economy. For a nation of our students from disadvantaged do not underestimate the work sustainable. Our scale, we possess a dispro- schools or backgrounds are that will be required. Since this recommendations place more of portionate number of the best given a fair chance to study for a review was commissioned the the burden of funding on performing HEIs in the world, degree. Our recommendations pressure on public spending has graduates, but they contribute including three of the top ten. build on this success. Support by increased significantly. This will only when they can afford to way of cash for living add urgency to make funding However, our competitive repay the costs financed. edge is being challenged by (‘maintenance’) will be sustainable. We hope that, as advances made elsewhere. increased. Those studying for a Students do not pay charges, these recommendations are Other countries are increasing degree part time will be given only graduates do; and then only debated, no one loses sight of investment in their HEIs and proportionate access to funding if they are successful. The the powerful role that higher educating more people to higher to those studying full time. system of payments is highly education will play in continuing progressive. No one earning to build the greatness of this standards. The quality of teaching and of under £21,000 will pay anything. nation. In November 2009, I was the awarded degrees is the asked to lead an independent foundation upon which the We estimate that only the top Panel to review the funding of reputation and value of our 40% of earners on average will higher education and make higher education system rests. pay back all the charges paid on recommendations to ensure that Our recommendations in this their behalf by the Government area are based on giving upfront; and the 20% of lowest teaching at our HEIs is Respectfully submitted on behalf students the ability to make an earners will pay less than today. sustainably financed, that the of the Review Panel, by Lord informed choice of where and For all students, studying for a quality of that teaching is world Browne of Madingley FRS FREng, what to study. Competition degree will be a risk free activity. class and that our HEIs remain Chairman accessible to anyone who has generally raises quality. The The return to graduates for the talent to succeed. Over the interests of students will be studying will be on average www.independent.gov.uk/ last year, we have consulted protected by minimum levels of around 400%. browne-report

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THE COLLAPSE OF COMPUTING EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS

the silent `C’ in STEM. The UK the BBC and widely picked up subject explicitly referred to by economy is missing out because in the technical press. The Royal an elite University in their entry we cannot meet the urgent Society has set up an Advisory requirements for a Computer demand from UK companies for Group for the study and their Science Degree course is Maths. software professionals who have first meeting was held on 20 For example see Manchester the expertise necessary to create July 2010, chaired by Professor University’s entry requirements. business growth. Steve Furber FRS of Manchester A2 level Computing is seen University and former BCS The problem in schools is by many Universities as trustee. BCS, the Chartered widely acknowledged by bodies desirable for their Computer Institute for IT, is the such as Ofsted, the Royal Science Degree, although not professional body for IT and Simon Peyton-Jones (Microsoft Academy of Engineering, the essential, if the applicant is also Computing in the UK and has Research Cambridge) Council for Industry and Higher taking Maths or Physics. For over 70,000 members. Education (CIHE), BCS The example see Surrey University’s Chartered Institute for IT, the ICT, Information and entry requirements. The fact that Council for Professors and Communication Technology, is A2 level Computing is not a Heads of Computing (CPHC), part of the National Curriculum prerequisite must, in part, be a the UK Computing Research and taught as a GCSE by all reflection of the small numbers Committee (UKCRC), and e- secondary schools. It teaches that take the subject compared Skills UK, among many others. students the skills needed to to Maths. If large numbers of Yet nothing is being done about use everyday software students took A2 level it, and the underlying causes applications. Computing as a Computing that would enable remain. The upcoming discipline is concerned with the Universities to significantly Curriculum Review offers an fundamental principles that enhance their degree courses, Bill Mitchell (BCS, The Chartered opportunity to address these underpin computer based because students would already Institute for IT) challenges. systems and the programming have mastered elementary languages they can execute. It is Computing concepts at school The concern is that, in too about how computers work. before starting at University. For There is a serious problem many cases, children learn only The ICT syllabus contains that to happen the ICT with the way we are how to use office software such almost nothing about curriculum would have to be educating our young people as word processors or Computing. The March 2009 radically changed in order to about Computing. The spreadsheets, and miss out Ofsted report into ICT GCSE make A2 level Computing an majority of students leave school entirely on the excitement of ‘The Importance of ICT’ states appealing prospect. At the actively disliking what they learning how computers actually “Too many of the lessons seen moment less than 5,000 mistakenly believe to be work. An analogy would be if during the survey emphasised students take A2 level Computing. As a result classes in English consisted only the development of skills in Computing, which is 57% lower applications to UK University of learning how to spell, but using specific software at the than 2001, and is likely to Computer Science courses have missed out how to write good expense of improving students’ collapse further if we leave collapsed by 60% since 2000, prose, how to analyse literature ICT capability.” things as they are. yet the demand for software and omitted how to articulate professionals across the EU has ideas and arguments concisely, There is plenty of anecdotal A number of Universities now grown by 33% in the same elegantly and in a compelling evidence that suggests the ICT run a HND in Computing, which period. The value added to the way. GCSE is sometimes used as a is also used by some as a EU economy directly from IT soft option that will help a means of direct entry to second There is such a level of products and services is around school climb the league tables. year undergraduate universal concern that the Royal £480b each year. Computing is University admission tutors in programmes. In other words, Society has begun a study into a vital part of Science, private will say the gold some Universities are using the state of Computing in Technology, Engineering and standard for applicants to their alternative routes to deliver post schools and its importance and Mathematics. It is also an Computer Science degree GCSE education in Computing. implications for the economic academic discipline in its own courses is A2 level Maths. In This enables them to cover the and scientific wellbeing of the right, underpinned by scientific some cases, the only A2 level foundations of Computer and mathematical principles. It is UK. This has been reported by Science; covering topics that are

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completely missing from the stimulating Computing material, BCS has been a long BCS coordinated an initial fund majority of school classrooms. but have no local network of standing provider of vocational raising activity in March 2010 to All of this suggests there are peers to turn to. They struggle to qualifications and will continue demonstrate the level of significant systemic problems in convince their school senior to do so because we believe commitment from the the design and delivery of the management of the need for they are an important benefit Computing community for such Computing curriculum. more Computing within the ICT to society. Ensuring everyone a report on behalf of the Royal curriculum. can be an intelligent user of IT Society. Many thanks go to all The problem is not lack of is vital. However, being an those who provided financial concern from school teachers; BCS believes that Computing accomplished IT user is not assistance and pledges of many of whom are working is as fundamentally important as the same as having a basic funding. Namely the Universities extremely hard to improve the Maths as an academic discipline understanding of the of Cambridge, Edinburgh, way computing is taught within and one that all school children principles of Computing. This Glasgow, Greenwich, Imperial, the National Curriculum. There should learn. In the twenty-first is where there is general Leicester, Loughborough, is, however, a serious shortage century every advanced confusion in the National Manchester, Open University, of Computing specialist teachers economy will need the majority Curriculum, and why Oxford, Queen’s University of and of easy to use, inspirational of its citizens to be capable of Computing as a discipline has Belfast, Sheffield Hallam, Surrey, classroom-ready Computing computational thinking. That is been virtually lost in schools. UCL, York, and Dundee, and material. Many non-ICT specialist why BCS is working with groups larger pledges from BCS, CPHC, teachers end up teaching ICT at such as Computing At School BCS is one of twenty-four EPSRC, Google, Microsoft GCSE and would very much like and CS4fn to promote the organisations, including the Research and Praxis. Without support in delivering more teaching of Computing in Royal Academy of this support, the study would interesting and intellectually schools. Engineering, supporting the not have been possible. Royal Society with their study. EDUCATION FOR ENGINEERING – A NEW VOICE ON EDUCATION, TRAINING AND SKILLS

Education for Engineering (E4E), policy priorities for Government - Reinforcing specialist STEM a collaborative body to represent which it feels are important teaching expertise; the profession and provide a across all engineering sectors - Ensuring adequate subject single coherent voice to and have implications for CPD and industry experience Government on education, engineering and technology for STEM teachers, and training and skills needs for industries. engineering. - Taking steps to enable a more The six immediate policy diverse engineering workforce. It has been a very busy first priorities that E4E has identified year for E4E. The Coalition for the Coalition Government Over the next twelve months Government are writing new are: E4E will be working with Dr Rhys Morgan policies on schools, the further Government and - Promoting the standing of Head of Secretariat E4E education sector and higher Parliamentarians to ensure that Royal Academy of Engineering qualified technicians and education, all of which are key decisions made are in the best highlighting their contribution to ensuring an adequate supply interest of engineering which will The professional engineering to society and the economy; of engineers and technicians for be of benefit to the broader community has come together the future. E4E has been - Supporting careers education economy. A copy of the E4E to present a single voice to working to shape and and guidance on professional briefing on education and Government on the education, communicate our position on all engineering and technology training for engineering can be skills and training needs of UK these areas. careers; found at: engineering. http://www.educationforenginee To meet the challenges - Promoting engineering-related Over the last 12 months the ring.org.uk/e4e_briefing.pdf facing engineering, E4E has qualifications; professional engineering developed a set of immediate community has created

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ENGINEERING OUR FUTURE NOW!

Following on from MP not taught with the confidence Do we have a light at the Andrew Miller’s article that would do it justice – why end of the tunnel – well you ‘Engineering the Future’ which would that be? Perhaps, just may well be surprised to hear concerned itself with the perhaps, for decades a teacher that there is an organisation relationship between during their training unless very called Primary Engineer that is engineering policy and lucky will only receive half a day, supported by the Royal government. I was prompted to perhaps as much as two on the Academy of Engineering, add to the debate that if we skills required to teach it to 30 Engineering UK and LRET that truly are going to Engineer the children at a time. Perhaps that has hit the nail on the head. It is Future then it is about time we goes some way to explaining also a programme that I have Barry McGregor started to look carefully how we the paltry coverage of the watched grow not only in terms Primary Engineer invest in our greatest natural subject, the erosion of advisors of its breadth and quality of resource – primary schools – leaves the subject floundering, delivery but also in the numbers yes primary schools. Primary and yet it’s potential to draw of schools engaging with it and, teachers are a dedicated bunch together the essential STEM vitally, its impact. Primary they teach class sizes larger than elements and emphasise the E Engineer works with secondary at any other level of education, is missed, yet acknowledged by (subject specialist teachers) who their expertise extends over 9 many teachers, educationalists they train to deliver targeted subject areas, they work with the and parents. STEM as an design and technology with same class every day of the acronym which is stronger than practical maths and science to academic year – the differences the sum of its parts but in many primary teachers. This linkage of between our primary and instances the implementation teachers gives the opportunity to secondary schools structure is can leave out the ‘E’. develop much needed subject evident – yet we expect children to move between them without turning a hair. How then are primary schools the focus – given the impact of Primary Engineer we can see that the root of the engineering debate should begin in our primary schools.

Perhaps it would do well here to identify a number of issues surrounding the teaching and the inspiring of pupils into engineering. After all if 11 and 12 year olds have a fair idea of what they want to be when they grow up and have held that idea for a number of years – they must have formulated them in primary schools. In the primary curriculum there is no such subject as engineering, secondly the closest, possibly design and technology is in many instances

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squeezed and quangos dismantled. Their programme covers core skills in design technology with applied maths and science, and recently in order to inspire further they launched the Primary, Secondary and Advanced Leaders Award for STEM asking pupils to apply to become leaders for STEM activities in the school, help others and, vitally, ask pupils to interview professionals in STEM networks, whilst at the same Levels 1 and 2 and for 8–10 a perfect description by which to careers to ask the questions that time offering secondary teachers year olds Primary Engineer describe primary engineering not only interest and intrigue an insight into the ‘primary Levels 1 and 2. Not only are the education. them but will open the doors on experience’. These subject key words engineer and Every year Primary Engineer horizons they and their teachers networks develop true links apprentice now part of the invites children to participate in a didn’t know existed – if this across the curriculum. primary pupil and teacher number of regional events coordinated impact in Primary Understanding the experiences vocabulary but also the manner leading to a National Final schools doesn’t inspire the next of primary pupils they will soon that science and maths are sponsored by THALES and after next generation of be teaching – goodness, that applied to the problem solving showcased at the Big Bang Fair. engineers I don’t know what will would allow them to build on required for design technology The IMechE have been huge – perhaps the only thing to hold what primary children have activities. This has resulted in supporters of these events it back is lack of recognition been learning – surely this is children not creating subjects providing judges who are from those organisations and what we should be doing, and silos – the ‘I can’t do maths’ is frequently taken aback at 9 year companies these engineers will work towards fighting against the not heard, frequently the olds competently describing work for and a government to recognised dip in enthusiasm children don’t recognise the mechanical advantage and the whose future it is inextricably seen so often on poor 11 and separate elements as they are iterations their design has linked. 12 year old faces. so naturally embedded in the undertaken. Parents have been projects they undertake. A How many of the generation The programme looks to be hugely supportive of these phrase Primary Engineer coined after next will have fond used in the classroom, not as a activities delighted to see that came from a teacher who was memories of Primary Engineer? club to the already converted something for once that is hard approached by a disgruntled Witnessing the enthusiasm on but to inspire latent learners and rather than frivolous can be fun pupil saying that she, the the faces of the primary pupils, the disengaged alongside the and exciting. This slowly teacher, was no longer liked! and at events their parents, curious, using materials that are develops the essential personal When asked why, the pupil said quite a few I would say. Perhaps embedded in the national satisfaction ethic we must have it was because she had been it is time someone had a quiet curriculum. The projects are if the generation after next are to teaching them maths and word with Primary Engineer, designed and named to become the confident, inspired science without them knowing it given how we need to be engender an engineering ethos and curious learners engineering – STEM by Stealth – a perfect engineering our future now. for example for 5 to 7 year olds requires and all other careers compliment for any teacher and Primary Engineer Apprentice would benefit from. An invitation to attend events and gather a greater Since being in the position of understanding of the impact on National Specialism Coordinator: pupils, teachers and parents is Engineering Colleges working for extended by myself and from the Specialist Schools and Susan Scurlock, Chief Executive Academies Trust and then of Primary Engineer Director of Engineering at Jarrow School, South Tyneside, I have www.primaryengineer.com and watched primary teachers and www.leadersaward.com pupils grow in confidence supported by a programme that exists on a shoestring compared with budgets that are being

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IMPACT OF CUTS ON PRIVATE AND CHARITABLE FUNDING FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH

The Academy of Medical in UK health research and every The spending review Sciences has warned that the £1 increase in public funding submission was accompanied UK’s competitive advantage in stimulates up to £5 investment by a paper detailing how medical science is reliant on a into research by the biomedical research can be a Government commitment to pharmaceutical industry. As well platform for increasing health maintaining a thriving publicly as leveraging this increased and wealth in the UK that was funded research base. Any investment, close funding prepared at the request of David cuts risk damaging the UK’s relationships between academia, Willetts MP, Minister of State for rich landscape of medical industry and the charity sector Science and Universities. It research funders and would ensure that the outcomes of highlights how if properly jeopardise the private and publicly funded medical supported, medical research will charitable funding leveraged research are quickly translated create new jobs, catalyse by public spending. into actual health and wealth sustained economic growth and benefits. help to restore public finances In a submission prepared for by improving health and making Government in the build up to The submission urges the NHS and public services the next spending review the Government to make a long more cost effective. Academy warns that it would be term commitment across the a mistake to believe that science base to retain In response to the Academy industry and charities could increasingly mobile researchers of Medical Sciences submission simply fill the gap if public sector and industries about the future to the 2010 Spending Review funding were reduced. of medical research in the UK. It Simon Denegri, Chief recommends publishing a new Academy President Professor Executive, Association of Medical science framework in the Sir John Bell said, ‘Public Research Charities said, ‘With context of the current economic spending on medical research the support of the public, climate which should: leverages, rather than displaces medical research charities put private and charitable funding. • Prioritise excellence. over £1 billion on the table for During this time of economic health research last year. • Safeguard the UK’s world-class uncertainty we must retain Whether this investment will pay universities. researchers and life science dividends for patients and their industries and ensure that • Protect the autonomy of families will be influenced medical research charities universities and research heavily by the decisions the continue to invest in UK councils. government makes over the next few months. They must research. A long term • Focus on reversibility to demonstrate that they share the commitment to publicly funded maintain capability to public’s vote of confidence in research is vital if we are to regenerate key areas when research with policies and harness the competitive funding becomes available. advantage previous investment funding for the long-term.’ has generated.’ • Maintain and grow the Dr Liam O’Toole, Chief essential partnerships between Executive Officer, Arthritis Investment in biomedical public, private and charity Research UK ‘About 10 million science has helped the UK to sector funders. create one of the most people suffer from the many significant and productive • Ensure limited funds are spent different forms of arthritis in the sectors in the UK economy after effectively by promoting UK, and this number is financial services. In addition to coordination amongst funders increasing. For a rapidly growing public funding, each year and reducing unnecessary charity such as Arthritis Research medical charities invest £1.1bn bureaucracy. UK it is crucial that we are able

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to plan long-term research. A conduct research, and they are the Government will focus The Academy of Medical joined up approach between increasingly collaborating with funding on research in centres Sciences was one of seven Government, charity and academia. The UK must that are world class and further organisations invited by industry over the last few years continue to be globally encourage collaboration with Professor Adrian Smith, Director was just starting to make it competitive to attract this level industry. The areas of real General, Science and Research, easier to translate research ideas of interest, it must maintain excellence do need to be Department for Business, into benefits for people who public sector investment in protected for current research Innovation and Skills to provide suffer from arthritis. If the science, and ensure that and also for the future advice on the science budget in Government stops doing its bit innovative medicines are valued generations of scientists.’ the context of the spending now, this will seriously reduce appropriately.’ review. Jon Sussex, Deputy Director the impact we can have on the Dr Patrick Vallance, Head of of the Office of Health The independent Academy of 10 million sufferers of arthritis Drug Discovery for Economics, said, ‘Research by Medical Sciences promotes and their ability to be GlaxoSmithKline, said: ‘A strong the Office of Health Economics advances in medical science independent and actively science base takes years to build and others has shown that public and campaigns to ensure these contribute to society. up – it’s not something you can investment in medical research are translated into benefits for Dr Allison Jeynes-Ellis, break up and then pick up again offers exceptional economic patients. The Academy’s Fellows Director of Medical and 5 years later. It takes a very long returns and stimulates additional are the United Kingdom’s Innovation at the Association of time to create the right R&D by the pharmaceutical and leading medical scientists and the British Pharmaceutical environment, and to have life sciences industry. Strong, scholars from hospitals, Industry said, ‘Last year, the sustainable investment. The sustained Government support academia, industry and the pharmaceutical industry invested UK’s excellent biomedical for medical science is a very public service. £4.3 billion in R&D in the UK to research base is one of the good investment, enabling the www.acmedsci.ac.uk develop new medicines – we reasons GSK locates around UK to benefit from the economic For further information, please are by far the largest private 40% of our pharmaceutical R&D prosperity produced by this vital contact sector investor. Every year, in the UK. sector as well as from the [email protected] pharmaceutical companies advances in health care that ‘We know it will be a tough 020 7969 5273 decide on where they wish to result.’ spending review, but we hope SCIENCE, RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Over the next few weeks and months, major decisions will be made on Government spending priorities as part of a wider move to stabilise the country’s finances and rebalance the economy. They will help to define what we value as a nation and the direction in which we want to head. Investing in science and research is a critical part of that. I cannot prejudge the outcome but I know that my colleagues, including at the Treasury, value the contribution of UK science. The Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP. Secretary of State for I have been arguing for years than science and engineering. to earn our living in the world Business, Innovation and my concern over the way the through high-tech, high-skills and Skills and President of the It was clear to me and my British economy was distorted. innovation. Board of Trade colleagues that the British 8 Sep 2010, Queen Mary Money borrowed for property University of London economy was becoming One of the unhappy by- speculation rather than increasingly unbalanced in the products of the burst bubble, productive investment and short term, as the mountain of banking crisis and recession is a innovation. Too many top household debt built up. We massive budget deficit that we performing graduates heading were also unprepared for a inherited. As a consequence, we straight for high finance rather long-term future where we need face the tightest spending round

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since post-War demobilisation. I recently discovered one ApaTech, which eventually sold about common room versus accidentally as a result of a for some $330m. Indeed, board room as tiresome and My department is the largest parking dispute with local Queen Mary was called “the unproductive. We need a wide department in Whitehall without residents: FT Technologies which biggest star” among research spectrum of research activity. a protected budget and science, is one of two major companies intensive institutions by Times alongside Further Education and That said, it is reasonable to in the world making wind Higher Education. Higher Education, is one of its ask the question: how does monitoring and airflow largest components. And that leads me to set out Government spending in measurement applications, a central question for the future scientific research contribute to We know that the Labour much of its production being of science and research in this the economy? Government was planning deep exported to China. country: how far should policy cuts of 20%-25% in the budget There is a lot of evidence of And one of my constituents be driven by economic impact? of that department. Economies the connection between is inventor Trevor Bayliss, best on this scale are clearly a very I fully accept that scientific innovation and economic known for inventing the wind-up major challenge. enquiry, like the arts, has its own performance. radio. He constantly reminds me intrinsic merit. It is a public good. There is a school of thought of the parlous status and Innovation, the introduction It helps to define the quality of which says that Government minimal support given to of new or improved products, our civilisation, and embeds commitment to science and inventors whose ideas so often processes or methods – has logical scientific thinking into the technology is measured by how fail to find commercial been shown to be the key driver decision-making of Government, much money we spend. Money application in the UK but are of economic growth in businesses and households. is important both for the quality used overseas. advanced economies. Superstition and irrational and quantity. But it is an input, I would add that my prejudice about the natural The 2010 OECD innovation not an output, measure. The youngest son, Hugo, is a very world are rarely far from the report shows that investment in question I have to address is theoretical quantum physicist – surface and scientists help intangible assets helped account can we achieve more with less? based in Singapore. inoculate society against them – for between two-thirds and In deciding priorities, there is a far from risk-free task as three-quarters of labour You could say that a little a limit to how much I can Simon Singh and others have productivity growth. It also knowledge is a dangerous thing. dictate the course of events. Nor discovered. suggested that innovation is also But I am familiar with the do I wish to. Research priorities a key source of future growth for language of science and the The big scientific ideas that and technical priorities are set at emerging economies. sorts of difficulties faced by changed the world were often arms length from Government, scientists, researchers and far removed from practical, let It concluded that and through peer review. That is inventors. alone commercial, applications. I “Governments must continue to right. Yet the Government suspect Newton and Darwin invest in future sources of spends £6bn a year supporting It is apt that I am giving this would have struggled to attract growth, such as education, science and research and it is speech at Queen Mary, venture capital investment, or infrastructure and research. right that I should speak about University of London, one of the justify an R&D tax credit, for their Cutting back public investment strategic priorities. UK’s leading research-focused work in gravity and natural in support of innovation may higher education institutions and I feel I should start by selection. Newton in particular provide short-term fiscal relief, home to 16,000 students. registering a personal interest was hopeless with money and but will damage the foundations when it comes to science. I’m The Mile End campus is he lost a personal fortune of long-term growth.” one of few MPs to have at least historically the home of Queen investing in the South Sea Some countries are acting on started a science degree – well, Mary College, which began life Bubble. that advice. The US is doubling it began as natural science and in 1887 as the People’s Palace, More recently, Tim Berners- basic science spend between ended up as economics. a philanthropic endeavour to Lee did not develop the World 2006 and 2016. China has seen provide east Londoners with My constituency, Wide Web in an IT company but a 25% increase in central education and social activities. Twickenham, is one of the major as a way to share information government funds to the centres of scientific enquiry. It It was an innovation then, about work on fundamental science and technology sector. contains the National Physical and continues to be innovative physics (at CERN). Indeed, Lord In Sweden, central government Laboratory, a world-leading today. Sainsbury in his 2007 report funds for R&D will increase by centre; the Laboratory of the over 10% between 2009 and I know that it collaborates described a high correlation Government Chemist; and a 2012. And in 2009, Germany with a Chinese university, plus it between successful commercial wide variety of companies announced it was injecting €18 has a good record of producing spin-offs and high-quality involved in science, research billion into research and higher spin-out technology, most fundamental research. and innovation. education during the coming notably a company called So I regard the old debate decade.

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The OECD adds, crucially, challenges thrown up by an I support, of course, top class It produces work in vital areas that “there is considerable scope ageing population – the “blue skies” research, but there like civil engineering; computing to improve the efficiency of increased prevalence of is no justification for taxpayers and electronic and electrical government spending.” Alzheimer’s for example – need money being used to support engineering. people working across biology, research which is neither We in the UK are severely One third of its students are medicine, biochemistry and the commercially useful nor financially constrained. I want to from outside the UK, social sciences in order to better theoretically outstanding. pose the question to you: how representing over 90 address needs. do we economise without As I said earlier, it would be nationalities. Many of those damaging science? So too for environmental wrong to measure this in students may even go on to challenges, such as providing monetary terms alone. There are work within the UK, lending vital The lazy, traditional way to clean water or alternative energy wider questions, regarding the skills to industries that make spending cuts is to shave sources, pooling different UK’s openness as a society and desperately need such talent if a bit of everything: salami slicing. disciplines to get a better its attractiveness as a destination they are to grow and innovate – This produces less for less: a understanding of low carbon. for the brightest scientists, passing on immeasurable shrinkage of quantity and quality researchers and engineers from benefits to the whole economy. – I have no intention of going There is also a case for all over the world. there. identifying and building up the And openness has reciprocal areas where the UK truly is a It is well known that the benefits. UK researchers already Another approach world leader. United States first leapt ahead of have an excellent record of superficially more attractive other scientific nations when it working across borders. Almost would be to specialise, to say This includes stem cells and welcomed the brightest thinkers half of more than 90,000 there are certain branches of regenerative medicine, plastic from across Europe, both before research articles published by science and technology that we electronics, satellite and after the Second World War. UK researchers in 2008 had a should do or not do. My communications, fuel cells, Enrico Fermi, Albert Einstein, co-author from another country. response to this is two-fold. advanced manufacturing, Niels Bohr, John Von Neumann Co-authorship with non-UK composite materials and many First, we should not politicise and many others formed the collaborators tends to produce more. choices of this kind. Treasury foundation stone upon which significant impact gains: e.g. and BIS ministers and officials, There is inevitably a process of American scientific leadership papers with USA, Germany and working under pressures of time selection and choice. So, how to was built. France have impact 50% higher as well as money, are not the prioritise? than the UK research base Despite considerable people who should be making average. My preference is to ration pressures, the US continues to arbitrary, far-reaching decisions research funding by excellence garner huge benefits from the What other reforms are such as whether Britain should and back research teams of talents of immigrants. Over 25% needed to help us achieve more or should not “do” international quality - and screen of US high-tech start-ups in the with less? One approach is to nanotechnology or space out mediocrity – regardless of last 10 years had at least one break down barriers to research. where they are and what they do. immigrant founder. The list of collaboration. There is already a Moreover, many of the Its is worth noting in the last great American companies fair degree of international suggested choices are not RAE 54 per cent of submitted started by entrepreneurial collaboration between UK and choices at all because disciplines work was defined as world class immigrants is long. Google is the overseas institutions and interact. I recently went to and that is the area where most famous recent example, companies. International Professor Bhattacharya’s funding should be concentrated. but also DuPont, Intel, Proctor collaboration is an important outstanding centre at Warwick and Gamble, eBay and even US way for us to stay at the cutting and the whole point about his Even a rationing of this kind Steel, started by that great edge of research whilst reducing centre is innovation depends on presents problems. How do we Scotsman, Andrew Carnegie. the cost to the UK taxpayer. lateral thinking between allow room for new, unknown I am determined that we Singapore, for example, a apparently different disciplines. but bright people? How do we reduce, not increase, the time continue to benefit from our country with global ambition in And my son tells me that spent on applying for funding in a proud history of openness in terms of science, sends some some of the most interesting more competitive market? this science. 75% of its top scientific scholars quantum work is closely linked to UK universities for their Take the Faculty of to disciplines such as There is a separate but undergraduate studies. Partly Engineering at the University of neurosurgery and optics. critically important question of due to these strong links, Leeds. This is ranked 7th in the how we maximise the Imperial College announced its There is however a strong UK for the quality of its research, contribution of Government first overseas footprint on 29 case for identifying broad and over 75% of its output is supported research to wealth August – a joint Medical School problems. For example, the rated as internationally excellent. creation. with Nanyang Technological

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University in Singapore. Solexa, a Cambridge There are some tricky issues centres we should look to drive University spin-out, was sold to a around IP. I have some this number down and establish Brazil has established a US-based company in 2007 for understanding of the issues – I well-funded centres with long- laboratory in agricultural sciences $600 million. And NovaCem Ltd, was responsible, in 2002, for term vision, focused on areas of in the UK (at the Rothamsted which produces “carbon pushing through a private clear technical leadership and Institute) to undertake research negative cement” that could members bill to strengthen commercial promise. into sustainable agriculture. potentially revolutionise the copyright. We do need to look Opportunities identified by When I was in Brazil last construction industry, was spun in more detail at how we Hauser include high-value week there was great interest in out of Cambridge and Imperial strengthen IP arrangements in manufacturing, composites, low collaborative research, building College – and the R&D for this the UK. carbon energy, plastic on networks which have led to product was supported by the electronics, space, stem cells The final question is how to Britain becoming second only to Technology Strategy Board, and regenerative medicine. encourage academics to the USA in science collaboration. which is one of the key collaborate with industry to Public sector procurement is government institutions in this The key is to find ways of maximise the benefit of their another area where we can field. transforming research into research. improve. Across many sectors, innovation. The UK has a strong The important point from a from health and transport to The Hauser review suggested record but we need to do more. national economic perspective is education and defence, the a sensible approach – This involves building stronger that we continue to increase the public sector can play a vital role establishing a network of links between the UK’s science level of economic interactions as a first customer for innovative Technology and Innovation and research base and the between business and the products and services. Centres, based on international business community; to create research base, including spin- models such as the Fraunhofer Programmes such as the more spin-out companies; and outs, licensing, consultancy and Institutes in Germany. Both Small Business Research to provide a magnet for commissioned research. science minister David Willetts Initiative, managed by the attracting overseas investors to This leads us on to the wider and I agree that it is a good way Technology Strategy Board, the UK. question of intellectual property forward, and I am looking helps to drive innovation and On the last point, the fact and how we deal with it. closely at the recommendations ensure that this takes place in that the UK is home to some of Universities make only 5% of in the review and the value of areas where there is real future the leading universities in the their externally earned income investing in these in the context demand from the public sector. I world, and has such a strong from patents and licensing. of the Spending Review. am committed to making research base, undoubtedly There are some striking greater use of this programme But we should not simply be helps us attract overseas exceptions, notably Imperial, to facilitate economic growth copying overseas models. The investors. Cambridge and Manchester, and innovation. key point is that what works are who have developed a strong Examples include Tata near business driven high technology To summarise, I think I have professional capacity in the Warwick in the West Midlands, clusters with academic links. We made it clear that science, commercialisation of research, Boeing at Sheffield, Pfizer in already have several: such as research and innovation are vital but more needs to be done. Kent, IBM and Microsoft at the Research Council campus at to this country’s future economic Cambridge, and Hewlett Packard Part of this revolves around Harwell, and others such as growth. But we have to operate at Bristol. Research Councils intellectual property protection. Cambridge and potentially St in a financially constrained work directly with over 2900 UK business invests around £65 Pancras – and we are working at environment. companies. billion annually in creating IP, how to develop this model I want to lay down a which is about 30% of total further. UK universities have an challenge to the science and business investment in tangible improving track record in terms Under the previous business communities today. and intangible assets. of commercialising knowledge Government we invested in over That we come together, work derived from science and ONS data indicates that 60 of these centres, but as together and plan a future research. Between 2003 and knowledge-based services make highlighted by Hermann Hauser, together that makes the most of 2010, 37 university spin-outs a substantial positive the funding was thinly spread this country’s competitive were floated on the stock contribution to the UK balance resulting in activity that has advantages in financially difficult exchange with an IPO value of of trade. And a recent CBI largely failed to achieve a circumstances for the benefit of £1.7 billion, while 24 university survey shows 60% of UK national impact in areas of us all. spin-out companies were businesses believe that IP has leading UK capability such as acquired by other business for a gained importance over the last nanotechnology. total value of £2.4bn. five years, 70% believe it would If we are to establish a continue to do so in the next national network of technology five.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Science and Technology CURRENT INQUIRIES ORAL EVIDENCE Committee is established under The transcripts of these evidence sessions are Standing Order No. 152, and Scientific advice and evidence in emergencies available on the Science and Technology charged with the scrutiny of the Following recent high profile emergencies such expenditure, administration and Committee’s website policy of the Government Office for as the swine flu pandemic and the Icelandic [www.parliament.uk/science]. Science, a semi-autonomous volcanic ash eruptions, the Committee organisation based within the announced on 27 July 2010 that it would Setting the scene Department for Business, examine the Government’s use of scientific On 22 July, the Committee took evidence on Innovation and Skills. advice and evidence in emergency situations. Setting the scene from Rt Hon David Willetts MP, The current members of the The inquiry will examine four case studies: (i) Minister for Universities and Science, and Science and Technology Committee the swine flu pandemic in 2009, (ii) the Icelandic Professor Adrian Smith, Director General, Science are: volcanic ash eruptions in 2010, and the potential and Research, Department for Business, Gavin Barwell (Conservative, emergency situations that (iii) solar storms and Innovation and Skills. The Committee had a Croydon Central), Gregg McClymont (iv) cyber attacks could cause. In relation to these further evidence session on 27 July when it took (Labour, Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and case studies, the Committee sought views on the evidence from Lord Rees, President of the Royal Kirkintilloch East), Stephen Metcalfe following: Society. (Conservative, South Basildon and 1. What are the potential hazards and risks and East Thurrock), Andrew Miller The UK Space Agency (Labour, Ellesmere Port and how were they identified? How prepared The Committee agreed on 27 July 2010 to Neston), David Morris is/was the Government for the emergency? examine the role of the UK Space Agency. The (Conservative, Morecambe and Lunesdale), Stephen Mosley 2. How does/did the Government use scientific Agency was officially launched on 23 March (Conservative, City of Chester), advice and evidence to identify, prepare for 2010, replacing the British National Space Centre Pamela Nash (Labour, Airdrie and and react to an emergency? and is responsible for all strategic decisions on Shotts), Jonathan Reynolds the UK civil space programme and provides a 3. What are the obstacles to obtaining reliable, (Labour/Co-operative, Stalybridge clear, single voice for UK space ambitions. timely scientific advice and evidence to inform and Hyde), Alok Sharma The terms of reference covered: (Conservative, Reading West), policy decisions in emergencies? Has the 1. What progress has been made in setting up Graham Stringer (Labour, Blackley Government sufficient powers and resources the UK Space Agency? and Broughton) and Roger Williams to overcome the obstacles? For case studies (i) 2. How does the UK Space Agency work with (Liberal Democrat, Brecon and and (ii) was there sufficient and timely Radnorshire). other bodies (national and international) on scientific evidence to inform policy decisions? space issues? Andrew Miller was elected by the 4. How effective is the strategic coordination 3. Is the UK Space Agency more effective at House of Commons to be the Chair between Government departments, public coordinating space policy than its predecessor, of the Committee on 9 June 2010. bodies, private bodies, sources of scientific the British National Space Centre? The remaining Members were advice and the research base in preparing for formally appointed to the 4. What should the UK Space Agency’s priorities Committee on 12 July 2010. and reacting to emergencies? be for the next five years? 5. Is the UK Space Agency adequately funded? 5. How important is international coordination The deadline for written submissions from and how could it be strengthened? interested parties was the end of August. The The deadline for written submissions was 14 written evidence received is available at the September 2010. It is expected that the written Committee’s website. evidence received will be on the Committee’s website towards the end of October. On 8 September 2010, the Committee took oral The Committee plan to take oral evidence on evidence on The UK Space Agency from Dr the case studies at sessions in the autumn. The David Williams, Acting Chief Executive, UK Space first sessions will be announced in October. Agency, Andy Green, CEO of Logica & Co-Chair of the Space Leadership Council, and Richard Peckham, UK Business Development Director, Astrium Limited and Chairman, UKSpace.

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After the oral evidence session the Chair of the Committee issued Science and Scientific Research’ as a Command Paper (Cm 7927). the following statement: As of September 2010 Government responses to three of its Members of the Committee found the [oral evidence] session very predecessor Committee’s Reports of Session 2009-10, are useful and valuable. We are not at this stage producing a report outstanding: but the Committee will follow the progress of the Agency, watch the concerns raised by the wider community, and track the financial • The Regulation of Geoengineering, Fifth Report (HC 221), resources provided to it by the Comprehensive Spending Review. published 18 March 2010 The Committee is agreed on the importance of Space both to the • Bioengineering, Seventh Report (HC 220), published 25 March UK economy but also the potential it has for encouraging young 2010 people to seek careers in science and engineering. I expect that the • The disclosure of climate data from the Climatic Research Unit at Agency and Space is a subject that the Committee may return to the University of East Anglia, Eighth Report (HC 387-I), published later in this Parliament. 31 March 2010

The Reviews into the Climatic Research Unit’s E-mails On 31 March 2010 the former Science and Technology Committee FURTHER INFORMATION published a report on the disclosure of climate data from the Further information about the work of the Science and Technology Climatic Research Unit (CRU) at the University of East Anglia (UEA) Committee or its current inquiries can be obtained from the Clerk (HC (2009-10) 387-I). Due to the approaching general election the of the Committee, Glenn McKee, the Second Clerk, Ed Beale, or Committee had to complete its work in March 2010 before two from the Senior Committee Assistant, Andy Boyd, on 020 7219 reviews that UEA itself had set up reported (the Independent 8367/2792/2793 respectively; or by writing to: The Clerk of the Climate Change E-mails Review headed by Sir Muir Russell and the Committee, Science and Technology Committee, House of International Panel set up by the University of East Anglia to Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. Enquiries can also be examine the research of the Climatic Research Unit headed by e-mailed to [email protected]. Anyone wishing to be Lord Oxburgh). The reviews reported in July and April 2010 included on the Committee’s mailing list should contact the staff of respectively and published their conclusions and recommendations. the Committee. Anyone wishing to submit evidence to the Committee is strongly recommended to obtain a copy of the The new Science and Technology Committee decided to take oral guidance note first. Guidance on the submission of evidence can evidence from Sir Muir Russell and Lord Oxburgh examining how be found at they responded to the former Committee’s recommendations in its http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/witguide.htm. The report and how they went about their respective reviews. Committee has a website, www.parliament.uk/science, where all recent publications, terms of reference for all inquiries and press On 8 September 2010, the Committee took evidence on The notices are available. Reviews into the Climatic Research Unit’s E-mails from Lord Oxburgh. The Committee will hold a further evidence session in October when it will take evidence from Sir Muir Russell.

REPORTS At this early stage in the Parliament the Committee has yet to agree any Reports.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSES The Legacy Report: Government Response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2009–10 On 27 July 2010, the Committee published the Government’s Response to the former Committee’s Legacy Report, HC 370.

Government Response to the Science and Technology Committee report ‘Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy’ On 26 July 2010, the Government published its Response to the former Committee’s Report on ‘Evidence Check 2: Homeopathy’ as a Command Paper (Cm 7914).

Government Response to the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee Report: “The Impact of Spending Cuts on Science and Scientific Research” On 30 July 2010, the Government published its Response to the former Committee’s Report on ‘The Impact of Spending Cuts on

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HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SELECT COMMITTEE

The members of the Committee in Behaviour change policy interventions Letter to the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, the new Parliament for session The Select Committee has appointed a sub- Minister for Universities and Science, BIS, 2010-11 (appointed 22 June about research funding cuts and the ability of 2010) are Lord Broers, Lord committee under the Chairmanship of Baroness the UK to continue to recruit and retain the Crickhowell, Lord Cunningham of Neuberger to conduct an inquiry into the very best brains Felling, Baroness Hilton of effectiveness of behaviour change interventions in Eggardon, Lord Krebs (Chairman), Following evidence given to the Science and achieving government policy goals and helping to Baroness Neuberger, Lord Patel, Technology Committee on 13 July 2010 by David Baroness Perry of Southwark, Lord meet societal challenges. Rees of Ludlow, the Earl of Willetts MP, Minister of State for Universities and Selborne, Lord Wade of Chorley, As governments across the world attempt to Science, the Committee wrote to six leading Lord Warner, Lord Willis of meet societal challenges such as reducing carbon research universities in the UK to ask them Knaresborough and Lord Winston. emissions and alleviating the burden on health whether they could provide examples of any Lord Alderdice, Lord May of Oxford, services caused by smoking, drinking and the rise Baroness O’Neill of Bengarve and difficulties that they had encountered in recruiting Lord Sutherland of Houndwood in obesity, more and more attention is being and retaining high-quality researchers and their have been co-opted to Sub- focused on how behaviour can be influenced expectation of the effects of reductions in Committee I for the purposes of its using a range of behaviour change interventions funding. inquiry into behaviour change policy that rely on measures other than prohibition or interventions. In the light of the responses from the the elimination of choice. The Committee will universities, the Committee wrote to Mr Willetts consider the current state of knowledge about on 22 September, setting out its concern that, in which behaviour change interventions are a world of global talent mobility, a worsening effective, whether the Government’s current differential in funding between the UK and other behaviour change interventions are evidence- countries, whether real or perceived, would put at based and subject to robust evaluation, and how risk the ability of the UK to continue to recruit and such interventions are coordinated across retain the very best brains. departments. The Committee will also be looking at the role of industry and the voluntary sector in Evidence session with the Rt Hon David shaping behaviour patterns and the social and Willetts MP ethical issues surrounding behaviour change The Select Committee held a one-off evidence interventions by government. session with David Willetts MP on 11 October 2010. To follow up on the Committee’s letter to As part of its inquiry, the sub-committee is also the Minister on funding cuts, the Committee conducting two case studies. The first will look at asked the Minister what assessment had been behaviour change interventions designed to made of the potential impact of cuts in research reduce obesity. The subject matter of the second funding on the ability to attract and retain high- will be decided later in the year. priority researchers in the UK. The Committee A call for evidence was published on 28 July also asked what assessment had been made of 2010 with a deadline for submissions of 8 the impact of cuts on the following areas: the October. The Committee held a seminar as part UK’s position as a preferred partner for of the obesity case study on 19 October and international collaboration in science; the future began taking oral evidence in November. The provision of skilled engineers; the industrial evidence sessions will run through to May 2011. science base and the mobility of peripatetic The Committee is due to report in the Summer. global companies; and on the regions. The transcript for the session is available on the Committee’s website.

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Government Procurement and innovation FURTHER INFORMATION The Select Committee is conducting a short inquiry into the use The written and oral evidence to the Committee’s inquiries of Government procurement to stimulate innovation within industry. mentioned above, as well as the Calls for Evidence and other A Call for Evidence was published on 22 October 2010 with a documents can be found on the Committee’s website deadline for submissions of Monday 13 December. Further www.parliament.uk/hlscience. Further information about the work of information is available on the Committee’s website. the Committee can be obtained from Christine Salmon Percival, OUTSTANDING ACTIVITIES FROM THE PREVIOUS Committee Clerk, [email protected] or 020 7219 6072. The PARLIAMENT Committee’s email address is [email protected]. Setting Priorities for Publicly Funded Research An inquiry into the setting of science and technology research funding priorities was launched in July 2009. The inquiry was undertaken by the Select Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Sutherland.

Cuts in overall public spending due to the current economic climate will lead to some difficult decisions about how to allocate Summary of Letter from Damian Green MP of 26 October to public funds for science and technology research. Effective The Rt Hon the Lord Jenkin of Roding, in response to his letter of 7 mechanisms for allocating funds are vital if the United Kingdom October to the Home Secretary regarding the Government’s science base is to remain healthy, both now and in the future, and proposal to introduce annual limits on the number of non- is able to continue to meet societal needs. The Committee European Economic Area (EEA) economic migrants admitted to live investigated a range of issues including how decisions about and work in the UK. funding research are made across Government and within 1) Immigration has enriched our culture and strengthened the Government departments and other public bodies, whether the economy.

balance between funding for targeted research and unsolicited 2) Importance of competition for world class talent and response-mode curiosity-driven research is appropriate, and how expertise is recognised. research is commissioned. 3) UK is open for business. The Committee published its report on 1 April 2010. The 4) However, immigration has been too high and must be Government response to the report was published on 30 July controlled. 2010. The report is likely to be debated in the House by the end of 5) Immigration has put pressure on jobs, housing and public the year. services. Radioactive Waste Management: a further update 6) Annual migration of hundreds of thousands to be reduced The Select Committee appointed a Sub-Committee to conduct a to tens of thousands. short follow-up inquiry into the management of radioactive waste, 7) Focus will be on the brightest and best, including top following the Committee’s previous reports on the subject, the last scientists and engineers. of which was published in session 2006-07. 8) No need to admit migrant workers to do jobs that residents The inquiry focused on the role and performance of the are capable of. Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (CoRWM) which 9) Cross-Government actions will up-skill residents to reduce provides independent scrutiny and advice on the implementation of need for migrants. the Government’s Managing Radioactive Waste Safely programme. 10) No details available or final decision made yet on how the The Committee held a one-off evidence session with limits will operate. representatives from CoRWM, Lord Hunt, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, and representatives from the 11) Annual limit is just one of several measures to be applied. Department of Energy and Climate Change and the Nuclear 12) Larger routes for students and family members will be Decommissioning Authority in February 2010, and published its looked at later. report on 25 March 2010. It is anticipated that the report will be debated by the House during the current session, following receipt of the Government’s response.

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HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION

A Research Paper produced for Sustainable Livestock and Public Bodies infrastructure is available to all companies to ease Members of Parliament is (Sustainable Food) Bills the exploitation of smaller and more difficult oil summarised opposite. Papers can Research Paper 10/71 and gas fields; create a Green Investment Bank to be accessed at support investment in low carbon projects to http://www.parliament.uk/parliame The Bills are Private Member Bills introduced transform the economy. ntary_publications_and_archives/res by Robert Flello MP and Joan Walley MP earch_papers.cfm respectively. The Sustainable Livestock Bill aims to This note sets out the measures in the Bill reduce the environmental impacts of livestock alongside what was said about these areas in the This Section produces a series of production in the UK. It also aims to amend the main election manifestos, the formal Coalition frequently updated notes on a wide way agricultural subsidies are used to make them Government agreement and the March 2010 range of topics. Opposite are more environmentally friendly. It includes a duty summaries of some recently Conservative green paper Rebuilding Security: updated notes. The notes can be to give consideration to supporting sustainable Conservative energy policy for an uncertain world. accessed online at practices and consumption through public It also highlights comment on the proposals. In http://www.parliament.uk/topics/To procurement of livestock produce. the July 2010 Draft Structural Reform Plan, DECC pical-issues.htm suggests that the Bill will be introduced in The Public Bodies (Sustainable Food) Bill December 2010. The Section made various would go further on public procurement and contributions to “Key issues for the create a duty on the Secretary of State to prepare Coalition policy on Nuclear Power New Parliament” which was a Code for Sustainable Food to promote the SN/SC/5667 prepared by the House of procurement of healthy and sustainable food by This note sets out the Coalition Government’s Commons Library Research Service. public bodies. This could be made compulsory if policy about new nuclear build and associated Those contributions appear under uptake was not extensive enough. issues. the heading “Environment and infrastructure” and can be accessed Energy Security and Green Economy Bill The Conservative Party agreed with and online at http://www.parliament.uk/ SN/SC/5559 supported the previous Labour administration’s business/publications/research/key- An Energy Security and Green Economy Bill policy and development of new nuclear build, issues-for-the-new-parliament/ . 2010-11 was included in the Queen’s Speech. while the Liberal Democrats would prefer new For further information contact DECC says that the purpose of the Bill is to generation to be renewable rather than nuclear. Christopher Barclay Head of Section provide a “step change” in the provision of The Coalition Government has agreed that it will Tel: 020 7219 3624 email: energy efficiency measures to homes and take forward the new nuclear build policy which it [email protected] businesses. It also intends to put in place a has stressed will be subject to normal planning framework to deliver secure, low carbon energy arrangements for large infrastructure projects and supplies and fair competition in the energy without public subsidy. A Liberal Democrat markets. The main element of the Bill is given as spokesperson will speak in Parliament about new “Implementation of a ‘Green deal’ to deliver nuclear issues but its members will not vote on energy efficiency to homes and business – them so that an issue of confidence will not arise. delivering a framework including potential This gives the Coalition the certainty it needs to incentives to energy suppliers and households develop new nuclear build. that will transform the provision of energy It appears that the Coalition does intend to efficiency in the UK by enabling a ‘pay as you place a floor under the carbon price. However, save’ approach.” the timetable is not clear and it may not happen DECC said that the legislation “may” also until new plant comes online in about 10 years include measures to: regulate the carbon time. This would push up the price of allowances emissions from coal-fired power stations; reform for polluting and incentivise investment in low- energy markets to deliver security of supply and carbon generators which includes renewable, ensure fair competition; put in place a framework clean coal and nuclear power. It, therefore, to guide the development of a smart grid that will cannot be considered a ‘subsidy’ solely for revolutionise the management of supply and nuclear.” demand for electricity; require energy companies to provide more information on energy bills in order to empower consumers and to ensure fair access to energy supplies; ensure that North Sea

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Major Infrastructure Planning shooting. Farmers would have to bear the costs of any culls. The SN/SC/5041 consultation also included proposals on TB monitoring in cattle and The Planning Act 2008 provided for a new Infrastructure biosecurity. Planning Commission (IPC) to decide applications for major Food Security – UK Policy infrastructure applications of national importance. That would SN/SC/4985 replace the current method of decisions being taken by the Food security for the UK in peacetime has only recently been a Secretary of State following a public inquiry. The IPC would make subject of concern. British Governments have resisted the view its decisions on the basis of National Policy Statements on various that food security concerns should be met by increased subsidy for aspects of energy, transport, waste and water. The main provisions domestic – or indeed European – agriculture. Instead they have of the Act came into force in March 2010, when the Infrastructure argued for freer international trade. Until 2008, the Labour Planning Commission (IPC) was opened to receive applications. Government justified financial support for farming as a means of The Decentralisation and Localism Bill in the Queen’s Speech obtaining environmental objectives. would “Abolish the Infrastructure Planning Commission and replace Even before the election in 2010, however, increasing concern it with an efficient and democratically accountable system that over food security has encouraged renewed emphasis upon provides a fast-track process for major infrastructure projects.” The domestic food production. Several reports have argued that food Coalition Government intends to continue the development of security problems would return unless appropriate action was taken. National Policy Statements . In July 2010 DCLG published a draft The Russian ban on wheat exports as a result of a drought in 2010 Structural Reform Plan under which the IPC would be abolished in has raised concerns again. The Pakistan floods in 2010 are likely to April 2012. create serious food supply problems in that area. Both events are Housing Targets and Planning probably caused by climate change. SN/SC/3741 The Coalition Government appears to be following roughly the This note describes how the planning system produces targets same policy as the Labour Government on this topic. for housebuilding in each area. Governments tried to use the planning system to stimulate housebuilding between about 1993 Fluoridation and 2010. Local planning authorities were heavily pressured to set SN/SC/5689 aside enough land for housebuilding so that the Government’s This note sets out the positions of various groups regarding the targets could be met. The system operating under the last Labour effects of fluoridation of drinking water and the Government’s Government included the setting of development targets at a position. It is not a scientific critique. Information on legislation regional level. relating to fluoridation can be found in another note, SN/SC/3135. The Decentralisation and Localism Bill 2010-11 in the Queen’s Marine Litter: ‘Continents’ of Rubbish Speech would “abolish Regional Spatial Strategies; [and] return SN/SC/5622 decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils.” Marine litter comes from many sources including waste Regional Strategies were formally revoked on 6 July 2010 but on discarded from ships, sanitary products from sewerage outflows and 10 November 2010 the High Court ruled that the revocation was litter left on beaches. Some of the most problematic marine litter is unlawful. The Government stated that the Court case did not really made of plastic as it has a very slow rate of decomposition, leading change the position. In effect, planning authorities could use the to a gradual build up in the environment. A plastic bottle can Government’s intentions as a reason for not following the Regional remain intact for up to 450 years. A large amount of plastic is Spatial Strategies until the Decentralisation Bill became law. accumulating in large areas of the sea. These areas have been Bovine TB and Badgers dubbed ‘great garbage patches’ or ‘plastic continents’. SN/SC/3751 Marine litter is a major environmental issue with significant This note sets out recent developments in the policy on badger implications for the marine environment and coastal communities. control. The previous Government decided in 2008 not to It leads to large economic losses. The long term environmental introduce a badger cull as part of bovine TB control measures in impacts of marine plastic pollution are unknown. There are the light of the findings of the UK Randomised Badger Culling Trial concerns that it may lead to chemical contaminants entering the published in 2007. This concluded that a reactive cull of badgers food chain, although more research is required. resulted in significant increases in Bovine TB and a proactive cull, British Summer Time whilst controlling TB in the cull area, contributed to an increase in SN/SC/3796 TB in surrounding areas and would not be cost effective. Not all This note provides an overview of the pros and cons of British agreed. Sir David King, the Chief Scientific Adviser at the time, Summer Time and the altering of clocks, as well as details of reviewed the findings and concluded that a proactive cull would be attempts to change clock times in the UK. cost effective. In general, much of the evidence would seem to suggest that Since the election the Coalition Government has indicated that a changing UK time to give an extra hour of daylight in the evening, badger cull will be introduced as part of control measures. It rather than the morning, may provide a range of benefits. announced a consultation in September 2010, which set out its However, a trial would be required to provide more definitive proposals. These include introducing proactive culls over 150km2 information on the likely impact of such a change. areas where farmers would be licensed to control badgers by

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PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST)

RECENT POST PUBLICATIONS regulation of car emissions. This POSTnote examines issues surrounding large scale Space Weather deployment of EVs in the UK, and discusses the July 2010 POSTnote 361 extent to which EVs could reduce carbon Space weather can affect space- and ground- emissions. based technological systems and cause harm to human health. Monitoring space weather is FORMATION OF THE NEW POST crucial in order to understand and mitigate its BOARD impacts. International collaboration, stimulated by The process of assembling the new POST Board the approaching peak in solar activity, has a key after the 2010 general election is nearing role to play in this area given the global nature of completion. This requires Commons and Lords space weather. select committees that nominate some members Resilience of UK Infrastructure as representatives to meet and make their October 2010 POSTnote 362 nominations, followed by nomination of ‘conventional’ members by the party whips. National infrastructure, such as transport, energy, Adam Afriyie, MP for Windsor, is chair-designate. water supplies and communications, is essential Full details of the new Board will be given in the to the UK. Investment is needed to protect it next issue of Science in Parliament. from existing natural hazards and any effects of future climate change. This briefing outlines CURRENT WORK efforts to improve the resilience of infrastructure Biological Sciences – Deception Detection to these risks. Vulnerability due to the Technologies, Indoor Air Pollution, Biofortification. interdependence of different infrastructure components, where failure of one may lead to Environment and Energy – Biodiversity failure of others, is also discussed. Credits/Habitat Banking, Future Electricity Transmission, Climate Change Adaptation in sub- Sea Level Rise Saharan Africa, Environmental Limits (long October 2010 POSTnote 363 report).

Global mean sea levels are projected to rise over Physical sciences and IT – Solar Technologies, the next century. Around the UK this would Rare Earth Metals, Technologies for Clean Water. exacerbate problems of coastal flooding and erosion. This POSTnote summarises the causes of CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS sea level rise, and the uncertainties in, and the Science in the New Parliament consequences for, UK climate change adaptation. On 26th October, POST hosted an interactive Drug Pricing exhibition in collaboration with seven of the October 2010 POSTnote 364 leading organisations that fund scientific research The government intends to reform the way in in the UK: the Arts and Humanities Research which drugs purchased by the NHS are priced. It Council (AHRC); the Biotechnology and Biological aims to ensure that drug costs more fully reflect Sciences Research Council (BBSRC); the clinical benefit and to improve patient access to Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); new treatments. This note outlines current pricing the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research policy and examines other options to evaluate Council (EPSRC); the Medical Research Council drug pricing, including “value-based” pricing. (MRC); the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); the Science and Technology Electric Vehicles Facilities Council (STFC); and Research Councils October 2010 POSTnote 365 UK (RCUK). There is increasing interest in using Electric Science cuts across almost all areas of public vehicles (EVs) for road transport. The technology policy and experts from numerous disciplines is developing rapidly, driven in part by EU were on hand to discuss the latest research with

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parliamentarians. This reception provided the opportunity to discussion on developing the interface between science and experience the hands-on exhibits and to learn more about the technology and parliaments. science involved from leading researchers. Three short presentations from a distinguished panel, which included the In October, the Director made a presentation on “Science and Science Minister, David Willetts MP, chaired by Adam Afriyie MP, Diplomacy” to the 2010 Science and Technology in Society Forum chair-designate of the POST Board, highlighted the value of science in Kyoto – and also attended an associated reception at the British in economic recovery and in providing high quality evidence upon Embassy in Tokyo to mark the 350th anniversary of the Royal which to make policy. Society, along with Sir John Beddington, government Chief Scientific Adviser and Sir Paul Nurse, president-elect of the Royal Society. STAFF, FELLOWS AND INTERNS AT POST POST AFRICAN PARLIAMENTS PROGRAMME Staff A new Energy Adviser, Dr Stephen Allen, started at POST in Activities continue to focus on the Parliament of Uganda. September, following the move of Dr Michael O’Brien from POST to • Exchange visits between all 17 MP-scientist pairs involved in take up the position of specialist with the Energy and Climate Uganda’s second “MP-scientist pairing week” have taken place. Change Committee. http://www.monitor.co.ug/OpEd/Commentary/-/689364/ Conventional Fellows 949108/-/a0b655z/-/index.html Edvard Glücksman, Oxford University, Natural Environment Research • A seminar was held on tree planting hosted by the Ugandan Council Fellowship Parliament’s Committee on Natural Resources - “Is Pine the right Dr Gareth Owen, Kings College London, Wellcome Trust Bioethics tree for Uganda” on 17th June 2010. Fellowship • A Ugandan parliamentary “science café” was held on 22nd June David Philips, University of Bristol, Engineering and Physical 2010 to discuss the impact of oil discovery on the environment. Sciences Research Council Fellowship A panel of 3 experts handled the topic and Betty Kituyi (Uganda Special Fellow Science Café) facilitated the discussion. Dr Mara Almeida, Medical Research Council, Functional Genomics • A training workshop for Ugandan parliamentary staff was held Unit, University of Oxford on a special Portuguese government six- from 21st-23rd June 2010 on Scientific Writing Skills with a focus month scholarship to study the functioning of parliamentary science on climate science. Dr Michael O’Brien (POST science advisor) offices. advised on Climate Science while Kris Anderson of Oxford INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES University ran training on writing skills.. Materials from the writing skills part of this workshop have been developed into a Lectures and Presentations downloadable module which is now available on the INASP website (http://www.inasp.info/) The summer period has been a busy time for POST with inbound and outbound missions. • The first Ugandan parliamentary internship has been advertised, to start before the end of 2010, and the topic of technologies for Remarkable has been the increase in requests for POST to present clean water has been selected. to inbound missions from China, which are occurring on an almost monthly basis. While keen to learn about POST’s specific functions, • POST was successful in its application for a third “Commonwealth delegations to date have requested briefings on topics ranging from Professional Fellowship” provided by the Commonwealth water management, through forestry to the interchange of scientific Fellowship Commission. A parliamentary researcher from Uganda expertise between government and parliament, academia and the will spend 2 months at POST (November/December 2010). private sector.

In August, the Director made a presentation to the final meeting of the 2010 intake of French government, research institute and private sector scientists on the annual study courses organised by the Institut des Hautes Etudes pour la Science et la Technologie (www.ihest.fr). Meeting at the Saline Royale, Franche Comté, the 40+ participants were keen to learn about the development of UK stem cell research policy and regulation.

In September, the Director made a keynote presentation at the latest in a series of regional parliamentary dialogues organised by the Science Policy Division of UNESCO (www.unesco.org/science/psd/programme.shtml). Hosted by the Syrian Parliament, parliamentary and scientific delegates came from across the Middle East and North Africa to Damascus for a two-day

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SCIENCE DIRECTORY DIRECTORY INDEX Aerospace and Aviation Institution of Chemical Engineers Council Forensics C-Tech Innovation LGC EPSRC Institute of Measurement and Control EPSRC London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Engineering UK LGC National Physical Laboratory Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Institute of Measurement and Control Royal Society of Chemistry Semta Royal Institution Institute of Physics Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Chemical Engineers Genetics Agriculture STFC Institution of Civil Engineers ABPI BBSRC Institution of Engineering and BBSRC CABI Colloid Science Technology HFEA The Food and Environment Research London Metropolitan Polymer Centre LGC LGC Agency Royal Society of Chemistry London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Natural History Museum LGC NESTA Society of Biology Newcastle University Construction and Building National Physical Laboratory PHARMAQ Ltd Institution of Civil Engineers Natural History Museum Geology and Geoscience Society for General Microbiology London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership AMSI Society of Biology National Physical Laboratory Royal Institution Institution of Civil Engineers UFAW The Royal Society Natural Environment Research Council Cosmetic Science Royal Society of Chemistry Animal Health and Welfare, Society of Cosmetic Scientists Royal Statistical Society Hazard and Risk Mitigation Veterinary Research Semta Health Protection Agency ABPI Earth Sciences Society of Biology Institute of Measurement and Control Academy of Medical Sciences The Linnean Society of London Institution of Chemical Engineers The Nutrition Society Natural England Energy PHARMAQ Ltd Natural Environment Research Council CABI Health Society for Applied Microbiology Natural History Museum C-Tech Innovation ABPI Society of Biology Society of Biology EPSRC Academy of Medical Sciences UFAW Institute of Measurement and Control Biochemical Society Ecology, Environment and Institute of Physics British Nutrition Foundation Astronomy and Space Science Biodiversity Institution of Chemical Engineers British Pharmacological Society Institute of Physics AMSI Institution of Civil Engineers British Society for Antimicrobial Natural History Museum The British Ecological Society Institution of Engineering and Chemotherapy STFC CABI Technology Economic and Social Research Council C-Tech Innovation Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Atmospheric Sciences, Climate and Economic and Social Research Royal Society of Chemistry EPSRC Weather Council STFC The Food and Environment Research Natural Environment Research Council The Food and Environment Research Agency STFC Agency Engineering Health Protection Agency Institution of Chemical Engineers C-Tech Innovation HFEA Biotechnology Institution of Civil Engineers EPSRC Institute of Physics and Engineering in BBSRC Kew Gardens Engineering UK Medicine Biochemical Society LGC Institute of Measurement and Control LGC CABI The Linnean Society of London Institution of Chemical Engineers Medical Research Council C-Tech Innovation National Physical Laboratory Institution of Civil Engineers National Physical Laboratory Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Natural England Institution of Engineering and The Nutrition Society Institution of Chemical Engineers Natural Environment Research Council Technology Royal Institution LGC Natural History Museum London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Royal Society of Chemistry National Physical Laboratory Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership National Physical Laboratory Society for General Microbiology Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Royal Society of Chemistry Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Society of Applied Microbiology Royal Society of Chemistry Society for General Microbiology The Royal Academy of Engineering Society of Biology Semta Society for Applied Microbiology Semta Society for General Microbiology Society of Biology STFC Heart Research Society for Applied Microbiology ABPI Society of Biology Economic and Social Research Fisheries Research Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Economic and Social Research AMSI Brain Research Council Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Hydrocarbons and Petroleum ABPI Society of Biology Institution of Chemical Engineers Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Education, Training and Skills Natural History Museum Merck Sharp & Dohme ABPI Food and Food Technology Royal Society of Chemistry Academy of Medical Sciences British Nutrition Foundation Cancer Research Association for Science Education CABI Industrial Policy and Research ABPI AIRTO C-Tech Innovation AIRTO Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Biochemical Society The Food and Environment Research Economic and Social Research Council National Physical Laboratory British Science Association Agency Institution of Civil Engineers The British Ecological Society Institution of Chemical Engineers The Royal Academy of Engineering Catalysis British Nutrition Foundation LGC Semta C-Tech Innovation British Pharmacological Society Newcastle University STFC Institution of Chemical Engineers British Society for Antimicrobial The Nutrition Society Royal Society of Chemistry Chemotherapy Royal Society of Chemistry Information Services CABI Society for General Microbiology AIRTO Chemistry Clifton Scientific Trust Society for Applied Microbiology CABI C-Tech Innovation C-Tech Innovation Society of Biology EPSRC Economic and Social Research

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IT, Internet, Telecommunications, Particle Physics Engineering UK Statistics Computing and Electronics Institute of Physics The Food and Environment Research EPSRC EPSRC STFC Agency Engineering UK Institution of Civil Engineers HFEA Royal Statistical Society Institution of Engineering and Patents Institute of Physics Technology The Chartered Institute of Patent Institution of Chemical Engineers Surface Science National Physical Laboratory Attorneys Institution of Engineering and C-Tech Innovation STFC NESTA Technology STFC Medical Research Council Intellectual Property Pharmaceuticals Natural History Museum Sustainability ABPI ABPI NESTA The British Ecological Society The Chartered Institute of Patent British Pharmacological Society Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership CABI Attorneys British Society for Antimicrobial Prospect C-Tech Innovation C-Tech Innovation Chemotherapy Research Councils UK EPSRC Eli Lilly and Company Ltd C-Tech Innovation The Royal Academy of Engineering The Food and Environment Research NESTA Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Royal Institution Agency Institution of Chemical Engineers The Royal Society Institution of Chemical Engineers Large-Scale Research Facilities LGC Royal Society of Chemistry Institution of Civil Engineers C-Tech Innovation Merck Sharp & Dohme STFC The Linnean Society of London The Food and Environment Research PHARMAQ Ltd Society of Biology London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Agency Royal Society of Chemistry Natural England Institute of Physics Semta Quality Management Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Society of Biology LGC Royal Society of Chemistry National Physical Laboratory National Physical Laboratory Society of Biology Natural History Museum Physical Sciences STFC Cavendish Laboratory Radiation Hazards Technology Transfer C-Tech Innovation Health Protection Agency AIRTO Lasers EPSRC LGC CABI Institute of Physics Institute of Physics C-Tech Innovation National Physical Laboratory London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Retail The Food and Environment Research STFC National Physical Laboratory Marks and Spencer Agency Institute of Measurement and Control Manufacturing Physics Science Policy LGC ABPI Cavendish Laboratory ABPI London Metropolitan Polymer Centre AMSI C-Tech Innovation Academy of Medical Sciences NESTA EPSRC Institute of Physics Biochemical Society National Physical Laboratory Institution of Chemical Engineers National Physical Laboratory The British Ecological Society Research Councils UK London Metropolitan Polymer Centre STFC British Nutrition Foundation Royal Society of Chemistry National Physical Laboratory British Pharmacological Society STFC Semta Pollution and Waste British Science Association ABPI CABI Tropical Medicine Materials AMSI Clifton Scientific Trust Health Protection Agency C-Tech Innovation C-Tech Innovation Economic and Social Research Council Natural History Museum Institution of Chemical Engineers Institution of Chemical Engineers Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Society for General Microbiology London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Institution of Civil Engineers EPSRC Society for Applied Microbiology National Physical Laboratory London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Engineering UK Royal Society of Chemistry National Physical Laboratory The Food and Environment Research Viruses Semta Natural Environment Research Council Agency ABPI STFC Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership HFEA Health Protection Agency Institute of Physics Society for General Microbiology Medical and Biomedical Research Psychology Institution of Chemical Engineers Society for Applied Microbiology ABPI British Psychological Society Institution of Civil Engineers Academy of Medical Sciences LGC Water Biochemical Society Public Policy Medical Research Council AMSI British Pharmacological Society Biochemical Society NESTA C-Tech Innovation British Society for Antimicrobial The British Ecological Society National Physical Laboratory Institute of Measurement and Control Chemotherapy British Nutrition Foundation Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Institution of Chemical Engineers CABI British Society for Antimicrobial Prospect Institution of Civil Engineers Eli Lilly and Company Ltd Chemotherapy Research Councils UK LGC HFEA Economic and Social Research Council The Royal Academy of Engineering Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Medical Research Council Engineering UK Royal Institution Royal Society of Chemistry Merck Sharp & Dohme The Food and Environment Research The Royal Society Society for General Microbiology Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Agency Royal Society of Chemistry Society for Applied Microbiology Royal Institution HFEA Semta Society of Biology Society of Biology Institution of Civil Engineers STFC UFAW Institution of Chemical Engineers Society of Biology Wildlife NESTA UFAW The British Ecological Society Motor Vehicles Prospect The Food and Environment Research London Metropolitan Polymer Centre Royal Society of Chemistry Sensors and Transducers Agency Society of Biology AMSI The Linnean Society of London Oceanography C-Tech Innovation Natural England AMSI Public Understanding of Science Institute of Measurement and Control Natural History Museum National Physical Laboratory Academy of Medical Sciences STFC Society of Biology Natural Environment Research Council Biochemical Society UFAW Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership The British Ecological Society British SSSIs Nutrition Foundation Kew Gardens Oil British Science Association Natural England C-Tech Innovation British Society for Antimicrobial Institution of Chemical Engineers Chemotherapy LGC Clifton Scientific Trust EPSRC

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Research Councils UK Arts Contact: Alexandra Saxon and Head of Communications Research Councils UK Humanities Polaris House Research Council North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1ET Contact: Jake Gilmore Communications Manager Tel: 01793 444592 AHRC, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, E-mail: [email protected] BS1 2AE Website: www.rcuk.ac.uk Tel: 0117 9876500 E-mail: [email protected] Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research covering the full spectrum of academic Website: www.ahrc.ac.uk disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social Each year the AHRC provides approximately £105 sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and humanities. million from the Government to support 700 Research Councils UK is the strategic partnerships of the seven Research Councils. It aims to: research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards in the arts and humanities, from archaeology • increase the collective visibility, leadership and influence of the Research Councils for the benefit of the and English literature to dance and design. Awards UK; are made after a rigorous peer review process, so • lead in shaping the overall portfolio of research funded by the Research Councils to maximise the that only applications of the highest quality are excellence and impact of UK research, and help to ensure that the UK gets the best value for money from funded. The quality and range of research supported its investment; by this investment of public funds not only provides • ensure joined-up operations between the Research Councils to achieve its goals and improve services to social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the communities it sponsors and works with. the economic success of the UK.

Biotechnology Economic and and Biological Social Research Sciences Research Council Council (BBSRC) Contact: Lesley Lilley, Senior Policy Contact: Jenny Aranha, Manager, Knowledge Transfer, Public Affairs Manager, Contact: Dr Monica Winstanley Economic and Social Research Council, EPSRC, Polaris House, Head of External Relations Polaris House, North Star Avenue, North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ET BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1UJ Tel: 01793 442892 Swindon SN2 1UH. Tel: 01793 413204 Tel: 01793 413033 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Website:www.epsrc.ac.uk Website: www.bbsrc.ac.uk http://www.esrc.ac.uk EPSRC is the main UK government agency for BBSRC is the UK’s principal public funder of The ESRC is the UK’s leading research and training agency addressing economic and social concerns. funding research and training in engineering and research and research training across the We pursue excellence in social science research; the physical sciences, investing around £850 million biosciences. BBSRC provides institute strategic work to increase the impact of our research on a year in a broad range of subjects – from research grants to eight centres, as well as policy and practice; and provide trained social mathematics to materials science, and information supporting research and training in universities scientists who meet the needs of users and technology to structural engineering. across the UK. BBSRC’s research underpins beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic competitiveness of the United Kingdom, the advances in a wide range of bio-based industries, EPSRC’s investment in high quality basic, strategic effectiveness of public services and policy, and and applied research and training promotes future and contributes knowledge to policy areas which quality of life. The ESRC is independent, established economic and societal impact in the UK. include: food security, climate change, diet and by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by health and healthy ageing. government.

Medical Natural Science & Research Environment Technology Council Research Council Facilities Council Contact: Sophie Broster-James Contact: Judy Parker Mark Foster 20 Park Crescent, London W1B 1AL. Head of Communications Public Affairs Manager Tel: 020 7636 5422 Fax: 020 7436 6179 Polaris House, North Star Avenue Rutherford Appleton Laboratory Swindon SN2 1EU Harwell Science & Innovation Campus E-mail: sophie.broster- Tel: 01793 411646 Fax: 01793 411510 Didcot OX11 0QX [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01235 778328 Fax: 01235 445 808 Website: www.mrc.ac.uk Website: www.nerc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] For almost 100 years the Medical Research Council Website: www.stfc.ac.uk (MRC) has improved the health of people in the UK and The UK’s Natural Environment Research Council Formed by Royal Charter in 2007, the Science and around the world by supporting the highest quality funds and carries out impartial scientific research in Technology Facilities Council is one of Europe’s largest science. the sciences of the environment. NERC trains the multidisciplinary research organisations supporting next generation of independent environmental The MRC is funded by the UK taxpayer. We are scientists and engineers world-wide. The Council scientists. independent of Government, but work closely with the operates world-class, large-scale research facilities and Health Departments, the National Health Service and NERC funds research in universities and in a provides strategic advice to the UK Government on industry to ensure that the research we support takes network of its own centres, which include: their development. The STFC partners in the UK’s two account of the public’s needs as well as being of British Antarctic Survey, British Geological National Science and Innovation Campuses. It also excellent scientific quality. As a result, MRC-funded manages international research projects in support of a research has led to some of the most significant Survey, Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and National Oceanography Centre. broad cross-section of the UK research community. The discoveries in medical science and benefited millions of Council directs, co-ordinates and funds research, people, both in the UK and worldwide. education and training.

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Association of the British Pharmaceutical Contact: Annette Smith Contact: Dr Helen Munn, Chief Executive Industry Executive Director Association for Science Education Contact: Dr Allison Jeynes-Ellis Academy of Medical Sciences College Lane Hatfield Medical & Innovation Director 10 Carlton House Terrace Herts, AL10 9AA 12 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY London SW1Y 5AH Tel: 01707 283000 Tel: 020 7747 1408 Tel: 020 7969 5288 Fax: 01707 266532 Fax: 020 7747 1417 Fax: 020 7969 5298 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ase.org.uk Website: www.abpi.org.uk Website: www.acmedsci.ac.uk The Association for Science Education (ASE) is the The ABPI is the voice of the innovative pharmaceutical The Academy of Medical Sciences promotes largest subject association in the UK for teachers, industry, working with Government, regulators and other advances in medical science and campaigns to stakeholders to promote a receptive environment for a technicians and others interested in science ensure these are converted into healthcare benefits strong and progressive industry in the UK, one capable of education. Working closely with the science providing the best medicines to patients. for society. The Academy’s Fellows are the United professional bodies, industry and business, ASE The ABPI’s mission is to represent the pharmaceutical Kingdom’s leading medical scientists and scholars provides a UK network bringing together industry operating in the UK in a way that: from hospitals, academia, industry and the public individuals and organisations to share good ideas, • assures patient access to the best available medicine; service. The Academy provides independent, tackle challenges in science teaching, develop • creates a favourable political and economic authoritative advice on public policy issues in environment; resources and foster high quality continuing medical science and healthcare. • encourages innovative research and development; professional development. • affords fair commercial returns

AIRTO Association Biochemical of Marine Society Contact: Professor Richard Brook OBE FREng AIRTO Ltd: Association of Independent Scientific Industries Contact: Dr Chris Kirk Research & Technology Organisations Limited Contact: John Murray CEO c/o Campden BRI, Station Road, Association of Marine Scientific Industries The Biochemical Society Chipping Campden, 28-29 Threadneedle Street, Charles Darwin House Gloucestershire GL55 6LD. London EC2R 8AY 12 Roger Street Tel: 01386 842247 Tel: 020 7628 2555 Fax: 020 7638 4376 London WC1N 2JU Fax: 01386 842010 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7685 2433 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.maritimeindustries.org Fax: 020 7685 2470 Website: www.airto.co.uk The Association of Marine Scientific Industries The Biochemical Society exists to promote and (AMSI) is a constituent association of the Society of support the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. We AIRTO represents the UK’s independent research Maritime Industries (SMI) representing companies in have nearly 6000 members in the UK and abroad, and technology sector - member organisations the marine science and technology sector, mostly research bioscientists in Universities or in employ a combined staff of over 20,000 scientists otherwise known as the oceanology sector. Industry. The Society is also a major scientific and engineers with a turnover exceeding £2 billion. The marine science sector has an increasingly publisher. In addition, we promote Science Policy Work carried out by members includes research, important role to play both in the UK and globally, debate and provide resources, for teachers and consultancy, training and global information particularly in relation to the environment, security pupils, to support the bioscience curriculum in monitoring. AIRTO promotes their work by building and defence, resource exploitation, and leisure. schools. Our membership supports our mission by closer links between members and industry, AMSI represents manufacturers, researchers, and organizing scientific meetings, sustaining our publications through authorship and peer review academia, UK government agencies and the system suppliers providing a co-ordinated voice and and by supporting our educational and policy European Union. enabling members to project their views and capabilities to a wide audience. initiatives.

British Science The British British Association Ecological Nutrition Contact: Sir Roland Jackson Bt, Society Foundation Chief Executive British Science Association, The British Ecological Society Contact: Professor Judy Buttriss, Wellcome Wolfson Building, 165 Queen’s Gate, Contact: Ceri Margerison, Policy Officer Director General London SW7 5HD. British Ecological Society 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RQ E-mail: Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, Tel: 020 7404 6504 [email protected] London, WC1N 2JU Fax: 020 7404 6747 Website: www.britishscienceassociation.org Tel: 020 7685 2500 Fax : 020 7685 2501 Email: [email protected] Our vision is a society in which people are able to Website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Ecology into Policy Blog Websites: www.nutrition.org.uk access science, engage with it and feel a sense of www.foodafactoflife.org.uk ownership about its direction. In such a society http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/ science advances with, and because of, the The British Ecological Society’s mission is to advance The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) was involvement and active support of the public. ecology and make it count. The Society has 4,000 Established in 1831, the British Science Association members worldwide. The BES publishes five established over 40 years ago and exists to deliver is a registered charity which organises major internationally renowned scientific journals and authoritative, evidence-based information on food organises the largest scientific meeting for ecologists in initiatives across the UK, including National Science and nutrition in the context of health and lifestyle. and Engineering Week, the British Science Festival, Europe. Through its grants, the BES also supports programmes of regional and local events and the ecologists in developing countries and the provision of The Foundation’s work is conducted and fieldwork in schools. The BES informs and advises CREST programme for young people in schools and communicated through a unique blend of colleges. We provide opportunities for all ages to Parliament and Government on ecological issues and discuss, investigate, explore and challenge science. welcomes requests for assistance from parliamentarians. nutrition science, education and media activities.

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British Society The for Antimicrobial British Chemotherapy

Contact: Kate Baillie Psychological Mrs Tracey Guise Chief Executive Society Executive Director British Pharmacological Society British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 16 Angel Gate, City Road Contact: Dr Ana Padilla Griffin House London EC1V 2PT Parliamentary Officer 53 Regent Place Tel: 020 7417 0113 The British Psychological Society Birmingham B1 3NJ Fax: 020 7417 0114 30 Tabernacle Street T: 0121 236 1988 Email: [email protected] London EC2A 4UE W: www.bsac.org.uk Tel: 020 7330 0893 Website: www.bps.ac.uk Founded in 1971, and with 800 members Fax: 020 7330 0896 worldwide, the Society exists to facilitate the The British Pharmacological Society has now been Email: [email protected] acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in the supporting pharmacology and pharmacologists for Website: www.bps.org.uk over 75 years. Our 2,000+ members, from field of antimicrobial chemotherapy. The BSAC academia, industry and clinical practice, are trained The British Psychological Society is an organisation publishes the Journal of Antimicrobial to study drug action from the laboratory bench to of over 45,000 members governed by Royal Chemotherapy (JAC), internationally renowned for the patient’s bedside. Our aim is to improve the Charter. It maintains the Register of Chartered its scientific excellence, undertakes a range of quality of life by developing new medicines to treat Psychologists, publishes books, 10 primary science educational activities, awards grants for research and prevent the diseases and conditions that affect Journals and organises conferences. Requests for and has active relationships with its peer groups millions of people and animals. Inquiries about information about psychology and psychologists and government. drugs and how they work are welcome. from parliamentarians are welcome.

Cavendish Chartered Laboratory Institute of CABI The Administrative Secretary, The Cavendish Laboratory, Patent Attorneys Contact: Dr Joan Kelley, Executive Director, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. Contact: Michael Ralph - Global Operations, CABI E-mail: [email protected] Secretary & Registrar Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk Tel: 01491 829306 Fax: 01491 829100 The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Email: [email protected] The Cavendish Laboratory houses the Department of Physics 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT of the University of Cambridge. Website: www.cabi.org Tel: 020 7405 9450 Its world-class research is focused in a number of Fax: 020 7430 0471 experimental and theoretical diverse fields. CABI is an international not for profit E-mail: [email protected] Astrophysics: Millimetre astronomy, optical interferometry Website: www.cipa.org.uk organization, specialising in scientific observations & instrumentation. Astrophysics, geometric publishing, research and communication. Our algebra, maximum entropy, neutral networks. CIPA’s members practise in intellectual property, mission is to improve peoples’ lives worldwide High Energy Physics: LHC experiments. Detector especially patents, trade marks, designs, and by finding sustainable solutions to agricultural development. Particle physics theory. copyright, either in private partnerships or industrial and environmental issues. Activities range from Condensed Matter Physics: Semiconductor physics, quantum companies. Through its new regulatory Board, CIPA assisting national policy makers and informing effect devices, nanolithography. Superconductivity, maintains the statutory Register. It advises magnetic thin films. Optoelectronics, conducting polymers. government and international circles on policy worldwide research to supporting income poor Biological Soft Systems. Polymers and Colloids. Surface farmers. We also house and manage the UK’s physics, fracture, wear & erosion. Amorphous solids. issues and provides information services, promoting National Collection of Fungus Cultures which Electron microscopy. Electronic structure theory & the benefits to UK industry of obtaining IP we are exploring for potential new drugs, computation. Structural phase transitions, fractals, quantum protection, and to overseas industry of using British Monte Carlo calculations Biological Physics. Quantum attorneys to obtain international protection. enzymes and nutraceuticals. optics.

Clifton C-Tech Eli Lilly and Scientific Innovation Company Trust Limited Ltd Contact: Dr Eric Albone Contact: Thom Thorp, Head External Affairs Clifton Scientific Trust Contact: Paul Radage Tel: 01256 315000 49 Northumberland Road, Bristol BS6 7BA Capenhurst Technology Park, Fax: 01256 775858 Tel: 0117 924 7664 Fax: 0117 924 7664 Capenhurst, Chester, Cheshire CH1 6EH Eli Lilly and Company Ltd, Lilly House E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 151 347 2900 Priestley Road, Basingstoke, Hants, Website: www.clifton-scientific.org Fax: +44 (0) 151 347 2901 RG24 9NL E-mail: [email protected] Email. [email protected] Science for Citizenship and Employability, Website: www.ctechinnovation.com Website: www.lilly.co.uk Science for Life, Science for Real Innovation Management and Technology Lilly UK is the UK affiliate of a major American We build grass-roots partnerships between school and pharmaceutical manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company Development organisation offering an end-to-end the wider world of professional science and its of Indianapolis. This affiliate is one of the UK’s top applications innovation management service, able to assist at pharmaceutical companies with significant • for young people of all ages and abilities every step of the innovation journey. We work with investment in science and technology including a • experiencing science as a creative, questioning, SMEs, Blue Chips, Central, Regional and Local neuroscience research and development centre and human activity Government. Our activities include research and bulk biotechnology manufacturing operations. • bringing school science added meaning and development, engineering design as well as a wide Lilly medicines treat schizophrenia, diabetes, cancer, notivation, from primary to post-16 ranging innovation, business and technology osteoporosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, erectile dysfunction, severe sepsis, • locally, nationally, internationally consultancy. See www.ctechinnovation.com for (currently between Britain and Japan) depression, bipolar disorder, heart disease and more details. Clifton Scientific Trust Ltd is registered charity 1086933 many other diseases.

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The Food and Health Environment Protection Research Agency Agency

Contact: Laura Marsh Contact: Dr R Angus Hearmon Contact: Justin McCracken, Chief Executive PR and Communication Manager Director of External Affairs Health Protection Agency Central Office EngineeringUK The Food and Environment Research Agency 7th Floor, Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn Weston House, 246 High Holborn Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ London WC1V 7PP London WC1V 7EX Tel: 01904 462284 Tel: 020 7759 2700/2701 Tel: 020 3206 0444 Fax: 01904 462486 Fax: 020 7759 2733 Fax: 020 3206 0401 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.defra.gov.uk/fera Web: www.hpa.org.uk EngineeringUK is an independent organisation that The Health Protection Agency is an independent UK The Food and Environment Research Agency’s over organisation that protects the public from threats to promotes the vital role of engineers, engineering arching purpose is to support and develop a their health from infectious diseases and and technology in our society. EngineeringUK sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environmental hazards. partners business and industry, Government and the environment, and to protect the global community The HPA identifies and responds to health hazards wider science and technology community: from biological and chemical risks. and emergencies caused by infectious disease, producing evidence on the state of engineering; hazardous chemicals, poisons or radiation. Our role within that is to provide robust evidence, sharing knowledge within engineering, and It gives advice to the public, provides data and inspiring young people to choose a career in rigorous analysis and professional advice to information to government, and advises people engineering, matching employers’ demand for Government, international organisations and the working in healthcare. It also makes sure the nation skills. private sector. is ready for future threats to health that could happen naturally, accidentally or deliberately.

Human The Institute of Fertilisation Measurement and Control Contact: Joseph Winters and 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Embryology Contact: Mr Peter Martindale, Tel: 020 7470 4815 CEO and Secretary E-mail: [email protected] Authority The Institute of Measurement and Control Website: www.iop.org 87 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AF Contact: Peter Thompson Tel: +44 (0) 20 73874949 Director Strategy and Information Fax: +44 (0) 20 73888431 21 Bloomsbury St E-mail: [email protected] The Institute of Physics is a scientific charity London WC1B 3HF Website: www.instmc.org.uk devoted to increasing the practice, Tel: 020 7291 8200 Reg Charity number: 269815 understanding and application of physics. It has Fax: 020 7291 8201 The Institute of Measurement and Control provides a Email: [email protected] a worldwide membership of more than 36,000 forum for personal contact amongst practiioners, Website: www.hfea.gov.uk and is a leading communicator of physics- publishes learned papers and is a professional examining and qualifying organisation able to confer related science to all audiences, from specialists The HFEA is a non-departmental Government body the titles EurIng, CEng, IEng, EngTech; Companies and through to government and the general public. that regulates and inspects all UK clinics providing Universities may apply to become Companions. Its publishing company, IOP Publishing, is a IVF, donor insemination or the storage of eggs, Headquartered in London, the Institute has a strong sperm or embryos. The HFEA also licenses and regional base with 15 UK, 1 Hong Kong and 1 Malaysia world leader in scientific publishing and the monitors all human embryo research being Local Section, a bilateral agreement with the China electronic dissemination of physics. conducted in the UK. Instrument Society and other major international links.

Institute of Institution Physics and of Civil Engineering Engineers

in Medicine Contact: Vernon Hunte, Senior Public Affairs Executive , Contact: Robert Neilson, General Secretary One Great George Street, Westminster, Fairmount House, 230 Tadcaster Road, IChemE is the hub for chemical, London SW1P 3AA, UK York, YO24 1ES biochemical and process engineering Tel: 020 7665 2265 Tel: 01904 610821 Fax: 01904 612279 professionals worldwide. We Fax: 020 7222 0973 E-mail: [email protected] are the heart of the process E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ipem.ac.uk community, promoting competence and a commitment to sustainable Website: www.ice.org.uk IPEM is a registered, incorporated charity for the development, advancing the discipline advancement, in the public interest, of physics and for the benefit of society and supporting ICE aims to be a leading voice in infrastructure engineering applied to medicine and biology. It the professional development of over issues. With over 80,000 members, ICE acts as a accredits medical physicists, clinical engineers and knowledge exchange for all aspects of civil clinical technologists through its membership 30,000 members. engineering. As a Learned Society, the Institution register, organises training and CPD for them, and Contact: Andrew Furlong, Director provides opportunities for the dissemination of provides expertise, in the form of reports, evidence t: +44 (0)1788 534484 knowledge through publications and scientific and comment, on a wide range of subjects f: +44 (0)1788 560833 meetings. IPEM is licensed by the Science Council to including infrastructure, energy generation and e: [email protected] award CSci and by the Engineering Council (UK) to supply, climate change and sustainable award CEng, IEng and EngTech. www.icheme.org development.

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Institution of LGC Engineering The mission of Kew is to inspire and deliver science- Queens Road, Teddington and Technology based plant conservation worldwide, enhancing the Middlesex, TW11 0LY quality of life. Kew is developing its breathing planet Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 programme with seven key strategies: Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767 Contact: Paul Davies • creating global access to essential information E-mail: [email protected] IET, • identifying species and regions most at risk Website: www.lgc.co.uk Michael Faraday House, • helping implement global conservation programmes Six Hills Way, LGC is an international science-based company and Stevenage, • extending the Millennium Seed Bank’s global market leader in the provision of analytical, forensic partnership SG1 2AY and diagnostic services and reference standards to Tel: +44 (0) 1438 313311 • establishing a global network for restoration ecology customers in the public and private sectors. Email: [email protected] • identifying and growing locally appropriate species Under the Government Chemist function, LGC Web: www.theiet.org in a changing climate fulfils specific statutory duties as the referee analyst • using botanic gardens as shop-front opportunities and provides advice for Government and the wider to inform and inspire The IET is a world leading professional organisation, analytical community on the implications of Contact: Prof Simon J. Owens analytical chemistry for matters of policy, standards sharing and advancing knowledge to promote Tel: 020 8332 5106 and regulation. LGC is also the UK’s designated science, engineering and technology across the Fax: 020 8332 5109 National Measurement Institute for chemical and world. Dating from 1871, the IET has 150,000 Email: [email protected] biochemical analysis. members in 127 countries with offices in Europe, Website: www.kew.org With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, LGC has 28 laboratories and centres across North America and Asia-Pacific. Two stunning gardens-devoted to building and sharing knowledge Europe and at sites in China, India and the US.

London Marks & Metropolitan Spencer Plc Polymer Centre Contact: The Linnean Society of London Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media & Design Paul Willgoss Waterside House Contact: Dr Ruth Temple, Executive Secretary Contact: Alison Green, 35 North Wharf Road Burlington House London Metropolitan University London W2 1NW. Piccadilly 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB Tel: 020 8718 8247 London W1J 0BF Tel: 020 7133 2189 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7434 4479 Website: www.polymers.org.uk Fax: 020 7287 9364 Main Business Activities E-mail: [email protected] The London Metropolitan Polymer Centre provides Retailer – Clothing, Food, Home and Financial Website: www.linnean.org training, consultancy and applied research to the Services UK polymer (plastics & rubber) industry. Recently, We have over 600 UK stores, employing over The Linnean Society of London is the world’s oldest LMPC has merged with the Sir John Cass 75,000 people - 285 stores internationally in active biological society. Founded in 1788, the Department of Art, Media & Design (JCAMD) to 40 territories. provide a broad perspective of materials science Society takes its name from the Swedish naturalist We are one of the UK’s leading retailers, with Carl Linnaeus whose botanical, zoological and and technology for the manufacturing and creative over 21 million people visiting our stores each library collections have been in its keeping since industries. JCAMD contains Met Works, a unique week. We offer stylish, high quality, great value 1829. The Society continues to play a central role in new Digital Manufacturing Centre, providing new Clothing and Home products, as well as the documentation of the world’s flora and fauna, technology for rapid prototyping and manufacture. outstanding quality foods, responsibly sourced recognising the continuing importance of such The new department will offer short courses in from around 2,000 suppliers globally. work to many scientific issues. polymer innovation, print technology and silversmithing & jewellery.

The National UK Subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc National Endowment Physical Contact: Margaret Beer/Rob Pinnock for Science, Technology Laboratory Licensing & External Research, Europe Hertford Road and the Arts National Physical Laboratory Hoddesdon Contact: Madeleine Hallward Hampton Road, Teddington Herts EN11 9BU Head of Public Affairs Middlesex TW11 0LW Tel: 01992 452837 1 Plough Place Tel: 020 8943 6880 Fax: 020 8614 1446 Fax: 01992 441907 London EC4A1DE E-mail: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] / Tel: 020 7438 2615 Website: www.npl.co.uk [email protected] Fax: 020 7438 2501 www.merck.com Email: [email protected] The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the United Website: www.nesta.org.uk Kingdom’s national measurement institute, an Merck Sharp & Dohme Limited (MSD) is the UK NESTA is the National Endowment for Science, Technology internationally respected and independent centre of subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., of Whitehouse and the Arts – an independent organisation with a mission excellence in research, development and Station, New Jersey, USA, a leading research-based to make the UK more innovative. It operates in three main knowledge transfer in measurement and materials pharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, ways: by investing in early-stage companies; informing science. For more than a century, NPL has manufactures and markets a wide range of and shaping policy; and delivering practical programmes developed and maintained the nation’s primary that inspire others to solve the big challenges of the innovative pharmaceutical products to improve measurement standards - the heart of an future. NESTA’s expertise in this field makes it uniquely human health. Our mission is to provide society qualified to understand how the application of innovative infrastructure designed to ensure accuracy, with superior products and services by developing approaches can help the UK to tackle two of the biggest consistency and innovation in physical innovations and solutions that improve the quality challenges it faces: the economic downturn and the measurement. of life. radical reform of the public services.

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Natural Natural The Nutrition England History Society Museum The Science of Nature Contact: Frederick Wentworth-Bowyer, Chief Executive, The Nutrition Society, Contact: Ken Roy Contact: Joe Baker 10 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road London W6 7NJ Director of Evidence Special Adviser to the Director Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 0228 Natural England Natural History Museum Fax: +44 (0)20 7602 1756 Email: [email protected] John Dower House Cromwell Road Crescent Place London SW7 5BD Founded in 1941, The Nutrition Society is the premier Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5478 scientific and professional body dedicated to advance the Cheltenham scientific study of nutrition and its application to the GL50 3RA Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5075 maintenance of human and animal health. Email: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Highly regarded by the scientific community, the Society Website: www.nhm.ac.uk is the largest learned society for nutrition in Europe. Website: www.naturalengland.org.uk Membership is worldwide and is open to those with a genuine interest in the science of human or animal Natural England has the responsibility to enhance The Natural History Museum is the UK’s premier nutrition. biodiversity, landscape and wildlife in rural, urban, institute for knowledge on the diversity of the Principal activities include: coastal and marine areas; promote access, recreation natural world, conducting scientific research of 1. Publishing internationally renowned scientific learned and public well-being, and contribute to the way journals natural resources are managed so that they can be global impact and renown. We maintain and 2. Promoting the education and training of nutritionists enjoyed now and by future generations. In delivering develop the collections we care for and use them to 3. Promoting the highest standards of professional these responsibilities, we work with a range of partners competence and practice in nutrition to continue to develop the broad evidence base we promote the discovery, understanding, responsible 4. Disseminating scientific information through its need to underpin both our operational decisions and use and enjoyment of the world around us. publications and programme of scientific meetings our advice to government and others.

Prospect PHARMAQ Ltd Contact: Rosie Carr Contact: Sue Ferns, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill Contact: Dr Lydia A Brown Prospect Head of Research and Specialist Plymouth PL1 2PB PHARMAQ Ltd Services, New Prospect House Unit 15 Sandleheath Industrial Estate, Tel: +44 (0)1752 633 234 8 Leake St, London SE1 7NN Fordingbridge Fax: +44 (0)1752 633 102 Tel: 020 7902 6639 Fax: 020 7902 6637 Hants SP6 1PA. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01425 656081 Website: www.pmsp.org.uk www.prospect.org.uk Fax: 01425 655309 The Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership Prospect is an independent, thriving and forward- E-mail: [email protected] comprises seven leading marine science and looking trade union with 122,000 members across Website: www.pharmaq.no technology institutions, representing one of the the private and public sectors and a diverse range of http://www.pharmaq.co.uk/shop largest regional clusters of expertise in marine occupations. We represent scientists, technologists sciences, education, engineering and technology in and other professions in the civil service, research councils and private sector. Veterinary pharmaceuticals specialising Europe. The mission of PMSP is to deliver world- class marine research and teaching, to advance Prospect’s collective voice champions the interests of in aquatic veterinary products. Fish knowledge, technology and understanding of the the engineering and scientific community to key vaccines, anaesthetics, antibiotics and seas. PMSP research addresses the fundamental opinion-formers and policy makers. With understanding of marine ecosystems and processes negotiating rights with over 300 employers, we seek other products. that must be applied in support and development to secure a better life at work by putting members’ of policy, marine and maritime industry and marine pay, conditions and careers first. biotechnology.

The Royal The Royal Institution Society Contact: Dr Gail Cardew Contact: Dr Peter Cotgreave Head of Programmes Director of Public Affairs The Royal Institution The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS London SW1Y 5AG. Contact: Iffat Memon Tel: 020 7409 2992 Fax: 020 7670 2920 Tel: 020 7451 2502 Fax: 020 7930 2170 Public Affairs Manager E-mail: [email protected] Website: Email: [email protected] The Royal Academy of Engineering www.rigb.org Website: www.royalsociety.org 3 Carlton House Terrace The Royal Society is the UK academy of science London SW1Y 5DG The core activities of the Royal Institution centre around four main themes: science research, comprising 1400 outstanding individuals Tel: 020 7766 0653 representing the sciences, engineering and E-mail: [email protected] education, communication and heritage. It has a major Public Events Programme designed to medicine. As we celebrate our 350th anniversary in Website: www.raeng.org.uk connect people to the world of science, as well as a 2010,our strategic priorities for our work at national and international levels are to: Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering UK-wide Young People’s Programme of science and promotes the engineering and technological welfare mathematics enrichment activities. Internationally • Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation of the country. Our activities – led by the UK’s most recognised research programmes in bio- and • Influence policymaking with the best scientific eminent engineers – develop the links between nanomagnetism take place in the Davy Faraday advice engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a Research Laboratory. The building has recently • Invigorate science and mathematics education national academy, we provide impartial advice to undergone a £22 million refurbishment, and now • Increase access to the best science internationally Government; work to secure the next generation of features an extended museum, new social spaces engineers; and provide a voice for Britain’s and upgraded facilities in the historic lecture • Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and engineering community. theatre. excitement of scientific discovery.

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The Royal Semta Statistical the Sector Skills Council The Royal Society Society for Science, Engineering of Chemistry and Manufacturing Technologies Contact: Mr Andrew Garratt Contact: Customer Services Contact: Dr Stephen Benn Press and Public Affairs Officer 14 Upton Road Parliamentary Affairs The Royal Statistical Society Watford The Royal Society of Chemistry 12 Errol Sreet, London EC1Y 8LX. WD18 0JT Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA Tel: +44 20 7614 3920 Tel: 0845 643 9001 Tel: 020 7437 8656 Fax: 020 7734 1227 Fax: +44 20 7614 3905 Fax: 01923 256086 E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.rsc.org Website: www.rss.org.uk Website: www.semta.org.uk http://www.chemsoc.org The Royal Statistical Society is a leading source of Semta’s skills service for UK science, engineering The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned, independent advice, comment and discussion on and manufacturing employers professional and scientific body of over 46,000 statistical issues. It promotes public understanding • Training needs assessment against a company’s members with a duty under its Royal Charter “to of statistics and acts as an advocate for the interests business objectives. serve the public interest”. It is active in the areas of of statisticians and users of statistics. The Society • Quality programmes from The National Skills education and qualifications, science policy, actively contributes to government consultations, Academy for Manufacturing publishing, Europe, information and internet Royal Commissions, parliamentary select committee • A training management service. services, media relations, public understanding of inquiries, and to the legislative process. In 2009, the • Access to available funding and accredited training providers. science, advice and assistance to Parliament and RSS celebrated 175 years since its foundation in Government. 1834. • Research into training needs to influence governments’ support for skills strategies

Society for Society Applied of Biology Microbiology Contact: Dariel Burdass Contact: Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive Marlborough House, Basingstoke Road, Contact: Philip Wheat 9, Red Lion Court, Spencers Wood, Reading RG7 1AG. Society for Applied Microbiology London EC4A 3EF Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive Tel: 0118 988 1809 Fax: 0118 988 5656 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7936 5900 Bedford MK41 7PH E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01234 326661 Website: www.sgm.ac.uk Fax: 01234 326678 Website www.societyofbiology.org SGM is the largest microbiological society in E-mail: [email protected] Europe. The Society publishes four journals of Website: www.sfam.org.uk international standing, and organises regular The Society of Biology is a single unified voice for scientific meetings. biology: advising Government and influencing SfAM is the oldest UK microbiological society and SGM also promotes education and careers in policy; advancing education and professional aims to advance, for the benefit of the public, the development; supporting our members, and science of microbiology in its application to the microbiology, and it is committed to represent environment, human and animal health, agriculture microbiology to government, the media and the engaging and encouraging public interest in the life and industry. public. sciences. The Society represents a diverse SfAM is the voice of applied microbiology with An information service on microbiological issues membership of over 80,000 - including, students, members across the globe and works in partnership concerning aspects of medicine, agriculture, food practising scientists and interested non- with sister organisations to exert influence on safety, biotechnology and the environment is professionals - as individuals, or through learned policy-makers world-wide. available on request. societies and other organisations.

Society of Universities Cosmetic Federation Scientists for Animal Welfare Contact: Dr James Kirkwood, Contact: Lorna Weston, Scientific Director Secretary General The Old School, Brewhouse Hill Society of Cosmetic Scientists Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN. Langham House East Tel: 01582 831818. Fax: 01582 831414. Suite 6, Mill Street, Luton LU1 2NA Email: [email protected] Tel: 01582 726661 Website: www.ufaw.org.uk Fax: 01582 405217 Registered in England Charity No: 207996 E-mail: [email protected] UFAW is an internationally-recognized independent Website: www.scs.org.uk scientific and educational animal welfare charity. It Advancing the science of cosmetics is the primary works to improve animal lives by: objective of the SCS. Cosmetic science covers a wide • supporting animal welfare research. range of disciplines from organic and physical • educating and raising awareness of welfare chemistry to biology and photo-biology, dermatology, issues in the UK and overseas. microbiology, physical sciences and psychology. • producing the leading journal Animal Welfare Members are scientists and the SCS helps them and other high-quality publications on animal progress their careers and the science of cosmetics care and welfare. ethically and responsibly. Services include publications, educational courses and scientific • providing expert advice to government meetings. departments and other concerned bodies.

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SCIENCE DIARY

THE PARLIAMENTARY AND Tuesday 1st February 2011 17.30 Events, exhibitions and conferences are also SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE MEDICAL PHYSICS: FROM BLUE-SKIES TO being held in over 70 museums and galleries BEDSIDE around the UK as part of the Royal Society’s Local Contact: Secretariat Heroes programme. For further details, please Turning today's cutting-edge science into visit http://royalsociety.org/events/ 020 7222 7085: tomorrow's healthcare technology ______parliamentaryandscientificcommittee@hotm Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ail.co.uk ENGINEERING The Institute of Physics and Engineering in www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Medicine (IPEM) has offered to provide 3 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DG www.raeng.org.uk/events or financial support for this event. Tuesday 16th November 17.30 [email protected] HOW ENGINEERING PROVIDES BETTER 020 7766 0600 HEALTHCARE Tuesday 15th February 2011 17.30 ______CAN THE ECONOMY SURVIVE WITHOUT THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House A NATIONAL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM? CHEMISTRY Professor Molly Stevens Professor of Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House Biomedical Materials and Regenerative For details please contact Dr Stephen Benn The importance of the National [email protected] or phone 0207 440 3381 Medicine, Imperial College London ______Professor Lionel Tarassenko FREng Director, Measurement System (NMS) and of ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH Institute of Biomedical Engineering traceable measurement The dependence of industry on the NMS for 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2PQ. University of Oxford; Chair, RAE's "UK Focus Tel: 0131 240 5000 Fax: 0131 240 5024 for Biomedical Engineering" manufacture and innovation UK leadership [email protected] Professor John Fisher FREng Director, in new technologies through the NMS www.royalsoced.org.uk Institute of Medical and Biomedical Organised with financial support from The ______Engineering University of Leeds Association for Instrumentation, Control, BRITISH SCIENCE ASSOCIATION The Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) Automation & Laboratory Technology Please visit (GAMBICA) www.britishscienceassociation.org for events has offered to provide financial support for programme. this event. ______THE ROYAL INSTITUTION ROYAL PHARMACEUTICAL Tuesday 7th December 17.30 The Royal Institution has now re-opened following SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY DIALOGUE: WHAT its £22 million refurbishment, including the new Contact: [email protected] IS THE PUBLIC PERSPECTIVE? Time & Space restaurant, bar and café. See www.rpsgb.org/events www.rigb.org or telephone 020 7409 2992 for ______Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House full details and to book tickets. Professor Robert Winston FMedSci House of ______THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF LONDON Lords; Professor of Science and Society, THE ROYAL SOCIETY Imperial College London Burlington House Throughout 2010 the Royal Society is celebrating Dr Brian Johnson Chair of Public Dialogue Piccadilly its 350th anniversary in a year-long celebration of London W1J 0BF Steering Group the impact that science has had, and continues to Tel: +44 (0)20 7434 4479 ext 11 Professor Douglas Kell BBSRC Chief have, on our lives. The Royal Society hosts a www.linnean.org series of free events, both evening lectures and Executive; The University of Manchester two-day discussion meetings, covering the whole Professor David Delpy EPSRC Chief breadth of science, engineering and technology. Executive In addition for its 350th celebrations the Society is teaming up with major cultural institutions in London as part of its Capital Science programme.

SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ Tel: 020 7222 7085 Fax: 020 7222 7189 sip Editor: Professor Peter Simpson Editorial Assistant: John Slater

All enquiries, including those from members wishing to take the front or back covers, advertise in the journal or Editorial/Management Board: appear in the directory to Secretariat, Tel 020 7222 7085 Mr Andrew Miller MP (Chairman) Copyright ©2010 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 Published by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, copyright owner. 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Typeset and printed by The Bridge Press. Published four times a year. The 2010 subscription rate is £70.00. Single numbers £17.50 ISSN 0263-6271

Science in Parliament Vol 67 No 4 Autumn 2010 65 9149 SIP AUTUMN 2010 24/11/10 16:11 Page 68

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