Whitsun 2008 SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT

Bioethics

New Diseases

Business Needs Scientists and Engineers

Science in the Regions

Chemical engineering tackles the 21st Century Gordian Knot

Science in Parliament Vol 64 No 3 Summer 2007 The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee http://www.scienceinparliament.org.uk engineering TOMORROW

Meet some of the leading researchers of today and tomorrow at the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council reception, sponsored by Mr Phil Willis MP.

House of Commons Terrace Pavilion 7pm, 7th July 2008.

For more information contact: [email protected] SCIENCE IN Science in Parliament has two main objectives: a) to inform the scientific and industrial communities PARLIAMENT of activities within Parliament of a scientific nature The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. and of the progress of relevant legislation; The Committee is an Associate Parliamentary Group b) to keep Members of Parliament abreast of members of both Houses of Parliament and British members of the European Parliament, representatives of scientific affairs. of scientific and technical institutions, industrial organisations and universities.

We are preparing for the Second Reading debate in the HoC Contents of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill. Whitsun 2008 Volume 65 Number 2 Unlike in the HoL, Opinion by Lord Krebs 2 the Government has conceded free votes Opinion by the Rt Hon John Denham MP 3 for Labour Members 100 Days as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser 4 on issues of Professor John Beddington conscience, which Science in the Home Office 6 are likely to be on admixed hybrid embryos, the need for a father and saviour siblings, as Professor Paul Wiles well as on any amendments to the Bill on Translation in Practice 8 abortion. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz Chemistry & Industry (2008, 7 April, 5) reports A Human Bioethics Commission 10 that Pfizer, in its lawsuits with 3,000 individuals and organisations over its sale of Baroness Warnock COX-2 inhibitors, has failed to make the Why the United Kingdom needs a National Bioethics Commission 11 Journal of the American Medical Association and Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool the Archives of Internal Medicine reveal the UK Innovation in Central Europe 12 names of their peer reviewers. Had Pfizer been successful in this court battle there Alison Winzenried-Pring would have been serious consequences for Facing up to the Grand Challenges 14 the publishers of all learned journals. Andy Furlong The publication by Duckworth Overlook of Tackling the major challenges facing society 16 Nigel Lawson’s book, “An Appeal to Reason”, a sceptical look at climate change, is timely in Professor Dave Delpy view of Parliamentary consideration of the Power Attracts – and Requires – Advice 18 Climate Change Bill. Voice of the Future 19 Government has decided to launch a carbon New Diseases and Renewed Threats 20 capture and storage competition to clean up coal burning power plants with post- Addresses to the P&SC by Prof Hugh Pennington, Prof Nigel Minton and Prof Andrew McMichael combustion technology. Would it not have been better to give pre-combustion carbon Science in the Regions 26 capture an equal chance of success to kick- Addresses to the P&SC by Dr Ed Metcalfe, Dr George Baxter and start the hydrogen economy? The race is on, Prof Colin Whitehouse but Japan has the clear lead at this point in What does British Industry want from our Scientists and Engineers? 32 time. Seminar jointly arranged by DIUS and P&SC Nature (2008, 452, 674) has revealed that, of 1400 scientists surveyed in 60 countries, one Parliamentary and Scientific Committee News 39 in five had used methylphenidate (better Letters to the Editor 40 known as Ritalin), modafinil, or beta-blockers House of Commons Select Committee on Innovation, to enhance their cognitive performance. Universities, Science and Skills 41 The controversial Galileo project finally got House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee 43 off the ground on 27 April with the launch of the second and final test satellite Giove-B, put Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology 44 into orbit by a Soyuz rocket in Kazakhstan. It House of Commons Library Science and Environment Section 45 carries the most accurate atomic clock in the Debates and Selected Parliamentary Questions and Answers 46 world. This is Europe’s equivalent to the US Euro-News 54 GPS system for navigation. Science Directory 55 Dr Brian Iddon MP Chairman, Editorial Board Science Diary 64 Science in Parliament Front cover: The Gordian Knot - often used as a metaphor for an intractable problem solved by a bold stroke. (credit: Piotr Pieranski, Poznan University of Technology, Poland) ISSN 0263-6271 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 1 OPINION Professor Lord Krebs Kt FRS

n recent years, much has been said scientific knowledge, unlike the and written about evidence-based textbook certainties of school science, Ipolicy, and the UK has exceedingly is incomplete. When I was Chairman good structures and processes in place of the Food Standards Agency, policy to ensure that ministers and officials decisions on many key issues, from have access to high quality advice on BSE to acrylamide to Sudan 1, were science, including the social sciences, based on assessment of incomplete that are so important in many policy evidence. areas. But when different groups of scientific This is not to say that there should be experts look at the same evidence and a simple linear flow from scientific come to different conclusions, extra advice to policy, since many other confusion is added. reduce the incidence of TB in cattle by factors, including ethics, feasibility, about 25%. Scale is important, acceptability, costs and benefits come A recent example is the spat between because around the edges of the into play as science is woven into the the Royal Commission on culling area the risk of TB increases, fabric of policy decisions. Environmental Pollution and the possibly because of the immigration Advisory Committee on Pesticides effect. The minimum area for a net But the scientific waters may about the so-called ‘bystander effect’, benefit is 250 to 300 km2. Even then themselves get muddied and this can the possibility that people living near the disease would not be eliminated. cause extra difficulties for policy fields during pesticide spraying suffer makers. ill-heath as a result. The RCEP The Independent Scientific Group set concluded that it is “plausible that there up to oversee the culling trials The media are far from blameless in could be a link between pesticide exposure concluded that large-scale culling this. Although the science and ill-health” whilst the ACP should not be adopted, whilst a correspondents of the serious concluded from the same evidence smaller group, with less expertise, newspapers and the BBC are excellent, that “pesticide toxicity is unlikely to meeting for a day under the science reporting may go awry when it contribute importantly to chronic fatigue chairmanship of the then Chief gets into other hands. On March 28th, syndrome or multiple chemical sensitivity”. Scientific Adviser, concluded the as I sat down to draft this piece, the The evidence is not water tight, but opposite. Perhaps based on this, the Times carried a headline on page 15 surely the two groups would have Welsh Assembly Government has that stated: “Mother told me of child’s done themselves a favour, in terms of announced that it intends to go ahead autism after MMR jab, doctor claims”. the credibility of scientific advice for with a cull in areas where TB is a The cursory reader of this policy, by talking through their particular problem (hotspots), irresponsible piece of journalism could differing interpretations? although in England, Defra has not yet be forgiven for thinking that the issue decided. of whether or not MMR causes autism, Another, more recent, example relates that has caused thousands of parents to badgers and bovine tuberculosis. If scorched earth culling were adopted to put their children at unnecessary My 1997 report concluded that whilst over all the hotspot areas in the South risk, is still live. In fact the article was it was clear that badgers do transmit West and South Wales, an estimated about Andrew Wakefield’s appearance TB to cattle, it was not clear whether 170,000 badgers would be killed, well in front of the General Medical or not culling badgers would be an over half the UK population. Even Council charged with serious effective control strategy. In response, then, success is not guaranteed: in the professional misconduct. MAFF/Defra set up the large-scale Republic of Ireland, scorched earth randomised badger culling trials to culling did lead to an initial decrease But what about when the scientists investigate the efficacy of culling. in TB, but last year there is a reported themselves disagree? Disagreement 15% increase. Alternatives such as and challenge is central to the process The results suggest that ‘reactive improved testing and incentives to of science. Nobel Prize-winning culling’ (removing badgers from an keep badgers away from cattle would physicist Richard Feyman defined area in response to an outbreak of TB cost less and be at least as likely to science as “organised scepticism in the in cattle) might actually make things work. However, if ministers are reliability of expert opinion”. So it should worse, perhaps because culling expected to implement evidence-based not be surprising that there is a often a encourages new, diseased animals to policies, the scientists must be spectrum of opinion amongst scientific immigrate. However, large-scale, expected to be clear and consistent in experts particularly where the state of proactive and persistent culling can their advice.

2 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 OPINION Rt Hon John Denham MP Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills

he Prime Minister created the HEFCE’s quality-related funding new Department for Innovation stream, and total support will amount TUniversities and Skills on his to almost £6 billion for research – first full day in office. more than at any time before.

He recognised that, in a rapidly In challenging economic changing world, Britain can only circumstances, other countries have succeed if we develop the skills of our not been so generous. The USA has people to the fullest extent; carry out seen below-inflation increases for the world-class research and scholarship; fourth year running, with cuts to areas and apply both knowledge and skills including particle physics and fusion. to create an innovative and Settlements in Germany and Australia competitive economy. fall well behind the real-terms increases delivered in the UK. DIUS therefore brings together three about as much insight into it as their strands of policy that will determine Still, the UK’s investment is fully Neolithic ancestors would have had.” our future economic and social justified. With people, money and wellbeing – by creating the right knowledge ever more mobile in a We have, of course, made progress conditions for prosperity, improved global economy, and powerful nations since the Fifties. Yet the importance of quality of life, and a country where re-emerging with great ambitions in scientific understanding has never no-one is left behind. research, we must maintain our been greater. competitive advantage. Furthermore, As the Secretary of State, Gordon we face a set of major challenges. We If policy makers do not have access to Brown asked me to put science and need to secure sustainable energy the latest scientific evidence and research at the very centre of sources, tackle the changes occurring advice, we will not be able to make Government policy. to our environment and better the best decisions about the challenges understand the nature of the security facing this country. If the public do Of course, the longstanding excellence threats facing our country. not understand scientific methodology of our research base means that the and cannot evaluate risk, they face UK has a strong story to tell. It is When I set out the details of the being unable to make the best second only to the United States in science budget, I therefore announced decisions for themselves and their terms of global influence. With just details of four thematic programmes families. one per cent of the world’s population, under the auspices of the research we undertake 4.5 per cent of the councils. Almost £1.3 billion from the For these reasons, DIUS’s forthcoming world’s research, produce nine per science budget will fund work on “Science and Society” strategy is vital. cent of the world’s scientific energy, the environment, ageing and Our vision is that Britain should be publications and claim 12% of world global security. “excited about science, value its citations. More than that, our research importance to our economic and social base is a powerful engine for the UK These programmes represent an well being, feel confident in its use economy: attracting inward unprecedented effort to make headway and support a representative, well investment, translating discoveries into on these universal challenges and qualified workforce.” profitable spin-outs and forging position the UK to capitalise on the effective international links. opportunities presented by Similarly, it is impossible to think of a globalisation. policy area, or a Government These achievements do not happen by department where science does not chance. I pay tribute to the I am confident that the multi- make an important contribution. Our imagination and expertise of our disciplinary efforts of our scientists recent Science and Innovation White scientists. Their breakthroughs benefit will yield new insights. But to Paper sets out how we intend to bring every one of us. maximise the impact of their research, the fruits of new and existing it is essential that we improve public technologies to bear in both the But our reputation for science is also engagement with science, and increase private and public sectors. driven by serious investment. By the influence of scientific evidence on 2010/11 my department will be public policy. I’m a great admirer of C P Snow, but spending almost £4 billion a year on his predictions for the future were science. That’s a 17 per cent increase It was 50 years ago that C P Snow sometimes wide of the mark. I would in funding over three years, and gave his famous “Two Cultures” like to think that Britain can prove double the amount spent in 1997. lecture, in which he complained that him wrong in the 21st century by as “the great edifice of modern physics harnessing the excellence of our Add to this the £2 billion we provide goes up, the majority of the cleverest science base and appreciating its directly to English universities via people in the western world have contribution to our society.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 3 100 days as the Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor John Beddington CMG FRS Government Chief Scientific Adviser and Head of the Government Office for Science

am now three months into my role operate within most Government as the Government Chief Scientific Departments and I am now meeting IAdviser (GCSA), and am beginning with a “core issues” group of CSAs to see the scale of the task ahead. This every three weeks. I am also arranging is an exciting and challenging time to for regular meetings with the CSAs be advising the Prime Minister and and the Chief Executives of Research Cabinet – I doubt if the potential for Councils. science and engineering to contribute I also believe it is vital that the CSAs extraordinary pace of economic to good policy making and sound growth and its impressive expansion government has ever been greater. co-ordinate their efforts and advice. Within the CSA group, I have begun in science and technology. to set up subgroups to focus on key Science and engineering will help us Such collaborations involve not just problems across departments. We now to address the main challenges we face governmental agreements but the co- as a nation, and as a planet – adapting have a Climate Change/Food Security subgroup, which should help operation of scientists and engineers to climate change, global security and too. The UK’s Medical Research international terrorism, rising harmonise scientific advice that can seem on the surface to conflict. I am Council has recently signed populations and the consequent thinking for instance of the recent memorandums of understanding with pressure on food, water and other issue of biofuels, where the the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the natural resources and the impact of environmental impacts (DEFRA) National Natural Science Foundation human and animal diseases. suggested different approaches from of China and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences – an excellent These challenges are deeply the renewable energy obligations example of co-ordinated efforts in interconnected. To tackle them will (DfT). We are also looking at the action. Further opportunities for us to take important cross-department and possibility of similar cross-department promote such international co- multi-agency relationships. I see a vital co-ordination for Infectious Diseases operation should come when DIUS part of my leadership role as working and other areas. takes over leadership of the Science in partnership with others in Wider World and Innovation Network, which Government and beyond – in the UK comprises more than 100 science and overseas. Clearly I have the But the need for co-ordination goes attachés based in UK embassies privilege to be working with many beyond the networks within overseas. talented people. The challenge is to Government. Many of the problems identify where there is a need for we are facing over the next few Climate Change stronger leadership and co-ordination, decades – climate change, food so that we can bring the power of security, energy and infectious diseases Climate change is of paramount those combined talents to bear on the – are global in nature and will require importance. We must radically curb problems we are facing. global solutions. global emissions and we must adapt to those changes that we cannot avert. The Government Office for Science On a government level, I was Robust international agreements and (GO-Science), which I lead, lies within impressed by the willingness of China policy frameworks will be critical. But the Department for Innovation, to collaborate on these issues when I a key priority is also to fully mobilise Universities and Skills (DIUS). This met Minister Wu at the UK-China the practical skills of our engineers. provides valuable opportunities for us Joint Commission on Science and We will need to bring engineers into to interact with the Science Minister, Technology in London on 16 April. Government in a much greater way Ian Pearson and the Secretary of State, One pleasing example is that our two than before. John Denham as well as the newly countries are collaborating on a project appointed Director General of Science to investigate the potential for near- The Energy Technologies Institute is a and Research, Adrian Smith. zero emissions coal (NZEC) power key organisation and I am delighted to plants and on vaccines for avian have been invited to join its Board. A crucial resource is the network of influenza. This is all the more Jointly funded by Government and the chief scientific advisers (CSAs) who important considering China’s current private sector, the Institute will

4 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 identify the most promising low an agricultural product for energy Problems at Home carbon technologies from research and means that it becomes more scarce, accelerate these towards market and the price of food sky rockets. The The problems I have been discussing readiness. resulting shock to world agriculture is also have a serious impact here in the a stark reminder of how interrelated UK. For instance, wheat is now three I am also impressed by the Carbon the problems of food, energy and times the price it was three years ago, Trust. With the Government-led goal climate change really are. However, so naturally farmers are planting much of carbon reduction but with the biofuels have great potential for good more – with implications for freedom of an independent company, and proper scientific analysis is biodiversity. GO-Science includes the the Carbon Trust offers everything essential to discriminate between the Foresight and the Horizon Scanning from support for research through to sustainable and unsustainable. teams and we are about to begin an venture capital and advice to business. extensive Foresight project on land use In addition there is the problem of in the UK. Moreover, the inflationary At the strategic level, I have been water shortages. One factor in this is effect of increased food prices clearly delighted to contribute to the Energy urbanisation and the growth of hits the poorer sections of our society Research Partnership. Initially megacities. By 2030 60% of the as a higher proportion of income is established and partly driven by GO- world’s population will be living in spent on food, which provides an Science, the Partnership brings cities, and competing with farmers for uneasy parallel with the developing together key individuals at senior water. Moreover, climate models world. levels from across the public sector, suggest that water availability will business and research, to focus on begin to decrease in many parts of the There are many other problems on the raising the scale, impact and world. Indeed this may already be horizon which scientific knowledge coherence of the UK’s low-carbon happening – the high price of wheat will be vital to address. For instance, innovation investments and activities. today is in part due to recent extensive the Foot and Mouth outbreak in droughts in Australia. Surrey last year and the recent Together approaches such as these will emergence of bluetongue both pose a lead us towards the energy savings we Following a food prices summit on 22 stern reminder of the need for research need in buildings, transport and April 2008 with leading experts, the into animal diseases. This is important infrastructure, while seeking Prime Minister pledged £30m to for humans too. If H5N1 virus – avian alternative low-carbon energy sources. support the World Food Programme flu – mutates to transmit itself readily Food security to address the problem in the short between humans the consequences term. He has also recognised the need will be very serious. Pandemic Less widely acknowledged until for longer term technological Influenza occurred three times in the recently, but potentially just as serious solutions, for example developing twentieth century and there is no as climate change, is the related higher-yielding and more climate- reason to believe it will not recur in problem of food. The world’s resilient varieties of crop. the 21st Century. population is now increasing by 6 This is especially important as I do not All of these problems are complex and million individuals per month. believe that the extent of the recent all will need fully co-ordinated Moreover the burgeoning economic price increases for food can be solutions. I am a firm believer in the growth in Asia (mainly China and dismissed as a short term power of integrated approaches. I India) is taking people out of poverty phenomenon. All of the factors I have started academic life as an economist and giving them more purchasing described – climate change, and, before I became GCSA, my power. As a result they are asking for population growth, water availability, research involved applying both the reasonable things that we all take growth in biofuels, the shift towards a science and economics to the effective for granted: meat and dairy foods, meat-eating diet in developing use of natural resources. which take considerably more countries – will bring more sustained production power than simple grains. My new position puts me at the Head upwards pressure on food security and Thus demand for food is predicted to of the Science and Engineering prices. Somehow we will have to increase by a full 50 % in the next two Profession in Government. My task for satisfy those demands while also decades, and the very proper goal of the next five years is to lead those addressing climate change. I am alleviating poverty is presenting us talented scientists and engineers whose considering the possibility of starting a with a major issue of food production. expert guidance the Government new Foresight project later this year to urgently needs. I intend to provide Until now, science and technology look at the future of food and farming them with an environment in which have ensured that agricultural systems in a global context. they will develop a spirit of production keeps pace with increased camaraderie, networking, and The bottom line is that agriculture will demand. But new factors have interchange of ideas. The problems we need to deliver more food, and more emerged to decrease the supply of face both in the UK and in the world crops for energy, on less land and food just when demand is rising ever at large are formidable. But I strongly using less water. The only way to do farther. believe that together, through the this will be to improve agricultural powerful collaboration that I envisage production using the best science and One such is the rise of biofuels. In between science and engineering, principle they can help to mitigate technology. We need a new green business and government, we will find climate change. But in practice, using revolution. ways to solve them.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 5 Science in the Home Office: The Role of the Chief Scientific Advisor Fighting the Bad Guys Professor Paul Wiles Chief Scientific Advisor and Director, Research Development and Statistics, Home Office

o most people science in the Procedures Act 1986, which regulates Home Office probably relates to the use of animals in science, and we Tusing DNA or finger prints in have recently appointed a Forensic forensic science. Yet despite this, Science Regulator, whose role is to science is playing a broader role in the ensure the scientific quality of forensic fight against crime, counter terrorism, evidence in the Criminal Justice With science and innovation developing identity management System. increasingly becoming important in all systems and managing migration. our lives, the challenges to ensure With this wide remit it is impossible ministerial advice is based on the latest Science in the Home Office is for me to be an expert in all science scientific evidence and that policies are remarkably diverse and I suspect relevant to the Home Office or to be implemented using the most unique in government with an almost intimately involved in each research appropriate up-to-date technologies equal divide between physical, social programme. My role is to be an are greater than ever before. This is and statistical sciences. The science we advocate for the department’s science particularly so in the Home Office, as fund includes research to protect the both internally and externally, to be a whilst the majority of science is a force public against explosives and ‘critical friend’ of the department’s for good, there are those that use the chemical, biological, radiological or scientists through challenge and latest technologies and information to nuclear (CBRN) threats, technology to assuring quality and to provide a subvert the course of justice and support the police and other agencies, strategic direction to the department’s disrupt our way of life – therefore it is including setting standards for science and ensure we are funding vital that we, through policies and law protective body armour and less lethal science in the right areas that meets enforcement agencies, stay one step weaponry and investigating new both our immediate and longer-term ahead. technologies to detect drugs, requirements. Critical to my role is the pioneering the use of biometrics to support I receive from our expert To achieve this I consider there are assure identity, understanding the scientific committees. The department three major challenges facing Home extent of crime, the effectiveness of has an overall Scientific Advisory Office science, if not all government measures to reduce crime and the Committee and specialist committees science, in the next few years: the behaviour of those wishing to that provide advice on the misuse of challenge of integrating the scientific perpetrate crimes, understanding the drugs, the use of biometrics, CBRN disciplines; the challenge of integrating drivers and impacts of migration and research, statistics, economic advice on across government departments; and so on. We fund research both to help migration and animal scientific the challenge of promoting the use of evidence-based policy decisions and to procedures. These committees provide scientific evidence amongst support the delivery of policies. For the in-depth advice the department parliamentarians. example, our scientists have been needs often on very challenging issues, involved in designing the security and I am always indebted for the time The challenge of integrating scientific arrangements at Heathrow’s new and commitment that committee disciplines is one that has been Terminal 5, preparing the security members give to the department. brought to the fore in recent years, not arrangements for the 2012 Olympics least since the 2001 outbreak of foot in London and provide technological I also have a wider role as Government and mouth disease. It was all too easy assistance to the police in sensitive, Chief Social Scientist. This UK-wide to see this as purely an animal disease covert operations. function is both to champion good problem, but in retrospect it is clear social science and its use in that it was a wider issue about The Home Office also has two government and also to support and managing the rural economy, important functions regulating the use develop the government social science encompassing a much wider range of of science. We are responsible for community and the quality of its expertise. Only by thinking more implementing the Animals (Scientific) work. broadly, about whole ‘systems’, and

6 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 integrating the scientific disciplines forum to promote cross-government sound training in science. This leads to around such issues will departments science. The Security and Counter scientists within government having to be able to provide comprehensive Terrorism Science and Innovation promote their expertise more advice to ministers. Most government Strategy is an example of a significant vociferously, and having to explain the departments have now published success in this area and is probably the results of research with more care, Science and Innovation Strategies and only truly cross-government Science particularly when data are equivocal at best these cut across the scientific and Innovation Strategy. However, and can be easily misrepresented. The disciplines to describe the evidence there are many other areas of science new programme of training in base for developing policies in the that could benefit from this approach. professional skills for government has future. The Home Office will be For example, the Home Office is to ensure that policy makers have a preparing its second Science and working to develop a co-ordinated better grasp of using scientific Innovation Strategy later this year, and cross-government research programme evidence, are more numerate, and this is a theme I want to ensure is on drug misuse. There needs to be a understand why innovation is essential embedded in the department’s strategy. significant increase in such cross- for effective government and our government research programmes in global competitiveness and I also look forward to developing the the future. international standing. Not integration of the scientific disciplines understanding how scientists can further through my role as Head of Government scientists also need to go support ministers (particularly in the Government Social Research, working beyond co-ordinating within social and statistical sciences) is of real closely with the heads of other government. To achieve really effective concern and can only be done if scientific disciplines and the cross- solutions to today’s big issues, scientists, or those with a good government Heads of Analysis Group. government will have to work closely understanding of science, are with the Research Councils and others However, cross-discipline working is positioned at the highest level of to deliver the fundamental research decision making throughout not only challenging for government, upon which policy-related research government. but requires changes by scientists: the can build, and more closely with challenge of working in unfamiliar industry to scale-up research and groupings, and the need to overcome provide innovative solutions. The the barriers of language and culture of latter is particularly important to the different scientific disciplines. ensure that new technologies are Government alone cannot effect successfully transferred into on-the- change in the wider scientific ground implementation and that community and it is important that we innovation benefits the UK economy. work together with other science This is why at the Home Office we funders and learned societies. The work closely with industry suppliers Research Councils have set an example to promote innovation in a wide range by establishing RCUK as a means of of technologies, be it scanners for use working more collaboratively. in airports, protective equipment for the police, detectors for explosives and In addition, most major issues facing so on. It is too early to say how the government in the near future will successful the new Technology require a cross disciplinary response Strategy Board will be in assisting and I cannot think of a major issue government in such innovation – but that, at least scientifically, will not it is a step in the right direction and, I require a cross-government response. hope, will be influential in promoting For example, climate change has long exciting private sector innovation for Taking a swab sample to test for possible explosive been seen as an environment issue, or use in the public sector. contamination at best an environment and development issue. However, climate The final challenge I see, and perhaps change will have wide impacts, for a perennial one in Whitehall, is to The challenges ahead are both difficult example, is likely to have considerable ensure that good quality science and and exciting. The role for scientists in implications for immigration and we evidence feeds consistently into policy government can only increase, as are only just beginning to look at its development. As I have already technology and information plays an implications for security and crime. mentioned the work of the Chief ever greater part in our lives. However, Scientific Advisors network has helped scientists in Whitehall, must continue Cross-government working is where I raise the profile of science. However, to work together to resolve the issues have seen one of the largest as the need to understand how science of the day, and they must be prepared improvements during my time in can improve policy making and to work at senior levels, often outside government. The community of delivery has increased, Whitehall has their scientific-comfort zone, to ensure departmental Chief Scientific Advisors not been immune from the broader key decision makers are aware of how has grown and strengthened over decline of scientific education. There science can improve policy making. recent years and has become a positive are few policy makers who have a

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 7 Translation in practice Sir Leszek Borysiewicz PhD FRCP FMedSci Chief Executive, Medical Research Council

t is an exciting time for UK health We now have a co-ordinated strategy research. Strong Government aimed at filling these gaps, built Isupport, additional funding, and a around the advice, priorities and needs clear strategy for investment – in of the NIHR, the MRC and the NHS. equipment, in facilities and in people The strategy encompasses to carry it out – leave us with only one translational, public health, e-health task: to deliver. I’d like to explain how records and methodology research and strategy for the discovery and the Medical Research Council, along human capital. exploratory development of with its partners in research, are fundamental research towards patient responding to the challenge. Plan to deliver benefit. The aims of this strategy include: It’s now a year and a half since Sir The MRC’s plans will build on David Cooksey’s report, ‘A review of translational activities and schemes • accelerated development of novel UK health research funding’, focused that already exist, such as our therapeutics, devices and the minds of public funders on substantial funding for clinical and diagnostics; accelerating the translation of pre-clinical research on healthcare • faster identification of pathways of fundamental research into benefits for innovations, support for MRC and disease leading to the identification the person, in health and disease. A NIHR clinical trials, other initiatives of targets for therapeutic generous settlement for the MRC’s and programmes, work within the intervention; ‘translational research’ in the MRC’s own units, institutes and centres, and research funded through Comprehensive Spending Review • increased skills base to deliver high (CSR) – an extra £132 million over the UK universities. Our plans include a continued investment in fundamental quality research for greater health next three years – has demonstrated and economic benefits; and the Government’s clear support. basic and clinical research which Working in collaboration with the underpins our translational agenda • increased partnership by the National Institute for Health Research and has been shown time and time industry sector in UK biomedical again to be the engine room of (NIHR), the body through which the research. healthcare innovation. Figures on the Department of Health delivers its new UK research base in 2007 show that R&D strategy, the MRC has published To deliver this plan there will be the UK comes second after the US in plans to deliver on this investment. dedicated funding streams, specific the number and share of the world’s targeted initiatives, support for key Working in partnership scientific citations. facilities, co-ordination of existing infrastructure and capacity In his review, Sir David identified the A major focus of the MRC’s strategic development. need for an overarching health funding will be in ‘experimental research strategy to ensure UK health medicine’ – targeted programmes that The MRC already supports a priorities are considered through all support early-stage clinical discovery substantial amount of fundamental, types of research. He also proposed work. Funding for this will double by hypothesis-led basic and clinical measures to help health researchers year three of the CSR period. Our research through its research funding develop and deliver better therapies overall approach is to make sure that boards. We are augmenting these for patients, building on the UK’s we have an integrated way of proven funding mechanisms with a outstanding record in basic health supporting research, developing the new funding stream, specifically aimed research. infrastructure and ensuring that we at accelerating the process of research have the highly trained people able to and development of promising He identified two gaps in translation – deliver this agenda. discoveries, through support of first, the translation of basic and milestone-driven, goal-oriented clinical research into ideas and Enabling and supporting research. products and, second, the introduction new treatments of those ideas and products into To support and underpin experimental clinical practice. The MRC leads in implementing a medicine research, the MRC has

8 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 launched a series of strategic methodology research and establish in regenerative medicine. initiatives, targeted at specific points in the UK as a world leader in innovation the process. These initiatives are in in this area. The MRC will lead the stem cell area biomarkers (surrogate indicators of a and will also continue to strongly biologic state or process), human and NIHR will lead on evaluative research support basic stem cell research animal disease models, and disease- and clinical trials, and will increase the through response mode funding. The based sample collections. They will be amount of high-quality research in the Delivery Plan sets a goal of increasing achieved through the support of UK. Through the NIHR, the MRC will spend on stem cell research by at least relevant investigator-initiated research provide funding for trials that assess a third. proposals, as well as specific calls for potential new treatments and their underlying mechanisms of action, and The new approach will be managed proposals in defined areas with through a new expert committee with earmarked funding. There are further continue to support trials in global health. its own budget. It will be responsible initiatives in drug safety science. for reviewing and funding all stem cell There are opportunities for On the world stage research applications received with a partnership funding for certain translational basis. There will be a new initiatives, from charities and industry, Translating research is high on the stem cell ‘portal’ to receive all as well as from the Technology international agenda. By building applications, and to enhance Strategy Board (TSB) – the executive partnerships with our European and partnership with other funders. non-departmental public body which international counterparts, the MRC The UK is a leader in stem cell promotes innovation in the UK. ensures that we share and develop best practice, have the chance to learn research and regulation and, here, There is already significant support by through others’ experiences and research can flourish with public the MRC and NIHR for infrastructure influence policy-making across support in a tightly-regulated that underpins translational research, borders. environment. The MRC supports the but levels of support will be reviewed. scientific aspects of the Human We want to identify and fill potential I represent the UK research councils Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, gaps in UK research facilities. on the steering committee of the currently going through Parliament, European Heads of Research Councils. which is an update of the 1990 law. It Big ideas This forum provides the opportunity will allow new scientific procedures, to discuss key issues relating to the under strict regulation, that can The MRC’s translational plans and effectiveness of European translation potentially help understand and cure activities are wide-ranging. We have research, such as intellectual property debilitating diseases such as been nurturing our relationship with rights and sharing of knowledge Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s. Polls industry and running ‘showcase’ between researchers, and allows us to suggest that around 70 per cent of events, which bring together co-ordinate our approaches to people support the use of embryos in academics and industry representatives translation. research to find cures for disease, but to share ideas and develop future we need to continue to discuss this collaborations. We have funding Translational research has recently rigorously. schemes to encourage joint grant been raised in the biomedical field in a applications. Other ways of working high-profile White Paper published by Benefits to society with industry are being explored with the European Medical Research industry stakeholders, the TSB and Council, to which the MRC The new measures for health research other research councils. contributed. The paper sets out the funding in the UK, and the emphasis present status and future strategy for on translation, will bring discoveries in Increasing the UK’s capabilities in medical research in Europe. science closer and faster to the clinic translational research will require and to society in general. It will enable increased numbers of scientists trained Stem cell research and the new therapies to be identified as early in relevant areas of science. The MRC MRC as possible, and improve prevention, will enhance training and career diagnostic and public health strategies opportunities in translational areas, Stem cell research has the potential to in the most efficient way, boosting such as clinical research training, result in life-saving treatments and is productivity and the economy. There is pharmacology, toxicology, informatics, an important part of the MRC’s always the need for a vibrant and well- methodology, and biostatistics, portfolio and translational strategy – resourced basic science base, which together with industrial collaborative we continue to support research on the MRC will continue to support. studentships. both adult and embryonic stem cells. These leading discoveries and the We are reviewing our stem cell and benefits that ensue will enable the The MRC is leading in methods regenerative medicine research strategy MRC and its partners to play a research and the development of new with an aim to develop joint strategies prominent role in the worldwide effort and improved systems and theories for with the TSB and NIHR for academic of accelerating the process of turning health research. We aim to develop a and industry co-operation. There has science into outcomes, resulting in high-quality national platform in already been a joint call with the TSB better and longer lives for us all.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 9 A Human Bioethics Commission The Baroness Warnock

mong the highly controversial and the Wellcome Trust, is necessarily issues arising from the revision biased towards science. They advocate of the Human Fertilisation and the new body in the belief that religion A and a morality derived from religion Embryology Act (1990), there was one amendment that looked fairly would be better represented on it. harmless. This was an amendment It is not clear how widely drawn the introduced by Lord Brennan, and definition of Human Bioethics would strongly supported by Baroness be, if the Commission were set up; but Williams of Crosby and Lord Alton, in the context of the new Embryology among others. It required that a Bill, the central issue is the moral National Human Bioethics status to be accorded to the human Commission be set up, a small body of embryo. It is on this question that the not more than eight members, gap between scientific thought and as moral experts. The difficulty would established by statute, and reporting to that of the Roman Catholic Church is be that unless the eight were all of the Parliament from time to time. I argue apparently unbridgeable. Since 1869, same opinion regarding the status of that such a body is unnecessary, and Roman Catholics have held that the the human embryo, they could not would be both expensive and possibly human soul enters the body at the well publish any unanimous reports. damaging in its effects. moment of the fusion of egg and For the sad fact is that there is no such sperm, the ‘moment of conception’. thing as a moral expert. Mercifully, we We already have the HFEA, whose Lord Alton, in a speech at the report do not live in a theocracy, within remit is to issue (or refuse) licences stage of the Embryology Bill (House of which there are indeed experts both for research and clinical practice Lords Hansard January 15th 2008 col (though even they sometimes disagree in the field of embryology, whose 1222) using a common and somewhat in their interpretations of the law). We decisions are based on moral misleading short-hand, asserted his are a democracy, and though we may considerations. However it could be ‘passionate belief’ that ‘life begins at listen to one another, and even envy plausibly argued that the functions of conception’, and that embryos should those who believe passionately that this Authority are too narrow, confined not be unnecessarily destroyed after they know for certain what is right, in as they are to individual requests for this moment. From day one a human matters of legislation it is Parliament licences, and that they should not embryo is potentially a human person, and not any moral experts who must stray into the more general territory of and it lies with God alone to take away make the decisions. This they must do bioethics. its unique form of life. And of course trying their best to consider what is for the common good, including the good More important, there already exists it is outrageous, on this view, to create that will come from new therapies the Nuffield Council for Bioethics. an admixed embryo, by placing the issuing from research. I fear that a This is a much respected body, whose nucleus of a human cell which National Commission of the kind task is to identify and examine ethical contains its DNA in the outer capsule envisaged might take our eyes off the questions that arise from new research of the egg of a rabbit or a cow; for central fact: no commissioners, and technology, and to anticipate such an embryo would not possess the however hard they thought about the public concerns. It consists of lay dignity possessed by an embryo who questions would have the authority to people as well as scientists, and it had received its soul after conception. dictate the answers to Parliament. All consults widely. It has published very Other animals are not thus ensouled. the things that the commissioners had useful and balanced reports, its work This is the difference between human debated would have to be debated would be duplicated by a new dignity and whatever respect we may afresh in both Chambers. The Commission. show to animals. authority of the law derives from its However, those who are in favour of If a National Human Bioethics having been so debated and voted on establishing a Commission suggest Commission were set up, and if it in Parliament. For a Commission, even that the Nuffield Council, being consisted of just eight people, these a statutory Commission, to take that funded by the Nuffield Foundation people would presumably be regarded authority to itself would be wrong.

10 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Why the United Kingdom needs a National Bioethics Commission Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool

he Chief Medical Officer, Sir functions. Its purpose would be to Liam Donaldson, has remarked enhance the democratic process by Tthat “We have had, generally, in providing the material to support this country a deficit of medical better informed public debate. ethics”. The truth of that comment has Decisions subsequently take on contentious matters in the life sciences been borne out in the debates on the It is impossible for the HFEA to would be supported by an informed Human Fertilisation and Embryology reconcile these conflicting roles: the public view and could be taken in a (HFE) Bill. watchdog and the burglar being too more democratic and inclusive fashion closely identified with one another. Along with colleagues from all parts of than they are at present. the House of Lords, notably Lord Our recent debates have underlined The idea of a United Kingdom Brennan and Baroness Williams of the fast-moving and complex nature of National Bioethics Commission has Crosby, I moved amendments to the the daunting issues that face us: been proposed in the past. Dr Brian Bill to redress this “gap” and to everything from whether it is right to Iddon MP rightly reminded me of provide for a free-standing National add to the 2.2 million human embryos recommendation 85 of the 2005 Bioethics Commission to provide a destroyed or experimented upon since Science and Technology Committee balanced and credible permanent 1990; the absence of a single cure Report, to “recommend the formation forum capable of adequately informing anywhere in the world using of a single commission to develop debate. embryonic stem cells; the contrasting policy issues relating to the assisted exciting advances (80 cures and 350 reproduction, embryo research and This is not to take the place of clinical trials), in the use of ethically human genetics”. Parliamentary Select Committees but it acceptable adults cells; and whether it would be a way of redressing a debate Beyond Parliament distinguished is right to create animal-human hybrid too frequently dominated by vested commentators and spiritual leaders, embryos or to use a dead person’s interests or by small elites who for two such as the Archbishop of Westminster tissue to create a human embryo. decades have enjoyed free rein in and the Chief Rabbi, Dr Sir Jonathan shaping the bioethics agenda. Too In response to the growing number of Sacks, have supported this proposal. frequently they have become narrowly these challenging questions we need a ideological in trying to justify their Professor Roger Brownsword of King’s greater urgency and definition. In part earlier decisions and in dismissing College said in his evidence to the this is a matter of prudence, alternative, more ethical, approaches. HFE Joint Scrutiny Committee that he effectiveness and efficiency, but there is The net effect has been to undermine thought the UK was less utilitarian also an important and ineliminable public confidence in science. than it had been and that changes ethical aspect. Ethics comprise the need to be made to the current identification of values and principles, Our proposal is that a National regulatory regime to reflect “a political but also surely the determination of Bioethics Commission would be given culture which is more committed to their appropriate application. That is statutory foundation. It would have a the human rights agenda”. Professor no easy matter, particularly given the diverse membership on terms laid Sir Ian Kennedy, Chairman of the diversity of moral, social and religious down in statute, would be supported Healthcare Commission, remarked perspectives that characterise by public money, and would be that he had concerns about the contemporary society. At the same separate and independent from Human Fertilisation and Embryology time, however, there is widespread particular government departments Authority’s (HFEA) dual role in agreement on the importance of ethics. and agencies, having no regulatory, inspection and “thinking about really Among those who reflect on such administrative or quasi-legislative deep issues of bioethics”. matters, there is general agreement

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 11 about the centrality of such values as The Commission would have the Some have argued for a new in-house welfare, autonomy and respect, and authority and standing of an Westminster committee. growing recognition that they cannot independent statutory body. Its be reduced to a single value but must membership should encompass Parliament is perfectly free, at any be maintained in some kind of relevant professional expertise, patients time, to establish such a body and it balance. and other user-group interests, as well might well enhance the work of the as major religious and ethical existing Select Committees. These two International experience is also groupings. Membership would reflect ideas are not mutually exclusive; relevant. Governments or Ministers the diversity of positions held within indeed, they could complement one have established national bioethics society and appointment procedures another very well. Establishing a committees in Austria, Belgium, must be public and transparent. Parliamentary Committee is not a Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Although independent, such a legislative issue; a National Bioethics Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, committee would be responsible to Commission is. This is an ideal Switzerland and in other countries. It Parliament through a Minister to moment to implement the 2005 is the worst kind of national whom it should deliver an annual recommendation of the Science and chauvinism to dismiss overseas best report, including recommendations for Technology Committee and to use the practice as inferior and irrelevant to policy, and additional reports could be Human Fertilisation and Embryology the British model. commissioned when required. Its Bill to put a Commission onto a remit would be the entire range of statutory basis. If we fail to do this, we Their constitutions, remits, operation will have missed a great opportunity. and achievements can teach us a great bioethical issues, including, but not deal. The Danish and German models confined to, those concerning Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool is an are widely admired, but several others reproduction. Independent Crossbench Peer. also have good features.

Better Innovation – Better Business UK Innovation in Central Europe Alison Winzenried-Pring Regional Manager, Europe Central, FCO Science & Innovation Network

welve key players from the UK British Embassy Science and UK Innovation Map*. Better innovation scene participated Innovation Network (SIN) and UKTI innovation means better business: by Tin a UK innovation mission to teams in Prague and Warsaw. It introducing the British innovation Central Europe in March 2008. Led by included UK Innovation Partnership environment and UK expertise to the Nick Stuart from the Science & Conferences in both locations, plus Czech Republic and Poland, the Technology Unit of UK Trade and meetings with key innovation contacts roadshow aimed to strengthen UK co- Investment (UKTI) and Sheena Newell and site visits. The total audience operation with these two countries in of AEA Energy & Environment, the figure ran to over 150, comprising the innovation sector, thus facilitating UK delegation comprised innovation specialists, government wealth creation collaborations between representatives of UK research, officials, innovative businesses, Czech and Polish partners and key finance, industry and the Knowledge university and innovation park players in the UK. Transfer Networks. representatives. Central Europe was identified as a The four-day innovation roadshow The roadshow’s coherent proposition region which would benefit from the programme was arranged by the in UK innovation was based on UKTI’s Innovation Map’s clear presentation of

*https://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/ukti/fileDownload/UKTIInnovationReport.pdf?cid=415913

12 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 the UK’s complex innovation a focus on high added value business spin-off companies. landscape because the UK has a and increase its R&D spending. It is This focus on revamping the Polish particular interest in ensuring that using €7.3bn of its structural funds and Czech R&D landscapes offer a innovation professionals in rapidly primarily to improve science (R&D), range of potential business developing EU Member States work competitiveness, and research opportunities for UK organisations in closely with UK industry and infrastructure using three specialised collaboration with local partners. The academia. With UKTI and SIN officers operational programmes (Business and UK has much to offer by way of best co-located in Prague and Warsaw, and Innovation, Education for practice, indeed Professor Rudolf SIN’s focus on regional working within Competitiveness, and Science & Hanka of the University of Cambridge Europe, the geographical focus was Research for Innovation). has recently become one of the clear. A new Technology Research Council innovation advisers to the Czech Both Poland and the Czech Republic will provide grant funding for applied Prime Minister. benefit from large chunks of EU research, for which university-business In terms of achievements, all of the Structural and Cohesion Funds (SCF). collaboration – including part funding UK missioners have leads likely to This financial provision offers them from business – will be required. New result in collaborations, possibly the opportunity to use this funding to legislation is in the pipeline designed contracts. The Polish and Czech help develop their science to encourage applied research and audiences, already interested in the infrastructure and put sustainable innovation to allow universities to UK’s approach, went away with a policies in place to foster innovation. commercialise successful results of its much better understanding and, research, patent, sell licences and start Poland’s Innovative Economy importantly, a desire to pursue links programme (OPIE) is worth €9.7bn with the UK. There was so much UK INNOVATION MAP over the period 2007-2013, including interest in the Knowledge Transfer The UK builds on a history of €8.3bn EU funding (12.3% of total Networks and the Knowledge Transfer innovation to deliver new products Polish SCF for the same period). The Partnerships that equivalent structures and services. With an extensive programme comprises a range of sub- may well emerge in both countries. programmes designed to improve network of organisations focused on By working together, UKTI and FCO Polish economic development by innovation, the UK is a global SIN have delivered a strong set of fostering an innovation culture and innovation hub that creates wealth events promoting UK innovation, and improving R&D infrastructure. The for the UK and its international delivering on joint objectives in a way €190m Wroclaw Research Centre (due partners. that neither could have achieved to be operational by 2013) is one The Innovation Map, recently separately. The expertise of the SIN example of how Poland is using its produced by UK Trade & officers in Prague and Warsaw and SCF funding. Investment, identifies for the first time the 12 key groups into which access to their local networks were A range of reforms is under way to all UK innovation organisations fall. essential to a successful outcome. improve the Polish science landscape. UKTI’s Science & Technology team The opportunities revealed by the The National R&D Centre (NCBR), set works in collaboration with those 12 innovation roadshow have created up in 2007, is the leading Government key groups, helping to raise the demand for follow-up activity in the funding agency for applied research. profile of UK Research & UK later this year. And the SIN teams R&D funding is becoming much more Development. in Prague and Warsaw are working on focused on key strategic programmes plans to raise awareness of the and projects, with excellence seen as a The Innovation Map can be opportunities which structural funds major criterion for funding. downloaded from could offer UK businesses in https://www.uktradeinvest.gov.uk/u Similar developments are seen in the partnership with local organisations in kti/fileDownload/UKTIInnovationRe Czech Republic where the government the Czech Republic and in Poland. port.pdf?cid=415913 is looking to give its economy more of

Further information: Nick Stuart, Head of Science & Technology, UKTI [email protected] Otakar Fojt, Science & Innovation Officer, British Embassy, Prague [email protected] Andrzej Wajs, Acting Science & Innovation Officer, British Embassy, Warsaw [email protected]

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 13 Facing up to the Grand Challenges Andy Furlong Institution of Chemical Engineers

very parliamentary constituency engineers will play a pivotal role. in Britain faces its own unique challenges. And yet the big tests Last year, the Institution of Chemical E Engineers (IChemE) published a facing society are shared across the nation, and indeed throughout the Roadmap for 21st Century Chemical 1 world. Secure and nutritious food Engineering . The report which supplies; access to clean water; featured in the pages of this journal 2 A profession in demand affordable healthcare; public safety and twelve months ago outlined the chemical engineering approach mitigating the impact of climate Unsurprisingly chemical engineers are towards tackling six major challenges change – these challenges affect us all in demand, at home and abroad. It’s a facing humanity and contained a series and global solutions are called for if career path that’s proving increasingly of short, medium and long-term action we are to sustain a viable planet with appealing to students in the UK too. plans that the Institution and its more equitable distribution of wealth Last year, UK universities saw a record 27,000 international membership and resources. number of students opting to study should progress in pursuit of a chemical engineering, with an all-time sustainable future. On launching the These issues are often termed ‘grand high figure of 1455 undergraduate Roadmap, IChemE Vice President, Ian challenges’. They are global in both students starting first degree courses. Shott, described the contribution scale and scope, daunting in nature Since 2001, applications to study chemical engineers could make: and for many people, policymakers chemical engineering in the UK have “Chemical Engineering is playing an included, sit in the ‘horribly difficult’ grown by more than 70% and increasing role in meeting society’s pile earmarked for tackling by admissions have risen by 55% as a needs, from energy generation to food someone else. Seemingly as intractable result. as the legendary Gordian Knot, it’s production, water supply to waste entirely understandable that people management and from consumer The Head of Chemical Engineering at frequently choose to focus on goods to healthcare products.” Glasgow’s Strathclyde University, Dr secondary challenges that are closer to Carl Schaschke said: “The upturn in Already there are many examples of home. However, the world is changing interest in chemical engineering chemical engineering expertise being at a frightening pace. Millions of nationally is a reflection of the used to tackle pressing international people still lack solutions to these changing role and unique skills of the issues. Chemical engineers at BASF grand challenges and those who do – chemical engineer. Now, more than at have designed a more environmentally or at least did – are facing real any time in the past, chemical friendly process for the manufacture of difficulties, perhaps for the first time engineers can be found central to nylon. The new technique reduces in their lives, with rising food prices, meeting the societal needs of energy emissions of harmful oxides of fuel costs and the visible impact of provision, health care and tackling nitrogen by simplifying the production climate change beginning to take head-on crucial environmental issues of an intermediate chemical, effect. that affect everyone.” cyclododecanone, thereby cutting the Opportunity or threat? number of process steps from four to Securing a healthy pipeline of high- two. Further afield, New Zealander, quality chemical engineers is good Grand challenges pose both Howard Bradbury, has developed a news for industry and society. It’s good opportunities and threats to policy novel drying technique to remove news for graduates too. New figures makers. Opportunities, societal and potentially fatal levels of cyanide from reveal that 2007 graduate starting economic, for those with the solutions; cassava flour, a staple food in the diet salaries averaged £26,000 and threats for those who fail to address of many poorer communities. Quite packages exceeding £30,000 were not the challenges and curb public unease. literally, an example of how chemical unusual. But who are the problem solvers – engineers can save lives. Both of these who will provide the secure food projects were recognised at the Image problem supplies, the clean water, improved Institution’s Annual Innovation and healthcare and cleaner energy? Shared Excellence Awards in London last Despite this, chemical engineering – challenges dictate shared solutions and autumn. and engineering as a whole – still

14 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 needs to work on its image. A recent grand challenges described at the vacancies. And in the future, as the Engineering and Technology Board beginning of this article. Arnold Black, demand for skilled chemical engineers study 3 looking at public perceptions a chemical engineering graduate of grows internationally, this could of engineering and engineers revealed Leeds University, manages a team of become a major problem presenting that awareness and understanding of twenty (many of them chemical both government and business with engineers and engineering tended to engineers) in his role as Network severe difficulties for example, in the be narrowly defined and primarily Director at the Resource Efficiency battle to cut carbon emissions through related to construction and manual Knowledge Transfer Network. His the deployment of clean coal professions. The quantitative survey team provides services to industry and technology, carbon capture, nuclear findings showed that the word academe, promoting innovation and power generation and renewables. ‘engineer’ most commonly triggered commercial environmental solutions in images of construction and mechanics the field of resource efficiency. Facing up to the grand – associating engineers primarily with challenges building and fixing things than rather Black’s broad remit covers everything than design, innovation and creativity. from resource-efficient manufacturing There has probably never been a better in food processing and consumer time to be a chemical engineering In 2007, to coincide with the 50th goods manufacture through to student. Employers continually lament Anniversary of its Royal Charter, recovery of materials from waste a tight recruitment market, the sit vac IChemE asked Ipsos MORI to research streams such as electronic scrap and pages of process sector publications public perceptions of chemical construction material. This can include are expanding and graduate salaries engineering. The survey, which technologies such as bio-technologies are on the up. The grand challenges, it assessed the views of 2000 people, for alternative fuels and would seem, are fuelling the demand provided a sobering view of public electrochemical water clean-up. for chemical engineers? attitudes and understanding of our profession. Over a third of people In Cambridge, chemical engineers Nonetheless, we must not rest on our surveyed had no idea what ‘chemical working for Stem Cell Sciences UK, laurels. In 2007 many UK chemical engineering’ meant. A further quarter are pioneering bio-manufacturing engineering degree courses are either admitted to only a vague idea. processes for the automated at, or are fast approaching, capacity. production and manipulation of stem Whilst this is having a beneficial effect ABC1s claimed a better understanding cells. Stem cells are a potential source on the quality of the undergraduate of chemical engineering with just over of research, screening of new drugs intake, a shortage of places does not half of the respondents in this category and cell therapy but the challenge is bode well for a future in which the agreeing with the proposition that generating enough high-quality stem grand challenges will become even chemical engineers were important to cells to allow sufficient research. more exacting. Government, industry the UK economy. This trend was and professional bodies, including And in Cardiff, chemical engineers reinforced amongst older respondents IChemE, must work together to meet have designed an innovative way of and those educated to degree level. the demand for extra places. producing catalysts, using acetates and 55% of those surveyed believed that carbon dioxide rather than nitrates to In the years ahead, governments in all chemical engineers ‘use advanced significantly reduce their nations will be under pressure to technology’, whilst 38% agreed that environmental harm, eliminating demonstrate that they are facing up to chemical engineering ‘improves the energy-intensive precipitation, solvent the grand challenges with policies and quality of the products we buy’. and waste. strategies that will secure a sustainable Amongst other findings, 29% believed society. that chemical engineering was Skill shortages loom ‘increasing in importance’ and 31% Delivering those policies and strategies thought that chemical engineering Such innovation will benefit both the will require skilled scientists and ‘offered a career with good prospects’. environment and the UK economy but technologists to make things happen. Conversely, two out of three people it’s only possible with a secure pipeline Here in the UK policy makers can disagreed with these propositions. This of chemical engineers. However, safeguard the future by securing a presents quite a headache for a alongside the looming problems of healthy supply of chemical and profession that is working hard to climate change there is another issue process engineers – 21st Century improve its reputation and secure that requires urgent attention – a problem solvers capable of solving public confidence through engagement shortage of scientists and engineers to knotty problems with bold strokes. and influence programmes particularly maintain and build on existing work with young people via its well as older professionals retire. regarded whynotchemeng careers campaign. The UK process sector is now paying 1 http://www.icheme.org/roadmap2007.pdf the price for the dramatic downturn in 2 Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions, Dr. Ramesh The benefits of innovation the number of students studying Mashelkar, Science in Parliament , Summer 2007 chemical engineering in the mid- pp12-13 1990s. Engineering recruitment 3 Public Attitudes to and Perceptions of Engineering and And yet there are many examples of Engineers 2007, Engineering and Technology Board chemical engineers here in the UK agencies are already searching as far who are making real progress on the afield as Brazil and Nigeria to fill

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 15 Tackling the major challenges facing society Professor Dave Delpy Chief Executive, Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

Addressing the ‘big questions’ has Scientific research has the potential to always been fundamental to science tackle the issues affecting all aspects of and engineering and now, more than our lives – issues that are changing the ever, we need to find the answers. climate of our planet and affecting the Securing sustainable energy supplies way in which our rubbish is collected, and halting the effects of climate changing how we book our summer change are global necessities. holiday and the security needed for a Harnessing the potential of new safe journey. With this potential comes technologies, to develop innovative responsibility, and our responsibility as medical treatments or to enhance a research council is to ensure the UK’s change and an ageing population, global security, will improve millions scientists and engineers can tackle the acceleration of innovation and of lives across the world. As a society, challenges we face head on. technology requirements, and global and as a scientific community, we need uncertainty and the threat of terrorism. to strive harder than ever before to Aligning priorities develop and shape solutions – and To address these, working in that ambition underpins the The Government’s long term public collaboration with the academic Engineering and Physical Sciences policy challenges include the pressure community and the other Research Research Council’s long term vision. on natural resources, demographic Councils, we have developed four

EPSRC Priority Research Themes: The programme builds on a solid foundation: five previously funded IT-centric interdisciplinary research Energy - The mission of this on-going programme is to centres have already built a strong research base help the UK to meet its energy and environmental targets engaging social scientists, clinicians, psychologists, by supporting world class research to develop and biologists, designers, artists and film makers. exploit low carbon technologies and reduce energy use. Nanoscience, Through Engineering to Application - The programme encompasses power generation and Nanoscience is a rapidly maturing field with the supply, demand reduction, alternative energy vectors, potential to revolutionise society. Harnessing the transport and security of supply. possibilities it creates could lead to environmental, healthcare and energy benefits, and major advances in materials, optics, and computing. The theme will build on significant research and investment to create a coherent, directed programme taking basic research through to application. An important element will be a public engagement programme to debate concerns, explore the ethical and social implications and clarify the benefits of nanotechnology. Towards Next Generation Healthcare - This programme aims to improve the health of UK citizens at all stages of their lives and responds to the challenges and opportunities created by an ageing population. The Digital Economy - a rapid response to developments in programme will foster cross-discipline partnerships and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is industrial relationships including collaborations with vital to the future economic and social prosperity of the major healthcare companies, the NHS, medical charities UK. The Digital Economy theme will link world-class and the Medical Research Council. ICT researchers with those in other scientific disciplines, business and other users to create a multidisciplinary, This collaborative approach will not only enable world user-focused research base capable of responding to new class research, but also accelerate the transition from basic opportunities. research to clinical products, practices and patient benefits.

16 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 priority research themes; ‘Energy’, We will look to support longer, larger essential to sustaining progress. ‘Digital Economy’, ‘Towards Next research programmes to give Generation Healthcare’ and researchers the time, resources and In generating world class research ‘Nanoscience, Through Engineering to facilities they need. aligned to major societal and global Application’. These priorities form a issues, we must also ensure the central strand of our Delivery Plan – a The issues facing society do not potential of that research is realised. three-year framework that sets out our respect the boundaries of established Working with the Technology Strategy high level objectives and how we will scientific fields, geographical or Board, the Energy Technologies achieve them. Each priority theme has political borders. More ambitious Institute and industrial and charitable a wide ranging remit and will require research is likely to include partners, we will strive to accelerate contributions from all scientific and multidisciplinary teams working as the exploitation of research for both engineering disciplines. part of multilateral international social and economic benefit. partnerships and a major component But identifying the issues will not, in of the international policy of the We know the ‘big questions’ facing us isolation, lead to solutions. Our Research Councils is, wherever will evolve and, as existing problems Delivery Plan also outlines our possible, to break down barriers to are solved, new ones will be posed. continued commitment to investing in such collaborations. The key to continued success lies in talented people, maintaining and maintaining a vibrant, creative and developing the UK’s skills base and Accelerating benefit formidable UK research capability. creating an environment and culture that fuels creativity, innovation and Too much is made of a perceived Our ten-year vision is for the UK to be ambition. conflict between fundamental and as equally renowned for knowledge applied research – supporting high transfer and innovation as it is for Scientific ambition quality research and ensuring better research discovery. Meeting the impact from it are mutually commitments we have made in our Tackling major global issues requires a compatible objectives. Fundamental three-year Delivery Plan will ensure we culture of ambition on the same scale. breakthroughs, across the entire are on track to realise that vision. In fostering this, we will be spectrum of scientific disciplines, fuel For more information visit www.epsrc.ac.uk, encouraging the research community the innovative solutions and or contact Jenny Whitehouse, Parliamentary to develop proposals that will applications of tomorrow. Challenging Relations Manager: challenge current understanding and established ideas remains at the heart [email protected], unlock doors to new scientific fields. of discovery and new thinking is 01793 442892.

Strategic partnerships Investment in People Building strategic partnerships with a range of As part of its continued commitment to investing in organisations including industrial companies, charities skills and training, the Engineering and Physical Sciences and other research organisations will create increased Research Council has announced a £250m investment in funding opportunities and accelerate the exploitation of new centres for doctoral training. world-class research. EPSRC is looking to establish at least 40 new centres to In the latest partnership, EPSRC and The Wellcome train the next generation of highly skilled and talented Trust have launched a joint £45m initiative to boost researchers capable of addressing the challenges of the innovation in medical engineering. 21st century. Major advances in healthcare and life sciences research The centres will support training across EPSRC’s entire are frequently underpinned by the development of new remit, including its priority research areas, and the technology, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), investment will also provide a number of Industrial reconstructive surgery and non-invasive diagnostic tests. Doctorate Centres – with a greater focus on future careers in industry. The successful bids in this initiative The initiative will provide funding for several are set to be announced in December 2008. multidisciplinary centres of excellence within the UK, bringing together experts in physical and engineering sciences with those in the clinical and life sciences. This joint initiative will not only enable the development of new medical technologies, but also improve the integration of expertise in the public and private sectors so that innovations are harnessed effectively by the healthcare industry and aided through the process of regulation, commercialisation and distribution for patient benefit.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 17 POWER ATTRACTS – AND REQUIRES – ADVICE Science, Parliament and Government

here has never been a time when Parliamentary Links Day ranging knowledge and expertise that science has been more central to both organisations offer. The annual the concerns of Government and The RSC has for decades run the Science and the Parliament event (now in T its 8th year) attracts over 300 delegates Parliament. pioneering (and since imitated) Parliamentary Link Scheme – which and 30 exhibitors and provides an Or a time when scientific advice has brings together members of the ideal opportunity for networking been more necessary. Society with the MPs in whose between the political and scientific constituencies they live – and this communities. Or its influence more crucial. scheme remains at the heart of the Society’s strategic efforts to build In Wales relationships have been Over the course of history bridges between the scientific enhanced by the establishment of the Governments have been advised and community and Parliament. annual Science and the Assembly event influenced by philosophers, lawyers, which now provides a welcome diplomats, academics, journalists and Parliamentary Links Day remains the opportunity to debate key science economists – and more recently by largest scientific event held annually in issues and to meet scientists and single issue pressure groups, by the Houses of Parliament and involves engineers. environmental and non-government the active participation of sister organisations and by others. organisations such as the Institute of Physics, the Institute of Biology, the “My Hon. Friend will know that I was All these still have a role to play. Royal Society, the Royal Academy of at the recent Bill Bryson awards launch Engineering, the Campaign for Science But the issues that face Governments and Engineering, the Geological from the Royal Society of Chemistry, a and Legislators around the world now Society and many others. terrific programme encouraging young involve science, engineering and people to take an interest in science. technology to a more pervasive extent Science is multi-disciplinary, the than ever before. solutions to many problems are multi- We want more people to be excited disciplinary, and over the years about science.” Science is now a top priority. Here in Parliamentary Links Day has evolved [Ian Pearson MP] the UK the fundamental issues that accordingly. face Government and Parliament, and the decisions on what to do about In recent years major themes – such as them, still remain essentially political Science and the G8 Summit and Science The Role of Scientific Advice decisions. But scientific advice is both and Globalisation – have been explored needed and required. by key figures including the Prime Scientific advice and how it is Minister, Foreign Secretary, senior organised always matters. There are Operating under its Royal Charter “to Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet limits to the advice that the serve the public interest” the Royal Ministers, the Government’s Chief Government can obtain solely from its Society of Chemistry (RSC) undertakes Scientific Adviser, the Chairs of major own resources and it needs to tap the a wide range of activities designed to Select Committees and world wealth of expertise that lies within the offer assistance to MPs and Peers given renowned scientists and engineers. scientific community. that so many of the issues they face have a scientific aspect. RSC Westminster Fellowship Governments have to make decisions and the scientific community has to Parliamentary Briefings The Society runs a three month understand the pressures and funded placement for young scientists constraints that it faces. The RSC provides direct assistance to working in the Parliamentary Office of MPs including briefings for Ministerial Science and Technology. This ‘injects The scientific community now has a Statements or general debates on some chemistry directly into the greater opportunity – and scientific issues, for use at Committee bloodstream of Parliament.’ responsibility – than ever before to or Report Stage, PQs and ensure that it provides the best Adjournment Debates. Devolution possible scientific advice in the most timely and understandable way. The RSC continues to pioneer scientific “I want to pay a compliment to the links with devolved bodies, and has Some of the world’s most important already developed new Link Schemes challenges – including global climate Royal Society of Chemistry, which has change, and how to ensure plentiful probably inundated hon. Members with between the scientific community and Members both of the Scottish supplies of energy, food and clean information about the research that it is Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. water – are the very ones where the doing… through its skilled scientific community has the most to In Scotland the Society and the Royal offer. Science is part of the solution. membership.” Society of Edinburgh work jointly to [Dr Ian Gibson MP] make available to MSPs the wide- And the Royal Society of Chemistry is here to help.

18 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 VOICE OF THE FUTURE Young Scientists Make Their Voice Heard

It was standing room only on 11th the Institute of Biology, the Campaign March for the biggest science event for Science and Engineering, the held in the House during this year’s Biosciences Federation, the Geological National Science and Engineering Society and many more. Week. Encouragingly, the majority were female. Entitled Voice of the Future it was organised once again by the Royal The centrepiece was the Science Society of Chemistry (RSC) on behalf Question Time, similar to the BBC TV of the whole science and engineering Question Time, which was chaired by community with the aim of Phil Willis MP. The subjects raised strengthening links between scientists, included standards of education, Parliament and Government. gender inequalities in science, research funding and how to tackle pseudo- It brought together over 150 younger science. The young scientists had the scientists and engineers in the early opportunity to put their probing stages of their career, typically aged questions to the panel of MPs – from the chance to attend as one of the from their early twenties to mid- the Commons Select Committee on young delegates: “The Voice of the thirties, from all the UK’s major Innovation, Universities and Skills – Future is a fantastic experience science disciplines. The audience also which included Dr Ian Gibson MP, providing the unique opportunity to comprised 6th Form science students Dr Evan Harris MP, Tim Boswell MP, speak to MPs, learn what they are from four secondary schools within Dr Brian Iddon MP, and Dr Des doing to support chemistry and London who are contemplating careers Turner MP. The ensuing exchanges science in the UK, and ask provocative in science. opened up a dialogue between the questions.” next generation of talented scientists These scientists came from the RSC, and Members of the Select Committee. The RSC Chief Executive Dr Richard the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Pike, commenting on this year’s event, Royal Society, the Institute of Physics, Voice of the Future also included a said, “We are very pleased to be able chance for the young scientists to hear to provide these scientists with such a from, and question, Ian Pearson MP, great opportunity to question MPs and Minister for Science and Innovation. Ministers on how scientific issues are Mr Pearson’s address highlighted the dealt with, and also hear from them importance of science and engineering what their vision is for the future. This to the challenges faced globally, such event allows younger members of the as climate change and food security. community to ask unrestricted He also discussed the important role questions, and on subjects most science plays in Britain for maintaining relevant to the future of the scientific competitiveness in the global economy, community, such as education, skills and the need for dialogue between and the infrastructure for research and scientists and the public. funding.” Jennifer Clark, a Health, Safety and Environment specialist at Eastman Chemical Company, was delighted by

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 19 NEW DISEASES AND RENEWED THREATS MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 22ND JANUARY 2008 MRSA, New, Yet Old Professor Hugh Pennington FRSE President, MRSA Action UK

hen asked to become organisms. The big exception was S. President of MRSA Action aureus, which was first identified and WUK I accepted without named in 1880 by Alexander Ogston, hesitation. The decision had nothing a surgeon at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. to do with my own status as an MSSA Ogston was an enthusiastic proponent carrier (I have been one since my of the antiseptic methods developed medical student days) but was due to by Joseph Lister in Glasgow in the late the privilege of becoming formally 1860s and early 1870s. My estimate is associated with an organisation typical that of all the preventive measures In the 1930s the standard multi- of the best British special interest introduced against the staphylococcus, volume British bacteriology textbook groups – ones which exert beneficial its impact has never since been was the Medical Research Council’s effects on policy far outweighing their matched. Before its introduction the System of Bacteriology. Alexander sparse resources – and because of its mortality rate of ‘cold’ – non-traumatic Fleming wrote the chapter on aim, which is to prevent the – orthopaedic operations done by the Staphylococcus. Its preparation required preventable. most experienced surgeons was about him to do some research. It led to the 9%. Wound infection was virtually discovery of penicillin in 1928. And It is hard to think of a better example universal. In 1884 William Macewen the first patient to be treated in its first of Hegel’s principle – “what experience reported his series of 804 antiseptic clinical trial by Howard Florey and his and history teach is this – that people limb-bone operations at Glasgow team at Oxford had a staphylococcal and governments never have learned Royal Infirmary. Only 8 became infection. Albert Alexander was a anything from history, or acted on infected, and only 3 died, one of policeman. An infection of his face principles deduced from it” – than pneumonia, one of tuberculosis, and from a rose thorn scratch had spread MRSA. Its history also exemplifies one of diphtheria. to his lungs and shoulder. He first another principle – that the received penicillin on 12 February Lister’s carbolic worked against the relationship between science, practice, 1941, and improved dramatically. But staphylococcus. But it was toxic. Not and policy is hardly ever simple or even with the recycling of penicillin only did it wreck the hands, it was straightforward. Perhaps most from his urine, the supply ran out, absorbed through the skin and disappointing of all is that, although and he relapsed, dying of damaged the kidneys. When a surgeon the story of MRSA science has been staphylococcal septicaemia on 15 started to pass black urine it was time one dominated by British discoveries, March. for him to take a holiday. Alternative we currently languish at the bottom of antiseptics came in. Research done in Fleming discovered the first naturally- the international league of success in the 1890s showed that hand hygiene occurring penicillin-resistant controlling it in our hospitals. with alcohol worked well against S. staphylococci in 1942. Then they were MRSA stands for methicillin resistant aureus. Its therapeutic index – uncommon. However, important Staphylococcus aureus. Medical comparison of its staphylococcal research by the bacteriologist Mary bacteriology became a science in the killing power against its ability to Barber at the Hammersmith Hospital late nineteenth century. It was cause dermatitis – was good. It was in London showed that not only did dominated by Germans. They widely adopted. But rubber gloves they increase proportionately soon discovered most of the important were introduced and its use fell away. after the introduction of penicillin

20 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 (from 12.5% in April-November 1946 process blocked by penicillin disinfection is not mentioned in Dutch to 38% by February-June 1947) but antibiotics) in the presence of guidelines because it is already being that the rise was not caused by the methicillin. At least eleven different done assiduously. Using mathematical organisms becoming resistant while MRSA have evolved independently in modelling the Dutch have concluded patients were being treated. It was due different parts of the world. A turning that their success has been due to their to the spread of a resistant strain in the point for the UK was the appearance combined approach – no single hospital. Such strains made of two epidemic strains, EMRSA 15 measure will work on its own – and penicillinase, a penicillin-destroying and 16. EMRSA 16 was first seen in that if applied to the UK it would enzyme. In response a penicillin Kettering in 1992.It spread quickly. In bring our MRSA levels to theirs within derivative resistant to the enzyme, 1994 it was causing problems in 21 6 to 12 years. methicillin, was developed by the London hospitals. By 2000 it was During the first three decades of their Beecham Research Laboratories in common throughout Britain, and was evolution UK MRSA caused local Surrey. It was thought that spreading internationally. The outbreaks. A degree of complacency penicillinase production was the only voluntary reports to the Health developed; “search and destroy” was way for a staphylococcus to become Protection Agency (and its deemed to be too expensive. When resistant to penicillin, so resistance to predecessor, the Public Health EMRSA 15 and 16 appeared they were methicillin would not develop. But Laboratory Service) of staphylococcal not taken seriously enough. Old habits within a year such strains appeared, at bloodstream infections in England, die hard; policy makers have only just Guildford. The first MRSA outbreak Wales and Northern Ireland are begun to give isolation the attention it occurred two years later, in 1963, at informative. In 1992 116 isolates were needs. Queen Mary’s Hospital for Children at resistant and 4462 sensitive. In 2003, Carshalton. Eight wards were affected; 6085 were resistant and 8560 Staphylococci grow well on agar thirty-seven patients were infected and sensitive. A simple way of monitoring plates. But saying that exhausts one died. Gordon Stewart was its the scale of the problem is to measure virtually all that is straightforward bacteriologist at the time. He closed the ratio of the two. It is reasonably about them. All attempts to develop his account of the outbreak with accurate because it automatically takes vaccines have failed. We do not know prescient words: “Lastly, and most account of changes in hospital practice why some people carry S.aureus for life important, patients harbouring these that affect staphylococcal infections as and others not, neither do we rare strains must be isolated, a whole. Resistant strains became understand why EMRSA are such vigorously treated, and preferably commoner. By 1999 they accounted successful nosocomial pathogens. For should be sent out of hospital as soon for 40% of S.aureus isolates. It is still the overwhelming majority of patients as possible.” The organism continued the same today. But in the Netherlands infected in hospital, the precise route to cause problems, however, and it is about 1%. Why is this? of transmission is never established. Is bacteriologists to warn. aerial transmission important? We do The Dutch and Scandinavian success not know. Will the new community A 1985 account of a two-year in controlling MRSA has been due to MRSA strains establish themselves in outbreak at the Royal Free Hospital their policy of “search and destroy”. hospitals? We can only guess. concluded “Several authors have Key elements are the treatment of reported failure to contain MRSA MRSA carriers in single rooms with Some complain that MRSA have infection without an isolation unit; barrier precautions, the screening and become political. Their analysis is hospitals without such facilities or, as precautionary isolation of high-risk right, but their judgment wrong. All at this hospital, unable to finance the patients (eg those from endemic places infections have a political dimension. staffing of a unit, may find that this like the UK) until negative test results Consider foot and mouth disease. epidemic MRSA will pose a come, the vigorous investigation of all Even before it ceased to be endemic in considerable threat to their clinical patients and healthcare workers in a Britain, in 1889, the Government had practice.” ward if any patient becomes a carrier, a vigorous stamping out policy – and the closure of a ward to new search and destroy. It has spent MRSA are antibiotic resistant because patients if there is evidence of the billions. If only we had had the same they have acquired a gene, mec A, that transmission of infection. Hand for MRSA! allows them to build cell walls (a

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 21 NEW DISEASES AND RENEWED THREATS “difficile” by name, “difficile” by nature Professor Nigel Minton University of Nottingham

he bacterial genus Clostridium is with age. Problems occur when the an ancient grouping, which good bacteria in the gut are disrupted, Tevolved on this planet long most usually through their obliteration before there was an atmosphere. To by prescription of antibiotics. Under them oxygen in the air we breathe is a these conditions, C. difficile proliferates Reports on the emergence of more poison. They are ‘anaerobes’, and to cause Clostridium difficile-associated virulent strains in Canada first began thrive in oxygen-free environments disease (CDAD). Clinical severity to appear in the scientific literature in such as our digestive tracts. Partly as a ranges from a self-limiting diarrhoea, 2003. These documented an increase means to survive exposure to the air, through acute and severe diarrhoea to in incidence (5-fold the historical they produce a specialised structure the potentially fatal average); more severe disease called an endospore. Compared to pseudomembranous colitis. The (complications rising from 7.1% to normal bacterial cells, spores are bacterial factors responsible for 18.2%); higher relapse rates (increased extremely resistant to all manner of disease, so-called virulence factors, are from 20.8% to 47.2%); increased chemical and physical agents, two large toxins (Toxin A and B). mortality (from 4.7% to 13.8%) and surviving exposure to heat, drying, Spores are pivotal in disease great antibiotic resistance (most certain disinfectants and low energy transmission, but while other factors notably to fluoroquinolone radiation. must play a role, their identity antibiotics). Characterisation of the currently remains little more than strains involved indicated that they The antics of a few give this large conjecture. were all of one particular type (type genus a bad name, just 12 species 027 of the 150-plus recognised cause over 90% of clinical disease. The Since the turn of the new millennium there has been a dramatic rise in the ribotypes), that they all produced a vast majority are entirely benign. relatively rare toxin (CDT) in addition Indeed, many species are of great incidence of C. difficile. Cases of CDAD in England and Wales have increased to toxins A and B and carried a value to mankind. Clostridium mutation in a gene (tcdC) that leads to acetobutylicum, the forerunner of the year on year from 19,600 cases in 2000 to 55,620 in 2006, a 184% the production of increased levels of modern biotechnology industry, is able toxins. By June 2006, type 027 strains to ferment renewable carbon neutral increase. As a result, 2005 saw 3807 death certificates on which C. difficile had been reported in 7 Canadian biomass into butanol – a biofuel provinces, and by October 2007 had superior to ethanol as a petrol was either directly or indirectly attributed as the cause of death; more been isolated in 37 US states. The substitute. The neurotoxin of scientific community at large and the Clostridium botulinum, more popularly than twice that of MRSA. A number of reasons have been suggested for this public alike became generally aware of associated with BoTox and cosmetics, similar problems in the UK in June has tremendous therapeutic uses (eg increase, ranging from improvements in reporting procedures, the increasing 2005 with The Independent front page the treatment of squints), while the headline ‘New Superbug threatening spores of harmless clostridial species age of the population and therefore the number at risk, increased antibiotic Britain’s hospitals’. It referred to two have great potential as tumour delivery outbreaks at Stoke Mandeville hospital systems for treating cancer. resistance, lower standards of hygiene and overcrowding in hospitals. A between October 2003 and June 2004, C. difficile is a black sheep of the family. further significant factor has been the and again between October 2004 and The organism is part of the ‘normal’ emergence of so-called ‘hypervirulent’ June 2005. Over this period some 334 gut flora in 3% of healthy adults, strains. patients were affected with 38 although this percentage increases mortalities. Since this date numerous

22 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 UK hospitals have been affected, and spread of the organism, adherence to Nottingham has removed this 027 strains have now been isolated strict antibiotic policies is required. bottleneck with the development of from 16 European states and The use of oral cephalosporins and the ClosTron gene targeting system. It Switzerland. clindamycin, which are known to enables the rapid and reproducible precipitate the disease, needs to be creation of mutants, and has led to a 5 Between 1990 and 2003, laboratory restricted. Additionally year MRC project (initiated October reports from England and Wales fluoroquinolones, not previously 2007) in collaboration with UCL collected at the Anaerobe Reference associated with the disease, now seem (Peter Mullany) which seeks to centre by Jon Brazier demonstrated to be selecting for hypervirulent inactivate all those genes previously that the most common UK ‘epidemic’ strains such as type 027 strains and hypothesised as being involved in strains belonged to ribotype 001 need careful use. Future research must virulence and assessing the effect on (55%). The second most common concentrate on: developing improved the capacity of the strain to cause strain was type 106 (10%). By 2005, diagnostic methods; increasing our disease. If we understand how the bug when a random survey was knowledge of the mechanisms by causes disease, we can develop rational undertaken over a 1 week period, 001 which the host becomes countermeasures. had declined to just over 25%, type resistant/susceptible to infection; 106 had risen to nearly 26%, and 027 Equally important is the need to be developing new therapies; improving had burst on to the scene representing able to rapidly diagnose CDAD. knowledge of transmission almost 25% of all isolates. A similar Symptoms alone are not enough to mechanisms; developing survey is currently ongoing, and while diagnose the condition. Toxin assays disinfecting/cleaning methods that the results are not finalised, 001 seems can reveal the presence of C. difficile in remove the spores from the patient to have fallen away further, while 106 the patient’s faecal sample, but can environment, and; increasing our and 027 remain neck and neck (Jon result in false negatives if understanding of what makes a strain Brazier, personal communication). concentrations are too low. Culturing virulent. These newly common strains are more the organism is more sensitive if resistant to antibiotics than other The Clostridial Research Group, methods are carried out correctly, but strains so that the once dominant within Nottingham’s Centre for can give false positives, as some people strain of the 1990s, type 001, is being Healthcare Associated Infections are asymptomatic carriers. New, more replaced by “fitter” strains that have (CHAI), is focused on a number of rapid methods are required, advantages in adapting to and issues. We are particularly interested in particularly to identify the new overcoming the changing selective determining how the organism causes hypervirulent strains. Towards this pressures of our healthcare disease and why certain strains have target, Nottingham is part of a environment. become hypervirulent. If we are to European consortium, lead by Dr Ed make progress, we need to identify the Kuijper (Leiden University Medical Currently many UK hospitals and C. difficile determinants that are Centre, NL), which seeks to develop elderly nursing homes have high levels required for infection and disease appropriate diagnostic tests. Their of contamination with C. difficile progression. Insight into possible development will enable clinicians and spores, with increasing numbers of mechanisms has arisen following the infection control teams to mount more susceptible, antibiotic-treated patients determination of the genome sequence immediate and effective propagating the organism. If infection of a representative strain. However, countermeasures. rates are to be controlled, a number of such a genetic blueprint tells us there measures need to be followed. These At Nottingham we have initiated are 4,000 or so individual genes, but it include: regular surveillance; isolation programmes of work which should doesn’t tell us what they do. In or barrier nursing; maintenance of eventually lead to more effective means biology, you never really know what a high standards of personal hygiene, of controlling CDAD. In the mean gene does until it isn’t there. Thus, to and; intensive cleaning of affected time, the UK has one of the worse, if prove that any gene product wards to remove the bacterial spores. not the worst, rates of C. difficile contributes to disease we need to These measures need to be mindful of infection in the developed world. We inactivate the gene and compare the the fact that spores of C. difficile are can clearly do better, and there is a virulence of the mutant generated to resistant to alcohol-based antiseptics collective responsibility from all those the non-mutated organism. Until (alcohol hand-washing gels are concerned (politicians, funding recently this was not possible in C. ineffective), and chlorine-based agencies, healthcare professionals, difficile, as the methods available for disinfectants can be only partially research scientists) to deliver a safer making mutants were ineffective. A effective. To minimise outbreaks and environment to the UK public. technological breakthrough at

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 23 NEW DISEASES AND RENEWED THREATS HIV Vaccines Professor Andrew McMichael FRS Director, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford

ore than 20 new virus than a quarter of those who need infection threats have therapy are receiving it. emerged in the last 30 years. M The alternative to complex and Of these, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has dominated, although expensive life-long treatment programmes should be a vaccine. avian influenza has the potential to be ‘Achilles heels’, but infected humans However, HIV vaccine development even more catastrophic. HIV emerged and vaccinated humans only very has been extraordinarily difficult. Soon in central sub-Saharan Africa by rarely make antibodies to these sites after discovery of the virus in 1983, it transfer from Chimpanzees to humans. and even then the antibodies are made was thought that it would be Chimpanzees are widely infected with in quantities too low to be protective. straightforward to generate virus a very similar virus, the closest to HIV So the trick is going to be to find envelope protein by genetic is found in animals in south eastern synthetic molecules that strongly engineering techniques (it was) and to Cameroon. The transfer most likely stimulate these antibodies when put make a vaccine. After several years one occurred by biting or contact with into vaccines, much easier said than such vaccine progressed to advanced Chimpanzee blood. Such transfers done and not yet achieved after years clinical trials to test its ability to could well have occurred sporadically of effort. for centuries but the virus infection prevent infection and it completely that ‘took off’ in humans probably failed. The reasons for this are now These difficulties led to another happened between 1930 and 1950. becoming clearer, thanks to detailed approach, using a vaccine to stimulate Since then, HIV has spread and high quality research on the structure killer T cells. Killer T lymphocytes are radiated around the world; it now of the virus envelope protein which not infectable by HIV, because they infects more than 25 million people. has led to an understanding of how lack CD4 on their surface, and their The mortality rate is close to 100% the virus can take advantage of natural role is to clear up virus without treatment. mutations to evade immune responses. infections by killing virus infected cells The virus envelope protein mediates in the interval between virus entry and The pharmaceutical industry, building attachment to the two protein production of virus progeny – a time on basic research in academic receptors on the surface of human T window of around 24 hours. Normally laboratories, has been highly lymphocytes (called CD4 and CCR5) this is a very effective way of successful in discovering more than 20 and then causes fusion of the virus controlling a virus infection and there anti-HIV drugs. When used in and cell membranes enabling the virus is very good scientific evidence that combinations of three or more, they to invade the cell. This process these T lymphocytes control the can very successfully suppress the involves complex changes in the shape chronic phase of HIV infection, virus. The modern drugs have fewer of the envelope protein, first as a helping the patient to delay side effects and are relatively easy to consequence of binding to CD4 to progression to AIDS, often for more take. They can control the virus expose the site on the envelope that than 10 years in the absence of indefinitely and have reduced binds to CCR5 and then major shape treatment. Extensive studies in mortality from AIDS substantially in change in the stalk of the molecule to monkeys showed that vaccines that developed countries, a major success cause membrane fusion. This stimulate killer T lymphocytes could story for late 20th century medicine. flexibility in shape makes it very hard influence the course of infections with However, the drugs do not eliminate for antibodies to bind sufficiently well simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), the virus and have to be taken for life. to stop the process. Furthermore, the a very close relative of HIV. Vaccinated They are expensive and their correct envelope protein is coated in sugar animals did become infected – the and safe use needs substantial medical which protects it from antibody attack. killer T cells can only act after cells infrastructure. Although there are A very extensive search for parts of the have become infected – but they ambitious roll-out programmes for envelope that can bind protective controlled the virus better and HIV drug treatment in Africa, fewer antibodies has revealed just four survived longer. Given these results,

24 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 there was considerable optimism that and despondency. Merck has pulled approaches have now hit brick walls, this approach might be useful in out of HIV vaccine research and other but for the antibody field this led to a humans. Although HIV can escape major pharmaceutical companies have boost in top quality science aimed at from killer T cells by mutating the followed suit. really understanding the problem in parts of the virus seen by the T cells, depth, which could in the future lead these are in relatively invariable A debate is ongoing as to what went to real discoveries in vaccine design. proteins of the virus, so it was wrong in the Merck trial. It is quite The T cell field needs the same kind of expected that the T cell stimulating possible that none of the safety reassessment and redirection. The vaccines would be able to cope with questions raised would hold up in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) in much of the virus variability. longer term study with more people the USA, with remarkable foresight tested, but reasonably no-one wants to and well before the result of the Merck The vaccine that looked the most take any risk of causing harm. It does vaccine trial was known, set up a promising, because it had stimulated look as if the vaccine failed to reduce $350m international consortium, that the strongest killer T cell responses in the virus level in those infected, the includes UK laboratories in Oxford HIV-uninfected people in early clinical primary goal, but it could be that the and London, to examine more closely trials, was the Merck vaccine. This was type of T cells stimulated were not how very early HIV infection is based on a common cold virus, strong enough and that there were not controlled and to what extent genetic adenovirus-5, into which was inserted enough of them. It is also possible that and pre-exposure natural immunity three HIV genes. Although many the vaccine and the infecting virus influences the outcome. The aim is to people had some pre-existing differed too much for the T cells to be better understand why some people immunity to adenovirus, it was shown effective. It is also possible that the respond to HIV infection better than that this did not reduce the immune newly infecting HIV causes so much others, a very few completely response to the HIV genes. Therefore a immunosuppression that it controlling the virus without any drug large trial to test the efficacy of the overwhelms even a vaccine prepared treatment. A full understanding of the vaccine was set up in volunteers who immune responses. All these ideas are ‘correlates of protection’ has a good had a relatively high risk of HIV being examined at the moment. chance of helping the better design of infection. After two years, in vaccines. September 2007, the trial was So where do we go from here? There is terminated because an interim data still an urgent global need for an HIV In conclusion, this is a difficult time analysis showed that the vaccine had vaccine. This is less pressing in the for HIV vaccine development. We are no protective effect. Worse, there was a developed world because drug all looking for new leads after recent trend towards more infections in treatment can do so much, though disappointments. What is constant is people who had pre-existing immunity without a vaccine the number of the need for the vaccine and it remains to the adenovirus in people who people infected will steadily increase. a high priority to attract the best received the vaccine, compared to The burden for further HIV vaccine young scientists into the field with the those who had a placebo vaccine development is now wholly on the chance to be truly innovative in (saline). This has caused much alarm non-commercial funding agencies and contributing to the effort. the academic world. Both major

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In discussion the following points were made: ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Alcohol is a marvellous cleaning agent and was widely used until the recent introduction of rubber gloves. Money was not available in South Africa from the Government but came from international sources. Disagreement was expressed on the efficacy of gels on C.diff. The evidence base is unreliable however, and obtaining scientific and clinical proof of efficacy is very difficult, especially in South Africa where no work was undertaken on the problem and evidence is lacking. In response to the charge that hospitals have retreated with respect to challenges to hygiene it was pointed out that there were no hip replacements in hospitals 50 years ago, and there were no strains of bacteria resistant to penicillin then, hence the risk from either of these did not exist. The negative impact of the RAE has resulted in less expenditure in this area and the number of medical scientists funded is very small resulting in no doctors going into microbiology. In contrast, Alexander Fleming put all his personal income arising from research on penicillin back into the subject. Surveillance was raised as an issue. Are we up to scratch with surveillance with Blue Tongue, Avian Flu and SARS hovering on the horizon? In the US, the CDC and in the UK, the WHO do pick things up. Academics could also do more to make it their business too, especially concerning Avian Flu, where links need to be established between surveillance and diagnostic tools, but it all comes down to money. National surveillance undertaken in real time differs in the private sector which does not report, and the NHS which does, but is very important in picking up issues such as the Cadbury chocolate contamination incident for example. Comparison was made between the highly regulated conditions of abattoir slaughtermen on the one hand and an unregulated hospital culture where nurses pay for their own uniforms to be laundered at home. A change in human attitudes and behaviour is necessary but it is not clear how we should do it. Perhaps variable resistance of people to HIV could form the basis for natural selection in the future?

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 25 SCIENCE IN THE REGIONS MEETING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY AND SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 26TH FEBRUARY 2008 Science and the Regions Dr Ed Metcalfe Chief Scientific Advisor, South East England Development Agency, SEEDA.

Introduction and and investment, and, based on an Background understanding of the strengths of regional businesses and the knowledge The RDA role in supporting science base, we can catalyse and co-ordinate and innovation came to general notice partnership working and through the House of Lords Inquiry collaboration. The main challenge for “SETting the regional agenda” in 2003. the UK to be globally competitive is to This report highlighted the RDA role increase the pace of innovation. The in funding science and innovation, at Chinese proverb “A peasant must stand a £240m pa, and stimulated closer long time on a hillside with his mouth open engagement with government before a roast duck flies in” reminds us simplification, to develop a few departments and the research councils. that to make things happen we need products recognisable by businesses The 2004 Spending Review, following to encourage a chain of innovative across the UK but delivered according the 10-year investment framework for developments. The public sector has a to regional needs and priorities. One science and innovation, recognised the role in creating the conditions in of the most important innovation importance of increasing knowledge which innovation can flourish. In our products is “Innovation collaborations” transfer and set RDAs a mandatory input to the 2007 Comprehensive (Figure 2): target to increase university-business Spending Review, we developed the collaboration. We exceeded this target, evidence base on regional innovation creating more than 7,000 new support, and realised that although we collaborations a year, and have might be using different descriptions, increased our investment in science the RDAs were doing very much the and innovation by 50%. To increase same things to promote innovation – high level advisory capacity from commercialisation, networks, business leaders, vice-chancellors and knowledge transfer, innovation research councils, we developed guidance, and skills – and we are Science and Industry Councils in beginning to understand the most every region. effective levers and mechanisms for creating wealth from our investment The regions work with government into the excellent UK knowledge base departments through a lead role (Figure 1). system: we share the lead role with DIUS, with the North West Development Agency who lead on Figure 2 Innovation Collaborations skills. As the strategic and operational lead for innovation science and technology, SEEDA co-chairs the This product provides help for Regional Innovation, Science and companies to work together with the Technology (RIST) Group with DIUS, science and research base. Innovation to become an established mechanism rarely happens through a single for sharing best practice between individual, it requires people with innovation groups across the RDAs complementary skills and knowledge, and devolved administrations, and and developing a single product may Figure 1 facilitate engagement with involve many businesses. The rate- government. limiting factor in the rate of innovation We are using this understanding to is often the growth of trust between The RDAs are uniquely placed to address the cluttered and confusing partners, including businesses and provide a focus for SME involvement landscape through business support universities or other knowledge base

26 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 institutions. We can accelerate this by regions to address this need, Looking ahead, the RDAs have already growth of trust through firstly building on experience such as taken on board most of the Sainsbury engineering serendipity – increasing Yorkshire Forward’s Centres of report recommendations, and will the frequency of productive contacts Industrial Collaboration. The strategy respond positively to the DIUS science through knowledge networks, such as has succeeded beyond expectation. In and innovation strategy. We have the London Technology Network three years 12 CIC centres learnt from our experience with the which trains university business collaborated on 1700 projects with micro/nanotechnologies and national fellows to act as a conduit for business, creating or safeguarding composites networks that knowledge increased business responsiveness, and 1300 jobs and generating £40m of exchange transcends regional and facilitates collaborative projects of income in the region and business national boundaries and regions need some £15m pa with businesses success stories across all industry to collaborate to compete globally. through highly structured networking sectors. In addition to supporting the Pan-RDA collaboration focusing on events. Harwell Science and Innovation regional priorities will achieve an campus (alongside NWDA support for effective partnership between the The relationships can be encouraged Daresbury) SEEDA will support the regions and the Technology Strategy and deepened through knowledge development of at least two new Board (TSB). Over three years, the transfer partnerships, in which an campuses, advised by our science and RDAs have committed to align at least academic, research student and industry council in line with regional business work together. RDAs support £180m funding with £720m TSB priorities, including the Kent funding and £120m from the Research the national KTP scheme, and several Thameside Institute for Sustainability run shorter “mini-KTPs” up to a year Councils. With business match in the Thames Gateway as part of an funding this will create a £2bn for small businesses. We will integrate international network, including the these into a flexible KTP product to programme to create a step change in LDA and EEDA, giving access to world support for innovation. The regional address the needs of a wide range of class knowledge in sustainability. This businesses. partnership with the TSB will be centre of excellence will enable overseen through a Strategic Advisory RDAs support deeper multi-partner collaborative working and research to Group, by the chairs from the regional develop, test and demonstrate collaborative R&D programmes, Science and Industry Councils and solutions for Integrated Resource including substantial pan-regional their devolved administration Management for Communities and programmes. The ASTRAEA equivalents. Supported by an Districts, and will provide a test bed programme funded by £11.2m from 5 Operational Advisory Group, regional for integrating current best practice regions, £5m from government, and Prospectuses will be used to align technologies into large and complex £16.2m from businesses can create a regional and national Technology systems. UK lead in the potential $10bn market Strategy priorities, with significant for unmanned airborne vehicles. “Access to business expertise” has investment on a small number of Innovation Platforms which show RDAs have shown strong interest in three strands to help business product, excellent potential for bringing the creation of challenge-led process and service innovation. The together the power of the public sector Innovation Platforms which can lead Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) across government departments, to substantial global business addresses the needs of UK research councils and RDAs to address opportunities across the supply chain. manufacturers, particularly SMEs, by major societal challenges and create Working together across government, providing practical hands-on assistance early stage global business leads. the research councils and the RDAs, from experts to enable them to adapt continuously to new methods and we can focus on substantial investment At the same time we will increase the programmes to create early market technologies. The Innovation Advisory Service (IAS) helps businesses kick-start clarity and coherence of innovation leads. SEEDA as a partner in the support regionally and locally, through Intelligent Transport Systems and the innovation process. The key components are low bureaucracy and a the Science Cities being developed in Services platform managed the very six regions, and through sub-regions first Innovation Platform call – funded team of highly competent advisors who have worked at director level in the with a critical mass of creative and projects include a wireless services connected people (eg South demonstrator in Reading. private sector and have specific technology experience. The advice Hampshire). An integrated approach We also need places where focuses on customer needs, based on a will provide the business support collaboration can take place with wider understanding of innovation than needed, whether for skills, academics and business researchers R&D. Designing Demand supports roll globalisation, enterprise, procurement, working together on a common out of the Design Council programmes sustainability or innovation. And we problem as well as providing shared since businesses using design perform will continue to explore how best we facilities to help businesses develop better – in one survey 75% of can support businesses, from open and grow. Science and Innovation businesses reporting growth said design innovation pilots to develop an campuses in the support product contributed to their sales growth, while intellectual property market, to “Shared Business Support most companies that hadn’t grown innovation vouchers for small Environments” are being developed could not see a role for design. businesses to use with universities.`

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 27 SCIENCE IN THE REGIONS The Northwest Regional Development Agency Dr George Baxter Director of Science and Innovation, Northwest Regional Development Agency

he Northwest Regional And it’s not just excellent for business. Development Agency (NWDA) A huge 29% of the region is Tleads the economic designated as National Park or area of development nd regeneration of outstanding beauty. The Northwest England’s Northwest. As a business-led boasts the largest lakes and mountains organisation, the NWDA provides a in England, not to mention the longest crucial link between the needs of stretch of undeveloped coastline. • Central Salford business and Government policies. As • Liverpool Vision (the first URC in such, a major responsibility for the These rich natural assets are part of the UK) Agency is to help create an the reason why England’s Northwest has been voted the top location for Acting as champions for their local environment in which businesses in areas, URCs aim to co-ordinate the region can flourish through quality of life in the Reward Group's cost of living survey for two years on focused plans for the regeneration and offering business support, encouraging future development of their towns and new start-ups, matching skills the run, while a poll by Ipsos MORI in 2006 rated the region highly on areas cities, and to stimulate new provision to employer needs and investment. bringing business investment into the of outstanding beauty, culture and region. nightlife. To ensure local solutions to local Our vision for the Northwest is a problems, the Agency has formed five England’s Northwest is a fast growing, dynamic, sustainable, international Sub-Regional Partnerships, which vibrant region, combining a dynamic economy which competes on the basis bring together business, the public business base, cosmopolitan urban of knowledge, advanced technology sector and voluntary and community centres, breathtaking landscapes and and an excellent quality of life for all. groups. They are responsible for an internationally recognised creative leading economic development within and cultural scene. Projects and schemes supported and their sub-regions and identifying funded by the NWDA are largely economic priorities which will deliver It boasts Manchester, the largest media delivered by public and private sector the Regional Economic Strategy (RES). hub outside of London; Liverpool, one partners, at a sub-regional and local of the world’s most famous level. Once a project has been The five Sub-Regional Partnerships waterfronts; Cheshire, home to developed and has secured Agency are: AstraZeneca's largest global Research investment, a team of specialists will • Cheshire and Warrington Economic & Development premises; Lancashire, work closely with partners to deliver Alliance a world class centre of excellence in the scheme. • Cumbria Vision advanced manufacturing and • Greater Manchester Forum engineering; and one of Europe’s The Agency works with a wide range • Lancashire Economic Partnership leading national parks, the Lake of local and regional delivery partners, • The Mersey Partnership District. including local authorities, community and voluntary groups and the private In 2006, the Agency was one of the With almost seven million inhabitants sector. However, perhaps the most first regional development agencies and 230,000 companies, the significant partners are Urban (RDAs) to be assessed by the National Northwest is a thriving economy. It is Regeneration Companies (URCs). Audit Office (NAO). In the NAO's worth a remarkable £106 billion – a Independent Performance Assessment, tenth of the overall UK GDP. It is the The Agency has been instrumental in or IPA, the Agency was awarded a UK's largest regional economy, larger establishing URCs in key towns and “Performing Strongly” rating, the than several European countries, cities across the Northwest: highest ranking available. including Denmark and Finland, and • New East Manchester it is one of only three regions to • West Lakes Renaissance (Furness RDAs have a very high profile role in contribute positively to the UK’s and Cumbria) economic regeneration but we are very balance of trade. • ReBlackpool interested in Science and Innovation as

28 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 drivers of productivity and hence GVA NWDA, but developed in partnership NWDA, ERDF and DTI provides this growth, which is the key economic with public and private partners. In service on a commercial basis to target for RDAs. There is no need to particular, the North West Science enable these companies to more repeat arguments here about our Council (NWSC) acts to provide rapidly commercialise their products. inability to compete as a low cost advice and guidance on science policy The aim is that the Centre will become economy – these are well understood and interventions to the RDA Board. self-sustaining after a few years. by all partners in the UK. What is The NWSC was the first Science critical on a Regional level to achieve Council to be formed in the UK (in Knowledge to Innovation this is a thorough understanding of 2001) and has published 2 Regional (K2I) what the real strengths and Science Strategies since then. It is a opportunities of the Region are. partnership of private sector (eg Research on the reasons why SMEs fail Similar Regional strategy documents AstraZeneca, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, to innovate shows that one of the main worldwide often contain the same, BAES, CBI) and public sector and reasons is a lack of knowledge of key similar sector objectives – Universities, at senior level. As well as managerial staff in how to innovate ie nanotechnology, biotechnology, IT etc developing Regional Science Strategy, the process of ideas generation with no real understanding of the core it proofs major science-related projects through to implementation. K2I will abilities in these areas which lie in the in the Region and also Regional cluster work with more than 400 SMEs to Region. So, we ask ourselves – would organisation strategies. provide practical advice and guidance an independent observer recognise the on this process, using real examples, Northwest from a description It is possibly easier to illustrate the leaving more than 1,000 senior staff contained in our strategy documents? typical role of NWDA in Science by with an enhanced ability to innovate We hope so, and it is probably more reference to some specific points. and operates across all sectors of important to note what is not included industry from financial services in those documents as well as what is National Biomanufacturing through to Advanced Materials. included. Centre (NBC) These are only two examples of the In the North West, as well as major The North West is a vibrant centre for type of work which NWDA is driving strengths, we have specific issues to the pharma/biotech industry – more to improve our Innovation capacity. face in our economy – a lower number than 200 companies employ over They illustrate two of the key of businesses than the UK average, 20,000 staff and NW Universities principles of intervention by the lower start-up rates, concentration of produce over 25,000 life-science public sector in this field – the ability innovation in a few large science-based graduates every year. With the growth to tackle market failure by aggregating companies, and the “export” of some in the numbers of new start-up SME demand in sectors of strong of our best people to other Regions, companies, the ability to develop and growth and the ability to reach large especially to London and the South- manufacture a wide variety of novel numbers of companies in a concerted East. Hence, our interventions as an biopharmaceutical medicines for early fashion. The Regions and RDAs are RDA are targeted towards these issues, phase clinical trials is crucial. crucial to this, in our ability to work in within the guidance of the However, investment by any one small areas large enough to have critical Government’s Business Simplification company in such a facility (costing mass in a world-scale, but small Support Project. These interventions tens of millions of pounds) is enough to comfortably reach the key arise out of a policy framework, led by prohibitive. The NBC funded by decision makers.

SCIENCE IN THE REGIONS A Key Regional Partner Perspective Professor Colin Whitehouse FREng Deputy Chief Executive & Director of Campus Strategy, Science and Technology Facilities Council

he last several years have seen to inter-regional competition, several author’s very considerable experience very significant improvements claims of duplicated world-class of science and technology working in Tin the UK’s regional economies, capabilities and hence sub-critical and with several of the UK’s regions, to driven hard and very productively by mass activities when compared with seek to convince the reader that really the English RDAs and the devolved that of the UK’s leading international key opportunities now exist for these administrations. However, on knowledge economy competitors. The different regions to be even more occasion, these developments have led present article therefore builds on the focused and realistic regarding their

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 29 Malvern and also later when he effective and highly interactive virtual chaired the White Rose Research networking between the University, Group which brought together the Government and industrial sectors. research of the Universities of Leeds, That experience has shown that given Sheffield and York, a new UK shared visions and key leadership collaborative model which continues personalities, such virtual networks to go from strength to strength even to can make very important progress and this day. impact. However, they can often be somewhat fragile as changes in those During the earlier years of these leadership personalities and interactions with the RDAs, it became approaches inevitably occur over time. rapidly clear to the author that many of the RDAs and devolved Since mid-2004, the author has administrations had identified claimed therefore been working closely with regional “clusters” of specialisms and Government and specific RDAs expertise, which were often numerous (predominantly with NWDA and but, even more importantly, duplicated SEEDA to date, but also involving the claimed specialist “clusters” of related discussions with SWRDA, several/most of the other UK regions. Yorkshire Forward and the Scottish This lack of more detailed and critical Executive) to develop and trial a respective genuine present or future self-analysis then inevitably generated totally new UK approach which world-class capabilities and “unique inter-regional competition, much of operates on the basis of critical-mass selling points”, and then use these which was sub-critical mass in a really generation via mixed-economy analyses to identify key value-adding genuine international knowledge (Universities, Government collaborative opportunities with other economy context. Laboratories, Industry) co-location and regions. That mechanism can then be (1) new “open innovation” approaches. used to develop much-strengthened Despite significant improvements and This new approach led directly to the added-value critical mass activities at ever-developing realism over the March 2006 Treasury-led Budget the UK-level which can then become subsequent years, the author still announcement of the formation of two genuinely competitive with even the believes that yet more progress can be new National Science and Innovation strongest knowledge-based economies made in this area and that even more Campuses in England at Daresbury elsewhere. It is the author’s view that detailed self-analysis can take place (DSIC) and Harwell (HSIC), based on this realisation has already started to within the regions. Thus the RDAs and the long-term campus sustainability gather significant speed in the UK but devolved administrations can show yet then provided by the “embedded more can be done and progress can more real leadership in identifying science” capabilities at the two major undoubtedly accelerate. genuine potential world-class STFC laboratory sites. competitive activities (however small This article is written against a in number), then provide major At Daresbury very close, regular and background of the author’s many years influence by focusing regional effort productive STFC (previously CCLRC) of experience working in much more significantly in those areas, high-level strategic interactions with semiconductor and nanoscience/ and then, very importantly, encourage the NWDA have led to extremely nanotechnology-related research and and catalyse new internationally- positive co-working and have allowed senior management in UK industry, competitive inter-regional critical mass key components of the new campus Universities and Government via collaboration. These should be the vision to already be tested and proved Laboratories, and career-long efforts major value-add regional activities and to be successful. Catalytic funding always seeking to optimise UK added- much more economic benefits and from the NWDA has already assisted value inter-working between these international competitiveness should in the UK’s first example of significant different sectors. The experience has then be attainable via the generation of co-location of leading academics, included close working with many a yet further tier of added-value via yet PDRAs and PhD students from several RDAs, devolved administrations and more effective inter-regional strategic different leading research-led other key regional organisations, along interactions and critical mass Universities (Manchester, Liverpool with several years of experience gained collaboration. and Lancaster) on the “neutral” in seeking to generate genuine Daresbury campus, physically co- international-class critical mass multi- Against that background and long- located alongside STFC’s significant partner interactions, particularly held philosophy, the author has team of its own scientists to form a during the years when the author trialled various added-value critical new Cockcroft Institute National sponsored major collaborative research mass inter-working mechanisms Accelerator Science Centre. Already programmes via RSRE (now Qinetiq) during his career, often involving very this “critical mass” approach has

(1) “Open Business Models : How to Thrive in the New Innovation Landscape”, Henry Chesbrough, Harvard Business School Press (2006).

30 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 generated well in excess of £20m of Daresbury are now expected. With this will see major announcements funding over the past two years, has success, the Campus Board and regarding the formation of a new achieved an exceptionally high success NWDA are now making very firm public-private sector joint venture rate with peer-reviewed blue-chip plans for the site to be home to 10,000 company to provide major further grant applications and has also yet staff in ten years. campus investment there also. further strengthened critical mass by successfully attracting leading Another really exciting developmental As effort has therefore been focused on international scientists. The critical aspect at Daresbury has been the the development of these two new mass model is no longer just UK-based catalysation and testing of the very national campuses, other English and therefore but, very importantly, is also important new “open innovation” UK regions have shown a very close now working at the highest processes which have been facilitated interest (and, very interestingly, international level. Hence this new by mixed-economy co-location. sometimes a very real competitive University co-location model is Indeed the author has never concern) regarding these campus attracting ever-increasing attention and previously experienced the rate at developments. However, it is the much consideration is now being which new innovation and company author’s view that these now given to actively rolling out a number progress can occur other than in this significantly proven co-location critical of other similar critical mass co-location model. Indeed, such are mass open-innovation approaches at “Technology Gateway Centres”, as the marked differences in innovation the two national campuses, can also be described in the recent STFC Delivery mechanisms and progress that several introduced very effectively at the Plan. key leading University Business regional level (alongside highly Schools are now seeking to perform effective virtual networks if regionally Another very important component of major research programmes to study appropriate), but only if each region the new campus model which has and monitor these very productive and identifies and uses co-location to build already been very successfully proven stimulating new working processes at on their genuine international-class at Daresbury, again with much NWDA the Campus. regional strengths. In that way, and strategic involvement, has been the instead of diluting regional very effective use of this newly- Since January 2006 therefore, this investments by spreading support generated STFC/multi-University now-proven campus model is also across numerous, sub-critical and knowledge base critical mass to then being progressively introduced at often non-collaborating activities, the attract ultra-high technology Harwell in Oxfordshire, this time in critical mass model can act as the companies seeking to use open very close collaboration with SEEDA catalyst for yet further major regional innovation processes to gain much and UKAEA, but again building on economic advances and also as a further two-way value from co- STFC’s large-scale science facilities and major magnet for serious inward- location. The new Daresbury major research activities at the investing R&D activities.. Innovation Centre has already Rutherford Appleton Laboratory. As at attracted 63 such ultra-high Daresbury, very considerable progress One final comment. Now as a member technology companies and the very has also been made now at Harwell, of staff at one of the UK’s Research real benefits of catalysing “open and the coming weeks and months Councils, it is the author’s continuing innovation” interaction mechanisms has meant that not only are the very high majority of these existing companies in significant growth (the average growth is currently 30% per annum) and expansion, but also very exciting new companies have already been generated as a direct result of “open innovation” interactions between the campus partners. As a result of all of this success, the Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson MP, announced a very important £25m next phase of private sector investment in major new innovation buildings at Daresbury very recently. Hence the initial catalytic support of NWDA has now fully proven the private sector viability of the campus model, and further major announcements regarding ongoing significant private sector investment at The New Daresbury Innovation Centre, already home to 63 ultra-high technology companies

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 31 strong and now yet further continuing catalytic support and cannot be triggered by initial strengthened personal belief that the funding in the gap which still exists in conventional Research Council RDAs and devolved agencies should the UK between the point at which support. definitely not seek to be additional extremely high quality potentially Research Councils, but instead should commercialisable research has been All in all therefore, truly excellent concentrate on working with key performed and the point at which progress has been made in the UK regional partners to continue to drive significant venture capital support can regions, but yet more really important forward the very important skills then be attracted. It is the author’s added-value strategic regional inter- agenda which is vital to sustain the view that pure research should only be working critical mass opportunities UK’s future knowledge economy. supported by the regions if there is a now exist. These opportunities should Another vitally important component very clear and robust exploitation be pursued with vigour. of their ongoing activities is their plan, which, for whatever reason,

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– In discussion the following points were made: –––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Each RDA is phenomenally different from that of other Regions and sub-Regions also. There is an awesome resource in SEEDA, for example, when compared with the North West which is quite sparse by comparison. R&D is usually developed locally in relation to the available skills base. Where this is lacking there is a danger that multinational companies will depart. The most important route for communication is the business link and cluster for small to medium sized companies. Large companies can and do go anywhere they wish to locate and the availability of the local skills base is the key factor in retaining their presence locally. There is no easy solution to the provision of S&T training as 25% of secondary schools have no physics teacher. There is therefore an essential need to share any existing inspirational teaching between schools to enable children to have access to this vital component in their S&T education. The establishment of specialist science schools creates new problems for students in view of the practical problems related to access and proximity of such schools to those wishing to attend them as they may have too far to travel on a daily basis. The system works well in the West Midlands and also in the North East, however. where chemical engineering flourishes and there is a Science Innovation Campus with 1600 technically qualified people on hand. In the South East there is no current need for the RDA to catalyse innovation and skills.

WHAT DOES BRITISH INDUSTRY WANT FROM OUR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS? NATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WEEK SEMINAR ON THURSDAY 13TH MARCH

During National Science and Engineering Week the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee joined with the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills to host a Seminar in Parliament on British Industry’s requirements from Scientists and Engineers. The Seminar, entitled What Does British Industry Want from our Scientists and Engineers?, was jointly chaired by Mr Ian Pearson MP, Minister of State for Science and Innovation, and Dr Douglas Naysmith MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific, and was held in the Attlee Suite in Portcullis House on Thursday, 13th March.

Report by Robert Freer Introductory Remarks Ian Pearson MP Minister of State for Science and Innovation

In opening the meeting Mr Ian last year when nearly 800,000 people Pearson MP, Minister of State for took part in 3,000 events across the Science and Innovation, said he was country. very pleased to be attending this event He said the Government’s commitment as part of Science and Engineering to promoting British science has week. He expected the total steadily improved the supply of attendance this year at all events Scientists, Technicians, Engineers and during the week would exceed that of Mathematicians (STEM) over a

32 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 number of years. Attainments at NVQs are part of the programme of in almost all the sciences has been GCSE, A-Level, first degree and the Further Education and Skills reversed. The Government and the postgraduate results are all on an sector designed to enable our professional associations are working upward curve. But despite this workforce to adapt to the needs of the hard on this agenda, for example the encouraging progress challenges increasingly technology driven 21st 300 bursaries for physics remain to ensure supply fully matches century workplace. We are on course undergraduates that the Institute of demand. to meet our commitment to have 12 Physics offers have had a real impact. National Skills Academies by the end In schools we now have more science Employers complain that we need of the year which takes us closer to graduates teaching science than at any more home-grown graduates in our goal of making skills more time in the past and we have 18,000 science and engineering but the relevant to particular sectors. volunteer science and engineering problem is complex because up to ambassadors going into schools. These Success with Government initiatives three-quarters of the science graduates ambassadors come from a variety of such as Train to Gain, Apprenticeships we do produce end up working different backgrounds, many are and the Skills Pledge depend on close outside science. This implies specialist undergraduates, and can show school partnership between business and skills are going to waste so we need to children not only what a subject is but providers. The focus on do more to promote careers in science what it is used for. apprenticeships has been particularly and engineering and to ensure that successful and completions have risen science graduates have the skills they We need all the positive PR we can get from 40,000 in 2001/02 to over need to work in the scientific for engineering; three quarters of 100,000 now. In addition, the industries. young people don’t know what Qualifications and Curriculum engineers do. The Government has In my view there needs to be much Authority (QCA) is working with plans to improve the profile of closer collaboration between those some 75 employers to explore ways of engineering including the Technology who teach skills and those who turn crediting their own industrial training and Engineering in Schools Strategy them into products and profits. From programmes. (TESS) and the National Engineering school to post-doctoral level we are Programme (NEP), both of which are Our skills programme is overseen by seeing the beneficial results for the UK being delivered through the Royal the various Sector Skills Councils science base that flows from dialogue Academy of Engineering. And the new (SSC). SEMTA is the SSC for Science, and joint working between education Engineering Diploma will be available Engineering and Manufacturing and training providers, employers and from September 2008 to help pupils Technologies sector and is one of the professional associations. The with the skills to enable them to go largest SSCs covering 100,000 Government will continue to promote into engineering degrees or into companies employing 2.5 million more and better links of this kind. employment. people, which provides up to 10% of Finally, the science challenge isn't just our GDP – £74 billion every year – Mr Pearson said he wanted to see an about training scientists, there is a job and contributes 33% of total UK improvement in the number of those to be done with the general public. exports. SEMTA is taking forward studying science and engineering at all Public dialogue on science issues is several key Government initiatives. levels and to break down the crucial when it impacts so heavily on They have published the Sector Skills stereotypes that surround some science our lives. The recent survey of Public agreement for the Automotive, subjects. For example, in subjects Attitudes to Science found that people Aerospace, Electronics, Marine and allied to medicine there are five times are becoming more interested in Bioscience sectors. SEMTA is also more women than men and in the science. Four-fifths of those surveyed working with other SSCs to develop biological sciences there are over 40% said they were amazed by advances in the 14-19 Diploma in Engineering and more women than men. Meanwhile, science and technology. DIUS will the Diploma in Manufacturing which there are about 11,000 more men than shortly be setting out its plans for a will be available in 2009. women studying the physical sciences, new strategy on the role of science in and with the NVQ in construction In Higher Education the outlook is society. there are over 50 times more awards promising, the long-standing decline going to men than to women. in the numbers of university entrants

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 33 Business engagement with university scientists and engineers Dr Alison Hodge MBE QinetiQ University Partnerships Director

Dr Hodge said QinetiQ is a creative knowledge and where necessary to business which seeks to generate pursue new frontiers. Their product is greater value from technology not usually delivered in a package throughout the world through which can be immediately applied in technology solutions, services, business. Transferring the knowledge products, consulting and patents and relies on human interaction and we licensing. New technologies offer both need to ensure the right people are of the solution; full performance enabling opportunities and threats. available. includes training, data records, QinetiQ has a strategic interest in There are a number of significant analysis, and maintainability among establishing links with scientists, differences between the culture of a other criteria. As an example of technologists, engineers and university and the issues which affect technology transformation a laboratory mathematicians (STEM) in universities business decisions. A business has a experiment at Southampton University as part of the business supply chain corporate strategy developed by was developed by QinetiQ into a and to improve its positioning with management to meet customer needs swimmer detection system. stakeholders and the wider public. and financial targets, whereas EPSRC and QinetiQ together have Working with universities allows university researchers enjoy academic jointly sponsored a new Professorial access to scientific techniques and freedom in pursuit of new ideas but Chair of Technology Transfer in the facilities so that we can spot and rely on funding organisations. access both existing and new Physical Sciences. This appointment is developments worldwide. These Businesses respond to commercial based at Imperial College and the first contacts not only demonstrate the sensitivities and usually require rapid occupant of this chair is Prof Erkko benefits gained from the significant action to produce a product or service Autio in the Tanaka Business School. national investment in universities but of sufficient quality for its purpose at a The purpose of this appointment is to also encourage recruitment and cost determined by the market. On the promote wealth creation in the recognition. Apprentices, graduates other hand, universities usually work physical sciences and engineering and PhDs are strongly motivated, with a more protracted time scale with through an academically rigorous willing and able to learn and have the a different attitude to costs, and understanding of the needs of industry opportunity to become world leaders quality is judged by peer review in and the capacity of the universities. open publication in the technical in their subjects. In summary, business needs the literature. The universities gain considerable science and engineering skills benefit from working with business. For a business, necessity is the mother developed in universities to ensure For the research staff business raises of invention and can lead to that both existing knowledge is re- used and that new knowledge is relevant challenges and provides innovation by the universities to tackle created and applied. We need to valuable market knowledge. Students a specific challenging problem rather promote the understanding by gain not only the opportunity to work than a generic challenging problem. Another practical difference is that in industry, by the public and by those on real projects but also an insight to universities the student and staff advising the young that science and teamwork and are introduced to wider turnover is higher than in business engineering are recognised as exciting employment opportunities. The which has more managed staff profiles and creative disciplines. To support market pull encourages universities to and successions. this linkage we need more people with innovate and apply new scientific and sound training and with practical skills technological discoveries. Universities To produce a mature product or who are willing to learn and gain also benefit from the publication of service from an idea the completed experience and apply the knowledge their work which helps improve their project requires people with the gained. There are cultural gaps which visibility with funders and the public. relevant experience, sufficient time and exist and we need both business and But there are special problems when financial investment and an integration the universities to understand, working with universities. The role of of a number of separate systems. recognise and exploit these gaps. universities is to use existing Technical considerations are just part

34 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 What does British Industry want from our Scientists & Engineers? – ARM as an illustrative example Sir Robin Saxby FREng Past President, Institution of Engineering and Technology Past Chairman and co-founder of ARM Holdings plc. With the assistance of Prof Ian Phillips Principal Staff Engineer at ARM Ltd

Sir Robin Saxby said ARM is a listed ARM recognised that although public company registered and based computers were not a new concept the in Cambridge but operates globally need for powerful embedded with almost all its revenue coming computation was only just emerging. from outside the UK. It is a good ARM's innovation was to offer the 32 example of an industry working with bit RISC CPU as a cell-library element scientists and engineers. More than for use in Application-Specific half its shareholders are based overseas Integrated Circuit (ASIC) designs and and each site throughout the world is to make it equally available to a centre of excellence, often developed everyone, to make it available from all out of a university connection. major silicon foundries and to make it today. The USA is a major market but available for use in all major design the fastest growing emerging markets ARM’s engineers and scientists are tools. The focus is on improving MIPS are India and China, and none of them global leaders in what they do. They per watt, MIPS per dollar and the time can be ignored. Today ARM has a are customer-driven and sensitive to to market. The necessary integration connected community of over 300 the need to deliver on time to and interworking was achieved by world-wide partners and their specification at the highest quality. To partnering and by sharing the risk and activities include processors, system do this they need to be not only success through a licence and royalty level IP, physical IP, development tools technically strong but also broadly revenue model. ARM is a business and software. aware of other business disciplines based on Partnership from the such as finance, sales, marketing, legal, beginning. From our experience the lesson is to production and human resources. do only those projects which align They are also culturally aware of the ARM is active in Europe and since with Corporate Interest, and to need to work as a team with people 1990 ARM has been, and still is, corporately believe in what you are across different regions and countries. involved in 28 projects under the EU trying to achieve. ARM made sure that Nowadays everyone is connected Future Framework Programme. ARM's collaborative R&D activity fitted with electronically and communication is contacts with Plessey, Nokia and strategy and not the other way round, rapid. others helped to promote ARM activity in other words don’t just go for the and concepts within Europe, and also money. The profile for successful ARM is now the silicon IP supplier to gained support for ARM's methods product development is to employ the world. In 1990 ARM was a joint and development of the embedded only the best employees, chose the venture spin out from Acorn UK with CPU concept when the rest of industry right strategic partners, use world-class cash from Apple and VSLI in USA. It did not believe it was necessary. universities for research and acquire had 12 good engineers and a hired Parallel business developments in the viable companies which align with the experienced CEO in Robin Saxby, it USA and Japan are even more corporate plans. had no revenue and no patents but important, because they are bigger did have a vision to become the global markets and are the locations of the Hi-tech projects and businesses have standard for embedded CPUs. By 2008 headquarters of the leading semi- become more global with teams they had become the world leader conductor companies. working in different countries around with 2.5 billion chips supplied in the world. Out-sourcing occurs in all 2007 and more than 10 billion to ARM has partnered with world wide aspects of the work with overseas date. Today ARM employs 1800 companies and has become more teams working together. It is people in 19 offices throughout the international with the development of important to pick those areas where world. Revenue is €500 million, profit skill centres outside Europe. High UK operations have global leadership before tax is about 25% and R&D is growth opportunities are frequently in and then support and develop them. about 25% of sales, those markets which are low value Good advice for a new company

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 35 would be to do only what you are as a customer. The opportunities are in just 1% of the world population but world best at. such departments as the NHS, produces 5% of its economy. To defence, energy and security. maintain our position it is not enough The Government also needs to provide to be world-class, we have to be leadership and support, and not just The contribution that business makes world-beating. money. It has the opportunity to be to the national economy is important both a catalyst for innovation as well for our economic prosperity. The UK is

A Marine Scientist and Engineer’s view Professor Ralph Rayner Vice President, Institute of Marine Engineering Science and Technology

The Institute of Marine Engineering, hold an enormous potential as a Science and Technology (IMarEST) is source of renewable energy from an international professional winds, waves and tides. On the other membership body and learned society side of the equation they are the for all marine professionals. It is the critical driver of future climate, are a first professional institute to recognise major natural sink for atmospheric the need to bring together marine carbon dioxide and present engineers, scientists and technologists opportunities for enhanced supply being driven by a lack of to encourage a multidisciplinary sequestration of greenhouse gases. suitably qualified and experienced approach to issues related to maritime engineers and physical scientists. safety, commerce and environmental Despite reductions in energy intensity protection. in much of the developed world global Similar skill shortages are impacting demand for energy continues to grow. the rapidly growing marine renewables The Institute is active in promoting the Projected rates of growth are of the sector as this demands many of the role of marine professionals in helping order of 1.6% per annum with the same skills as are required for to address pressing societal challenges fastest growth occurring in non OECD conventional offshore developments. such as energy security and climate nations. Assuming no further increase change. in the rate of growth this translates If you add to the demands on this into a global increase in energy already insufficient skill base the need The human population of planet Earth demand of more than 30% in the for researching, developing and has grown from some 500 million in coming two decades. implementing means of separation and 1492 to over 6.6 billion in 2008, with sequestration of greenhouse gas a projected growth to 9.1 billion by Despite the developing potential of emissions from the burning of fossil 2050. This transition from an empty renewable energy sources much of this fuels it is clear that we face a skill to a full world has created many growth will probably be satisfied by shortage which demands immediate challenges. Amongst the most critical conventional hydrocarbons, a large attention. is finding ways to meet ever growing proportion of which (more than 50%) demands for energy (without which are expected to be recovered from On the other side of the energy and adequate agricultural production, beneath deep ocean waters. climate challenge there is a pressing sufficient water supply and growing need to reduce the very large industrial economies cannot be This presents huge engineering uncertainties in projections of future maintained) at the same time as challenges. The biggest constraint on climate if governments and businesses protecting the environment and meeting these challenges is an acute are to make informed decisions about especially mitigating the impact of shortage of suitably qualified and the future. human induced climate change. experienced engineers and scientists. This is already proving to be a major Given the dominant role of the oceans The oceans play a crucial role in both constraint on offshore developments. in controlling climate, achieving the aspects of this challenge. On the one Order backlogs for many of the critical best possible projections of what will hand a large proportion of the world’s components in the supply chain for happen in the future demands a very conventional energy in the form of oil new developments are now measured good understanding of how the oceans and gas lies beneath them. They also in years with much of the constraint in work and how they are changing

36 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 through time. Yet commitment to resources and implement improved It is only by addressing the need for systematic and sustained observation organisational structures to permit sufficient engineers and scientists that of the oceans remains woefully better understanding of the oceans was the challenge of meeting a growing inadequate and poorly co-ordinated. recognised in the recently issued demand for energy at the same time as House of Commons Select Committee ensuring environmental security can Here the critical need is for greater report ‘Investigating the Oceans’. be satisfied. Their efforts must be political recognition of the implications Regrettably, the Government response guided by sound policy informed by of this lack of commitment. failed to endorse the key an appropriately organised and The need to commit additional recommendations of this well resourced science base. formulated and important report.

An Engineering and Technologist’s View Dr John Morton The Engineering and Technology Board

Dr Morton said the Engineering and and even the USA, but more than half Technology Board (ETB) was created these PhD students are from overseas. to promote engineers, engineering and We have world class universities and technology. And to do this in we make contributions to the science partnership with industry, who are the and technology base far beyond our customers for skilled engineers and size. technicians, and with the universities and colleges who are the suppliers. At the intermediate skill level in the The ETB publishes an annual digest of Colleges of Further Education the picture is not so good. The number of engineering statistics called WISE). But there is much more to do. Engineering UK (2007) which students has fallen by 25% in the last includes information on the supply of, 3 years and our performance does not On the demand side it is difficult to and demand for, engineers. The full compare well with, for example, get a clear picture of what companies report can be downloaded from Germany, Japan and the USA. To try to want. Data provided by our Sector www.etechb.co.uk/_db/_documents/E remedy this the Chancellor in the Skills Council indicates that over the ngUK07.pdf Budget yesterday announced a grant of next 10 years we need to replace over £60 million over the next 3 years to 1 million skilled workers at all levels On the supply side the number of provide new opportunities for people to replace those who will be leaving engineers in Higher Education in the to gain skills, including the workforce. UK has remained almost constant for apprenticeships. the last 10 years but since the total The ETB has carried out an informal number of students in all subjects has There is a further problem that over poll of their Corporate Members. increased by about 33% the the next 10 years there will be a 16% Many said that they had vacancies proportion of engineers in the student drop in the number of 16 year olds so which were hard to fill because there population has decreased, giving the it may become harder to recruit the were too few applicants and the impression that engineering is young into engineering. One solution applicants were of poor quality. becoming less popular. would be to encourage more women Another comment was that starters into engineering and encourage more lacked skills and work experience and India and China are often cited as returners back into the profession. At some lacked motivation. producing large numbers of graduate present 85% of engineering students engineers but until 2003 we produced are male and only 3% of professional It was also pointed out that there are more engineers per head of population engineers are female. Excellent work considerable differences between large than China, and we still produce far on encouraging women to take up a companies and small companies. Small more than India does. In post- career in science and engineering is companies (who may be key parts of the graduate education we have a large being done by the UK Resource Centre supply chain) find it much more difficult number of engineering PhDs per for Women in SET, WES and WISE than large companies do to afford the capita compared with India, China (Dr Morton said he is the chairman of training needed in the workplace.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 37 One example was of a high-tech the fundamentals of mathematics and Fortunately these challenges are company that hired only one or two physics and the ability to apply them recognised by the Government, by graduates per year out of a workforce to solve problems. They want employers and by education providers. of 60. It takes two years to get full engineers who are comfortable There are examples of good practice productivity from the new graduates working in a group and who can and we need to recognise them and and this is a huge overhead for a small communicate well, which is more than build upon them. company to carry. just being literate. They want engineers who have an entrepreneurial flair and The skills which companies say they who are aware of the roles of finance want from tomorrow’s engineers are and marketing in a company’s success.

Educating Engineers for the 21st Century Professor Julia King CBE FREng Vice Chancellor, Aston University

Professor King said that in a changing and growth, and industry is looking for world with unprecedented global changes in engineering education. With challenges there is a growing demand new graduates industry is looking for engineers and scientists and a mainly for practical application recognition that the nature of their followed by theoretical understanding jobs is changing, partly due to the and innovation. Team working and greater complexity in the technical, technical breadth are also important. management and financial systems The universities are seriously which contribute to modern projects. The academic questionnaire went to all concerned about the underfunding of The number of engineers in the UK is university engineering departments and engineering degrees. A review by the static at 24,000 but represents a low the replies showed a strong agreement Engineering Professors Council and and falling percentage of the UK with industry's concerns and the ETB showed that engineering undergraduate population; in Japan enthusiasm for change. They wanted departments needed an increase of and Germany the percentage of more multi-disciplinary teaching, more 14% just to stand still, and engineers is nearly twice as high. project and practical activities and more significantly more to move forward for There are greater financial pressures industrial involvement. Many the 21st Century. Without this on the universities and students and a universities supported the introduction investment we face the possibility of shortage of good maths and physics of new engineering courses such as losing the quality and reputation of teachers, which lower student bioengineering and nanotechnology. our courses which attract students motivation to start engineering courses both from home and overseas. 11% of Universities are critical of their present our students are from overseas and and to stay in engineering after they system of funding, especially the graduate. they make a net contribution to the decline in funding per student for UK economy estimated at £3.8 billion The Royal Academy of Engineering has teaching. They consider the Research per year and, together with academic conducted a survey on engineering Assessment Exercise is highly visitors, are estimated to generate training by sending questionnaires to detrimental to teaching. They 24,000 additional jobs. industry and to academia. They recommend that Government should received 444 replies from industry and recognise teaching excellence alongside Professor King concluded by putting 88 replies from academia. Industries research excellence for funding forward recommendations to the reported a worsening shortage of high purposes, and they should increase universities, industry and the calibre UK engineering graduates, funding for teaching to cover its true institutions. Universities need to although the best were as good as their cost, including such initiatives as strengthen their links with industry peers in Europe. This shortage is having visiting professors and lecturers and for and enhance the design of their an impact on productivity, creativity industrial placements, especially in courses so that they can deliver the small companies. engineering knowledge, skills and

38 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 competencies, new world-class mentoring of young academics, support from the institutions by engineering degree courses with a student placements and visits would setting up processes to create, develop strong technical content in areas which also be helpful, as would feedback on and give accreditation to such courses. appeal to students and deliver the quality of graduates and the industry's needs. For this purpose relevance of their education. Industry In their recent report entitled Educating universities should recognise can also help by promoting science Engineers for the 21st Century the Royal excellence and innovation in the and engineering in schools and Academy of Engineering has made a design and delivery of their courses engaging with the institutions in the number of recommendations about and reward such excellence in accreditation of professional engineering education to meet the promotion criteria, bonuses and engineering. evolving requirements of industry as salaries. Also they need to engage well as motivating students to become actively in promoting science and The institutions are invited to engineers on graduation. One engineering initiatives in schools. recognise excellence in university recommendation was that a working teaching, for example through high group of experts from academia and Industry is recommended to commit profile awards for excellence and industry should be set up to develop to active long-term relationships with innovation and by sharing best an experience-led engineering degree university engineering departments, practice in education by supporting which integrates technical, operational for example, by supporting advisory interest groups and by the organisation and business skills. The RAEng has boards and providing visiting of education events and conferences. submitted a proposal to DIUS. professors, lecturers and industrial Universities seeking to establish multi- tutors. Two-way staff exchanges, disciplinary degrees would welcome

In the general discussion a number of members of the audience raised questions concerning the best methods of advising the young about careers in science and engineering before they make their career decisions. Reportedly these decisions are often made in junior school, but in general schools and teachers are not particularly well informed about the work of scientists and engineers. Too many schools were said to be driven by league tables. Teachers who are responsible for careers advice need more opportunity to gain experience and knowledge of industry.

When selecting scientists and engineers to visit schools under the Schools Ambassador Scheme it may be preferable to chose the younger candidates because pupils may be better encouraged and inspired by meeting someone closer to their own age.

It was agreed that degree courses should be designed to encourage innovative skills and that we need to try to increase the number of science and engineering graduates.

Parliamentary and Scientific Committee News

Annual General Meeting Vice-Presidents: Election of Office-holders Mr Ian Taylor MBE MP Professor Julia King CBE FREng At the Committee’s Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 22nd April the Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior retired as Advisory Panel: President; Mr James Paice MP retired as Hon Secretary; Dr Robert Kirby-Harris Professor Jane Plant and Mr Robert Goodwill MP retired from their positions as Vice-Presidents and Professor Julia All remaining office-holders were re-elected for the year. King retired from the Advisory Panel. The following office- holders were elected: New Members President: The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin of Roding We are delighted to welcome three new members in the Hon Secretary: House of Commons: Mr Adam Afriye MP, Mr Colin Mr Robert Goodwill MP Challen MP and Hon Bernard Jenkin MP.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 39 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR From the Members of the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London Sir, The Anthropocene Epoch: today’s context for governance and public policy Change has been ever-present in human history, but this has accelerated since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. As generation has succeeded generation, each has lived in an environment marked by novel technological, societal and cultural phenomena; these changes have affected also the external environment, for example via the felling of forests and straightening of rivers. It is becoming clear now that the extent of change has so intensified to make our present interval comparable to major global perturbations of the geological past. Living in the Anthropocene will present novel challenges to government policy, both national and international. The term Anthropocene was coined, informally a few years ago, to denote the time interval – the last two centuries – in which humans began to supplant natural forces as the main drivers of environmental processes at the Earth’s surface. Since then, the term has been increasingly used by earth and environmental scientists, and analysis suggests that a new geological epoch, worthy of formalization, may indeed have commenced. Moreover, there has been a marked acceleration to human- caused changes in land, sea, air and ice over the past few decades, and this acceleration continues today. Both environmental modelling and Earth history analysis suggest that the changes will be greater than any encountered since human civilization began, and will develop, in part unpredictably, over many millennia. Their manifestation, as regards changes in global temperature and precipitation patterns, changing biodiversity and rising sea level, will profoundly impact settlement and agriculture, particularly in developing countries marked by poverty and rapidly expanding populations. We note that these global changes will form an effectively permanent backcloth to virtually all areas of government policy and action, all over the world. Their scale demands a commensurate response. How the changes now under way are managed will determine, perhaps more than anything else, the course of human history. Members of the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London:

Dr. Jan Zalasiewicz (Chair: University of Leicester), Dr. Colin Waters (Secretary; British Geological Survey), Dr. F. John Gregory (Publications Secretary; Natural History Museum), Dr. Tiffany L. Barry (Open University) Dr. Paul R. Bown (University College London), Professor Patrick Brenchley (University of Liverpool), Dr. Angela L. Coe (Open University), Dr. Andrew Gale (University of Portsmouth and The Natural History Museum), Professor Philip Gibbard (University of Cambridge), Dr. Mark Hounslow (University of Lancaster), Dr. Andrew Kerr (University of Cardiff), Dr. Robert Knox (British Geological Survey), Dr. John Marshall (University of Southampton), Dr. Michael Oates (British Gas), Professor Paul Pearson (University of Cardiff), Dr. John Powell (British Geological Survey), Dr. Alan Smith (University of Cambridge), Dr. Philip Stone (British Geological Survey), Professor Peter Rawson (University College London), Dr. Mark Williams (University of Leicester).

References: STEFFEN, W., CRUTZEN, P.J. & MCNEILL, J.R. 2008. The Anthropocene: Are Humans Now Overwhelming the Great Forces of Nature? Ambio, 36, 614-621. ZALASIEWICZ, J., WILLIAMS, M , SMITH, A., BARRY, T.L., BOWN, P.R., RAWSON, P., BRENCHLEY, P., CANTRILL, D., COE, A.E., COPE, J.C.W., GALE, A., GIBBARD, P.L., GREGORY, F.J., HOUNSLOW, M., KNOX, R., POWELL, P., WATERS, C., MARSHALL, J., OATES & STONE, P. 2008. Are we now living in the Anthropocene? GSA Today, 18 (2), 4-8.

From Lord Vinson of Roddam Dene Sir, In the Spring edition 2008 of Science in Parliament, I was delighted to see you had a full report of a Discussion Meeting on Global Population Growth – Is it Sustainable? The Climate Change Bill has taken some eight weeks to grind through the House of Lords and I think I was the only speaker who raised the question of global over-population and the negative impact this will have on any attempts to reduce the extent of Climate Change by other means. Some of us also took a contrarian view on carbon trading which could be a charter for international cheating through bogus assessments and fraudulent verification. Trading our carbon outputs with the under-developed world is the modern equivalent of selling one’s sins to gain redemption. The debate on carbon reduction, if there is a problem, seems dominated by the desire to chase the moonbeams of as yet unproven technologies rather than embrace the one current tested technology that could give us masses of base load non- intermittent CO2-free electricity – nuclear – hopefully followed by fusion. The Government could introduce a rapid programme of electrification so based to give us not only electric lighting, heating and trains but electric cars, and pledge a programme to build a nuclear power station a year for the next thirty years, something well within our economic capabilities. Meanwhile, this would give time for the sensible development of alternative sources of energy and our carbon footprint would be reduced so massively that aircraft emissions would be comfortably offset, enabling us to continue travelling cheaply and hopefully into the future. The prerequisite being, of course, that the world birth control problem be solved simultaneously. The alternative, I fear, is standing room only. Lord Vinson House of Lords

40 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 House of Commons Select Committee on Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills

Under the Standing Orders, the Committee’s terms of reference are to examine “the expenditure, administration and policy” of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and its associated public bodies. This includes the Government Office for Science, headed by the Government Chief Scientific Adviser.

The new Committee was nominated on 8th November 2007. The current Members of the Committee are: Dr Roberta Blackman-Woods (Lab, City of Durham), Mr Tim Boswell (Con, Daventry), Mr Ian Cawsey (Lab, Brigg and Goole), Mrs Nadine Dorries (Con, Mid Bedfordshire), Dr Ian Gibson (Lab, Norwich North), Dr Evan Harris (Lib Dem, Oxford West and Abingdon), Dr Brian Iddon (Lab, Bolton South East), Mr Gordon Marsden (Lab, Blackpool South), Dr Bob Spink (UKIP, Castle Point), Ian Stewart (Lab, Eccles), Graham Stringer (Lab, Manchester, Blackley), Dr Desmond Turner (Lab, Brighton Kemptown), Mr Rob Wilson (Con, Reading East) and Mr Phil Willis (Lib Dem, Harrogate and Knaresborough). Mr Phil Willis was elected Chairman of the Committee at its first meeting on 14th November 2007.

A change of name as well as energy generators, operators of the grid, academics and interest groups. A Report is expected in the The House of Commons passed a motion on 11th March early summer. 2008 to change the name of the Innovation, Universities and Skills Committee to include the word science in the The Science Budget Allocations title. This follows the recommendation in the Last Report of the Science and Technology Committee and underlines The Committee has concluded the evidence-taking the inclusion of science in the Committee’s remit and the process for their inquiry in connection with the Science Committee’s role in scrutinising science across Budget Allocations. The Committee has held three Government. evidence sessions and heard from academics, learned societies, unions, Research Councils, the Director General Oral Evidence of Science and Innovation, DIUS and the Minister of State for Science. A Report was published on 30th April. The Use Of Government Statistics in Evidence-Based Policy-Making Biosecurity in UK research laboratories On 19th March 2008 the Committee held a one-off On 6th December 2007 the Committee announced an session with Ms Karen Dunnell, National Statistician, and inquiry into biosecurity in UK research laboratories. The Mr Mike Hughes, Director of the National Statistics and inquiry has focused on the capacity for research on Policy Group, Office for National Statistics. The session dangerous pathogenic material in the UK, the state of focused on the use of statistics by Government in biological containment facilities, inspection regimes and evidence-based policy-making, ahead of the UK statistics the licensing system, maintenance and recording practices, authority coming into operation in April 2008. storage and transportation of dangerous pathogens and the measures implemented when pathogenic material Current Inquiries cannot be accounted for, as well as both biosafety training and the role of universities in overseeing security Renewable electricity-generation technologies clearance for research students working with dangerous pathogens. On 28th November 2007 the Committee announced an inquiry into renewable electricity generation technologies. The Committee has held three evidence sessions, hearing Building upon the inquiry previously announced by the from the regulators, funding agencies, organisations former Science and Technology Committee, the new running high containment laboratories, scientists working inquiry has focused on issues common to all renewable in this area,biological safety officers and Government technologies. It has considered the state of renewable Ministers. A Report is expected in the summer. electricity-generation technologies in the UK including Engineering their funding and support, technology transfer and their commercialisation, intermittency of supply and On 29th January 2008 the Committee announced an connection with the national grid. In addition, it has inquiry into engineering. The inquiry will focus on the considered the establishment and role of the Energy role of engineering and engineers in UK society, the role of Technologies Institute, Government policy towards engineering and engineers in UK's innovation drive, the enabling existing technologies to meet targets and the UK state of the engineering skills base in the UK, including skills base to underpin the development of renewable the supply of engineers and issues of diversity (for technologies. example, gender and age profile), the importance of engineering to R&D and the contribution of R&D to The Committee has held four oral evidence sessions in engineering and the roles of industry, universities, connection with the inquiry. It has heard from professional bodies, Government, unions and others in Government officials and the Minister of State for Energy, promoting engineering skills and the formation and

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 41 development of careers in engineering. Report of Session 2007-08, Withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level qualifications (ELQs), HC 187. Two case studies have been announced which will form part of this inquiry. The first of these will be plastic Government Responses electronics and will focus on the current and future roles of engineers in the field of plastic electronics, the potential Three Government Responses to Reports by the former for plastic electronics in the UK/global economy, how Science and Technology Committee have been received by universities, industry, venture capital and Government are the Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills involved in the development of the UK plastic electronics Committee. sector and whether the UK engineering and The Funding of Science and Discovery Centres manufacturing sectors are set up to handle growth in this On 16th January 2008 the Innovation, Universities, area. The second case study will be nuclear engineering Science and Skills Committee published its First Special and will focus on the UK's engineering capacity to build a Report of Session 2007-08: The Funding of Science and new generation of nuclear power stations and carry out Discovery Centres: Government Response to the Eleventh Report planned decommissioning of existing nuclear power from the Science and Technology Committee, Session 2006–07, stations, the value in training a new generation of nuclear HC 214. engineers versus bringing expertise in from elsewhere, the role that engineers will play in shaping the UK’s nuclear The Last Report future and whether nuclear power proves to be On 24th January 2008 the Innovation, Universities, economically viable and the overlap between nuclear Science and Skills Committee published its Second Special engineers in the power sector and the military. Report of Session 2007-08: The Last Report: Government Response to the Science and Technology Committee’s Thirteenth After Leitch: Implementing Skills and Training Policies Report of Session 2006–07, HC 244. On 4th March 2008 the Committee announced an inquiry Investigating the Oceans into the implementation of skills and training policies On 19th December 2007 the Government submitted a following the Leitch Report and how responses to the response to the Science and Technology Committee’s agenda set out in the Leitch Report will affect the broader Tenth Report of Session 2006-07, Investigating the structures of further education, higher education and Oceans, HC 470-I. The Response was published on the lifelong learning. The inquiry will focus on the responses internet on 9 January 2008 pending further evidence with of RDAs to Leitch and how coherent and structured these the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural are, what the existing regional structures of delivery are Affairs. and what sub-regional strategies may be required, the role of the Learning and Skills Council and Sector Skills The Government Response to the Innovation, Universities, Councils in this context, the respective roles of the further Science and Skills Committee’s First Report has also been education and higher education sectors in delivering a received: region-based agenda for Leitch and their co-ordination with one another and the impact on students of these UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation initiatives, particularly in the context of policies for On 31st March 2008 the Innovation, Universities, Science lifelong learning. and Skills Committee published its Third Special Report of Session 2007-08: UK Centre for Medical Research and The Office for Fair Access (OFFA) Innovation: Government Response to the First Report from the Committee, Session 2007-08, HC 459. On 26th March 2008 the Committee announced a short inquiry into the work and operation of the Office for Fair Access (OFFA). OFFA's aim is to promote and safeguard Further Information fair access to higher education for under-represented Further information about the work of the Innovation, groups following the introduction of variable tuition fees Universities, Science and Skills Committee or its current in 2006-07. The inquiry will focus on how effective OFFA inquires can be obtained from the Clerk of the is in promoting and safeguarding fair access to higher Committee, Dr Lynn Gardner, the Second Clerks, Glenn education for under-represented groups and how the McKee and Edward Waller or from the Committee effects of OFFA’s work are measured. Assistant, Ana Ferreira on 020 7219 2792/8367/0859/ 2794; or by writing to: The Clerk of the Committee, Reports Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee, The UK Centre for Medical Research and Innovation. House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. Inquiries can also be emailed to [email protected]. On 23rd January 2008 the Committee published its First Report of Session 2007-08, UK Centre for Medical Research Anyone wishing to be included on the Committee’s and Innovation, HC 185. mailing list should contact the staff of the Committee. The work and operation of the Copyright Tribunal Anyone wishing to submit evidence to the Committee is strongly recommended to obtain a copy of the guidance On 20th March 2008 the Committee published its Second note first. Guidance on the submission of evidence can be Report of Session 2007-08, The work and operation of the found at Copyright Tribunal, HC 245. http://www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/witguide.htm. Withdrawal of funding for equivalent or lower level The Committee has a website: www.parliament.uk/ius qualifications (ELQs) where all recent publications, terms of reference for all On 27th March 2008 the Committee published its Third inquiries and press notices are available.

42 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee

The members of the Committee (appointed 13 November 2007) are Lord Colwyn, Lord Crickhowell, Lord Haskel, Lord Howie of Troon, Lord Krebs, Lord May of Oxford, Lord Methuen, the Earl of Northesk, Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, Lord Patel, the Earl of Selborne, Lord Sutherland of Houndwood (Chairman), Lord Taverne and Lord Warner. Baroness Walmsley and Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior were co-opted on 14 January 2008 for the purposes of the Systematics and Taxonomy inquiry and Lord Broers and the Earl of Erroll were co-opted on 25 March 2008. for the purposes of the Personal Internet Security follow-up.

Personal Internet Security Radioactive Waste Management

The Committee’s report on Personal Internet Security was The Select Committee’s report ‘Radioactive Waste published on 10 August 2007, and was widely reported in Management: an update’ was published on 4 June 2007 and the broadcast and print media. The inquiry, chaired by Government’s response was received on 25 June. The Lord Broers, looked at a broad range of security issues Committee’s report was debated on 29 October 2007. The affecting private individuals when using the Internet. Key Government response was published on 7 February 2008. recommendations included: Air Travel and Health • Increasing the resources and skills available to the police and criminal justice system to catch and prosecute e- The Committee’s report on Air Travel and Health – an criminals; Update was published on 12 December 2007 and was widely reported in the media. The Government response • Establishing a centralised and automated system, was received at the end of February and will be published administered by law enforcement, for the reporting of e- with a commentary in late spring 2008. crime; Waste Reduction • Incentivising banks and other companies trading online to improve data security by establishing a data security Last year the Select Committee appointed a Sub- breach notification law; Committee, chaired by Lord O’Neill of Clackmannan, to inquire into Waste Reduction. In November and • Encouraging better security standards in new software December the Committee heard from civil servants, and hardware by taking the first steps towards the academic experts and the Environment Agency on the establishment of legal liability for damage resulting from various types of legislation which impact upon waste security flaws; reduction. Since January, the Sub-Committee has looked in more detail at the various roles that designers, • Encouraging Internet service providers to improve the manufacturers and retailers can play in reducing waste. security offered to customers by establishing a “kite The inquiry has examined a range of sectors and evidence mark” for Internet services. has been heard from industry organisations including British Glass, the Aluminium Federation, EEF, the The Government response to the Committee’s report was Manufacturers’ Organisation, the Chemical Innovation published as a Command Paper (Cm 7234) on 24 KTN and INCPEN. In addition, evidence has also been October 2007. The Committee has sought comments on taken directly from companies, including Hewlett the Government response from those who gave oral Packard, Panasonic, Sony, Philips, Proctor and Gamble, evidence during the original inquiry. The Committee will Unilever and Marks and Spencer. publish a short follow-up report in the summer and it is expected that both the original report and the follow-up In March the Sub-Committee visited two companies in report will be debated by the House by the end of the Uxbridge: Xerox, which has pioneered a remanufacturing current session. approach to reusing its products; and Martin-Baker, a Allergy small company which has managed to significantly reduce its waste by making changes to production processes The Committee’s report on allergy was published in In April, Members undertook a trip to Brussels where they September 2007. The Government published its response spoke to officials at the European Commission, heard on 27 November and a debate took place in the House on about waste reduction strategies in the Flanders region 8 May. and visited companies which exhibit good waste reduction practices. The Sub-Committee will continue to hear oral evidence until mid-May and expects to publish its report in the summer of 2008.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 43 New inquiry: Genomic Medicine capability in this field, taxonomic data collection and management, and the skills base. The inquiry is also The Select Committee has appointed a second sub- looking at the application of taxonomic data, for example, committee, chaired by Lord Patel, to hold an inquiry into in environmental change monitoring. The Committee has genomic medicine. The call for evidence was published on taken evidence from, among others, Government officials, 25 February with a deadline for submissions of 21 April. the Research Councils, the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew The inquiry will examine the policy framework in this and Edinburgh, the Natural History Museum, the area, the latest research and scientific developments, Systematics Association and Linnean Society of London. It translation opportunities into the clinic, genomic is expected that the Committee’s report will be published databases and the use of genetic information in a in July 2008. healthcare setting. The Committee will hold public meetings from late April. It is expected that the Further information Committee’s report will be published at the end of 2008. The written and oral evidence to the Committee’s inquiries Systematics and Taxonomy mentioned above, as well as the Calls for Evidence on the Committee’s new inquiries, can be found on the The Select Committee is currently undertaking a short Committee’s website www.parliament.uk/hlscience. inquiry into systematics and taxonomy. A call for evidence Further information about the work of the Committee can was published in December. The inquiry is a follow-up be obtained from Cathleen Schulte, Committee Specialist investigation from the Committee’s past inquiries into this ([email protected] or 020 7219 2491). The subject (in 1991 and 2002) and is looking at the UK’s Committee’s email address is [email protected]. Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology

Recent POST Publications that autism is more prevalent than previously recognised has put pressure on service providers and highlighted the Ecological networks need to train professionals to improve awareness of February 2008 POSTnote 300 autism. This POSTnote describes autism and autism research, and considers policy approaches. Ecological networks are intended to maintain environmental processes and to help to conserve Invasive Non-native Species biodiversity where remnants of semi-natural habitat have April 2008 POSTnote 303 become fragmented and isolated. This POSTnote considers the possible conservation benefits of ecological Non-native invasive species are a significant threat to network implementation in the UK. biodiversity and their ecological impacts are difficult to reverse. They also affect economic interests particularly Smart Metering of Electricity and Gas within agriculture, horticulture and forestry. This February 2008 POSTnote 301 POSTnote explores the forthcoming strategy on invasive non-native species in Great Britain. Smart metering enables accurate measuring of energy usage and the provision of improved information to Current work consumers, suppliers and the market. The 2007 White Paper on Energy identified smart metering as a possible Biological Sciences – Alternatives to Custodial Sentencing energy saving measure. It also outlined the expectation for Young Adult Offenders, Inter-species Embryos, Single that smart meters will be installed in all of the UK’s 25 Embryo Transfer, UK Vaccine Industry, Animal Cruelty million homes over the next ten years. This POSTnote and Interpersonal Violence, Developing New Anti- examines the potential benefits, costs and policy infectives. considerations involved. Environment and Energy – Marine Protected Areas, Autism Electricity Storage, Wildlife Diseases, Biological Indicators, February 2008 POSTnote 302 Energy Security.

Autism affects how a person communicates, socialises and Physical sciences and IT – Next Generation Broadband interprets the world. This can lead to wide ranging Access, Digital Preservation. difficulties in every day life including forming relationships and living independently. Recent evidence Science policy – International Migration of Scientists and Engineers, Large Scientific Facilities.

44 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Seminars Staff, Fellows and Interns at POST

During the period POST has organised two seminars held New POST doctoral fellows: in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, both of which pushed the capacity of the room to its limits. Fay Collier, Imperial College London, British Ecological Society Fellowship On 22nd January POST and the Oxford Internet Institute Nathalie Doswald, Durham University, Natural (OII) held a seminar on “Gov 2.0, or Truly Transformative Environment Research Council Fellowship Government”. Leading figures from academia, industry Dr Michael O’Brien, Cambridge University, sponsored by and government discussed the challenges of large the Judge Institute for Management Studies government IT projects before moving on to consider how Stephen Smith, Imperial College, sponsored by POST the public sector could improve on its use of the internet Amber Teacher, Institute of Zoology, Natural Environment to engage the general public. Speakers included Professor Research Council Fellowship Ross Anderson, Professor of Security Engineering at Cambridge University, and Tom Steinberg, founder and International activities director of www.mysociety.org, and John Suffolk, In February the Director participated in a European Government Chief Information Officer. Alun Michael MP Commission sponsored workshop on Transparency in and the Earl of Erroll chaired the session. Further details Risk Assessment, held in Stockholm, and also visited the and copies of the presentations are available on the OII’s new technology assessment unit at the Swedish Parliament website at www.oii.ox.ac.uk. and the NGO, Vetenskap och Allmänhet (Science and the On 4th March POST and the Westminster Energy Forum Public). (WEF) held a seminar on “Regional and Sectoral Issues in In April staff members, Drs Sarah Bunn and Chandrika World Energy”. This event was specially designed to bring Nath, attended the 2008 Practitioners’ Workshop together parliamentarians, representatives from London organised under the auspices of the European embassies and high commissions and of private sector Parliamentary Technology Assessment network by the companies in the energy sector, and explored subjects Norwegian Board of Technology, held at Lillehammer, such as fossil fuel supply prospects, nuclear security and Norway, while Simon Evans, Royal Society of Chemistry potential future transport fuels. Further details are fellow, attended the ESRC Genomics Network meeting in available on the WEF website at Amsterdam, the Netherlands. www.westminsterenergy.org

House of Commons Library Science and Environment Section

Research Papers contains enabling legislation to allow regulations to establish the Community Infrastructure Levy. The Bill The following are summaries of papers produced for would also introduce a new procedure for planning Members of Parliament. appeals for minor applications like householder development. Information and copies of papers can be obtained from Michael Crawford at the House of Commons Library on The Paper deals with the Committee Stage of the Bill. The 0207 219 6788 or through www.parliament.uk/ Bill was not substantially amended in Committee but parliamentary_publications_and_archives/research_papers some changes were agreed to the definitions of major .cfm infrastructure projects of national importance that would be decided by the IPC. Planning Bill: Committee Stage Report Research Paper 08/24 Food Products (Marketing to Children) Bill Research Paper 08/35 The Bill would establish an Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to decide development consent for The Bill is a Private Members’ Bill introduced by Nigel major infrastructure projects in England and Wales, on Griffiths MP. Under the provisions of the Bill, it would be the basis of Government statements of national policy. an offence for a person or body to advertise or promote to This procedure would introduce a single consent regime children food (including drink products) which are for a wide range of infrastructure projects currently classified as ‘less healthy’. The Bill would introduce a 9pm approved under separate pieces of legislation. The Bill watershed for television advertising of unhealthy food, as

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 45 well as significant restrictions on non-broadcast Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill marketing. Research Paper 08/42 The Bill has received broad support from various health and consumer organisations including: the British Heart The Bill would revise and update legislation for assisted Foundation, Cancer Research and Which?. reproduction and also change the regulation and licensing of the use of embryos in research and therapy. It includes Energy Bill: Committee Stage Report provision for research on different types of embryos, and proposes changes to definitions of legal parenthood for Research Paper 08/40 cases involving assisted reproduction. Key features of the Bill include the creation of the legal framework to require power companies to cover waste Climate Change Bill and decommissioning costs in the event of new nuclear The Bill contains provisions to create a legally binding build; banding of the Renewables Obligation to target of carbon dioxide emission reductions for the UK of differentiate levels of support to renewable technologies; at least 26% by 2020 and 60% by 2050 compared to and encouragement of investment in gas supply and 1990 levels. carbon capture and storage. Key features of the Bill include provisions to require the The Paper deals with the Committee Stage of the Bill. The Government to publish five yearly carbon budgets as from passage of the Bill through the Committee Stage was 2008 and create a Committee on Climate Change to largely consensual and the Minister was often able to advise on the levels of carbon budgets to be set. The Bill provide reassurance to opposition party concerns. Many also places a duty on the Government to assess the risk to of the controversial areas have been on what is not in the the UK from the impacts of climate change and provides Bill rather than what is in it. At Committee Stage the powers to establish trading schemes for the purpose of “Miscellaneous” section of the Bill was used to try to limiting greenhouse gases. generate debate about provisions not in the Bill such as smart-metering, pre-payment meters, electronic electricity On other matters it includes powers to create waste devices, social tariffs and the role of Ofgem. reduction pilot schemes and amend the provisions of the Energy Act 2004 on the renewable transport fuel On the provisions that were included in the Bill, the obligations. sections on the Renewables Obligation (RO), and nuclear issues generated the most debate.

Selected Debates and Parliamentary Questions & Answers

Following is a selection of Debates and Questions and Answers from the House of Commons and House of Lords. Full digests of all Debates, Questions and Answers on topics of scientific interest from 8th January to 3rd April 2008 from both Houses of Parliament can be found on the website: www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Please log in using the members’ and subscribers’ password (available from the Committee Secretariat) and go to Publications: Digests

Agriculture must provide the industry with an incentive for action.

Animal Welfare: Infectious Diseases Bovine TB is a menace to cattle and badgers alike and Debate in the House of Lords on Monday 10 March continues to spread unabated. The number of fresh outbreaks in 2007 amounted to 4137 which is a new Baroness Byford rose to ask what improvements have record for modern times. The incidence of TB – that is the been made in the management of infectious animal proportion of herds tested resulting in a breakdown – diseases with particular reference to bluetongue, avian flu, increased by 18 per cent on the previous year. Some foot and mouth and bovine TB specifically. The Minister 28,000 plus cattle were slaughtered as TB reactors, was asked whether he is satisfied with the plans to deal inconclusive reactors or dangerous contacts, and 6532 with future outbreaks of bluetongue and especially the farms were under TB restrictions in 2007 because of a TB application and availability of vaccines and animal testing incident. That TB outbreak is costing taxpayers more than for the presence of bluetongue. Cost sharing arrangements £90 million annually and heartbreak to farmers. A recent

46 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 report from the Royal Society indicated that a significant Select Committee said, “The impact of the disease (that is, proportion of the 75 per cent of new TB outbreaks that TB) has reached a stage where further procrastination is are caused by local effects in high-risk areas, are unacceptable”. I agree with that comment. The Minister attributable to contact between badgers and cattle. Cattle has heard me recommend before that further work be movements also have an important part to play. TB will done on vaccines, especially a vaccine for badgers. Can never be brought under control without tackling the the Minister enlighten the house on what is in progress? reservoir of the disease in the badger population. The disease is now out of control and action is urgently Several exotic threats to livestock and humans were then required. The Royal Society recommends a multifaceted outlined. Antibiotic resistance has now become approach including vaccination, effective biosecurity in widespread as a pathogen in humans – but is also farms, increased frequency of testing and greater use of spreading widely in animals. As global trade in food gamma interferon. The Independent Scientific Group on animals increases this becomes a more important factor in Cattle TB (ISG) Report of 2007 acknowledged that the human health. In particular, enzymes such as extended removal of infected badgers can have a beneficial effect in spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL’s) are increasing at an parts of the country where there is a high incidence of TB enormous rate and produce dangerous levels of infections in cattle. in food. An example is the recent report of imported chicken meat as a source of Escherichia coli producing The Government’s record of managing outbreaks of foot ESBLs. Were that to be eaten in an undercooked state by and mouth leaves much to be desired. The 2001 epidemic humans, serious bowel disorders might result. What when thousands of cattle and sheep were slaughtered was monitoring procedures are in place to detect these a disgrace due to the Government’s failure to address the dangerous pathogens that are resistant to antibiotics? original outbreak with the urgency that was needed and as Other exotic diseases of immediate concern include a result the disease spread rapidly throughout areas of the African horse sickness, West Nile fever, Bluetongue, which country. It is still uncertain whether the Government are is already with us, and Avian flu. What are the vaccination prepared to use vaccination rather slaughter in the first policies for these infections? What surveillance policies are instance should a new outbreak occur. The outbreak at in place? Will the Minister enlighten the House on how Pirbright appeared to be an ideal situation in which the the new technologies have been brought into play for the use of vaccination for the whole of Surrey could have purpose of extending and improving vigilance towards been tested in a controlled trial. Was this opportunity lost diseases from exotic areas? due to lack of vaccine or a decision not to do so? The Minister of State, Department for Environment, Government proposals for cost sharing for future animal Food and Rural Affairs (Lord Rooker): I shall not be able diseases have been viewed with alarm. Farmers recognise to do justice to all the points raised. On issues that I have their responsibility for maintaining strong biosecurity not dealt with, I promise that I will put together a full measures on their farms, and they believe that letter. Defra’s cost and responsibility sharing programmes Government should be robust in keeping out animal have been published for discussion at a national seminar diseases from this country and should have strong, and 13 other seminars around the country. These are foolproof emergency measures in place. The livestock intended to help construct a policy, to be followed by industry is not wholly opposed to cost recovery, but it further consultation. References to animal health and would like to know exactly what it will be charged for. animal welfare should not be confused and refer to different specific issues in Defra. Lord Krebs: The scientific evidence relating to bovine TB and the policy options available have been reviewed more Last year avian influenza, bluetongue and foot and mouth than a dozen times in the past decade, including in my all had very serious consequences for the farming industry 1997 review, which demonstrates that the problem is which are still with us today with movement restrictions, intractable, the science is incomplete and the experts disrupted markets, prices affected and exports halted, disagree. However, some facts are beyond dispute. First, which are absolutely tragic for some areas of the country. there is no reasonable doubt that badgers are only part of Although normal trading conditions have resumed, we the problem. They harbour the disease and transmit it to have been left with the legacy of those outbreaks, which is cattle. With that wildlife reservoir the disease will be very substantial among hill farmers. These exotic outbreaks hard to eliminate from cattle. The long term solution must have been tackled against a backdrop of the ongoing be a vaccine. In the mean time the disease will decrease threat of bovine TB which is costing the taxpayer £80 to by a simple combination of more frequent testing and £90 million a year, in addition to the even greater cost to better husbandry, encouraged by offering incentives to farmers. Vaccine research is ongoing. It is illegal to keep badgers away from cattle as is being trialled in vaccinate cattle for TB but as we do not have the vaccine Wales. Will the Minister consider adopting the Welsh the issue does not arise. Who will pay for vaccine for approach and recognise that large-scale culling is not the badgers? The Government have made it clear that they answer? will not, nor will they organise or pay for any cull of badgers. The complexity of the issue cannot be overstated. Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior: With regard to TB, I repeat what the Environment, Food and Rural (EFRA) An order for 22.5 million vaccination doses has been

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 47 placed for bluetongue (2.5 million for Wales and 20 teachers because they have been covered in two Select million for England). These will be available from May Committee reports. One was published by the House of and will have temporary certification with the Veterinary Lords in the 2005-06 Session of Parliament and the other Medicines Directorate. The efficacy will not be known was published by the House of Commons in the 2001-02 until the vaccine is administered. 40,000 cases of Session of Parliament. Many of us who became scientists bluetongue have been tested and ongoing surveillance is would probably agree that it was the enthusiasm of the enormous. It will return, as it has either overwintered in science teacher that attracted us to pursue such a career. the British midge or will come across the Channel in Some science teachers can make the sciences sound plumes. With regard to avian influenza, vigilance is extremely complicated, or boring, probably because they maintained, good biosecurity is applied which has not do not enjoy teaching the subject or because they do not always been the case in the poultry industry, with rapid understand the basic principles. The lack of specialist reporting of any suspicious symptoms among both wild teachers is part of the problem and that situation has and domestic stocks. worsened recently. The worst science teachers make no attempt to embellish the curriculum by taking their The unfortunate outbreak of foot and mouth (at Pirbright) students out of the classroom to listen to an outside lecture which spreads easily through the air is quite different. or to visit an outside facility that is trying to make science Vaccination was not an issue this time. The second interesting to students. They are also reluctant to invite outbreak was part of the first and had not been scientists or engineers into their classroom to talk about anticipated hence there was no apparent need for their experiences and they make minimum effort to run vaccination. There is no argument in principle against the practical classes. Their sole aim appears to be to cover the use of vaccination, unlike 2001. curriculum so that their students will achieve the highest The management of exotic diseases by Defra staff last year grades possible in examinations, even by abandoning was magnificent. We were hit by problems, one after many of the practical classes if that should prove necessary. another. Everybody knew what they had to do from the Recent surveys by the Science Museum in Kensington and decision tree and bird tables. It could not have been done the awarding bodies have shown that hands-on practicals without co-operation of the industry. in laboratories and visits and excursions outside school Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation: Crops are the most enjoyable aspects of studying the sciences. I Question and Written Answer on Monday 31 March am aware of The Times Education Supplement published in October last year which revealed that a third of teachers Mr David Anderson (Blaydon): To ask the Secretary of had cancelled school trips, with cost cited as the problem State for Transport what steps she is taking to ensure that by 40 per cent, and form-filling cited as the problem by the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation will not result 36 per cent of the teachers surveyed. The Government in a conflict between the need to grow crops for both food have responded by publishing a manifesto entitled and fuel. “Learning Outside the Classroom” and pledging £2.7 million towards encouraging school trips, for which I am Jim Fitzpatrick: The Renewable Fuels Agency (RFA) will extremely grateful. I would like to pay a tribute to the have a statutory duty to report annually to Ministers on 12,000 or more volunteers who take part in the Science the effects of the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation and Engineering Ambassadors in Schools (SEAS) (RTFO), including the indirect effects such as impacts on programme, which is organised in partnership with the food and commodity prices. These reports will inform the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics development of the Government’s longer term biofuel Network (STEMNET). Unfortunately, pressures from the policies. Research Assessment Exercise in recent years have reduced the number of younger university academics The Government have also asked the Renewable Fuels willing to visit schools. Agency to lead an urgent review of the potential indirect impacts of biofuel production. This will, among other Bob Spink (Castle Point): Part of the problem in schools is things, consider the risk that biofuel policies will affect that specific sciences are often not taught by specifically international food commodity prices in the period to science-qualified teachers, but by generalists or non- 2020. The terms of reference for this review are available science-qualified teachers. It is therefore essential for us to via the Department for Transport's website at: fill the planning gap by ensuring that we have decent http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/environment/rtfo/ science teaching, that we encourage women into science teaching and that we have good-quality science labs that ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– will encourage students and teachers in schools and Education support science teaching in our economy.

Science Teaching Dr Ian Gibson (Norwich, North): Lord David Sainsbury Debate in Westminster Hall Tuesday 15 January has just produced a document entitled “The Race to the Top: A Review of Government’s Science and Innovation Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East): My contribution to Policies”, in which he talks first about the need for a this debate is not about the supply or quality of science “major campaign to enhance the teaching of science and

48 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 technology”, including raising the number of qualified Mrs Miller: I should like to pick up on the point that the science teachers, increasing the number of young people Minister made about the importance of imaginative studying triple science, improving careers advice, practical work. The National Endowment for Science, establishing a national science competition and Technology and the Arts has estimated that 87 per cent of rationalising the many schemes to inspire young people to science teachers have been prevented from letting their take up careers in science and engineering. students undertake practical work because they believe that health and safety regulations prohibit them from Mr Mark Lancaster (North-East Milton Keynes): It is vital doing so. What work are the Government doing to help that teachers receive the opportunity constantly to retrain, science teachers in this area? which is why it is slightly disappointing to discover that science teachers are not entitled to science-related Jim Knight: We agree that school trips are important. continual professional development. That is why we have developed the “Learning Outside the Classroom” manifesto to promote the value of trips and Dr Evan Harris (Oxford, West and Abingdon): There is a help overcome some of the associated obstacles, such as fundamental problem: the shortage of specialist teachers. insurance and risk management. Equally, outside the It creates a vicious circle; if students are not inspired to timetable, 250 science and engineering after-school clubs study science subjects at university, because they have not are harnessing the interest and potential of thousands of had an inspiring specialist teacher, they will not graduate 11 to 14-year-olds, bringing the real-world application of in that subject and at least consider the option of a science into schools for them: how their iPod works or teaching career – in the state sector especially. what chemistry is going on inside their brains when they Annette Brooke (Mid-Dorset and North Poole): The latest fall in love. Government figures show that at more than 1,500 state As the study of science improves in numbers and quality schools – about half the schools in England – fewer than up the school, I would expect more students to decide to 50 per cent of pupils reach the required standard of two carry on with science at A-level. Our “Next step” strategy, grade Cs or above in science. An accompanying downturn published in 2006, set out the targets, and in 2007 we in the number of state education pupils taking science A- saw a small rise to 23,932 in the number of A-level levels has been reported by the Cambridge Assessment physics entries: the first increase since 1998. That is exam board: although 33.3 per cent. of grammar school underpinned, equally, by expansions in the numbers and 27.7 per cent of independent school pupils go on to doing physics at AS-level, and in the past few years there study chemistry A-level, only 14.8 per cent of pupils at have been increases in the numbers of students doing comprehensives do so. chemistry. We are turning the corner in that regard.

Mrs Maria Miller (Basingstoke): The pharmaceutical One of the drivers of more students studying science at A- industry is at the heart of the success of my constituency, level and beyond will be the opportunities that are opened so I know at first hand how important science is to local up in careers in science. We are working with schools, business employers. The Leitch report clearly says that the scientists and young people to let students see that science demand for science and technology professionals will in the real world is well paid and works in various increase by 18 to 30 per cent between 2004 and 2014 – occupations. One day one of those occupations might be far higher than for any other occupational group. We have to follow the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East and be heard figures on the shortfall in the number of specialist another passionate advocate for science in Parliament. We science teachers: only 19 per cent of science teachers have are increasing the number of ambassadors. specialisms in physics, and only 25 per cent in chemistry. Indeed, one in four schools in the state sector do not have ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– a specialist physics teacher. Energy The Minister for Schools and Learners (Jim Knight): We want more students to continue to study science, to make it Concentrated Solar Power their career and to engage with scientific issues as citizens. I Debate in the House of Commons on Thursday 28 February want to explain today how we will achieve that by inspiring Dr Howard Stoate (Dartford) Concentrated solar power young people with science throughout their journey represents a vast source of energy that holds the promise through the various stages of school. We know that to help of a carbon-free, nuclear-free electrical future for the students enjoy and achieve success in science we need whole of Europe, if not the world. A CSP plant uses more specialist teachers; specialists who can communicate mirrors to concentrate sunlight and create heat which is their love for and depth of knowledge of their subject. We used to drive turbines and generators. Heat can also be are encouraging people to train and to qualify as science stored in melted salts so that electricity generation may teachers by offering a teacher training bursary and a golden continue at night or on cloudy days. Europe’s first hello in the subjects that we need. That is working: the commercially operating CSP plant has opened in Spain, number of trainee science teachers recruited in a year has outside Seville, and generates about 11MW of electricity, just reached more than 3,000 for the first time for enough to power up to 6,000 homes currently but with conventional initial teacher training, but there are still not the potential to produce sufficient power for the needs of enough specialist physics and chemistry teachers.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 49 Seville’s 600,000 residents. North African deserts offer the moment it is being suggested that if you want renewable greatest potential as each square kilometre of hot desert energy, you have to have vast wind farms operating on a annually receives solar energy equivalent to 1.5 million very large scale. That is not necessary. Local energy is barrels of oil. The world’s entire electricity needs could be available at a low price for those who take the trouble to provided by covering less than 1 per cent of the world’s seek it out, and here I pay considerable tribute to the deserts with CSP plants. The power generated by CSP can London Borough of Merton on its initiative to provide its be transmitted on high-voltage direct current (HVDC) residents with as much locally available energy as lines as only 3 per cent of the power is lost for each 1000 possible. It is no credit to this Government that it has km. Hence solar electricity could be imported from north been left to Merton to develop an initiative in this way. Africa to London with a power loss of only 10 per cent. The good thing is that Merton is now able to carry on Indeed, 90 per cent of the world’s population live within with its initiative, helped by a Private Member’s Bill which 2700 km of a hot desert and could be supplied with solar is going through Parliament at the moment. energy from there. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department The Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Co-operation for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform or TREC – a group of scientists and engineers in Europe, (Baroness Vadera) We face two major energy policy the middle east and north Africa – is trying to identify challenges: tackling climate change and ensuring energy ways of exploiting the energy-generating potential of hot security. The Government are absolutely committed to deserts. TREC is calling for the creation of an HVDC renewable energy as a key contributor to meeting climate supergrid to enable the transmission across the region of change goals. The Department for Communities and Local energy derived from north African CSP plants. Government recently published Planning Policy Statement 1 (PPS1), which requires local authorities to consider The Minister for Energy (Malcolm Wicks) Interesting, climate change and renewables in local planning unusual and important points have been made about solar frameworks. We also provide grants for low-carbon power. The world has huge solar resources on which solar building programmes. In addition, we launched a strategic power technology can draw. Our role is currently modest. environmental assessment on a plan for up to 25 Two small studies were commissioned in the 1990s on gigawatts of new offshore wind development. We have behalf of the DTI. We in the UK have played our part in also launched a feasibility study into a possible tidal the work. power generation scheme on the River Severn, with the Building and maintaining an infrastructure of HVDC potential to provide 5 per cent of the UK’s electricity transmission lines and managing a network that feeds into needs. In April we will introduce a renewable transport national grids across Europe is an enormous and fuel obligation and reforms for the planning regime, expensive task. Fair, open and well regulated markets are which will remove some of the main barriers to renewable the best way to achieve the massive investment in the deployment. clean energy needed. CSP could have a part to play along We have concerns about the sustainability of biofuels. The with other technologies. A focus is needed on climate current biofuel production capacity in the UK is 1000 change objectives and renewable technologies that have a kilotonnes per annum. Security of supply is about more immediate short to medium term application in reliability and affordability. Renewables could play a key Britain. On solar power, there is an increasing number of role in reducing or increasing dependence on imported solar panels on people’s houses, which use a relatively fossil fuels. Intermittent renewal sources, such as wind cost-effective renewable technology and photovoltaics and wave power, display some regenerating capacity. We which produce not just hot water but electricity. The will need additional low-carbon base-load capacity to be Government will continue to follow developments in sure that we have sufficient responsive generation to deal concentrated solar power and long-distance electricity with the effects of intermittency. We strongly support the transmission. European Commission’s proposed legislation to develop Energy: Renewables transparent, well regulated EU gas markets, bringing Debate in the Grand Committee on Thursday 6 March initiated benefits to consumers throughout the EU and remain by Lord Beaumont of Whitley who sadly died on 8th April completely committed to the EU’s 2020 renewables target and will introduce a new renewables strategy next spring. Lord Beaumont of Whitley asked what plans have been made to develop the production of renewable energy in ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– the United Kingdom so as to reduce the UK’s vulnerability Health to global gas and oil price fluctuations. The provision of affordable local and renewable energy is needed by Homeopathic Hospitals everyone in this country today, and the question is Debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday 19 February whether the Government are doing enough to that end. The most obvious answer is that they are nor doing David Tredinnick (Bosworth): In the UK we have four enough, that there is real fuel poverty in the country and homeopathic hospitals, one in Scotland and three in that people are suffering through the inability to access England. The Scottish hospital is protected since a renewable energy supplies on good financial terms. At the successful campaign in 2004, but that is not the case for

50 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 the three English hospitals – the Royal London, Bristol fortification of flour with folic acid; what matters relating and Tunbridge Wells homeopathic hospitals which are to the proposals are under consideration by the Agency; fully integrated into the NHS. What has gone wrong? over what timescale he expects the Agency to proceed Eight primary care trusts have withdrawn their contracts with their proposals; with whom the Agency will consult from the Royal London in the last 18 months and patient on the proposals; and how he plans to consult the natural referrals are down by 20 per cent on the same period last health products industry on the likely (a) financial and (b) year. There is great uncertainty about the intentions of the health effects of the proposals; host PCT Camden and its neighbour Islington. (2) what recent representations he has received from (a) As for the other two hospitals, West Kent PCT is manufacturers and (b) retailers of food supplements on responsible for the Tunbridge Wells hospital and it will the proposed introduction of limits on the levels of folic withdraw its support from April 2008. That decision has acid permitted in such products as a result of the been temporarily rescinded pending a legal challenge by proposals of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) for the patients. Bristol homeopathic hospital has also suffered mandatory fortification of flour with folate; and whether considerable cuts. the FSA plans to undertake further modelling of the implications of its proposals. White Papers that have been published in recent years all suggest that choice will increase. “The NHS Improvement Dawn Primarolo: In June 2007, the Food Standards Plan”, published in 2004, states: “By 2008, patients Agency (FSA) recommended mandatory fortification with referred by their GP will be able to choose any provider folic acid of bread or flour alongside controls on voluntary able to meet NHS standards and to deliver care at tariff.” fortification and guidance on supplement use to United The December 2003 document, “Building on the Best: Kingdom Health Ministers. In October 2007, the Chief Choice, Responsiveness and Equity in the NHS” stated Medical Officer (CMO) wrote to the FSA to request a that NHS services should be “more responsive” to further expert view of the evidence on folic acid and patients. The January 2006 document, “Our health, our colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. care, our say” states: “We will give people a stronger voice” – so that they can see a service improvement. The 2004 On the basis of expert advice FSA have advised the CMO White Paper stated the intention to give the public more that they will defer agreeing their final advice on CRC risk informed choices as regards their health. The Government until the results of ongoing trials are available in early are certainly failing to do that as far as the homeopathic 2009. hospitals are concerned. In the mean time, FSA officials will continue their The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health discussions with industry about controls on voluntary (Mr Ivan Lewis): I have articulated clearly the fortification in food and caps on the levels of folic acid in Government and NHS position on complementary supplements as there are 106,000 people in the UK therapies, so I hope that any documents that have been exceeding the upper limit for folic acid from dietary and circulated and that give a false or misleading perception supplement sources. It is therefore important to control will be corrected by the record. Beyond that, primary care voluntary fortification and intake through supplements to trusts in every part of the country have a clear set of ensure there is no further increase in these numbers. priorities that the Government lay down for the outcomes The FSA has received representations from the trade that they are expected to achieve with regard to health associations of food supplements manufacturers and and well-being in their local communities. Under the retailers regarding proposed controls on folic acid present Government an unprecedented level of resources containing food supplements, capping folic acid at 200 has been invested in the national health. Any system will micrograms. Information has been provided to the FSA on require commissioners to make difficult choices. Based on the types of products on the market containing folic acid the needs of their local population, based on what and the recommended daily dosage. The FSA will patients and carers tell them about what matters most, undertake further modelling and the results will be and based on evidence and outcomes, commissioners will discussed with the supplements industry. be required to make those choices. Beyond the clear national priorities and the NHS operating framework that Biosimilar Medicines we issue to chief executives of primary care trusts, it is not Debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday 2 April for Ministers sitting in offices in Westminster and Whitehall to tell PCTs how they ought to make those daily Dr Brian Iddon (Bolton, South-East): When a patent runs difficult decisions. out on a parent conventional medicine, any other company can start to produce and distribute it as a so- Folic Acid: Flour called generic medicine or drug. A drug is the active Question and Written Answer on Thursday 27 March constituent of a medicine. Generic prescribing is encouraged by the National Health Service because, in Mr Todd (South Derbyshire): To ask the Secretary of State general, generic drugs are substantially cheaper than the for Health (1) what plans the Food Standards Agency has originally marketed parent drug. That is because in relation to their proposals for the mandatory companies that market generic drugs do not have to

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 51 conduct the research that led to the discovery of the Dawn Primarolo: The Department funds national health parent drug, thus avoiding expensive clinical trials to service research and development through the National establish its safety and efficacy in human use. Institute for Health Research (NIHR). The NIHR research programmes support high quality research of relevance Today, more than 200 drugs are produced by the and in areas of high priority to patients and the NHS and biotechnology industry, in living cells or in reaction are open to researchers investigating new cancer vessels using gene technology, to treat various cancers, treatments. AIDS, neurological disorders, heart disease, diabetes, and rare genetic diseases. Those so-called biopharmaceuticals, The NIHR Health Technology Assessment Programme or biological drugs, benefit about 325 million people focuses specifically on the effectiveness, costs and broader worldwide. The biopharmaceutical industry is an essential impact of health care treatments and tests for those who component of the British biotechnology industry. So far, plan, provide or receive care in the NHS and is funding a the patents have run out on five of the parent branded range of research on cancer treatments. In addition, the biological drugs, but that number will increase NIHR National Cancer Research Network provides NHS significantly in the next few years. support for trials and other well designed cancer studies.

When another biotechnology company produces one of In partnership with Cancer Research UK, the NIHR is those biological drugs, using a process different from that funding 15 experimental cancer medicine centres across used by the company that discovered the parent drug, the England. A further two centres are in development. This resultant tangled molecule will not be quite the same as initiative brings together laboratory and clinical patient- the parent one. Thus copies of biological drugs are not based research to speed up the development of new identical to the parent drug and are called biosimilars. For therapies by evaluating novel drugs and biomarkers, thus their use as drugs, we have to be sure that biosimilar individualising patient treatment. drugs are as close in structure to the parent drug as possible. Otherwise their clinical profile including safety The Department works in close partnership with United and efficacy, will be different. Kingdom cancer research funders through the National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI). NCRI initiatives such as The Minister of State, Department of Health (Dawn the NCRI Prostate Cancer Collaboratives – to which the Primarolo): I welcome the opportunity to clarify the Department contributes over half of the total £11.6 general regulatory position on biosimilar medicines. million funding – are discovering and developing new Special European regulations are in place to ensure that cancer treatments. biosimilar manufacturers supply comprehensive data to regulators to demonstrate the safety, quality and efficacy of The Department does not normally take on the role of the product and its similarity to the original medicinal sponsor under the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical product. Regulatory authorities also perform periodic Trials) Regulations 2004. inspections of the manufacturing process. We are working ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– with other European regulatory authorities to ensure that health professionals who report adverse reactions to Science Policy biosimilar products know that they should provide the brand name and batch number of the suspected product. Daresbury Science and Innovation Campus It is the existing policy and current practice of the Debate in Westminster Hall on Tuesday 1 April Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Mr Mike Hall (Weaver Vale): The Daresbury laboratory – (MHRA) to apply the black triangle symbol to all new now the Daresbury science and innovation campus – has medicinal products, including biosimilar medicines, for been delivering world-class science for 40 years and has the first two years of marketing. The symbol denotes contributed to Britain being at the international forefront intensive monitoring of the new product and encourages of accelerator science research. In 2000-01 Daresbury reporting of all suspected adverse reactions through the faced a problem. The Government made the stupid yellow card scheme. After two years the products safety decision to locate Diamond, the successor to the profile is reviewed and decisions are made about whether synchrotron radiation source that had been developed at the intensive monitoring can be lifted. The MHRA Daresbury, at Rutherford Appleton. Daresbury therefore encourages companies that manufacture biosimilar faced the challenge of finding a new project to ensure that medicines to give them a brand name so that there is no it remained at the forefront of international science. A possibility of the pharmacist substituting another commitment is now required from the Science and biosimilar product when dispensing a prescription. Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to ensuring that the Cancer: Research Accelerators and Lasers In Combined Experiments Question and Written Answer on Wednesday 2 April (ALICE) project at Daresbury can be funded beyond the stage of energy recovery being proven and to exploit fully Andrew Rosindell (Romford): To ask the Secretary of the potential of the prototype. This will require investing State for Health what research and development schemes more money into the project and working with the into new cancer treatments his Department sponsors; and Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) which if he will make a statement. has committed £30 million to the project already. That is

52 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 essential because it will provide the possibility of a new developing Daresbury as a world-class campus for science light source which will be based on the fourth generation and innovation. It is clearly Government policy to develop light source (4GLS) discussed in the Government Daresbury and Harwell as science and innovation document “Science & Innovation Investment Framework campuses. The delivery plan for the STFC would not have 2004-2014”. That is essential because been recommended for approval if that plan did not include proposals to develop Daresbury as a science and 1) it will provide a new light source which has been innovation campus. There is no regional policy as such, developed by the staff at Daresbury; research council decisions are made on the basis of a peer 2) if it is fully exploited this will help retain scientific staff review of science. However, individual delivery plans at Daresbury and must be in accordance with the strategic priorities of the Government, which includes a clear regional element 3) it will ensure that science and innovation is retained at including the development of Daresbury as a world-class Daresbury. centre for science and innovation. The argument that there needs to be a critical mass of world-class scientists That will send a clear message that the Government undertaking research at Daresbury is accepted. believe that regions such as the north-west are entitled to have world-leading science and that they are behind the Graham Stringer (Manchester, Blackley): It was a concept. The Minister could send another positive Government commitment that the STFC would be left message by saying that a person will be appointed to the with no legacy issues and yet because of the overrun of STFC specifically to act as an advocate for Daresbury. the costs of Diamond by £75 million, the STFC has been They would then have confidence in decisions made in left with a deficit. We are seeing part of the problems of the future about the new light source and the future of the dealing with that deficit in Daresbury, are we not? science and technology campus. The Minister for Science and Innovation (Ian Pearson): When the STFC announced an £80 million shortfall in its I want to make it clear that the STFC will develop the £1.9 billion budget over three years, and that it would call Daresbury science and innovation campus as a joint for 25 per cent staff cuts and 25 per cent cuts in project venture with the North West Development Agency, the grants to fill what is a very small funding gap, if one exists private sector, universities and Halton Borough Council. at all, it was feared at Daresbury that 350 jobs would go. Furthermore, Daresbury will continue to be a major plank Compulsory redundancies have been called for at in the Government’s national science and innovation Daresbury but not at the two other sites covered by the agenda. The medium-term strategy is clearly to continue STFC. Those compulsory redundancies relate to the to develop the campus, both on the science side, where running of the synchrotron radiation source, which we we need to have world-class expertise, and on the accept will finish at the end of this year. Only 110 people innovation side. The STFC will complete the current are working on the synchrotron radiation source but we investment in the Energy Recovery Linac Prototype project are now told 180 jobs must go. as a technology demonstrator. I cannot confirm that ALICE will go ahead as a project because decisions are Andrew Miller (Ellesmere Port and Neston): What would awaited from the STFC. So this will be a difficult limbo be the impact of any reduction in the scientific centre in situation for some time to come. I will be visiting Daresbury on the science-based industry in the region? Daresbury to make an important public announcement on The use that companies such as Unilever make of a further phase of investment in the Daresbury science Daresbury is incredibly important. It is part of the fabric and innovation campus. This will be the first in a series of of the region and is one reason why industry invests in announcements that will demonstrate the Government’s the north-west. resolve to make a world-leading success of the Daresbury campus. Adam Afriyie (Windsor): Speaking not only as Opposition Front-Bench spokesman, but having also ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– served on the STFC, it is clear that Whitehall has delivered a headbutt to scientists over science funding. Progress of Legislation before Parliament There is no question that the £80 million shortfall in the STFC’s budget will impact on the work done throughout A comprehensive list of Public Bills before Parliament, the country. It is important that the Minister faces up to giving up-to-date information on their progress through the fact that his and his Department’s decisions have Parliament, is published regularly when Parliament is caused the pressures at Daresbury. Professor Martin Rees, sitting in the Weekly Information Bulletin, which can be President of the Royal Society, stated that “the STFC has found at: been constrained in its priority-setting by the Ministry, http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmwib.htm and…there was inadequate consultation with the relevant communities.”

The Minister for Science and Innovation (Ian Pearson): The Government remain absolutely committed to

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 53 Euro-News Commentary on science and technology within the European Parliament and the Commission

European Union – Digest Putting cleaner vehicles on the street Monthly digests of European legislaiton, taken from the A successful campaign implemented in the framework of Official Journal of the European Communities, can be the Vivaldi project helped to put more than 160 found on the website: www.scienceinparliament.org.uk alternatively-fuelled vehicles on the roads of Bremen, Germany. Emissions from vehicles not only degrade local Please log in using the members’ and subscribers’ air quality, they also contribute to global climate change. password (available from the Committee Secretariat) and Engineers are constantly striving to reduce these emissions go to Publications: Digests and to make transport more sustainable. Impressive emission reductions have been achieved with alternative Identifying cystic fibrosis biomarkers fuels such as compressed natural gas (CNG), yet the market has been slow to adopt this technology. The The study of cystic fibrosis (CF) is important not only for Growth programme charged the Vivaldi consortium with patients, but also for use as a model gene for other boosting CNG usage across all sectors. ECOLO, a Vivaldi inherited diseases. Proteins from the expression of CF partner based in Bremen, implemented an extensive genes were analysed and compared with complementary campaign in its hometown by firstly educating the public products from non-CF individuals. CF is one of the most about the environmental benefits of CNG and then by common life-shortening inherited diseases. The CF gene targeting a wide range of stakeholders ranging from car results in the production of a chloride ion channel dealers to taxi companies, service stations and driving important in the creation of sweat, digestive juices and schools. In addition it was also necessary to provide mucus. Mutations in this gene can therefore cause a range financial incentives since CNG-powered vehicles are still of problems in all systems involved with these secretions. slightly more expensive than gasoline-powered vehicles. The original overall objective of the EU-funded CF-CHIP Subsequently 250 applications were received for CNG project was to develop a new gene array technology vehicles resulting in 160 vehicles in circulation in Bremen. platform. The aim was high-throughput diagnosis of CF and related diseases as well as use as a model for other Double Antennas deliver double the signal genetic disorders. The University of Lisbon selected three cell lines and then analysed gene expression changes Digital television transmission techniques that deliver which could be linked to the presence of a CF mutation most benefit in the worst reception environments have by comparison with the human micro-array from MWG- been developed by a consortium of European researchers. Biotech UK Ltd. As a result, genes were identified that The technologies promise to reduce the network were consistently up- or down-regulated in CF tissues infrastructure needed for mobile television, while when compared to samples from non-CF patients. minimising the power demands and complexity of mobile television receivers of the future. In a typical broadcast Turning water and sunlight into hydrogen transmission, radio signals bounce off objects in the energy environment, reaching the receiver over multiple paths. Distortion from multipath signals can produce fading, A technologically advanced reactor can turn water and resulting in temporary failure of reception. EU Researchers sunlight into hydrogen energy, unlocking the door to an in the PLUTO project led by Broadreach Systems (UK) endless source of carbon-free energy for humankind. demonstrated that splitting the transmit power between Using hydrogen as a source of energy for transport and multiple antennas can provide substantially more effective electricity production is environmentally attractive. coverage than using a single antenna. Currently, however, the most feasible methods of hydrogen production are linked with emissions to the atmosphere Inexpensive polymer-based optics that negatively impact air quality and contribute to climate change. Unfortunately this means hydrogen has little Low-cost, complex-shaped and multifaceted high-density advantage over conventional fossil fuels. Research funded polyethylene (HDPE) optics were used in thermal infrared through FP5 could turn things around. The Centre for device applications intended for detection and imaging Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) co-ordinated within the TECH-TIR project. Prior to this development the Hydrosol project with the goal of making hydrogen HDPE had not been used as optical material in high-end from water and sunlight. Combining their expertise with imaging applications despite its extensive use in low-end that of researchers from three other EU Member States, non-imaging applications, mainly due to poor they designed and tested a novel solar reactor where solar transmittance properties compared with semiconductor radiation is used to superheat water to the point where it crystals or chalcogenide glasses. The outcome was the dissociates to form hydrogen and oxygen. A catalytic design, testing and manufacture of low cost HDPE coating inside the reactor helps to reduce the temperature solutions. The huge cost reductions in the production of required for water splitting to occur. Ceramic components optics using plastic-based micro-optical parts opens new and a honeycomb monolith structure further enhance the avenues in imaging and detection capabilities. reactor’s efficiency.

54 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Science Directory DIRECTORY INDEX

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

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 55 Institution of Civil Engineers Natural Environment Research Advancement of Science SSSIs Royal Academy of Engineering Council British Nutrition Foundation Kew Gardens SCI Plymouth Marine Sciences British Society for Antimicrobial Natural England STFC Partnership Chemotherapy Clifton Scientific Trust Statistics Information Services Oil EPSRC EPSRC AIRTO C-Tech Innovation The Engineering and Technology The Engineering and Technology CABI Institution of Chemical Engineers Board Board LGC HFEA Royal Statistical Society IT, Internet, Telecommunications, Institute of Biology Computing and Electronics Particle Physics Institute of Physics Surface Science EPSRC STFC Institution of Chemical Engineers C-Tech Innovation Institution of Engineering and Institution of Engineering and STFC Technology Patents Technology National Physical Laboratory The Chartered Institute of Patent Medical Research Council Sustainability Newcastle University Attorneys NESTA Biosciences Federation STFC NESTA Newcastle University The British Ecological Society Plymouth Marine Sciences CABI Intellectual Property Pharmaceuticals Partnership C-Tech Innovation ABPI ABPI Prospect EPSRC The Chartered Institute of Patent British Pharmacological Society Research Councils UK Institute of Biology Institution of Chemical Engineers Attorneys British Society for Antimicrobial Royal Academy of Engineering Institution of Civil Engineers C-Tech Innovation Chemotherapy Royal Institution London Metropolitan Polymer Lilly C-Tech Innovation The Royal Society Centre NESTA Institute of Biology Royal Society of Chemistry Natural England Newcastle University Institution of Chemical Engineers STFC Newcastle University LGC Plymouth Marine Sciences Large-Scale Research Facilities Lilly Quality Management Partnership Campden & Chorleywood Food Merck Sharp & Dohme Campden & Chorleywood Food SCI Research Association PHARMAQ Ltd Research Association C-Tech Innovation Royal Society of Chemistry LGC Technology Transfer London Metropolitan Polymer SCI National Physical Laboratory CABI Centre Campden & Chorleywood Food National Physical Laboratory Physical Sciences Radiation Hazards Research Association Natural History Museum Cavendish Laboratory Health Protection Agency C-Tech Innovation STFC C-Tech Innovation LGC LGC EPSRC London Metropolitan Polymer Lasers London Metropolitan Polymer Retail Centre National Physical Laboratory Centre Marks and Spencer NESTA STFC National Physical Laboratory National Physical Laboratory Science Policy Research Councils UK Manufacturing Physics ABPI Royal Society of Chemistry ABPI Cavendish Laboratory Academy of Medical Sciences STFC AMSI C-Tech Innovation Biochemical Society EPSRC EPSRC Biosciences Federation Tropical Medicine London Metropolitan Polymer Institute of Physics British Association for the Health Protection Agency Centre National Physical Laboratory Advancement of Science Society for General Microbiology National Physical Laboratory STFC The British Ecological Society SCI British Nutrition Foundation Viruses Pollution and Waste British Pharmacological Society ABPI Materials ABPI CABI Health Protection Agency C-Tech Innovation AMSI Clifton Scientific Trust Society for General Microbiology EPSRC C-Tech Innovation Economic and Social Research London Metropolitan Polymer Institution of Chemical Engineers Council Water Centre Institution of Civil Engineers EPSRC AMSI National Physical Laboratory London Metropolitan Polymer The Engineering and Technology Campden & Chorleywood Food Royal Society of Chemistry Centre Board Research Association STFC National Physical Laboratory HFEA C-Tech Innovation Natural Environment Research Institute of Biology Freshwater Biological Association Medical and Biomedical Research Council Institute of Physics Institute of Biology ABPI Newcastle University Institution of Chemical Engineers Institution of Chemical Engineers Academy of Medical Sciences Plymouth Marine Sciences LGC Institution of Civil Engineers Biochemical Society Partnership Lilly LGC British Pharmacological Society Medical Research Council Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership British Society for Antimicrobial Psychology NESTA Royal Society of Chemistry Chemotherapy British Psychological Society National Physical Laboratory SCI CABI Plymouth Marine Sciences Society for General Microbiology HFEA Public Policy Partnership Institute of Biology Biosciences Federation Prospect Wildlife Lilly British Nutrition Foundation Research Councils UK Biosciences Federation Medical Research Council British Society for Antimicrobial Royal Academy of Engineering The British Ecological Society Merck Sharp & Dohme Chemotherapy Royal Institution Institute of Biology Newcastle University Economic and Social Research The Royal Society Natural England Plymouth Marine Sciences Council Royal Society of Chemistry Natural History Museum Partnership The Engineering and Technology Semta UFAW UFAW Board STFC HFEA UFAW Motor Vehicles Institute of Biology London Metropolitan Polymer NESTA Seed Protection Centre Prospect CABI Semta Public Understanding of Science Sensors and Transducers Oceanography Academy of Medical Sciences AMSI AMSI Biochemical Society C-Tech Innovation National Physical Laboratory British Association for the STFC

56 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Research Councils UK Arts Contact: Alun Roberts and Communications Manager Research Councils UK Humanities Polaris House Research Council North Star Avenue Contact: Jake Gilmore Swindon SN2 1ET Communications Manager AHRC, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, Tel: 01793 444474 BS1 2AE E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 0117 9876500 Website: www.rcuk.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ahrc.ac.uk Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research covering the full spectrum of Each year the AHRC provides approximately academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and £100 million from the Government to support engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and humanities. research and postgraduate study in the arts and Research Councils UK is the strategic partnerships of the seven Research Councils. It aims to: humanities, from archaeology and English literature to dance and design. Awards are made • increase the collective visibility, leadership and influence of the Research Councils for the benefit after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure of the UK; that only applications of the highest quality are • lead in shaping the overall portfolio of research funded by the Research Councils to maximise the funded. The quality and range of research excellence and impact of UK research, and help to ensure that the UK gets the best value for supported by this investment of public funds money from its investment; not only provides social and cultural benefits • ensure joined up operations between the Research Councils to achieve its goals and improve but also contributes to the economic success of services to the communities it sponsors and works with. the UK.

Biotechnology Economic and Engineering and Biological Social Research and Physical Sciences Council Sciences Contact: Lesley Lilley, Senior Policy Manager, Research Council Knowledge Transfer, Research Council Contact: Jenny Whitehouse, Economic and Social Research Council, Public Affairs Mamager, Contact: Dr Monica Winstanley Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Head of External Relations Swindon SN2 1UJ EPSRC, Polaris House, BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue Tel: 01793 413033 Fax 01793 413130 North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ET Swindon SN2 1UH. Tel: 01793 413204 [email protected] Tel: 01793 442892 Fax: 01793 444005 E-mail: [email protected] http://www.esrc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.bbsrc.ac.uk The ESRC is the UK’s leading research and training Website:www.epsrc.ac.uk The BBSRC is the UK’s leading funding agency for agency addressing economic and social concerns. We EPSRC invests more than £740 million a year in academic research in the non-medical life sciences and pursue excellence in social science research; work to research and postgraduate training in the physical is funded principally through the Government’s increase the impact of our research policy and sciences and engineering, to help the nation handle Science Budget. It supports staff in universities and practice; and provide trained social scientists who the next generation of technological change. The research institutes throughout the UK, and funds basic meet the needs of users and beneficiaries, thereby areas covered range from mathematics to materials and strategic science in: agri-food, animal sciences, contributing to the economic competitiveness of the science, and information technology to structural biomolecular sciences, biochemistry and cell biology, United Kingdom, the effectiveness of public services engineering. engineering and biological systems, genes and and policy, and quality of life. The ESRC is We also actively promote public engagement with developmental biology, and plant and microbial independent, established by Royal Charter in 1965, science and engineering, and we collaborate with a sciences. and funded mainly by government. wide range of organisations in this area.

Medical Natural Science & Research Environment Technology Research Council Facilities Council Council Contact: Judy Parker Head of Communications Contact: Nigel Calvin Contact: Simon Wilde STFC 20 Park Crescent, London W1B 1AL. Polaris House, North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1EU Polaris House Tel: 020 7636 5422 Fax: 020 7436 2665 Tel: 01793 411646 Fax: 01793 411510 North Star Avenue E-mail: E-mail: [email protected] Swindon SN2 1SZ [email protected] Tel: 01793 44 2176 Fax: 01793 44 2125 Website: www.nerc.ac.uk Website: www.mrc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] The UK’s Natural Environment Research Council Website: www.stfc.ac.uk The Medical Research Council (MRC) is funds and carries out impartial scientific research funded by the UK taxpayer. We are in the sciences of the environment. NERC trains Formed by Royal Charter in 2007, the Science and independent of Government, but work closely the next generation of independent environmental Technology Facilities Council is one of Europe's largest with the Health Departments, the National scientists. multidisciplinary research organisations supporting Health Service and industry to ensure that the scientists and engineers world-wide. The Council research we support takes account of the NERC funds research in universities and in a operates world-class, large-scale research facilities and public’s needs as well as being of excellent network of its own centres, which include: provides strategic advice to the UK Government on scientific quality. As a result, MRC-funded their development. It also manages international research has led to some of the most British Antarctic Survey, British Geological Survey, research projects in support of a broad cross-section of significant discoveries in medical science and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, National the UK research community. The Council also directs, benefited millions of people, both in the UK Oceanography Centre and co-ordinates and funds research, education and and worldwide. Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory training.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 57 Association Association of the British of Marine Pharmaceutical Scientific Industries Industry Contact: Karen Gray, Secretary Contact: Mrs Mary Manning, Executive Director Contact: Dr Philip Wright Association of Marine Scientific Industries Director of Science & Technology 4th Floor, 30 Great Guildford Street Academy of Medical Sciences 12 Whitehall, London SW1A 2DY London SE1 0HS 10 Carlton House Terrace Tel: 020 7747 1408 Tel: 020 7928 9199 Fax: 020 7928 6599 London SW1Y 5AH Fax: 020 7747 1417 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7969 5288 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.maritimeindustries.org Website: www.abpi.org.uk Fax: 020 7969 5298 The Association of Marine Scientific Industries E-mail: [email protected] The ABPI is the voice of the innovative (AMSI) is a constituent association of the Society Website: www.acmedsci.ac.uk pharmaceutical industry, working with Government, of Maritime Industries (SMI) representing regulators and other stakeholders to promote a receptive environment for a strong and progressive companies in the marine science and technology The Academy of Medical Sciences promotes industry in the UK, one capable of providing the best sector, otherwise known as the oceanology sector. advances in medical science and campaigns to medicines to patients. The marine science sector has an increasingly ensure these are converted into healthcare The ABPI’s mission is to represent the pharmaceutical important role to play both in the UK and globally, benefits for society. The Academy’s Fellows are industry operating in the UK in a way that: particularly in relation to the environment, ● the United Kingdom’s leading medical scientists assures patient access to the best available security and defence, resource exploitation, and medicine; and scholars from hospitals, academia, industry leisure. AMSI represents manufacturers, ● creates a favourable political and economic and the public service. The Academy provides environment; researchers, and system suppliers providing a co- independent, authoritative advice on public ● encourages innovative research and development; ordinated voice and enabling members to project ● affords fair commercial returns their views and capabilities to a wide audience. policy issues in medical science and healthcare.

AIRTO Biochemical

Contact: Professor Richard Brook Society Contact: Dr Richard Dyer, Chief Executive AIRTO Ltd: Association of Independent Biosciences Federation Research & Technology Organisations Limited Contact: Dr Chris Kirk PO Box 502, Cambridge, CB1 0AL c/o CCFRA, Station Road, Chipping Campden, Chief Executive, Gloucestershire GL55 6LD. Tel: 01223 400181 16 Procter Street, London WC1V 6NX Tel: 01386 842247 Fax: 01223 246858 Tel: 020 7280 4133 Fax: 020 7280 4170 Fax: 01386 842010 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.airto.co.uk Website: www.biochemistry.org Website: www.bsf.ac.uk AIRTO represents the UK’s independent The Biochemical Society exists to promote and support research and technology sector - member the Molecular and Cellular Biosciences. We have nearly The Biosciences Federation is a single organisations employ a combined staff of over 6000 members in the UK and abroad, mostly research authority representing the UK’s biological 20,000 scientists and engineers with a bioscientists in Universities or in Industry. The Society expertise. The BSF directly represents 51 turnover in the region of £1.5 billion. Work is also a major scientific publisher. In addition, we bioscience organisations, and contributes promote Science Policy debate and provide resources, carried out by members includes research, to the development of policy and strategy for teachers and pupils, to support the bioscience consultancy, training and global information in biology-based research – including curriculum in schools. Our membership supports our funding and the interface with other monitoring. AIRTO promotes their work by mission by organizing scientific meetings, sustaining building closer links between members and disciplines – and in school and university our publications through authorship and peer review teaching by providing independent industry, academia, UK government agencies and by supporting our educational and policy opinion to government. and the European Union. initiatives.

British The British British Association Ecological Nutrition Society for the Advancement Foundation Contact: Ceri Margerison, Policy Officer British Ecological Society Contact: Professor Judy Buttriss, of Science - the BA 26 Blades Court, Deodar Road, Putney, Contact: Sir Roland Jackson Bt, Chief Executive London, SW15 2NU Director General The BA, Wellcome Wolfson Building, Tel: 020 8877 0740 Fax : 020 8871 9779 52-54 High Holborn, London WC1V 6RQ Website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org 165 Queen’s Gate, London SW7 5HD. Ecology into Policy Blog Tel: 020 7404 6504 E-mail: [email protected] http://ecologyandpolicy.blogspot.com/ Fax: 020 7404 6747 Website: www.the-BA.net Email: [email protected] The BA (British Association for the Advancement of The British Ecological Society’s mission is to Website: www.nutrition.org.uk Science) exists to advance the public understanding, advance ecology and make it count. The Society accessibility and accountability of the sciences and has 4,000 members worldwide. The BES 2007 was the 40th Anniversary of the engineering. The BA aims to promote openness about publishes four internationally renowned British Nutrition Foundation. This scientific science in society and to engage and inspire people directly scientific journals and organises the largest and educational charity promotes the well- with science and technology and their implications. scientific meeting for ecologists in Europe. Established in 1831, the BA is a registered charity which Through its grants, the BES also supports being of society through the impartial organises major initiatives across the UK, including the ecologists in developing countries and the interpretation and effective dissemination of annual BA Festival of Science, National Science and provision of fieldwork in Schools. The BES scientifically based knowledge and advice Engineering Week, programmes of regional and local informs and advises Parliament and Government on the relationship between diet, physical events, and the CREST programme for young people in on ecological issues and welcomes requests for activity and health. schools and colleges. assistance from parliamentarians.

58 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 British Society The for Antimicrobial British Chemotherapy

Contact: Kate Baillie Psychological Society Contact: Tracey Guest, Executive Officer Chief Executive British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Contact: Dr Ana Padilla British Pharmacological Society 11 The Wharf, 16 Bridge Street, 16 Angel Gate, City Road Parliamentary Officer Birmingham B1 2JS. London EC1V 2PT The British Psychological Society Tel: 020 7417 0113 30 Tabernacle Street Tel: 0121 633 0410 Fax: 020 7417 0114 London EC2A 4UE Fax: 0121 643 9497 Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7330 0893 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.bps.ac.uk Fax: 020 7330 0896 Website: www.bsac.org.uk The British Pharmacological Society has now been Email: [email protected] Founded in 1971, and with 800 members supporting pharmacology and pharmacologists Website: www.bps.org.uk worldwide, the Society exists to facilitate the for over 75 years. Our 2,000+ members, from acquisition and dissemination of knowledge in The British Psychological Society is an academia, industry and clinical practice, are the field of antimicrobial chemotherapy. The organisation of over 45,000 members governed trained to study drug action from the laboratory Journal of Antimicrobial by Royal Charter. It maintains the Register of BSAC publishes the bench to the patient’s bedside. Our aim is to Chemotherapy (JAC), internationally renowned for improve the quality of life by developing new Chartered Psychologists, publishes books, 10 primary science Journals and organises its scientific excellence, undertakes a range of medicines to treat and prevent the diseases and educational activities, awards grants for research conditions that affect millions of people and conferences. Requests for information about and has active relationships with its peer groups animals. Inquiries about drugs and how they psychology and psychologists from work are welcome. parliamentarians are welcome. and government.

British Campden & Veterinary Chorleywood Association CABI Food Research Contact:Chrissie Nicholls Contact: Dr Joan Kelley, 7 Mansfield Street, London W1G 9NQ Executive Director Bioservices, CABI Association Tel: 020 7908 6340 Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey TW20 9TY Contact: Prof Colin Dennis, Director-General E-mail:[email protected] Tel: 01491 829306 Fax: 01491 829100 CCFRA, Chipping Campden, www.bva.co.uk Email: [email protected] Gloucestershire GL55 6LD. Tel: 01386 842000 Fax: 01386 842100 BVA’s chief interests are: Website: www.cabi.org E-mail: [email protected] * Standards of animal health Website: www.campden.co.uk * Veterinary surgeons’ working practices CABI is an international not for profit An independent, membership-based industrial research organization, specialising in scientific * Professional standards and quality of service association providing substantial R&D, processing, publishing, research and communication. Our analytical, hygiene, best practice, training, auditing and * Relationships with external bodies, particularly mission is to improve peoples’ lives worldwide HACCP services for the food chain worldwide. government by finding sustainable solutions to agricultural Members include growers, processors, retailers, BVA carries out three main functions which are: caterers, distributors, machinery manufacturers, and environmental issues. Activities range from government departments and enforcement authorities. * Policy development in areas affecting the assisting national policy makers and informing Employs over 300; serves over 2,000 member sites; profession worldwide research to supporting income poor and has a subsidiary company in Hungary. Activities * Protecting and promoting the profession in farmers. We also house and manage the UK’s focus on safety, quality, efficiency and innovation. matters propounded by government and other National Collection of Fungus Cultures which Participates in DTI’s Faraday Partnerships and external bodies we are exploring for potential new drugs, collaborates with universities on LINK projects and studentships, transferring practical knowledge * Provision of services to members enzymes and nutraceuticals. between industry and academia.

Cavendish Chartered Clifton Laboratory Institute of Scientific

The Administrative Secretary, The Cavendish Laboratory, Patent Attorneys Trust J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. Contact: Michael Ralph - Contact: Dr Eric Albone E-mail: [email protected] Secretary & Registrar Clifton Scientific Trust http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys 49 Northumberland Road, Bristol BS6 7BA The Cavendish Laboratory houses the Department of Physics of 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT Tel: 0117 924 7664 Fax: 0117 924 7664 the University of Cambridge. Tel: 020 7405 9450 E-mail: [email protected] Its world-class research is focused in a number of experimental Fax: 020 7430 0471 Website: www.clifton-scientific.org and theoretical diverse fields. E-mail: [email protected] Science for Citizenship and Employability, Astrophysics: Millimetre astronomy, optical interferometry Website: www.cipa.org.uk Science for Life, Science for Real observations & instrumentation. Astrophysics, geometric CIPA’s members practise in intellectual property, We build grass-roots partnerships between algebra, maximum entropy, neutral networks. especially patents, trade marks, designs, and school and the wider world of professional High Energy Physics: LHC experiments. Detector copyright, either in private partnerships or science and its applications development. Particle physics theory. industrial companies. CIPA maintains the • for young people of all ages and abilities Condensed Matter Physics: Semiconductor physics, quantum statutory Register. It advises government and • experiencing science as a creative, effect devices, nanolithography. Superconductivity, magnetic international circles on policy issues and questioning, human activity thin films. Optoelectronics, conducting polymers. Biological provides information services, promoting the • bringing school science added meaning and Soft Systems. Polymers and Colloids. Surface physics, fracture, benefits to UK industry of obtaining IP notivation, from primary to post-16 wear & erosion. Amorphous solids. Electron microscopy. protection, and to overseas industry of using Electronic structure theory & computation. Structural phase • locally, nationally, internationally (currently British attorneys to obtain international between Britain and Japan) transitions, fractals, quantum Monte Carlo calculations protection. Biological Physics. Quantum optics. Clifton Scientific Trust Ltd is registered charity 1086933

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 59 C-Tech The Freshwater Innovation Engineering Biological Limited and Technology Board Association Contact: Paul Radage Contact: Clare Cox Contact: Dr Michael Dobson, Director. Capenhurst Technology Park, 2nd Floor, Weston House Freshwater Biological Association, The Capenhurst, Chester, Cheshire CH1 6EH 246 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EX Ferry Landing, Far Sawrey, Ambleside, Tel: +44 (0) 151 347 2900 Tel: 020 3206 0434 Cumbria, LA22 0LP, UK. Fax: +44 (0) 151 347 2901 Fax: 020 3206 0401 Tel: 01539 442468 Fax: 01539 446914 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.fba.org.uk [email protected] Website: www.ctechinnovation.com Website: www.etechb.co.uk Registered Charity Number : 214440 An independent innovation and technology development organisation. Activities range from The Engineering and Technology Board (ETB) is contract and grant funded research to an independent organisation that promotes the The FBA welcomes collaboration with Government commercialisation of technology, exploitation of vital role of engineers, engineering and technology and Agencies. Founded in 1929 the Association intellectual property, multi-disciplinary in our society. The ETB partners business and promotes freshwater science through; innovative innovation consultancy and process and industry, Government and the wider science and research, serviced facilities, a programme of meetings, scientific publications, and sound product development. technology community: producing evidence on independent advice. The FBA houses one of the the state of engineering; sharing knowledge C-Tech now has almost 40 years experience of world’s finest freshwater information resources the management and delivery of major within engineering, and inspiring young people and is the custodian of long term data sets from technology and innovation based business to choose a career in engineering, matching sites of scientific significance. Membership is support projects both nationally and regionally. employers’ demand for skills. offered on an individual or corporate basis.

Health Human Institute Protection Fertilisation of Agency and Biology Contact: Justin McCracken, Chief Executive Health Protection Agency Central Office Embryology Contact: Prof Alan Malcolm, 7th Floor, Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn Chief Executive London WC1V 7PP Authority Tel: 020 7759 2700/2701 9 Red Lion Court, London EC4A 3EF Fax: 020 7759 2733 Tel: 020 7936 5900 Email: [email protected] Contact: Tim Whitaker Web: www.hpa.org.uk 21 Bloomsbury St Fax: 020 7936 5901 The Health Protection Agency is an independent London WC1B 3HF E-mail: [email protected] organisation dedicated to protecting people’s health in Tel: 020 7291 8200 Website: www.iob.org the United Kingdom. We do this by providing impartial Fax: 020 7291 8201 advice and authoritative information on health Email: [email protected] The biological sciences have truly come of protection uses to the public, to professionals and to government. Website: www.hfea.gov.uk age, and the Institute of Biology is the professional body to represent biology and We combine public health and scientific expertise, The HFEA is a non-departmental Government research and emergency planning within one biologists to all. A source of independent organisation. We work at international, national and body that regulates and inspects all UK clinics regional and local levels and have many links with many providing IVF, donor insemination or the advice to Government, a supporter of other organisations around the world. This means we can storage of eggs, sperm or embryos. The HFEA education, a measure of excellence and a respond quickly and effectively to new and existing also licenses and monitors all human embryo disseminator of information - the Institute national and global threats to health including infections, environmental hazards and emergencies. research being conducted in the UK. of Biology is the Voice of British Biology.

Institute of Physics and Contact: Public Relations Department 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Engineering Tel: 020 7470 4800 E-mail: [email protected] in Medicine Website: www.iop.org Contact: Robert Neilson, General Secretary ("FCK$
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60 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Institution Institution of of Civil Engineering The mission of Kew is to inspire and deliver Engineers science-based plant conservation worldwide, and Technology enhancing the quality of life. Kew is Contact: Graham Sibley, developing its breathing planet programme Group Head of Commumications, Contact: Tony Henderson with seven key activities: One Great George Street, Westminster, Institution of Engineering and Technology •creating global access to essential information London SW1P 3AA, UK Savoy Place, London WC2R 0BL •identifying species and regions most at risk Tel: 020 7344 8403 •helping implement global conservation Tel: 020 7665 2130 programmes Fax: 020 7222 0973 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.theiet.org •extending the Millennium Seed Bank’s global E-mail: [email protected] partnership Website: www.ice.org.uk •establishing a global network for restoration The Institution of Engineering and Technology ecology ICE aims to be a leading voice in infrastructure was formed in 2006 by the Institution of •identifying and growing locally appropriate issues. With over 75,000 members, ICE acts Electrical Engineers and the Institution of species in a changing climate as a knowledge exchange for all aspects of civil Incorporated Engineers. The IET has more than •using botanic gardens as shop-front engineering. As a Learned Society, the 150,000 members worldwide who work in a opportunities to inform and inspire Institution provides expertise, in the form of range of industries. The Institution aims to lead Contact: Prof Simon J. Owens Tel: 020 8332 5106 reports, evidence and comment, on a wide in the advancement of engineering and Fax: 020 8332 5109 range of subjects from energy generation and technology by facilitating the exchange of Email: [email protected] supply, to sustainability and the environment. knowledge and ideas at a local and global level Website: www.kew.org Two stunning gardens-devoted to building and and promoting best practice. sharing knowledge

LGC London Lilly and Metropolitan Company Queens Road, Teddington Polymer Centre Limited Middlesex, TW11 0LY Sir John Cass Department of Art, Media & Design Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 Contact: Dr Karin Briner, Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767 Contact: Alison Green, Managing Director, E-mail: [email protected] London Metropolitan University Eli Lilly & Company, Erl Wood Manor, Website: www.lgc.co.uk 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH Tel: 020 7133 2189 Tel: 01256 315000 LGC, a science service company, is Europe's leading Fax: 01276 483307 E-mail: [email protected] independent provider of analytical and diagnostic services E-mail:[email protected] and reference standards. LGC’s market-led divisions - LGC Website: www.polymers.org.uk Website:www.lilly.com or www.lilly.co.uk Forensics, Life & Food Sciences, Pharmaceutical & Chemical Services, Research & Technology and LGC The London Metropolitan Polymer Centre provides training, consultancy and applied research to the UK Lilly UK is the UK affiliate of major American Standards - operate in a diverse range of sectors for both pharmaceutical manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company public and private sector customers. polymer (plastics & rubber) industry. Recently, LMPC has merged with the Sir John Cass of Indianapolis. This affiliate is one of the UK's top Under arrangements for the office and function of the pharmaceutical companies with significant Department of Art, Media & Design (SJCAMD) to Government Chemist, LGC fulfils specific statutory duties investment in science and technology including a provide a broad perspective of materials science and and provides advice for Government and the wider neuroscience research and development centre and analytical community on the implications of analytical technology for the manufacturing and creative bulk biotechnology manufacturing operations. chemistry for matters of policy, standards and regulation. industries. SJCAMD contains Met Works, a unique LGC has its headquarters in Teddington, South West new Digital Manufacturing Centre, providing new Lilly medicines treat schizophrenia, diabetes, cancer, London, and other UK operations in Bury, Culham, technology for rapid prototyping and manufacture. osteoporosis, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Edinburgh, Leeds, Risley, Runcorn and Tamworth. It also The new department will offer short courses in erectile dysfunction, severe sepsis, depression, has facilities in France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, polymer innovation, print technology and bipolar disorder, heart disease and many other Sweden and India. silversmithing & jewellery. diseases.

Marks & The

Spencer Plc Merck Sharp & Dohme Research Laboratories National Contact: Contact: Dr Tim Sparey Endowment for David Gregory Licensing & External Research, Europe Science, Technology Waterside House Hertford Road 35 North Wharf Road and the Arts Hoddesdon London W2 1NW. Herts EN11 9BU Contact: Nicholas Bojas Tel: 020 8718 8247 Tel: 01992 452838 Head of Government Relations E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 01992 441907 1 Plough Place London EC4A1DE Main Business Activities e-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7438 2500 Retailer – Clothing, Food, Home and www.merck.com Fax: 020 7438 2501 Financial Services Email: [email protected] Merck Sharp & Dohme is a UK subsidiary of Website: www.nesta.org.uk We have around 760 stores in 33 Merck & Co Inc a global research-driven territories worldwide, employing pharmaceutical company dedicated to NESTA’s aim is to transform the UK’s capacity for putting patients first. Merck discovers, innovation. We work across the human, financial and the 75,000 people. policy dimensions of innovation. We invest in early stage develops, manufactures and markets companies, inform innovation policy and encourage a We offer our customers quality, value, vaccines and medicines in over 20 culture that helps innovation to flourish. The unique service and trust in our brand by therapeutic categories directly and through nature of our endowed funds means that we can take a its joint ventures. Our mission is to provide longer term view, and develop ambitious models to applying science and technology to stimulate and support innovation that others can develop innovative products and society with superior products and services by developing innovations and solutions replicate or adapt. NESTA works across disciplines, services. bringing together people and ideas from science, that improve the quality of life. technology and the creative industries.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 61 National Natural Natural Physical England History Museum Laboratory Contact: Dr Tom Tew Chief Scientist Contact: Joe Baker National Physical Laboratory Natural England External Relations Manager Hampton Road, Teddington Northminster House Natural History Museum Middlesex TW11 0LW Peterborough Cromwell Road London SW7 5BD Tel: 020 8943 6880 Fax: 020 8614 1446 PE1 1UA Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5478 Tel: 01733 455056 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5075 Fax: 01733 568834 Website: www.npl.co.uk E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.nhm.ac.uk The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the Website: www.naturalengland.org.uk United Kingdom’s national measurement institute, an internationally respected and Natural England has the responsibility to The Natural History Museum is the UK’s premier independent centre of excellence in research, enhance biodiversity, landscape and wildlife in institute for knowledge on the diversity of the development and knowledge transfer in rural, urban, coastal and marine areas; promote natural world, conducting scientific research of measurement and materials science. For more global impact and renown. We maintain and than a century, NPL has developed and access, recreation and public well-being, and develop the collections we care for and use them maintained the nation’s primary measurement contribute to the way natural resources are to promote the discovery, understanding, standards - the heart of an infrastructure managed so that they can be enjoyed now and designed to ensure accuracy, consistency and responsible use and enjoyment of the world innovation in physical measurement. by future generations. around us.

Newcastle The Nutrition University Society Contact: Dr Douglas Robertson Contact: Frederick Wentworth-Bowyer, PHARMAQ Ltd Chief Executive, The Nutrition Society, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU 10 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush Road Tel: 0191 222 5347 Fax: 0191 222 5219 London W6 7NJ Contact: Dr Lydia A Brown E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 0228 PHARMAQ Ltd Fax: +44 (0)20 7602 1756 Website: www.ncl.ac.uk Email: [email protected] Unit 15 Sandleheath Industrial Estate, Newcastle University has a well-balanced Founded in 1941, The Nutrition Society is the premier Fordingbridge scientific and professional body dedicated to advance portfolio of research funding with one of the the scientific study of nutrition and its application to the Hants SP6 1PA. highest levels of research projects funded by maintenance of human and animal health. Tel: 01425 656081 UK Government Departments, as well as a very Highly regarded by the scientific community, the Society is the largest learned society for nutrition in Europe. Fax: 01425 655309 significant portfolio of FP6 EU activity of more Membership is worldwide and is open to those with a E-mail: [email protected] than 140 projects involving some 1,800 genuine interest in the science of human or animal Website: www.pharmaq.no partners. A member of the Russell Group, nutrition. Principal activities include: http://www.pharmaq.co.uk/shop Newcastle University is committed to 1. Publishing internationally renowned scientific 'excellence with a purpose' - a commitment it is learned journals taking further through the development of 2. Promoting the education and training of nutritionists Veterinary pharmaceuticals specia- Newcastle Science City and as a partner in the 3. Promoting the highest standards of professional lising in aquatic veterinary products. competence and practice in nutrition N8 group of Northern research-intensive 4. Disseminating scientific information through its Fish vaccines, anaesthetics, antibiotics universities. publications and programme of scientific meetings and other products.

Plymouth Marine Prospect Sciences Contact: Sue Ferns, Partnership Prospect Head of Research and Specialist Contact: Liz Humphreys Services, New Prospect House 8 Leake St, London SE1 7NN Contact: Philip Greenish CBE, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill Tel: 020 7902 6639 Fax: 020 7902 6637 Chief Executive Plymouth PL1 2PB E-mail: [email protected] 3 Carlton House Terrace Tel: +44 (0)1752 633 234 www.prospect.org.uk London SW1Y 5DG Fax: +44 (0)1752 633 102 Prospect is an independent, thriving and Tel: 020 7766 0600 E-mail: [email protected] forward-looking trade union with 102,000 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.pmsp.org.uk members. We represent scientists, Website: www.raeng.org.uk technologists and other professions in the As Britain’s national academy for The Plymouth Marine Sciences Partnership civil service, research councils and private engineering, we bring together the country’s comprises six leading marine science and sector. most eminent engineers from all disciplines technology institutions representing one of the Prospect’s collective voice champions the to promote excellence in the science, art and largest regional clusters of expertise in marine interests of the engineering and scientific practice of engineering. Our strategic sciences, education, engineering and technology community to key opinion-formers and priorities are to enhance the UK’s in Europe. The mission of PMSP is to deliver policy makers. With negotiating rights with engineering capabilities; to celebrate world-class marine research and teaching, to over 300 employers, we seek to secure a excellence and inspire the next generation; advance knowledge, technology and better life at work by putting members’ pay, and to lead debate by guiding informed understanding of the seas. conditions and careers first. thinking and influencing public policy.

62 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 The Royal The Royal Institution Society The Royal Society Contact: Dr Gail Cardew Contact: Dr Peter Cotgreave Head of Programmes Director of Public Affairs The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace of Chemistry The Royal Institution London SW1Y 5AG. 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS Tel: 020 7451 2502 Fax: 020 7930 2170 Contact: Dr Stephen Benn Tel: 020 7409 2992 Fax: 020 7670 2920 Email: [email protected] Parliamentary Affairs E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rigb.org Website: www.royalsociety.org The Royal Society of Chemistry Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BA The core activities of the Royal Institution centre The Royal Society is the UK academy of science Tel: 020 7437 8656 Fax: 020 7734 1227 comprising 1400 outstanding individuals around four main themes: science research, E-Mail: [email protected] representing the sciences, engineering and Website: http://www.rsc.org education, communication and history. It acts as a medicine. As we prepare for our 350th anniversary unique forum for engaging people in scientific in 2010, our strategic priorities for our work at http://www.chemsoc.org debate, and has a UK-wide programme of informal national and international levels are to: The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned, · Invest in future scientific leaders and in innovation science learning and mathematics enrichment. The professional and scientific body of over 46,000 building has been closed for the last three years, · Influence policymaking with the best scientific members with a duty under its Royal Charter advice “to serve the public interest”. It is active in the and will open in summer 2008 when the public · Invigorate science and mathematics education areas of education and qualifications, science will have access to an extended museum, new · Increase access to the best science internationally policy, publishing, Europe, information and social spaces and upgraded facilities in the historic internet services, media relations, public lecture theatre. There will also be a new focus for · Inspire an interest in the joy, wonder and excitement of scientific discovery. understanding of science, advice and assistance the Davy Faraday Research Laboratories. to Parliament and Government.

The Royal Statistical Society Contact: Public Affairs Administrator Marlborough House, Basingstoke Road, Contact: Mr Andrew Garratt Contact: Dr David J Winstanley Spencers Wood, Reading RG7 1AG. Press and Public Affairs Officer Special Advisor for Science Tel: 0118 988 1843 Fax: 0118 988 5656 The Royal Statistical Society Semta, Wynyard Park House, E-mail: [email protected] 12 Errol Sreet, London EC1Y 8LX. Wynyard Park, Billingham, TS22 5TB Website: http//www.sgm.ac.uk Tel: +44 20 7614 3920 Tel: 01740 627021 Mobile: 07973 679 338 E-mail: [email protected] SGM is the largest microbiological society in Fax: +44 20 7614 3905 Website: www.semta.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Europe. The Society publishes four journals of Website: www.rss.org.uk Semta (Science, Engineering and Manufacturing international standing, and organises regular The RSS is a leading source of independent advice, Technologies Alliance) is the Sector Skills Council for the scientific meetings. science, engineering and manufacturing technology sectors. comment and discussion on statistical issues. It SGM also promotes education and careers in Our mission is to ensure that our industry partners have the plays a crucial role in promoting public microbiology, and it is committed to represent understanding of statistics and acts as an advocate knowledge and skills required to meet the challenges faced microbiology to government, the media and the for the interests of statisticians and users of by the workforce of the future. statistics. The Society actively contributes to Our sectors account for a significant proportion of the UK public. government consultations, Royal Commissions, economy. There are about 2 million people employed in An information service on microbiological issues parliamentary select committee inquiries, and to about 76,000 establishments in the core Science, concerning aspects of medicine, agriculture, the legislative process, most notably during the Engineering and Technology sectors, and currently passage of the Statistics and Registration Service contributes over £74 billion per annum – about ten per cent food safety, biotechnology and the environment Act 2007. – of total UK GDP. is available on request.

Society of Society of Universities Chemical Cosmetic Federation Industry Scientists for Animal Welfare

Contact: Andrew Ladds, Contact: Lorna Weston, Contact: Dr James Kirkwood, Chief Executive Secretary General Scientific Director SCI International Headquarters Society of Cosmetic Scientists The Old School, Brewhouse Hill 14-15 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8PS G T House, 24-26 Rothesay Road, Luton, Beds Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN. Tel: 020 7598 1500 Fax: 020 7598 1545 LU1 1QX Tel: 01582 831818. Fax: 01582 831414. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01582 726661 Email: [email protected] Website: www.soci.org Fax: 01582 405217 Website: www.ufaw.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] SCI is an interdisciplinary network for science, Registered Charity No: 207996 Website: www.scs.org.uk commerce and industry. SCI attracts forward- UFAW is an internationally-recognized independent thinking people in the process and materials Advancing the science of cosmetics is the primary scientific and educational animal welfare charity. It technologies and in the biotechnology, energy, objective of the SCS. Cosmetic science covers a wide works to improve animal lives by: water, agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, range of disciplines from organic and physical • supporting animal welfare research. construction, and environmental protection sectors chemistry to biology and photo-biology, dermatology, • educating and raising awareness of welfare worldwide. Members exchange ideas and gain microbiology, physical sciences and psychology. issues in the UK and overseas. new perspectives on markets, technologies, Members are scientists and the SCS helps them • producing the leading journal Animal Welfare and strategies and people, through electronic and progress their careers and the science of cosmetics other high-quality publications on animal care physical specialist conferences and debates, and ethically and responsibly. Services include and welfare. our published journals , books and the respected publications, educational courses and scientific • providing expert advice to government magazine Chemistry & Industry. meetings. departments and other concerned bodies.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 63 The Royal Institution Wednesday 16 July 19.00 The science of beer Science The Royal Institution’s lecture theatre Alex Bell has reopened, and the rest of its refurbished building will open in Thursday 24 July 19.00 September 2008. All events take place Thousand mile song Diary at the Royal Institution unless David Rothenberg otherwise stated. See www.rigb.org or ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– telephone The Parliamentary and 020 7409 2992 for full details and to The Royal Society Scientific Committee book tickets. The Royal Society runs a series of Contact: Annabel Lloyd Wednesday 21 May 19.00 events, both evening lectures and two 020 7222 7085: How to win the Nobel Prize day discussion meetings, on topics [email protected] Dr Tim Hunt covering the whole breadth of science, www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Monday 2 June 19.00 engineering and technology. All the Feast events are free to attend and open to Tuesday 13 May 08.30 all. Biosimilar Medicines Prof Martin Jones Speakers: Dr Antonio Pagliuca, Wednesday 4 June 19.00 Highlights in the next few months Consultant Haematologist, Kings The culinary alchemist include: College Hospital Heston Blumenthal Mr Michael Summers, Vice Chairman, Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 June 2008 (all The Patients Association Thursday 5 June 20.00 day) Breakfast Briefing Close encounters of the third kind Synthetic biology Film screening Tuesday 20 May 17.30 Monday 30 June – Thursday 3 July Chemicals in Food, Water and Sunday 8 June 18.00 Summer Science Exhibition 2008 Consumer Products Engineering the gold Opening times: Speakers: Professor David Coggon, Prof Kristan Bromley, Dr David James Monday 30 June 6-9pm Chairman, Committee on Toxicity of and Dr Martin Strangwood Tuesday 1 July 10am-9pm Chemicals in Food, Consumer Town Hall, Cheltenham Wednesday 2 July 10am-4.30pm Products and the Environment Monday 9 June 19.00 Thursday 3 July 10am-4.30pm Dr Kerr Wilson, Chief Executive, The fiction lab The exhibition is FREE to attend and Pesticides Safety Directorate open to all. Gwynne Lyons, Director, Chemicals, Tuesday 10 June 19.00 Health and Environment Monitoring Under my skin Please see royalsociety.org /events for (CHEM) Trust Nick Percival and Philip Sykes the full events programme, more Wednesday 11 June 18.00 details about the above highlights and Tuesday 17 June 17.30 web casts of past events. Emergent Human Diseases: Allergies, Peak performance Autism and ME Dr Hugh Montgomery ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Speakers: Professor the Baroness Monday 16 June 19.00 Finlay of Llandaff, Chairman, House of People in space: the big debate The Royal Academy of Lords Select Committee Enquiry into Dr Philip Ball and Dr Kevin Fong Engineering Allergies Monday 23 June 20.00 3 Carlton House Terrace, London Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, SW1Y 5DG Director, Autism Research Centre, In the shadow of the moon Film screening www.raeng.org.uk/events or Cambridge [email protected] Sir Peter Spencer KCB, Chief Tuesday 24 June 19.00 020 7766 0600 Executive, Action for ME Technology ace Tom Allen and Dr David James ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Tuesday 1 July 08.30 Defence Science Monday 30 June 19.00 Breakfast Briefing Trust in me? Royal Society of Edinburgh Prof Bill Durodie, Dr Dominic Johnson 22-26 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 Tuesday 15 July 17.30 and Marek Kohn 2PQ. Towards 2020 Science and the Tel: 0131 240 5000 Fax: 0131 240 European Science Initiative Thursday 3 July 20.00 5024 Speakers: Dr Andrew Herbert FREng, Forbidden planet [email protected] Managing Director and a Microsoft Film screening www.royalsoced.org.uk All events require registration and, Distinguished Engineer, and Professor Saturday 5 July drop in between 11.00 and Stephen Emmott, Director, unless otherwise indicated, take place 16.00 at the RSE. Computational Science & Head of Family fun day Computational Biology, Microsoft Monday 9 June 17.30 Research, Cambridge Thursday 10 July 19.00 Elegant solutions Electropalatography in the analysis of ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Dr Philip Ball Tongue Dynamics During Normal and Disordered Speech Monday 14 July 19.00 Professor William J Hardcastle FBA The fiction lab FRSE

64 Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 Monday 30 June 18.00 Structures and Granular Solids Professor J Michael Rotter FREng FRSE FICE FIStructE FASCE FIEAust Tuesday 1 - Wednesday 2 July Full Day(s) Structures and Granular Solids - Conference –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Contact: [email protected] www.rpsgb.org Events are held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, Officers of the Parliamentary London & Scientific Committee Wednesday 4 June 10.00-16.30 President: The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin Pharmacogenetics in Context of Roding A joint symposium of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Chairman: Dr Douglas Naysmith MP Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Deputy Chairmen: Dr Desmond Turner MP Held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Mr Robert Key MP Thursday 12 June 10.00-16.30 Hon Treasurer: Dr Ian Gibson MP Combating Counterfeit Medicines Hon Secretaries: Dr Evan Harris MP Joint Pharmaceutical Analysis Group Held at King’s College London –Waterloo campus Mr Robert Goodwill MP Vice-Presidents: Dr Brian Iddon MP Monday 30 June 09.15-16.55 Dr David Dent Ophthalmic Drug Delivery: What is currently available and where are Professor Peter Saunders we going? A joint symposium of the Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Mr Andrew Miller MP Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Mr Philip Greenish CBE Held at the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain Mr Robert Freer ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Mr Ian Taylor MBE MP Professor Julia King Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining (IOM3) CBE FREng 1 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5DB Advisory Panel: Professor Alan Malcolm Mr Paul Ridout Thursday 12 June New Materials and Processes in Jewellery Dr Robert Kirby-Harris Part of Coutts London Jewellery Week Secretariat: Professor Peter Simpson www.iom3.org/events/jewellery Mrs Annabel Lloyd Monday 23 June Materials in Armour Science in Parliament www.iom3.org/events/armour 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ Tel: 020 7222 7085 Fax: 020 7222 7189 Monday 30 June Boost Your Career in Science and Engineering Editor: www.iom3.org/events/boost Professor Peter Simpson Editorial Assistant: Mrs Annabel Lloyd ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Tuesday 17 – Wednesday 18 June Editorial/Management Board: International Ocean Stewardship Forum 2008 Dr Brian Iddon MP (Chairman) A forum facilitating the effective integration of marine science, policy and Mr Robert Freer law within ocean governance. Dr Ashok Kumar MP National Oceanography Centre, Southampton, UK www.oceanstewardship.com Professor Alan Malcolm Further information: [email protected] or 01453 839228 Mr Andrew Miller MP Dr Douglas Naysmith MP The Lord Soulsby of Swaffham Prior

SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT Published by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Published four times a year. The 2008 subscription rate is £66.80. Single numbers £16.70 ISSN 0263-6271 All enquiries, including those from members wishing to take the front or back covers, advertise in the journal or appear in the directory to Mrs Annabel Lloyd, Tel 020 7222 7085 Copyright ©2008 by Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. All rights reserved. None of the articles in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Typeset and printed by The Bridge Press.

Science in Parliament Vol 65 No 2 Whitsun 2008 65 PARLIAMENTARY LINKS DAY 2008

Tuesday 24 June Attlee Suite Portcullis House House of Commons 10.30am – 12.45pm

The Royal Society of Chemistry organises Parliamentary Links Day on behalf of the scientific and engineering community. Links Day is the largest science event on the annual calendar of Parliament. Attendance is free.

Putting Science at the Heart of Parliament

For further details Contact Julie Smart [email protected]