SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT

The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee – All-Party Parliamentary SPRING 2020 Group sip

This is not an official publication of the House of Commons or the House of Lords. It has not been approved by either House or its THE POWER OF Committees. All-Party Groups are informal groups of members of both Houses with a common interest in INNOVATION particular issues. The views expressed in this Journal are those of the Group. This Journal is funded by the members of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (All-Party Parliamentary Group). CAN... STEM FOR BRITAIN 2020 SEE SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGES 24-37

WINNERS ALL!

Mathematical Sciences and Physical Sciences (Chemistry and Physics) Exhibitions Florence Gregson (Gold, Chemistry); Gemma Smith (Bronze, Chemistry); Fabienne Bachtiger (Silver, Chemistry); Damian Galante (Bronze, Maths); Maeve Madigan (Bronze, Physics); Luisa Mihaela Paun (Gold, Maths); Graham Bruce (Silver, Physics); Adrien Lefauve (Silver, Maths); Lui Terry (Gold, Physics), joined at the back by Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chairman, STEM for Britain and Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee,

Biomedical and Biological Sciences and Engineering Exhibitions Sarah Houston (Gold, Biosciences and Westminster Medal Winner); Karolina Tuomela (Silver, Biosciences); Benjamin Fletcher (IEEE Communications Society Prize, Engineering); Ted Roberts (Bronze, Biosciences); Benjamin Cerfontaine (Bronze, Engineering); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chairman, STEM for Britain; Tomas Ysehak Abay (Gold, Engineering); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Elisa Roccia (Silver, Engineering); Egzona Morina (The Physiological Society Prize, Biosciences); Andres Rivero Bracho (The Dyson Award); and George Firth (The Nutrition Society Prize, Biosciences) aspects of the COVID-19 crisis As ever, STEM for Britain would that we will need to think not have been possible without SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT through and learn from. the help of all the major Learned As we look forward we can take Societies involved in its heart from the fact that the organisation, and those who public and Parliamentary generously supported the event appreciation of science and including the Clay Mathematics technology has grown greatly Institute, Warwick Manufacturing sip over these past difficult weeks Group, UK Research and Innovation, Dyson Ltd, and we should take the The Journal of the Parliamentary and opportunity to breathe new life Biotherapy Services Ltd, the Scientific Committee (All-Party Parliamentary Group). Stephen Metcalfe MP into the work and activity of the Institute of Biomedical Science, Chairman, Parliamentary & Scientific P&SC. the Heilbronn Institute for Committee (All-Party Parliamentary Mathematical Research, The Group) If there is one lesson we can all Physiological Society, the agree on it is that science and Nutrition Society, the Biochemical technology has never been more Society, IEEE Communications vital to the life of the country and Society, the Comino Foundation Welcome to Spring 2020 the planet. and the Society for Chemical edition of Science in It seems quite some time ago Industry. I thank them all, Parliament now, but on the 9th March I was together with the competition It is a matter of great frustration delighted to once again host Judges and the STEM Organising that at the very time when STEM for Britain and welcome Team. Parliament is most interested in early career researchers from In addition to our feature on – and most needs – access to universities and research STEM for Britain, we have a scientific expertise, advice and institutions from around the Science in Parliament has two main wonderful series of articles for objectives: discussion the Coronavirus Crisis country to Westminster. This you in this issue, and I am very 1. to inform the scientific and has closed down normal annual competition is an grateful to each of our industrial communities of activities Parliamentary life and hence important date in the distinguished contributors for within Parliament of a scientific parliamentary calendar as it gives nature and of the progress of prevented the Parliamentary & sparing the time, particularly in relevant legislation; MPs an opportunity to speak Scientific Committee from the current situation, to bring us 2. to keep Members of Parliament meeting. directly to a wide range of the the benefit of their expertise and abreast of scientific affairs. UK’s best young researchers. This is a matter of great regret to experience on a variety of topics, These early career engineers, including COVID-19, smart me as Chair not least because mathematicians and scientists energy, acoustics, mathematical our recent meetings over the are the architects of our future data, cancer research, and past few months have been and STEM for Britain is the best innovation. packed to the hilt and we have opportunity for politicians meet had some excellent them and understand their work. Stay safe and well. presentations and discussions. I am pleased to say that over 70 We have many more planned – parliamentary colleagues were and that will undoubtedly feature present at this year’s event. CONTENTS The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee (All-Party Parliamentary Group). CORONAVIRUS 2 UNLOCKING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF Professor Arne Akbar WITH AI 14 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST) 41 Maria McKavanagh THE POWER OF INNOVATION CAN… 4 HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEES 42 Professor Sa’ad Sam Medhat CAN THE OFFSHORE ENERGY SECTOR BE TRANSFORMED TO HELP THE UK BECOME A HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY 43 SCIENCE IS CHALLENGING CANCER USING THE NET-ZERO NATION? 16 SCIENCE DIRECTORY 44 UK’S SYNCHROTRON 6 Gioia Falcone Lorna Campbell SCIENCE DIARY 53 THE SKILLS GAP – RECRUITMENT INTO THE MATHEMATICS, NUMBERS AND DATA IN DAILY ACOUSTICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY 21 LIFE: A HIDDEN CRISIS AT THE BASE OF THE Professor Chris Barlow PYRAMID 9 Professor Chris Linton STEM FOR BRITAIN 2020 24 SMART ENERGY: THINKING ABOUT OUTCOMES, NOISE, SOUND AND ACOUSTICS DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PEOPLE 11 AN OVERVIEW AND CURRENT POLICY Rebecca Ford CHALLENGES 38 Stephen Turner

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 1 CORONAVIRUS It is impossible today to be unaware of the Coronavirus pandemic that has swept across the world since the beginning of 2020. Just over one hundred years on from the ‘Spanish flu’ of 1918-1920, the world faces similar challenges from the COVID-19 disease at a time when we enjoy much more advanced medical treatments and practices but have also enabled the spread of the disease through greater global connectivity.

SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that samples from hospitalised disease, preventing its causes the disease, COVID-19. patients were analysed at the transmission through that Professor Arne Akbar The coronavirus family includes Wuhan Institute of Virology population. This can be achieved President of the British Society for Immunology and Professor of a number of viruses which cause where the virus was later either through vaccination or Immunology at UCL a range of illnesses from the isolated and identified as a novel when enough people in the common cold to the Severe coronavirus. China officially population have built up Acute Respiratory Syndrome notified the WHO of cases of antibodies by fighting the (SARS) epidemic in 2002. There pneumonia with an unknown pathogen directly. However, this are also hundreds of other aetiology on 31 December. latter strategy only works to strains of Coronaviruses which reduce serious disease if, when Spread of the virus has been infect non-human species, building that immunity, rapid. The first COVID-19 case notably bats. Like humans, bats vulnerable individuals are outside China was announced in live in close quarters, so easily protected from contracting the South Korea on 8 January. By 31 spread pathogens between each virus. If not, the consequences January, the first UK case was other, and as humans begin to could be severe. As SARS-CoV-2 confirmed. Four weeks later, on encroach on their habitats, this is a novel virus in humans, it is makes cross-species 28 February, we documented not yet known how long the transmission a particular risk. the first case of infection immunity built up would last for. Whilst the genetic makeup of transmitted within the UK; all Some other viruses in the SARS-CoV-2 points towards the previous cases had been Coronavirus family that cause original virus being bat-borne, infected abroad. Within one common colds build immunity evidence suggests that it may month, there had been over that only lasts for a few months, have been transmitted to 22,000 cases and 1,408 deaths but this may be related to their 2 humans via an intermediate in the UK . During this time, co-evolution with the human species 1. In 2016, following the other regional epicentres of immune system. Given the Ebola epidemic, the World disease have emerged, uncertainty of the characteristics Health Organization (WHO) noticeably Italy, Spain and the of this novel virus and how it identified the SARSr-COV virus USA. In mid-March, the UK would interact with the human family as having potential for a Government began to shepherd immune system, the current future epidemic and the largest expansion of state strategy which will allow herd recommended research into power outside of wartime immunity to be built up slowly diagnostic tests, vaccines and through Parliament, legislating to together with avoiding exposure medicines. restrict the movement of the UK of overly vulnerable parts of the population and ensure they population, such as the elderly The origin of the novel remained at home except for or the immunocompromised, is Coronavirus is Wuhan in China, essential work, exercise, or to be welcomed. with a population of over 11 shopping for food or medicine. million people. The first This new strategy includes a confirmed case was recorded on This came as the Government ‘delay’ phase to slow the spread 1 December 2019, but it is moved away from a policy of of COVID-19 after containment speculated that the real first case building herd immunity. Herd measures were no longer might have been contracted immunity occurs when a large feasible. This was aimed at earlier in November 2019. Once proportion of the population is lowering the peak impact and more cases were discovered, protected against a particular push it away from the winter

2 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 season in order to prevent the UKRI, has begun advertising for into vaccines. No vaccine made widespread manufacture of a NHS from becoming human volunteers for trials. It will from genetic material has yet vaccine. In 2018, the overwhelmed. The delay also use an adenovirus vaccine been successfully approved for Government announced the buys time for research to better vector, which was chosen as the human use, however, and it is funding of a new Vaccine understand the course of the most suitable candidate because crucial, both for successfully Manufacturing and Innovation disease and to innovate medical of its capability to create a strong resolving this pandemic and for Centre at Oxford that will be able responses such as diagnostics, immune response in an future vaccine confidence, that to carry out vaccine drugs and vaccines. individual and for its non- we are not tempted by shortcuts manufacturing at a variety of replicating nature, meaning it will and follow the rigorous safety scales. SARS-CoV-2 is a relatively not cause an ongoing infection protocols that govern the infectious virus: a person with Through better understanding in a vaccinated individual. approval and manufacture of seasonal flu typically infects 1.4 of the virus and how it interacts Coronaviruses have spike new pharmaceuticals. other people, so if this happens with the immune system, we shaped proteins on their 10 times, then around 29 The route that vaccines take have a better opportunity to look surfaces and other studies have people will become infected; a from laboratory to clinic is an to developing effective suggested that this part of the person infected with SARS-CoV- arduous and long one. Vaccines therapeutics. This includes the virus is most likely to invoke an 2 will typically infect 3 other are risky commercial repurposing of existing immune response. The Oxford people, so if this happens 10 investments: with so few interventions that work in the vaccine uses this by producing times, then approximately successfully emerging from treatment of other illnesses. The the SARS-CoV-2 4 spike protein 59,000 other people will clinical trials ready for the UK Government has been active in the vaccinated individual, become infected. This has market, pharmaceutical in using rapid response research priming their immune system to naturally led to focus on companies often prefer to place funding to back this sort of attack the virus if it later infects developing a vaccine, a process safer bets with drug research, including an adaptive the body. that most experts believe will development. Indeed, a vaccine trial at Oxford currently looking at take at least 18 months. This Conventionally, vaccines have against SARS-CoV-2 is by no two drugs currently used to treat timeframe has been facilitated used live, attenuated forms of a means an assured certainty. The HIV. This is a strategic move that by China sequencing the genetic virus, or a part of it, which have infrastructure for vaccine may pay extraordinary dividends if the vaccine research does not deliver the desired results in the appropriate timeframe.

The UK is a one of the international partners at the forefront of immunological research. Through the commitment of the international immunological community to share new research information material of SARS-CoV-2 early on been inactivated by passage manufacture is often specific to without delay and to jointly and sharing this with the rest of through a foreign host. These a particular vaccine and the conceptualize new avenues for the world. There has also been have the advantage of quickly production facilities are not large treatment, we will overcome the much investment made in conferring immunity to the enough to produce the supply current threat posed by SARS- developing vaccines for person being vaccinated and are needed in a pandemic situation. CoV-2 worldwide. coronaviruses – a reflection of a low-cost option, so attractive to Already, the Coalition for References the fact that respiratory illnesses governments considering the Epidemic Preparedness 1 WHO; Novel Coronavirus Situation are generally considered to pose cost of vaccinating of the entire Innovations (CEPI) is calling for Report 22; 11 February 2020 the greatest pandemic risk. population at once. Another financing to ensure that if and 2 Public Health England; Total UK COVID- Thirty-five research institutions more modern approach includes when a vaccine is developed in 19 Cases Update; accessed 31 March and pharmaceutical companies constructing a recombinant the relatively near future, there is 2020 worldwide are pursuing a vaccine that involves the capacity to produce enough to 3 Moderna; Moderna’s Work on a vaccine; some with candidates extraction of the genetic code for be of use. Previously concerns Potential Vaccine Against COVID-19; accessed 1 April 2020 that have entered animal trials, one of the surface proteins on have been raised about the UK’s whilst one, produced by the the virus – the part most likely to capacity to manufacture vaccines 4 University of Oxford; Oxford COVID-19 Boston biotechnology company, invoke an immune response – on a large scale 5. It is evident vaccine programme opens for clinical trial recruitment; 27 March 2020 Moderna, has entered trials in and inserting it into a bacterium that any shortage of production humans 3. Another project at the which will then produce large sites will be felt more acutely in 5 POST; UK Vaccine Capacity; August 2008 University of Oxford’s Jenner quantities of these proteins a pandemic situation when all Institute, funded in part by the which are then manufactured countries are also moving to

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 3 THE POWER OF INNOVATION CAN… A submicroscopic infectious agent has forced the world to experience an unprecedented level of disruption not seen since World War 2. Coronavirus or COVID-19 has generated uncertainty and fear of the unknown. Governments around the world have taken extraordinary steps to protect their citizens lives and livelihoods. Propping up businesses through various policy and financial measures, thereby ensuring continuity of economies when the virus eventually diminishes.

Professor Sa’ad Sam Medhat The Cambridge dictionary At the present time, COVID-19 ecosystem. Businesses should PhD MPhil CEng FIET FCIM FCMI terms disruption as the action of is going through its own S curve. seize the opportunity and use FRSA FIKE FIoD preventing something, especially It started with hardly any impact, these current disruptive signals Chief Executive a system, process, or event, from trundling along at the bottom, positively, to reflect and Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Exchange continuing as usual or as with people saying ‘it’s a bit transform their business models; expected. Disruption takes worse than the flu’, and then the embracing and embedding different forms such as political virus took off, and in parallel the innovation in every aspect of (e.g. the UK’s exit from the innovations sparked, new testing their operations. European Union), behavioural kits, new ways to oxygenate Accelerating the pace of (e.g. the increased application of patients; keeping them out of innovation to deliver desired online shopping, meetings and ICU, and the race is now on for outcomes whether at policy level learning using digital platforms), the covid-19 vaccine. As a or at business level, is essential technological (e.g. the nation, we’re racing up that ‘S’ in mitigating the negative impact application of autonomous curve, throwing innovation after of a crisis like Coronavirus. systems and artificial innovation, to find a way out of Challenge-propelled intelligence) and expectational the mire this virus has hurled us collaboration through Open (e.g. single-click and biometric in. Conversely from a normal Innovation activities deliver ideas purchasing over devices and market ‘S’ curve, where and solutions at a much-needed one-day/same day delivery everything is done to avoid transformational velocity, giving timeslots). Disruption generates plateauing and dropping off, in the edge and confidence to turn a flux of threats and the case of the covid-19 ‘S’ around the statistics. opportunities with varying levels curve, we’re doing all we can to of impact. Living in these times reach that flattening point. For it Evoking change at a scale, of seismic shifts, disruption has will mean cases of those however, requires those in become the new normal or infected will have dropped, and charge to demonstrate active even the never normal! It we’ll have won against the virus. leadership for innovation. generates what economists call Exhibiting key critical behaviours ‘Engineering a Crisis’ is an S-Curve (a curve that such as experimental ethos, something that we speak of in a resembles the character S). At growth mindset and an appetite business-sense regularly. As a the bottom part of the ‘S’ it often for risk taking, along with the professional body responsible for feels like not much is happening ability to communicate with driving innovation, we often at all. But then things start to pick clarity, impact, and audience encourage companies suffering up, and once the curve crosses empathy is essential. from business lethargy to ‘create its first inflection point (the a crisis’ to disrupt their ‘business We at the Institute of bottom curve of the ‘S moving a s usual’ complacency and Innovation and Knowledge upwards’), things suddenly start reinvent themselves. Such a Exchange (IKE Institute) define to go wild. After a while, radical approach in organisations innovation as the development something changes, and the has witnessed dividends; of new, or improvement of curve flattens once again, and mobilising a sense of urgency in existing products, services, then drops. people, suppliers, partners and processes and/or business other stakeholders within its models. Innovation represents

4 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 the transition process from idea competitive advantage and techniques consistently to our engagement with the City of generation all the way to value achieve growth. We have now support development (25% Glasgow College has creation. Innovation in the inculcated the newly published didn’t use it at all; 43% used demonstrated how innovation context of value creation can be ISO 56002 Innovation it sometimes; and only 32% transformed their operating represented on a value- Management System (and the applied it regularly). model. By adopting a ‘blue spectrum that includes other related parts of the ISO ocean’ strategy on the It was interesting to note that incremental improvements at 56000 innovation management development of their the pattern in the responses to one end of the spectrum guidance series) within our product/service portfolio, they innovation engagement was through to transformative Investor in Innovations Standard, were able to develop new, relatively consistent across all innovation, that subsequently thus, enabling organisations to differentiated offerings thus four countries. results in a dramatic impact on embrace and apply these new increasing employment other areas in the spectrum, and and emerging ISO standards, in We are now seeing opportunities for their students, how innovation is thus, treated an integrated and time-lined governments, public agencies attracting infrastructure (e.g. transformational innovation manner, with ease. and research organisations using investments and forging of the touch screen transformed proactively innovation as a international collaborations. In Last year, and as part of its role the way we interact with devices strategic instrument, enabling the higher education domain, in an Erasmus+ project, entitled and systems, and thus changed rapid reconfiguring on the way there are many similar examples. ‘Creative Engine,’ IKE Institute innovations involved with these impact is delivered to customers, Our collaboration with the conducted a detailed survey of devices and systems as a result). sponsors, users and citizens, and University of Plymouth’s 240 engineering manufacturing Acceleration Through Innovation In line with IKE Institute’s drive how value is achieved for all. enterprises, ranging from small (ATI) initiative, focused on to professionalise and (29%), medium (30%) through Last year, the IKE Institute was energising businesses in promulgate effective innovation to large multinationals (41%), to asked by the UK’s Ministry of Cornwall. The Cornish economy more widely, we have been an examine how innovation was Defence to benchmark and is one that is dominated by active participant in the organised, developed and assess the innovation capability micro-businesses. The initiative’s development of international supported in their businesses. of the Defence Innovation aim was to arm these standards for Innovation Network, bringing together all The study, in collaboration with businesses with the innovation Management through the BSI the Innovation Hubs of front-line four project partners (South tools and techniques to enable (British Standards Institution) command (Royal Navy, Army, West College, Northern Ireland; them to compete and grow and the ISO (International RAF and Strategic Command) Dublin City University, Ireland; successfully. Standards Organisation). together with the Defence Tknika, Spain and Thomas More Recently, a new standard Innovation Directorate (covering The current COVID-19 crisis University, Belgium) focused on guidance – ISO 56002 the Defence and Security highlights viscerally, the cultural six key areas – Creativity and Innovation Management System Accelerator and the Defence and behavioural step change in Ideas Management; Innovation has been published as part of Innovation Unit). Through this accelerating adoption of digital Process and Planning; Customer the ISO 56000 Innovation process, it was pleasing to see all technologies and applications Analysis; Management of New Management guidance series these defence innovation entities across all economic sectors. Innovations; Business (available from BSI). It applied many good practices, Digital now, more than ever, is Development; and advocates the need for had a real sense of urgency, forcing us to re-think and work Communications and organisations to engender energy and passion for differently, to yield a positive Engagement. Some of the key environmental conditions within innovation, and had exploited impact. AI in managing financial highlights of the survey analysis their places of work, to support many new and emerging transactions, predictive are shown below: openness, curiosity, creativity and technologies. Multi-skilled teams autonomous supply chains in user-focus. logistics and blockchain-based • 83% admitted they did not across the Defence Innovation prescription dispensing in health The IKE Institute recognises have a structured approach to Network presented diverse care, are just a few examples of that for the UK to maintain its innovation; innovative and collaborative how digital is becoming innovation ranking position capabilities underlying the fact • 37% acknowledged they did ubiquitous in our lives. globally, we need to ramp up that new, faster and cost- not have an innovation plan Innovation is the power that innovation capability, accelerate effective solutions were getting that is aligned to their continually reshapes our lives, innovation readiness and into hands of the user, and business strategy; our norms, assumptions, sharpen our innovation edge. ultimately, to the front-line behaviours and expectations. In • 3 in 5 affirmed their fighter. In the SIP issue, Spring 2013, the quest for combating the Innovation Plan was not we asked the question of “Can Universities and colleges are impact of COVID-19, innovation communicated across the organisations afford not to invest also extending and exploiting is critical and remains to be the business nor stakeholders, to in innovation?” At that time their innovation capabilities only weapon that will protect our gain input and commitment; seven years ago, we introduced internally (e.g. new ways for health, livelihoods and society. the Investor in Innovations • Business Case development delivering educational offerings) Standard as a systematic was seen as critical in the and externally (e.g. driving framework that helped innovation process, although economic development organisations increase their over two-thirds of companies regionally and on the innovation capability to drive weren’t using systematic international stage). For example,

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 5 SCIENCE IS CHALLENGING CANCER USING THE UK’S SYNCHROTRON The limitations of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are driving a global search for novel ways to prevent and treat cancers. And this is why many international research teams are coming to Oxfordshire to use Diamond Light Source, the UK’s national synchrotron to investigate many new approaches. Their common goal is to reduce the global impact of cancer by improving our understanding of cancer mechanisms and producing new opportunities for effective cancer therapies.

Lorna Campbell Diamond is providing industrial CANCER CELLS HAVE Dichroism (SRCD) spectroscopy Communications Consultant and academic user communities WAYS TO EVADE THE on beamline B23 to investigate Diamond Light Source with access to state-of-the-art HUMAN IMMUNE these defence mechanisms. Harwell Science & Innovation analytical tools to enable world- Campus, Didcot SYSTEM “Our findings demonstrate the changing science. Shaped like a The human immune system activity of the Tim-3-galectin-9 huge ring, it works like a giant has cells that can attack invading biochemical pathway in several microscope, accelerating pathogens, protecting us from types of human cancer cells and electrons to near light speed, to bacteria and viruses. These cells its possible role in the produce a light 10 billion times are also capable of killing cancer suppression of the immune brighter than the Sun, which is cells, but they don't. Cancer cells system response. We found then directed off into 33 have evolved defence breast tumours express laboratories known as mechanisms to prevent them significantly higher levels of Tim- ‘beamlines’. being destroyed by our immune 3 and galectin-9 than healthy In the last two years alone, system, allowing them to survive tissue revealing increased levels Diamond has published over and replicate, growing into of these key proteins in nine 345 publications related to tumours that spread through the other cancers, highlighting their cancer research. A particular body. Researchers around the important role in cancer focus has been on utilising the world are looking at different development. Our ultimate goal immune system to become ways to overcome these is now to find the best way to more efficient in targeting cancer complex mechanisms. disable the Tim-3-galectin-9. cells and designing new targeted Some exciting new work This could lead to therapies therapies, the hunt for a analyses how breast cancer cells that allow our immune universal cancer vaccine, tackling evade the human immune systems to reboot, reducing triple negative breast cancer, system and could leave them the need for more toxic developing new hope for with nowhere to hide. Dr treatments such as pancreatic cancer and non- Rohanah Hussain and Prof chemotherapy and invasive diagnosis of prostate Giuliano Siligardi of Diamond's radiotherapy, which have cancer to name just some of the B23 beamline in collaboration severe side-effects for breakthroughs being made. with an international research patients.” Explains Dr Sumbayev Recent examples conducted by team led by Dr Vadim Sumbayev adding that. international teams in investigated these complex The team are already planning collaboration with Diamond and defence mechanisms of the another visit to Diamond, for the its scientists include:- human immune system and next stage in this vital research to how cancer cells in breast discover the best way to disable tumours avoid it. They used the pathway to allow the Synchrotron Radiation Circular immune system to attack cancer

6 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 cells. “Access to Diamond is melanoma. Among other extremely efficient vectors for Pancreatic ductal crucial to our research. The methods, the team used intracellular delivery but have adenocarcinoma (PDA) is sensitivity that synchrotron macromolecular crystallography been associated with difficult-to-treat cancer radiation allows cannot be on beamline I24 to generate the undesirable side-effects characterised by immune replicated using other peptide structures. These APLs including mortality in some tolerance and resistance to techniques, and it allows us to were capable of inducing T-cells cases. Recently, much safer immunotherapies including T-cell really see what's happening to with greater effectiveness and synthetic analogues for viruses checkpoint-based the proteins, even small details.” suggest that this could be a have been developed. A immunotherapy which is promising approach in the hunt University of Sheffield research becoming the standard of care USING MONOCLONAL for a universal cancer vaccine. group has designed synthetic for several cancers. A team of US ANTIBODIES TO Dengue virus-mimicking researchers discovered MODULATE IMMUNE TACKLING TRIPLE nanoparticles to selectively target upregulation of the protein RESPONSE NEGATIVE BREAST TN breast cancer cells and show kinase RIP1 in tumour- Another promising new CANCER that genetic material can be associated macrophages in PDA, approach to cancer therapy is A diagnosis of triple negative efficiently delivered to the cell a promising target in PDA. They the use of monoclonal (TN) breast cancer means that nuclei while maintaining high cell developed a selective small- antibodies (mAbs) to modulate the tumour does not have the viability. They used small angle molecule RIP1 inhibitor and the immune response and three most common types of X-ray scattering and diffraction used macromolecular improve the body’s ability to receptor that promotes tumour (SAXS) analysis on beamline I22 crystallography on beamline I02 destroy cancer cells. To date growth. Common therapies for to accurately characterise the to show that RIP1 inhibition is however use of mAbs such as this cancer type are therefore nanoparticles. This work shows protective against pancreatic urelumab has been limited due ineffective and patients have a potential for new therapeutic cancer in vivo. The teams to intolerable side-effects. An poor prognosis. approaches for the treatment research suggests that RIP1 international team redesigned a of TN breast cancer. could be regarded as an 4-1BB molecule to form an antibody that had potent stimulatory activity with no associated toxicity. They used High Throughput Small Angle X- ray Scattering (SAXS) on beamline B21 as part of their research. This novel approach may unlock the potential of immunotherapeutic antibodies in cancer treatment with minimal side-effects.

THE HUNT FOR A UNIVERSAL CANCER VACCINE Therapeutic vaccination against tumour-associated antigens (TAA) has been a highly anticipated approach where a patient’s own immune system is boosted to treat cancer, in particular harnessing the anti- cancer potential of CD8 cytotoxic T-lymphocytes but to date results have been largely disappointing. However, a team from the Universities of Cardiff and Copenhagen identified and refined ‘super-agonist altered Efforts are being made to NEW HOPE IN TREATING immune checkpoint and peptide ligands’ (APLs) from the design new therapies and PANCREATIC CANCER supports RIP1 inhibition as a blood of healthy donors and researchers are looking at the Pancreatic cancer is a potential new therapeutic were also able to induce T-cells capability of viruses to deliver particularly difficult cancer to avenue in the treatment of from the blood of patients with effective therapies. Viruses are treat with no effective therapies. PDA.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 7 Another international study detect zinc release in the potency and good including Burkitt and Hodgkin’s investigated several new prostate in a mouse model, they pharmacological properties and lymphoma, stomach cancer and compounds for their anti- confirmed that zinc has demonstrated encouraging nasopharyngeal cancer, as well pancreatic cancer activity. The concentration was associated anti-tumour activity in pre-clinical as several autoimmune diseases. team focused their attention on with the presence of malignant models of non-small cell lung There is currently no treatment dysregulation of discoidin tissue. The team worked on cancer. Clinical trials on this new for infections caused by this domain receptors (DDRs) beamline I18 during the study compound are planned to virus. involved in several cellular and highlighted the advantage of commence soon. An international team of processes including cell using MRI to characterise the CEO of Diamond, Professor researchers studied the structure differentiation and adhesion distribution and trafficking of zinc Andrew Harrison concludes; of a key protein in the virus often detected in cancer. The in healthy and malignant “Diamond serves as an agent of known as a portal which is the crystallographic structure of prostate tissue. These initial change, addressing 21st century entrance and exit point for the DDR1 was determined on studies may provide an challenges such as disease, viral genome. The team solved beamline I04. The team important way forward for the clean energy, food security and the structure of the portal at 3.5 designed and used a DDR1 early diagnosis and treatment more. In particular, research Angstrom resolution using the inhibitor to successfully slow of prostate disease. taking place at Diamond is Titan Krios I electron microscope pancreatic cancer progression improving our understanding of in eBIC. This is the Electron Bio- and to improve sensitivity to A NEW APPROACH TO cancer mechanisms and Imaging Centre at Diamond standard of care pancreatic NON-SMALL CELL LUNG producing new opportunities for which provides scientists with cancer therapies. DDR1 is now CANCER effective cancer therapies. state-of-the-art experimental being considered as a novel The RAS/MAPK pathway is a equipment and expertise in the target for drug discovery major driver of oncogenesis Since operations started in field of cryo-electron microscopy, against pancreatic cancer. leading to the growth of tumours 2007, more than 14,000 for single particle analysis and and is imperfectly or abnormally researchers from both academia cryo-tomography. Two powerful DEVELOPING NON- regulated in approximately 30% and industry have used our cryoelectron microscopes allow INVASIVE DIAGNOSIS of human cancers, primarily by world-leading facilities to conduct users to investigate the structure OF PROSTATE CANCER mutations in the BRAF or RAS experiments and over 8,000 of individual cells and to visualise Zinc concentration is a known genes. The extracellular-signal- scientific articles have been single bio-molecules, exploiting biomarker for prostate cancer, regulated kinases (ERK1 and published by our users and techniques that are rarely markedly reduced in cancer ERK2) serve as central nodes scientists.” available at home laboratories. while remaining high in benign within this pathway. An industry conditions. Until recently zinc research group used a structure- UNDERSTANDING THE The detailed architecture of this concentration could only be based design approach and EPSTEIN BARR VIRUS protein that the team achieved measured using a tissue biopsy, macromolecular crystallography PORTAL suggests that it plays a functional but a research team from the on beamline I04 to identify The Epstein-Barr virus, which role in DNA retention during University of Texas has been appropriate ERK1/ERK2 belongs to the herpesvirus packaging. New understanding exploring non-invasive imaging inhibitors. The research led to family, is one of the most of the portal structure paves the methods using magnetic the identification of AZD0364, a widespread human viruses and way for the rational design of resonance imaging (MRI) and potent and selective ERK1/2 the main cause of glandular inhibitors for the treatment of synchrotron radiation X-ray inhibitor which prevents fever (infectious cancers. fluorescence (µSR-XRF). Using a activation of ERK1/2. The mononucleosis). In addition, it zinc responsive contrast agent to compound exhibits high cellular causes several kinds of cancer,

ABOUT DIAMOND LIGHT SOURCE: WWW.DIAMOND.AC.UK Funded by the UK Government through the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC), and by the Wellcome Trust, Diamond is one of the most advanced scientific facilities in the world, and its pioneering capabilities are helping to keep the UK at the forefront of scientific research.

8 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 MATHEMATICS, NUMBERS AND DATA IN DAILY LIFE: A HIDDEN CRISIS AT THE BASE OF THE PYRAMID The government has recently announced welcome additional funding to support world-leading mathematics research here in the UK. Readers of Science in Parliament will understand the huge contribution that such research makes. You may be less familiar with the work of the independent charity National Numeracy (I joined as a Trustee last year) in support of its mission to enable everyone in the UK to become confident and competent with numbers and data so that they can make good decisions in their daily life. Professor Chris Linton Provost & Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Loughborough University I am no doubt preaching to the However, given the shared Institute to support National Trustee, National Numeracy converted in making the case for acknowledgement of the Numeracy Day last year: Past President, Institute of the importance of having a importance of mathematical Before reading on, I would ask Mathematics and its Applications familiarity with numbers and confidence and skills, it may be you to estimate the percentage basic mathematical concepts for of interest for you to gain a of those 2,000 or so adults good decision making. It’s hard deeper understanding of the surveyed who managed to get to imagine making financial current level of everyday maths all 5 questions right (answer decisions or weighing up the skills among the UK population. given at the end of the article). risks of different healthcare The most efficient way to do this options without these skills. is to include a sample of the Although these questions are Those who have the confidence questions from the National straightforward (but not trivial) and skill to use mathematics and Numeracy Challenge online tool and absolutely situated in daily understand data, whether at that was used in an Ipsos MORI life, National Numeracy chose home or at work, are at a poll for research conducted by not to lead on the percentage of significant advantage. King’s College London’s Policy respondents who achieved 5/5;

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 9 their main effort is geared towards a position in which most adults in the UK get most of these kinds of questions right, so they used a threshold of 4 out of 5 as indicative of a reasonable, workable level of numeracy. Even at that lower threshold, only 20% of those surveyed achieved either 4 or 5. The majority, 56%, scored either 0,1 or 2.

There are flaws with surveying in this way, but these statistics match remarkably closely the data from the 280,000 adults who have engaged with the National Numeracy Challenge. They also match remarkably closely the government- commissioned research shown here that spurred Lord Claus Moser to instigate the work that led to National Numeracy launching as an independent charity in 2012. As former Chief universities did not have the 2012, the charity has sought to project), who had not planned to Statistician, he despaired at the ‘Essentials of Numeracy’. At bring an unrelenting spotlight improve their everyday maths, to results of the Skills for Life work, most employers would onto the issue, including engage with doing so by utilising Survey, particularly given the expect their employees to be challenging the social an approach that focuses on effort that had gone into adult able to correctly answer the acceptability of ‘I can’t do maths’. building confidence alongside literacy and numeracy following questions above – but National They have found that this skills. his government-commissioned A Numeracy data from the NHS cultural and attitudinal barrier is Partner organisations, in both Fresh Start report, which called and elsewhere shows that most huge – yet to date has largely the private and public sectors, for the levels of functional cannot. Finally, when at home, been ignored. Their recent have identified ‘broken rungs in illiteracy and innumeracy to be the tax and pensions system has report, Building a numerate the ladder’ to apprenticeships halved within a decade. As you assumptions about quantitative nation: confidence belief and and qualification-based provision can see, through the skills-based literacy built in that far exceed skills, outlines why addressing for adults – and that the low adult education initiatives in the where the majority of the maths anxiety and building take-up of both is evidence of following years strong progress population is. Perhaps the confidence alongside this gap. The team at National was made on literacy, but adult starkest example is Universal competence is at the heart of Numeracy has worked with numeracy levels worsened. Credit; a programme that will their work. Given the scale of the them to attempt to fill this gap not work in its current form as issue, providing digital tools is It is worth highlighting the by enabling adults to build the too many of the intended also central; there are simply not extent to which false confidence and competence to recipients cannot engage at the enough teachers and tutors to assumptions about the everyday be prepared to engage with the appropriate quantitative level. address the situation. mathematical skills of the current education and skills National Numeracy has population are built in to almost A report commissioned by system: recently completed a DfE-funded all areas of life. Within the National Numeracy and education and skills system, the Flexible Learning Fund project, This work draws upon evidence produced by Pro Bono new T-Levels, apprenticeships under the auspices of the both within adult education and Economics suggests that the and most undergraduate National Retraining Scheme, from other domains (e.g. cost to the UK economy of low courses assume a level which has shown promising combatting obesity through levels of adult numeracy is equivalent to 5/5 in the results. By working with partner campaigns such as ‘This Girl enormous. In 2014 it was questions above – but National organisations and by targeting Can’) that show that taking the estimated at around £20 billion Numeracy data from a Nuffield- adults directly and digitally, they first engagement step is crucial. per year, roughly 1.3% of GDP. funded pilot study shows that have shown that it is possible to What National Numeracy is trying three quarters of social science What is National Numeracy persuade significant numbers of to do could be seen as undergraduates across ten doing about the problem? Since adults (20,000 within the equivalent to the NHS Couch to

10 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 the term of this parliament. We need the government to recognise that helping people at the base of the pyramid engage with the world effectively will be of huge benefit to the nation, as well as to the individuals themselves. But also that this is not about more or better education, it is about helping the millions of people who have emerged from our education system with low levels of mathematical confidence and poor quantitative skills get over that first step to reengage with 5K running plan and within that world leading. They have found another way, all humans who numbers and data. It is an analogy, current qualifications- that for many people a fear of can communicate moderately enormous task and National based provision is equivalent to effectively in the English maths is the biggest thing that is Numeracy cannot do it alone. a marathon and way out of holding them back – and just as language also have the cognitive reach. a basic level of physical fitness is capacity to correctly answer the In the meantime, why not try questions above; this is not an the National Numeracy There would appear to be an increasingly recognised to be underlying intelligence issue. Challenge yourself? excellent opportunity to address within everyone’s grasp, good both high-end mathematics and numeracy is within the grasp of With the right approach, we Answer: 6% of those ‘entry level quant skills’. National anyone who is currently held can collectively address this crisis surveyed scored 5/5 Numeracy’s work on the latter is back by low confidence. Put – making clear progress within SMART ENERGY: THINKING ABOUT OUTCOMES, DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND PEOPLE

Energy systems around the “smartness” is driving HOW ARE ENERGY world are changing in response exponential growth in the scale SYSTEMS BEING to climate change. They are and diversity of energy system REDEFINED? becoming increasingly reliant on data, presenting opportunities and Typically, smart energy is decentralised renewable challenges in equal measure 9. discussed in the context of the resources, experiencing new Understanding how energy high-minded goals that smart types of loads such as electric system and digital systems are energy systems aim to achieve, vehicles, heat pumps, and evolving and interacting is key to or the technologies or processes storage, and experience more deliver a smart energy future. they aim to deliver. But can an active demand side While much is happening at the energy system be smart participation 1-6. Aligned with this grid edge, a shared vision is because it uses these smart is a push toward digitisation 7,8, necessary to underpin and Dr Rebecca Ford technologies, regardless of the Research Director, EnergyREV with the introduction of smart- stimulate collective action; this is results? While the primary Research Consortium meters, greater prevalence of a critical opportunity for purpose of traditional energy Lecturer and Chancellor’s Fellow “Internet of Things” devices, and government, and the time to act Centre for Energy Policy, School of systems is to enable energy Government and Public Policy increasing sophistication of is now. services to be delivered to end- Institute for Energy and automation such as artificial users of the system 10,11, the Environment, Department of intelligence (AI) used to provide transition toward “smarter” Electronic & Electrical Engineering University of Strathclyde system services. This energy systems may see the

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 11 provision of services beyond energy become increasingly important, or even dominant. This blurring means that in addition to providing energy services in more effective or efficient ways, smart energy systems are anticipated to deliver wider benefits such as those outlined in Table 1 12. While these do not entirely re- define the energy system purpose, they set the broader context in which the provision of energy and related services to system users must be delivered.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY SMART? At its core, smartness is layered into energy systems by collecting and using more and different forms of data, fusing energy systems with information systems, and allowing energy system objectives to be met in more effective ways 13, 14. But smart isn’t just about how this data is generated, it is about how it is used.

This data may be used to support autonomous management of the system, for example, allowing the system to automatically control itself to optimise the provision of energy and ancillary services, using technology to make the decisions 15,16.

Alternatively, it could be used to support semi-autonomous regulation, optimising the system within the bounds of user input or in line with user set preferences 15. This perspective Figure 1 How processes and outcomes define smart energy brings together people with technology in defining the people make more informed can take many forms. It can benefits, or a wider range of smartness, with users setting decisions about how they use mean reducing costs or benefits. Ultimately, this view of parameters, and technology energy, or for planning or mitigating losses. It can mean smart is about using smarter learning and adapting based on governance 12,17. producing larger benefits for processes to drive smarter or revealed preferences individuals, for the system Regardless of the process, a better outcomes and owners and operators, or for the opportunities 12. All of this new data and ‘smart’ energy system is wider world. It can mean learning may also be used in expected to enable better and producing the right benefits for new processes to provide more more effective use of resources. these groups, more consistent useful information to help This increase in effectiveness

12 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 THE CHALLENGES planning and operation at how the right skills sets can be 9. Pullum, L. L., et al., Big Data Analytics increasingly local scales. created and sustained in the in the Smart Grid: Big Data Analytics, AHEAD Machine Learning and Artificial right locations, and how local With the increasing localisation The key challenge for smart Intelligence in the Smart Grid. IEEE, and national governance 2018. Available from: of smart energy, there needs to processes is to leverage be a stronger policy direction structures will need to interact to https://resourcecenter.smartgrid.ieee.o advances in cyber physical rg/publications/white- deliver a smart energy future is regarding the realisation of system architectures, data papers/SGWP0003.html key. While much of this may different outcomes, and clearer pipelines, control approaches, 10. Groscurth, H.M., Bruckner, T., and need to happen locally, a shared frameworks to see how different state estimation techniques, and Kümmel, R., Modeling of energy- smart energy developments and vision and direction is necessary services supply systems. Energy, advances methods such as AI 1995. 20(9): p. 941-958 demonstrations are delivering to underpin and stimulate action and machine learning, to 11. Fell, M.J., Energy services: A against each of these key policy across many scales in a co- enhance both autonomous and conceptual review. Energy research & ordinated direction; this is a areas. Understanding which human elements in the loop social science, 2017. 27: p. 129-140. critical opportunity for stakeholders are – or should be decision making. 12. Ford, R., Maidment, C., Fell, M., Vigurs, – involved is critical, as the government, and the time to act C., and Morris, M. 2019. A framework starting point for developing a is now. for understanding and conceptualising WHERE WE GO FROM smart local energy systems. smart energy system could have HERE Citations: EnergyREV, Strathclyde, UK. University a significant impact on the When developing and building 1. Edenhofer, O., Climate change 2014: of Strathclyde Publishing, UK. ISBN: 978-1-909522-57-2 legitimacy of the solution, and cyber-physical architecture that mitigation of climate change. Vol. 3. 2015: Cambridge University Press. 13. Office of Gas and Electricity Markets on the outcomes achieved. leverages these new advances, (Ofgem). Upgrading Our Energy Further, the Climate Emergency 2. Rogelj, J., et al., Energy system it’s important to consider how to transformations for limiting end-of- System: Smart Systems and Flexibility context raises questions about make the system: flexible (i.e. century warming to below 1.5 C. Plan. 2017 [cited 2019 May]; whether some benefits (e.g. the extent to which the system Nature Climate Change, 2015. 5(6): p. Available from: carbon reductions in line with 519. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk can integrate new data sources, /government/uploads/system/upload 3. Gross, R., et al., How long does UK targets) should be a or adapt over time - terms like s/attachment_data/file/633442/upgr innovation and commercialisation in mandated goal, while other ading-our-energy-system-july-2017.pdf "plug and play” are common the energy sectors take? Historical benefits and co-benefits could here); scalable (i.e. cope with case studies of the timescale from 14. Connolly, D., H. Lund, and B.V. be more context specific with increasing number of connected invention to widespread Mathiesen, Smart Energy Europe: The different areas of focus emerging commercialisation in energy supply technical and economic impact of devices over time); interoperable and end use technology. Energy Policy, one potential 100% renewable in different projects. (i.e. able to cope with multiple 2018. 123: p. 682-699. energy scenario for the European Union. Renewable and Sustainable standards and suppliers and 4. Pfeiffer, A., et al., The ‘2 C capital Maintaining the smart nature of Energy Reviews, 2016. 60: p. 1634- non-energy data – e.g. transport, stock’for electricity generation: energy systems is a key 1653 waste, health); predictive (rather Committed cumulative carbon challenge. An energy system emissions from the electricity 15. Ding, Y., et al., A Smart Energy 18 may cease to be smart if it fails than just reactive), and secure . generation sector and the transition to System: Distributed resource to continually evolve to take Standards and frameworks for a green economy. Applied Energy, management, control and developing and deploying digital 2016. 179: p. 1395-1408. optimization. 2nd IEEE PES advantage of new technologies International Conference and 5. IRENA. Global Energy Transformation: infrastructure may be required to Exhibition on Innovative Smart Grid and opportunities to improve, A Roadmap to 2050 (2019 edition). Technologies, 2011 and to meet the changing needs cope with increasing and International Renewable Energy of the energy system. Changes emerging data streams. Agency: Abu Dhabi 2019 [cited 2019 16. Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). Upgrading Our Energy in the energy system are making May]; 76. Available from: As well as building a future https://www.irena.org/publications/201 System: Smart Systems and Flexibility existing cyber physical proof smart energy system from 9/Apr/Global-energy-transformation-A- Plan. Call for Evidence Question architectures and techniques a technical perspective, its future roadmap-to-2050-2019Edition Summaries and Response from the Government and Ofgem. Ofgem unfit for purpose. These changes 6. Kuzemko, C., et al., Policies, politics and must also be considered from a 2017 [cited 2019 May]; Available demand side innovations: The untold include: (1) more decentralised socio-economic perspective. It is from: story of Germany’s energy transition. https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/file resources generating data, not just generation assets and Energy Research & Social Science, s/docs/2017/07/ssf_plan_- resulting in lots of data at the smarter forms of control that are 2017. 28, p. 58-67. Available from: _summaries-responses.pdf grid edge, leading to bandwidth becoming decentralised, there https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2017.03. 17. Parag, Y., & Sovacool, B. K., Electricity issues when trying to fit into the 013 are also trends toward: local market design for the prosumer era. 7. BloombergNEF. Digitalization of Energy more traditional centralised Nature energy,2016. 1(4), p. 16032 forms of decision-making, Systems. 2017 [cited 2019 May]; analysis and control paradigms, energy planning, and system Available from: 18. Verba, N., Gaura, E., McArthur, S., (2) rapidly changing new types operation; stronger end-user https://about.bnef.com/blog/digitalizati Konstantopoulos, G., Wu, J., Zhong, F., of controllable assets like solar on-energy-systems/. Athanasiadis D., Monasterios, P. R. B., engagement and participation; Morris, E., & Hardy, J (2020). The 8. Energy Consumer Market Alignment panels and EV chargers and (3) and growing numbers of Energy Revolution: Cyber Physical Project (EC-MAP). New policy for an the engagement of more, advances and opportunities for Smart intermediaries and businesses era of energy digitalization: Power. Local Energy Systems. EnergyREV, perhaps non-traditional actors emerging as key energy system 2018 [cited 2019 May]; Available Strathclyde, UK. University of who will be expected to play a from: http://ec-map.org/wp- stakeholders. Understanding Strathclyde Publishing, UK. bigger role in energy system content/uploads/2018/10/Power- what these new roles look like, Whitepaper.pdf

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 13 UNLOCKING A MORE SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WITH AI It’s no secret that the health of our planet is declining. Deforestation, melting sea ice, rapidly disappearing species and more have weakened Earth’s ecosystems, and climate change is arguably the most pressing issue of our time. We need to think outside of the box – and move swiftly – to recover a sustainable future.

The solution isn’t going to experiences that make blockchain with AI to create a come from the small percentage consumers want to change peer-to-peer renewable energy of the world who are willing to because it adds value to their trading platform that adds a new Maria McKavanagh Chief Executive Officer overhaul their lifestyle by not lives in some way. dimension to smart energy. VERV Within the platform, our high travelling by aeroplane, for And the same goes for speed data monitoring and AI example. It’s going to come from businesses. There is a technology is used to gain a as many people as possible misconception that sustainability detailed, real-time view of taking their own steps towards a must increase business costs energy production (if there is a cleaner, greener energy system. when in fact the two can go renewable energy source) and And when we add up all of hand in hand. AI company consumption within a those little steps, that will be the DeepMind, for example, have household. In turn, forecasts difference between winning and harnessed their machine based on supply and demand losing the fight against climate learning capabilities to reduce can be used to enable trading at change. the amount of energy needed to the best times on blockchain So how do we get everyone in cool Google’s data centers by technology. the country, or on the planet to 40%. In practice this means that the do their bit? Let’s look at I believe that AI will be a key platform enables households something like the plastic bag technology in helping to tackle with solar panels to sell the tax. Charging 10p for plastic bags climate change in innovative excess energy that they generate has resulted in their use ways. At Verv, we use high speed directly to their neighbours. plummeting by 85% compared data monitoring techniques and Communities can benefit from to the year before it was AI to unlock untapped energy cheaper energy whilst those with introduced. data within the home in a bid to solar panels can receive an ROI make households smarter and I believe this has become even by selling to their neighbours. more sticky due to the strong more efficient. Given it is not currently legal for 10p bags, or cloth bags, which One of Verv’s most notable consumers to sell energy directly you bring from home, serving projects involved teaming to one another, we were the consumer’s purpose better than any of the free cheap plastic bags we used before. They are stronger and don’t hurt your hand so much. You can get more into them, and sling them over your shoulder which makes them less cumbersome to carry. After the initial transition period, the consumer shopping experience is now better. Ultimately, to make big changes The Hackney social housing estate where our peer-to-peer energy trading like this, we have to create pilot took place

14 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 extremely lucky to receive We are tackling this using the funding from BEIS to develop same high speed data this project. acquisition techniques and AI In 2018, with further funding used in our previous projects, provided by Innovate UK, we but this time to monitor the took our platform to the next health of white goods in real- level at a social housing estate in time. Our high definition Hackney. At this specific location predictive maintenance there are solar panels on the 14 technology detects anomalies in blocks of flats, but residents can’t how white goods are performing currently benefit from the green by analysing their electrical load energy due to the constraints of signatures or digital footprints. the UK electricity market. We We can identify signs of were given regulatory flexibility component fatigue and locate by Ofgem through a sandbox faults that are occurring or are The Verv team at the Hackney estate where our peer-to-peer energy programme in order to bring our about to occur, in the utmost trading pilot took place platform to life, and in April 18 detail, alerting manufacturers will be able to avoid engineer These are all of the benefits we conducted the UK’s first and in turn end-users to call-outs where unnecessary (e.g appliance manufacturers could peer-to-peer trade of energy on recommended action. Through an issue easily resolved by a receive using smart energy AI the blockchain. The impact of real-time performance consumer) and improve first (including significantly reduced our work has been more than monitoring, earlier fault time fix rates thanks to detailed costs in call-outs!), and we could’ve imagined with case diagnostics and a more diagnostics. Due to the consumers who will have less studies of our work in reports streamlined maintenance embedded nature of the downtime of their appliances. and articles worldwide. In 2019 process, there is significantly technology (within the we supported New Anglia more opportunity to repair vs I am extremely excited to be appliance), manufacturers and energy in raising a modification replace white goods and in turn working in the field of energy consumers will also be able to to UK law (p379) which takes a extend their life cycles for a technology and look forward to contribute to demand side massive step towards making reduced impact on the planet. the further progress we will response once the domestic peer-to-peer renewable energy Not to mention the improved make as an industry to bring the play is ready. As mentioned trading possible. customer experience and climate crisis under control and reduced business costs in earlier, sustainability does not meet that all important target of Despite that, we are still warranty for manufacturers who have to equal increased costs. reaching net zero by 2050. waiting. And as innovation continues to outpace relegation, we are running out of time. More needs to be done at government level to ensure that technologies that can have a real impact can be commercialised quickly. So whilst we’re waiting for legislation, how can we continue to harness Verv’s technology to combat climate change? A recent study estimates that because of the CO2 emitted in the manufacturing process, a long-lasting washing machine will generate 1.1 tonnes less

CO2 than a short-lived model over two decades. In addition, an estimated 1 million electrical items are being sent to landfill each week, with e-waste becoming the fastest growing waste stream in the world. Our predictive maintenance technology

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 15 CAN THE OFFSHORE ENERGY SECTOR BE TRANSFORMED TO HELP THE UK BECOME A NET-ZERO NATION?

In June 2019, the UK an estimated 5.4 Bboe more still plugged and abandoned, and became the 1st major to be recovered. Yet it is 7500 km of pipeline anticipated that UK oil and gas decommissioned. economy to legislate will contribute ever less to The World Energy Council for net zero by 2050. meeting energy demand due to (WEC, 2017) forecasts that domestic petroleum production In September 2019, maximum activity is expected in decline and increasing Scotland committed to the period 2020-2030, whilst government support for cleaner be net zero by 2045. the NAO reported that UK energy to meet its net-zero offshore operators have spent This article presents emissions targets. Figure 1 more than £1 billion on the current UK shows historical and forecast decommissioning in each year hydrocarbon production in the offshore energy since 2014 and the Oil and Gas Professor Gioia Falcone, UK. The Climate Change Rankine Chair, Professor of Energy picture, discussing Authority (OGA, 2019a) Committee’s net-zero scenarios Engineering University of Glasgow, future challenges and estimates UKCS abandonment (2019) give reduction in oil and James Watt School of Engineering expenditure (abex) over the next opportunities towards gas consumption of 82% and decade will be £40-67bn. The a just energy 32%, respectively, by 2050. WEC estimates that 50-80% of transition. Since 1967, over 300 fields UK oil and gas abex may have produced oil and gas in UK ultimately be borne by the UK OFFSHORE ENERGY Continental Shelf (UKCS) waters taxpayer. With abandonment PICTURE (see Figure 2), but the sector activity increasing, the UK Oil and Gas focus is turning increasingly to government is paying out more The UK offshore petroleum abandonment and restoration. in tax relief for decommissioning sector is in a state of transition. 150 UKCS fields are forecast for at the same time as tax The National Audit Office (NAO, decommissioning over the next revenues from oil and gas 2019) stated that over 44 billion decade, with approximately 100 production are falling. These tax barrels of oil equivalent (Bboe) platforms being completely or reliefs are part of the have been produced so far, with partially removed, 2000 wells government strategy to support

Figure 1: Historical and forecast hydrocarbon production in the UK (after NAO, 2019).

16 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 offshore wind farms at various stages of development as £1.28- 3.64 billion, anticipating that abex would increase as more developments and bigger structures were being planned. A study by the University of Cambridge (Liu and Barlow, 2017) suggested that there will be 43 million tonnes of blade waste worldwide by 2050, with China possessing 40% of the waste, Europe 25%, the United States 16% and the rest of the world 19%. The blades, made with composites, are currently regarded as unrecyclable.

Both oil and gas and offshore wind operators, as well as the government, must prepare in advance for decommissioning, accurately estimate total costs, including site remediation and monitoring, and be fully aware of abandonment liabilities. The potential for synergies between mature offshore hydrocarbon installations and renewable energy projects is not being fully exploited. Delaying the decommissioning of some oil and gas infrastructure could trigger new circular economy options for the UKCS during the ongoing transition to a net-zero UK by 2050. On the other hand, procrastinating overdue decommissioning while many of the large E&P operators have already left the UK could lead to liabilities falling on taxpayers. INTEGRATION OPTIONS FOR AN ENERGY TRANSITION There are complementary offshore energy generation and storage options that would Figure 2: Oil and gas offshore infrastructure map (OGA, 2020) benefit from existing oil and gas infrastructure. Identifying the industry to maximise WIND The 2019 Offshore Wind investment priorities and economic recovery (MER) of The UK’s total offshore wind Sector Deal (BEIS, 2019a) set collaboration opportunities petroleum resources due to its operational capacity is the ambition to deliver up to 30 among multi-sector stakeholders role in the economy, supplying approximately 8.5 GW (Crown GW of generating capacity by will inform operators and the energy and providing Estate, Crown Estate Scotland, 2030, at 1-2 GW of new government on what oil and gas employment. 2020). See Figure 3 for a map offshore wind per year. Arup infrastructure should stay or go, of current offshore wind (2018) estimated the costs of and when. In many cases, there installations in the UK. decommissioning 37 UK are neither prior examples, nor

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 17 a different location, and re- purposing is when an asset is employed in the same location, but for a new use. This allows one to clearly distinguish between options where hydrocarbon production is envisaged to continue, versus options where hydrocarbon production is ceased.

WHAT ENERGY INTEGRATION OPTIONS ARE REALISTIC? Assessing options that imply continuation of hydrocarbon production must be carefully assessed vis-à-vis the forecasts of Figure 1, as well as the urgency to achieve net-zero within the next 30 years. Some key questions are:

• How long can existing mature assets continue to produce?

• What commercially viable integration options are there towards net-zero operations?

• Can mature infrastructure become “living laboratories” for different stakeholder groups to effectively collaborate whilst exploring the above options?

Figure 3: UK offshore wind installations (combined after Crown Estate and Crown Estate Scotland, 2020) • Can stranded “small pools” of oil and gas be brought online business models to allow oil and via facilities’ electrification with gas operators to co-produce renewable energy? Full ‘green’ energy and tap into the electrification remains a associated incentives via challenge; Equinor’s Hywind conventional hydrocarbon Tampen project, the world’s infrastructure. In addition, first renewable power for isolated demonstrators of such offshore oil and gas, will only technologies seldom prove meet about 35% of the repeatability and scalability. annual power demand of the Figure 4 illustrates offshore five Snorre and Gullfaks energy integration options platforms and the project is according to the OGA’s UKCS only viable because of the Energy Integration Interim large size and longevity of findings (2019b). these fields.

Perhaps a better way of looking For options that assume at integration options is shown in cessation of hydrocarbon Figure 5, where prolonging the production, a critical question is life of an asset means keeping it which infrastructure can be re- in production for longer, re-using purposed and used now and it means that an asset is used for beyond 2050? An example of the same original purpose but in Figure 4: offshore energy integration options (according to OGA, 2019b). the latter challenge is the re-use

18 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 repeatability, nor scalability and, THE NEED FOR A ‘JUST meanwhile, the net-zero TRANSITION’ deadline is looming. According to the Office of Europe’s Oil Majors’ National Statistics (ONS, 2020), investment in renewables has there were 224,800 jobs in low also been disappointing so far, carbon and renewable energy in as shown in Figure 7. the UK in 2018, including nuclear (Figure 8). BEIS (2019) set the ambition to increase Figure 5: life extension options for oil and gas infrastructure (modified offshore wind jobs from 7,200 after WEC, 2017). today to 27,000 by 2030. of oil and gas assets for carbon utilisation and sequestration capture usage and injection (CCUS) worldwide has been projects, as raised by the recent small, as shown in Figure 6, and Department for Business, Energy its deployment remains off track. and Industrial Strategy According to the consultation (BEIS, 2019b). Intergovernmental Panel on With or without continued Climate Change (IPCC, 2018), hydrocarbon production, there is net-zero can be achieved when only a small window of CO2 emissions are balanced by opportunity to identify what CO2 removals over a specified should stay or go. It is likely that period. Hence, net-zero cannot only a small percentage of be achieved by only reducing infrastructure could be re- emissions; it also requires their purposed. There is an urgent removal by CCS. However, large need for a realistic timeline to scale CCS implementation in the reflect actual opportunities and UK is still far away. For example, liabilities. the Acorn CCS project is still progressing towards a final INVESTMENT MUST investment decision in late SHIFT TO RENEWABLES 2021, for a possible start in AND ENERGY 2023, with first phase funding EFFICIENCY coming from the UK The energy transition needs government (CCUS Innovation investment for a shift towards Programme), the European renewables and greater energy Union and the industry. Yet, its efficiency. So far, however, technical and commercial Figure 7: Europe’s Oil Majors’ investment in renewables (Guardian graphic, 2020 - Source: Rystad Energy, company data) * Rystad excludes investment in carbon capture, specifics may prove neither R&D spending and clean energy technologies that are not renewable.

In comparison, from its 463,900 peak in 2014, the oil and gas offshore industry has lost 194,800 jobs across the UK (Figure 9), with relatively few professionals being redeployed within the energy sector.

Currently, there is an imbalance between the number of employment opportunities in the renewable vs. conventional energy sectors. Thus, careful planning is needed to ensure a just and sustainable energy transition by 2050, considering geographical distribution of both Figure 6: Investment in large-scale CCUS projects from 2007 to 2017 (IEA, 2018) natural and human resources.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 19 UKCS and decommissioning actors could promote complementary and synchronised abandonment activities, which should lower associated costs by allowing the supply chain to organise itself optimally and help smooth the path towards energy transition.

References Arup (2018), Cost Estimation and Liabilities in Decommissioning Offshore Wind Installations, Public Report, 4 April 2018

BEIS (2019a), Industrial Strategy Offshore Wind Sector Deal, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, March 2019.

BEIS (2019b), Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) projects: re-use of oil and gas assets, Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, closed consultation, published 22 July 2019.

Figure 8: Low carbon and renewable energy economy employment, total and selected sectors, UK, 2015 and Committee on Climate Change (2019), 2018 (ONS, 2020) Net Zero - Technical report, 2 May 2019.

IEA (2018), World Energy Investment 2018, July 2018

IPCC (2018), Global warming of 1.5°C – Special Report, 2018, revised on January 2019.

Liu, P., Barlow, C.Y. (2017), Wind turbine blade waste in 2050, Waste Management, Vol. 62, pp. 229-240, April 2017.

NAO (2019), Oil and gas in the UK – offshore decommissioning, HC 1870 SESSION 2017–2019, 25 January 2019.

OGA (2019a), UKCS Decommissioning, 2019 Cost Estimate Report, July 2019.

OGA (2019b). UKCS Energy Integration Interim findings, December 2019.

OGA (2020), https://www.ogauthority.co.uk/data- centre/interactive-maps-and-tools/, retrieved 28 February 2020.

Figure 9: Total employment supported by the offshore oil and gas industry (Oil and Gas UK, 2019) Oil and Gas UK (2019), Workforce Report, 2019. CONCLUSIONS window to create value and approval does not reflect the ONS (2020), Low Carbon and minimise abex. The limitations need for net-zero basin planning. Renewable Energy Economy Survey, 16 The UK offshore energy sector January 2020. is in a state of flux, which imposed by ageing hydrocarbon There is a need to reconcile the The Crown Estate (2020), presents opportunities and infrastructure, by supply/demand MER strategy of extending https://opendata- challenges. Without an fluctuations and by the looming hydrocarbon production with thecrownestate.opendata.arcgis.com/, integrated approach to energy net-zero targets must be net-zero targets and potentially retrieved 28 February 2020. transition in the UKCS, it is accounted for when developing competing uses of infrastructure The Crown Estate Scotland (2020), unlikely that technically and a realistic timeline for energy (e.g. pipelines for continued oil https://www.crownestatescotland.com/wh commercially viable options for projects’ integration and and gas production vs. at-we-do/map, retrieved 28 February 2020. short, medium and long-term prioritising abandonment CO2/hydrogen transport and energy solutions will be liabilities. A project-by-project storage). Better coordination World Energy Council (2017), The North Sea Opportunity, May 2017. identified in the available time approach to decommissioning among multi-stakeholders of the

20 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 THE SKILLS GAP – RECRUITMENT INTO THE ACOUSTICAL ENGINEERING INDUSTRY We are exposed to noise on a daily basis – from traffic, aircraft, industry, mechanical ventilation systems and construction, as well as neighbourhood noise. In the United Kingdom 83% of the population already live in Urban areas (OfNS 2018), and 68% of the world’s population are anticipated to be living in urban areas by 2050 (UN, 2018).

From an evolutionary “Noise has a significant there will be a shortfall of 59,000 perspective hearing is a defence impact on mental health and people per year entering the mechanism – our hearing is able individual wellbeing. engineering and technology Professor Chris Barlow Professor of Acoustics, Solent to trigger responses even when Managing sound will be industries over the next 5 years University we are asleep, activating stress central to the design and (Engineering UK, 2019), and Chair, Education and Learning hormones. Even noise which construction of future cities.” acoustics is one of the industries Working Group, Institute of we think that we are (UKAN 2019) suffering from a recruitment crisis. Acoustics accustomed to causes an The Acoustics industry is A major issues is that Chris has blended industry and involuntary response (Waye et concerned with all aspects of Engineering in the UK suffers academic experience over the al, 2003), which increases stress sound and vibration. We need from a lack of gender diversity, past 20 years, working in the and disrupts sleep. Continuous sufficient acoustical engineers with only around 29,000 of the audio engineering and acoustics exposure to noise can lead to an entering the industry to address total of 165,000 students industries as well as the increase in a range of health the these issues – whether (17.5%) being female (Figure 1). university sector, and is currently problems – particularly those providing mitigations for existing This is a problem which is not Professor of Acoustics at Solent associated with stress, such as problems or designing new unique to Higher Education. University, Southampton. cardiovascular disease and products which make the world Schools, charitable organisations, mental health. Chris is an active researcher, quieter or more pleasant. professional bodies and focusing on the human However it is anticipated that government have worked in response to noise, including the effects of leisure activities on hearing loss, and the acoustic design for restorative spaces (in both the real and virtual worlds). He is also a Director of Positive Acoustics Ltd., an independent consultancy offering design and advisory services on acoustics and noise control.

Professor Barlow is a member of the Institute of Acoustics’ Council and chair of its Education and Learning Working group. He was also on the UK Executive committee of the Audio Engineering Society from 2015-2019, and has been chair of AES South of England Group since 2016. Figure 1: The Diversity gap in Engineering. Source – Higher Education Statistics Agency

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 21 recent years with some success addressing the recruitment At the same time, the industry who would be most likely to to improve recruitment into shortfall in engineering. is growing. Although there is no enter an engineering career. STEM subjects at school level, data for direct comparison prior This issue of awareness is not and in particular to increase the THE AWARENESS GAP to the 2019 report, the just restricted to people of proportion of female students. Recruitment problems are Association of Noise Consultants school age. A report in the In 2018 for the first time more Independent in 2017 classified made worse by a general lack of (ANC), the largest individual female students than male Acoustics Consultant as the awareness among young people trade body in the UK for students took A level science second ‘weirdest’ job title in the of engineering occupations. acoustics, has reported subjects. However while UK, which indicates a wider lack Only 25.5% of young people progressive increases in the size chemistry and biology have of awareness of the industry. aged 14 to 16 reported knowing made significant increases in the of member companies over the what people working in proportions of female students past decade, indicative of RECRUITMENT, engineering actually do, and a over the past decade (figure 2), significant growth in the sector. EDUCATION AND key attractor into a career is for some reason this success has However 56% of ANC member TRAINING understanding what the job role not been reflected in Physics, companies also report problems There have been traditionally entails (Engineering UK). where the proportion of female recruiting appropriately qualified four routes into Acoustics – via students remains very low at This problem is considerably staff. an undergraduate degree, postgraduate degree, around 23%. exacerbated for the acoustics professional qualification or direct recruitment from mechanical engineering, physics or maths graduates and in-house training in acoustics in the company. With increased competition for engineering graduates they are progressively harder to recruit into acoustics. This is also a sector that is dominated by SMEs. Seventy-two percent of member companies of the ANC have 10 or fewer staff. Small companies find it hard to train graduates internally due to the disproportionate costs of taking senior staff away from income earning activities.

Higher education provision in recent years has been heavily driven by supply and demand, Figure 2: Candidates taking STEM subjects at A Level (Source, Joint Council for Qualifications) and small, specialist subjects struggle to survive. There are Since the early 1990s, the proportion of girls in the A-level physics cohort has not fallen below 20.7% only four institutions offering but not risen above 23.1%. (Institute of Physics). undergraduate courses in the UK which specialize in Acoustics. In addition, only 39% of Maths industry. A report published in There are a number of Only seven institutions run taught candidates are female, and as 2019 shows that the acoustics influencing causes for this – not Master’s courses in Acoustics. Maths and Physics are generally industry contributes £4.6 bn least the awareness of the term Though there is an increase in core requirements for annually to the UK economy itself. Although it is the term the size of the sector, most engineering courses, the (UKAN, 2019). This makes it which encompasses all aspects institutions report stable or engineering industries are larger than the Music industry at of sound and vibration, the word gradually declining numbers on missing a significant recruitment £3.5bn (UK Music, 2019). ‘Acoustics’ is very rarely acoustics courses. Three pool. There are complex However as acoustics is an mentioned in the school institutions have closed acoustics reasons for this which include enabler rather than a product in curriculum at any level, with the courses or ceased recruiting in societal perception of these its own right, it is a ‘hidden’ main appearances being in the last 8 years. subjects as ‘boys’ subjects, and a industry and very few people are creative subjects such as music. focus on attracting female aware of career opportunities in It does not appear in the A level The Institute of Acoustics students into Physics needs to the sector in the same way that Physics syllabus leading to a lack recognized as far back as 1975 become a key policy when they are with the music industry. of awareness in school leavers that there would need to be

22 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 This year the acoustics industry industries. We also must has launched a level 4 address awareness of the apprenticeship as a new trial. industry amongst those choosing This is new territory for the careers, for instance by specific sector which has traditionally mention of Acoustics in relevant recruited from the graduate school curricula and UCAS market, but has been identified guides. This needs some as a way of both attracting young support from policy, to make people into acoustics and potential students aware of the helping to reduce the skills potential of acoustics as a career. shortage. Further discussions In particular, as a country it is are taking place regarding essential to address the serious developing more diversity gap in engineering apprenticeships at other levels. education. This would help all The industry are also involved parts of the engineering sector Figure 3: Institutions offering acoustics courses and total numbers of by recruiting from a larger pool students at each level in the UK in a wide range of STEM outreach initiatives aimed at of potential and benefit the more specialists in the discipline We need to consider how the getting Acoustics known at a economy as a whole. This of, and developed its own UK can better support the cost of younger age so that people can requires much more work to professional qualification aimed reskilling and career change, as make appropriate school and address diversity issues in physics and maths at school at those coming out of non- this could support our industry as career choices. This has level, identifying and addressing specialist qualifications, and is well as many others. included the Institute offered by 6 institutions. commissioning Edinburgh the causes of this diversity gap. ADDRESSING Science to undertake specialist We also need to improve our Figure 3 shows the PERCEPTION ISSUES outreach events across the funding structures available for approximate total numbers of career-change, perhaps by As well as awareness there are country, a new exhibition at students specializing in acoustics making the postgraduate student a number of perception issues Winchester Science Centre across all institutions at each loan available for professional as which affect recruitment. Many specifically focused on Sound level in the UK. This gives a well as degree courses? people view acousticians as part and Vibration supported by national total of approximately of the ‘heavy engineering’ industry and academic partners, Sources: 185 undergraduate students, and engagement with initiatives Engineering UK: The state of engineering, 110 taught MSc students and industries – primarily such as Big Bang and 2018 110 professional students construction site engineers. This Tomorrow’s Engineers, which UK Acoustics: Sound Economics. UK studying towards an acoustics fails to recognize the wide range aim to enthuse a younger Acoustics Network/Institute of Acoustics qualification, around 270 of of roles for acousticians in the audience about careers in STEM. 2019. whom enter the workforce each high tech industries such as The Institute is also liaising with Joint Council for Qualifications. A level year. aerospace, computing and smart other relevant professional and AS results Summer 2019. Available technologies, all of which at: https://www.jcq.org.uk/examination- Acoustics therefore forms a tiny extensively require acoustical bodies to increase awareness of results/a-levels/2019/main-results-tables proportion – less than a quarter Acoustics in those professions engineering. Higher Education Statistics Agency: HE of a percent – of the total (including organizations in student enrolments by subject of study number of engineering students The industry has tried to Construction, Architecture, and domicile 2018/19. Available at: in the UK. address this from a number of Environmental Health and https://www.hesa.ac.uk/data-and-analysis angles. Both the Institute and Planning). It is typically expected that Institute of Physics, UK Physics A-level professional organizations entrants by gender 2010-18. people will change careers up to Is it enough? Simply, no. In undertake outreach and 3 times across their working lives, order to continue to address the Waye K.P., Clow A., Edwards S., awareness campaigns to get Hucklebridge F., Rylander R. Effects of so we do not just need to look at need to deal with noise as a young people to better nighttime low frequency noise on the traditional ‘graduate’ populations major health problem we need cortisol response to awakening and understand the acoustics for recruitment. There are more acousticians in all the subjective sleep quality. Life Sciences Vol industry. This includes the ANC’s 72, (8), 2003: 863-875 considerable opportunities for industries which are served by #ExploreAcoustics campaign, the people changing career from acoustic engineers. We need to United Nations: 2018 Revision of World IoA’s A Sound Career guide (with Urbanization Prospects. UN Department relevant industries such as the recognise and promote the accompanying video and social of Economic and Social Affairs. audiovisual industries. However diverse sectors in which media campaigns), and support Office for Statistics. Population and people changing careers need Acoustics operates and make for the International year of migration statistics for rural and urban the ability to fund their relevant people aware of the potential areas. Available at sound 2020 with a range of training, and this is something job roles for acousticians in high https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics that people often struggle to do. events. tech industries as well as ‘heavy’ /rural-population-and-migration

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 23 Parliamentary and Scientific Committee Showcases Britain’s Future Scientists Engineers Technologists Mathematicians

On Monday 9th March 2020, 180 early career researchers from universities and research institutions from across the United Kingdom came to Westminster to take part in STEM for Britain, the annual poster competition and exhibition organised by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee and designed to encourage interaction with MPs and Parliament. During the course of the day these scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians had the opportunity to show their posters and explain their research to over 70 Parliamentarians from both Houses. The competition comprised of five specialist sections: Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Chemistry, Physics, Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners in each category received certificates and cash prizes, with medals going to the Gold winners. For the first time Dyson Ltd, IEEE Communications Society and the Nutrition Society presented special prizes. The Physiological Society Prize was awarded for the second year running. At the end of the day the winners of the five Gold medals competed for the Westminster Medal in memory of Dr Eric Wharton, founder of STEM for Britain. Here, with the quality of the science already ready proven with a Gold medal, the judges had to decide which of the five posters best demonstrated the presenter’s skill in communicating the scientific concept. Judging panels for each category were formed of distinguished scientists, engineers and mathematicians from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, The Physiological Society and the Nutrition Society. The judges’ initial task had been to select the 180 posters for the exhibition and final of the competition from nearly 400 high quality entries. The event is a two-way process designed to strengthen the dialogue between Parliament and the science, technology, engineering and mathematical communities. STEM for Britain would not be possible without the help of all the major learned societies involved in organising the event, especially the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institute of Physics, the Royal Society of Biology, the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, The Physiological Society and the Nutrition Society. And also the organisations which have generously supported the event, including the Clay Mathematics Institute, Warwick Manufacturing Group, Dyson Ltd, Biotherapy Services Ltd, UK Research & Innovation, the Institute of Biomedical Science, the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research, The Comino Foundation, the Biochemical Society, IEEE Communications Group, and the Society for Chemical Industry. However, the researchers who exhibited and displayed their work are the true ‘engine room’ of R&D. The success of the UK in the competitive knowledge economy of the 21st Century is going to depend crucially on their expertise.

24 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 The support of a number of important

organisations is vital for STEM for Britain…

“UK Research and Innovation is delighted to support STEM for Britain. “As a Research Institute whose focus is on fundamental mathematics Early-career researchers play a hugely important role in the UK’s world and its applications to UK national interests, and on supporting leading research and innovation ecosystem. Through our range of mathematical research across the country, HIMR is delighted to be funding and fellowships, we are building inspiring, sustainable and associated with STEM for Britain and offers its warmest congratulations flexible pathways within and between research and innovation careers to all of the Award winners.” at all levels, enabling talented people oeuvre careers across sectors. I Professor Jon Keating FRS, Chair Heilbronn Institute for have experienced STEM for Britain in my academic career and have Mathematical Research. seen for myself the remarkable people and their ideas that will create future technologies and innovations for UK and global society.”

Professor Rory Duncan, Director of Talent and Skills at UK Research and Innovation “The Institute of Biomedical Science is proud to sponsor STEM for Britain which is an excellent opportunity for biological and biomedical scientists to showcase their research and raise awareness of their valuable work to politicians and the public.”

Allan Wilson, IBMS President “WMG was delighted to sponsor the STEM for Britain engineering awards for 2020. Britain needs an economy built on technical innovation, improved productivity and long-term investment, it is crucial therefore that we support innovative research which has the potential to change the way we live.

At WMG, we have focused on the practical applications of the highest quality scientific research for four decades, driving innovations in fields as diverse as battery technology and healthcare. Today more than ever sustainability is important, this is a key strength of WMG and one which “The inclusion of mathematics in STEM for Britain recognises the vitality our academics and engineers are at the forefront of research ensuring and strength of the discipline in the UK and the huge part that all the environment and society benefits from our advancements. branches of mathematics play in underpinning science and technology.” In the future, the engineers presenting today can make a similar impact Professor Martin Bridson, President, Clay Mathematics Institute on our society.”

Margot James, Executive Chair at WMG, University of Warwick

“STEM for Britain is one of the most exciting platforms to showcase “Our products are the largest impact we have, and therefore our new and aspirant talents from the field of science, technologies, biggest opportunity. To be successful everyone needs to embed the engineering and mathematics. Attending the various fora and principles of sustainability throughout the business. This is our sponsoring a key award, I was struck by the calibre of talent and challenge. Everyone’s ideas needed. With that in mind, we are proud enthusiasm that UK PLC can derive huge benefit from. As an to sponsor STEM for Britain and to offer a new award, a prize for entrepreneur I encourage participants to be bold in developing ‘real outstanding research towards a more sustainable future. Alongside world’ applications and solutions for their research endeavours and this, we seek to inspire the next generation of engineers to help us reach out to dynamic innovative companies that will value your talents make a positive impact and to help solve some of the biggest and allow you to expand your expertise to make a real difference in problems that the world is facing.” this interconnected world!”

Dr Julian Rose, External Research Manager, Dyson Ltd Janet Hadfield, CEO, Biotherapy Services Ltd

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 25 IEEE UK and Ireland Section, Communications Chapter “SCI’s charitable objective is to bring together chemistry-related sciences and industry to promote applied science for the benefit of The IEEE is the world’s largest professional organization with members society. and activities from all areas across the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics spectrum. The current global challenges we face are significant and complex and require a collaborative, multi-disciplinary and innovative approach. It was our great pleasure to be present at this very important, inspiring and enabling event to meet and talk to so many brilliant participants Supporting early-stage and early-career research scientists, engineers, that were energetically supported by not just academia, but industry as and technologists is an essential part of that mission. well as the political body and policy makers. We are very happy to have SCI is proud to be part of STEM for Britain and to support the work of seen so many of the UK’s future leaders in our profession who will be past SCI member, Dr Eric Wharton, who initiated the event’s forerunner, the drivers of the UK economy, being recognized and rewarded. SET for Britain in 1997.” Congratulations to all who participated and we look forward to Sharon Todd, Executive Director, SCI increasing the IEEE’s visibility and sponsorship at the next STEM for Britain event.

Prof Izzet Kale, Vice Chair, IEEE UK & Ireland Section and Dr Hoa Le-Minh, Chairman, IEEE Communications Society.

“The Comino Foundation is an educational charity that focuses on creativity, science and engineering mostly at primary and secondary school level. We are particularly concerned about the ability of the current education system to provide the right skills for the digital age and also to develop creativity and ‘making’ as crucial parts of this. Many of the creative subjects are being dropped by secondary schools and as a result those joining the workforce for the first time struggle with problem-solving and developing initiative. STEM for Britain demonstrates for us the need for these skills to be at the forefront of our emerging workforce if this country is to succeed in the future.”

John Slater, Chairman

Dr John Chiplin, Chairman, Biotherapy Services Ltd (Sponsor of the Gemma Smith, University of Manchester (Winner of the Best Tweet in the Chemistry Awards); Dr ThaoNguyen Nguyen, Scientific Affairs Manager, First Session) and Ms Doris-Ann Williams MBE, CEO BIVIDA, and Chair of Biotherapy Services Ltd and STEM for Britain Alumnus; Dr Stephen Benn, the STEM for Britain Organising Committee Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; and Ms Janet Hadfield, CEO, Biotherapy Services Ltd

26 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 BIOMEDICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES EXHIBITION

The STEM for Britain 2020 Awards:

Gold Award: Sarah HOUSTON Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London USING THE EYE AS A WINDOW TO THE BRAIN IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

Silver Award: Karoliina TUOMELA Lydia Becker Institute of Immunology, University of Manchester RADIOTHERAPY CAN MAKE CANCER CELLS RESISTANT TO IMMUNE CELL ATTACK

Bronze Award: Ted ROBERTS

School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Dr Dominika Gruszka, Trustee & Chair, Early Career Advisory Panel, Biochemical Society (Bronze Sciences, University of Bristol Award Sponsor); Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Biology, Allan Wilson, President, Institute of Biomedical Science (Gold and Silver Award Sponsor); Ted Roberts CULTURING NEUTROPHILS FROM STEM (Bronze Award Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; CELLS TO EXPLORE NEUTROPHIL CELL Sarah Houston (Gold Award Winner); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Karoliina Tuomela (Silver Award Winner); Professor David Paterson, BIOLOGY AND DISEASES President-Elect, The Physiological Society; Mark Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, Nutrition Society The Nutrition Society Prize: George FIRTH Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London PET METALLOMICS - USING RADIOACTIVITY TO TRACK ESSENTIAL TRACE METALS IN THE BODY

The Physiological Society Prize: Egzona MORINA Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University The Physiological Society Prize Nutrition Society Prize College London Professor David Paterson, President-Elect, The Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & CHARACTERISATION AND CIRCUIT Physiological Society; Dr Stephen Benn, Vice- Scientific Committee; Dr Stephen Benn, Vice- President, Parliamentary & Scientific President, Parliamentary & Scientific ANALYSIS OF POSTURAL ADJUSTMENTS IN Committee; Egzona Morina (The Committee; George Firth (Nutrition Society MICE Physiological Society Prize Winner); Stephen Prize Winner); Mark Hollingsworth, Chief Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Executive, Nutrition Society Committee

Our sincere thanks to the Institute of Biomedical Sciences for generously supporting the Biosciences Gold and Silver Awards and to the Biochemical Society for supporting the Bronze Award and to Allan Wilson, President, IBMS and Dr Dominika Gruszka, Trustee, Biochemical Society, for presenting the awards along with Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Biology, Mark Hollingsworth, Chief Executive, the Nutrition Society, and Prof David Paterson, President-Elect of The Physiological Society. We are also grateful to the Panel of Biosciences Judges for their work: Professor Alyson Tobin (Chair), Professor Malcolm Bennett, Dr Guy S Bewick, Dr Simon Cork, Dr Bernard Corfe, Professor Phil Gilmartin, Dr Sarah Hall, Dr Celia Knight, Professor Raheela Khan, Dr Kevin O’Dell, Dr Sarah Pitt, Dr Mark Roberts and Professor Chris Seal. Sian Stockton, University of Cambridge, with Daniel Zeichner MP

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 27 ENGINEERING EXHIBITION The STEM for Britain 2020 Awards:

Gold Award: Tomas YSEHAK ABAY School of Mathematics, Computer Sciences and Engineering, City, University of London DEVELOPMENT OF A NON-INVASIVE INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE (NICP) MONITOR FOR NEUROCRITICAL CARE PATIENTS

Silver Award: Elisa ROCCIA Biomedical Engineering Department, King's College London Benjamin Fletcher (IEEE Communications Society Award Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, THREE-DIMENSIONAL CANCER RISK Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Benjamin Cerfontaine (Bronze Award Winner), SCORE MAPPING WITH MAGNETIC Tomas Ysehak Abay (Gold Award Winner); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Elisa Roccia (Silver Award Winner); Andres Rivero Bracho (Dyson RESONANCE IMAGING TO IMPROVE EARLY Award for Outstanding Research Towards a More Sustainable Future) DETECTION AND INDIVIDUALISED TREATMENT PLANNING FOR MEN WITH PROSTATE CANCER

Bronze Award: Benjamin CERFONTAINE School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee OPTIMISATION OF SCREW ANCHOR DESIGN FOR OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND, Dr David Bott, Principal Fellow, Warwick Lois Afua Okerewaa, The Open University WAVE AND TIDAL ENERGY DEVICES Manufacturing Group, Sponsor of the and Bel Ribeiro-Addy MP Engineering prizes The Dyson Award for outstanding research towards a more sustainable future: Andrés RIVERO BRACHO Bristol Composites Institute, University of Bristol FLEXIBLE AIRPLANES? - ACHIEVING HIGHER FUEL EFFICIENCY BY CONTINUOUSLY ADAPTING WING GEOMETRY Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the Science & Jasper James, University of the West of IEEE Communications Society Prize: Technology Select Committee and Omayma England, and his Mother, Dr Sarah Wollaston, Alqatawneh, University of Huddersfield former Chair of the Health & Social Care Benjamin FLETCHER Select Committee Department of Electronics and Computer Our sincere thanks to Warwick Manufacturing Group for generously Science, University of Southampton supporting the Engineering Awards and Dr David Bott, Principal Fellow, WMG. 3D INTEGRATION USING WIRELESS Dyson Ltd for generously sponsoring the Dyson Award and Tom Crawford, INDUCTIVE LINKS - CAN WE MAKE Global Director, Corporate, Social & Environmental STACKING SILICON AS EASY AS STACKING IEEE Communications Society for sponsoring the IEEE Communications Society Prize, and Prof Izzet Kale, Vice Chair IEEE. LEGO? We are also grateful to the Panel of Engineering judges for their work: Professor Mary P Ryan (Chair), Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi, Dr Donal Cronin, Professor Brian G Falzon, Professor Colin Garner, Professor Jeff Magee, Professor Mark Sandler, Professor Ravi Silva, Professor Paul Shearing, Professor Constantinos Soutis, and Professor Robert J K Wood.

28 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES EXHIBITION The STEM for Britain 2020 Awards:

Gold Award: Luiza Mihaela PAUN School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Glasgow PARAMETER INFERENCE AND UNCERTAINTY QUANTIFICATION IN THE PULMONARY CIRCULATION

Silver Award: Adrien LEFAUVE Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge FINDING STRUCTURES IN THE CHAOS OF STRATIFIED TURBULENT FLOWS

Bronze Award: Damian GALANTE Dr Nira Chamberlain, President, Institute of Mathematics and its Applications; Adrian Lefauve Department of Mathematics, King's College (Silver Award Winner); Luiza Mihaela Paun (Gold Award Winner); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice- President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Professor Martin Bridson, President, Council London for Mathematical Sciences (Gold and Silver Award Supporter); Damian Galante (Bronze Award QUANTUM EMERGENCE OF EXPANDING Winner); Professor Jon Keating, Chair, Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research (Bronze Award Supporter); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee SPACETIMES

Our sincere thanks to the Clay Mathematics Institute for generously supporting the Gold and Silver Awards and the Heilbronn Institute of Mathematical Research for supporting the Bronze Award, and to Prof Martin Bridson, President of the Clay Mathematics Institute, and Dr Nira Chamberlain, Council for Mathematical Sciences, for presenting the prizes.

We are also grateful to the Panel of Mathematical Sciences Judges for their work: Professor Tim J Pedley (Chair), Professor Martin Bridson, Professor Steven Gilmour, Dr Samuel Alpern, University of Cambridge, Amanda Solway MP, Minister for Science, Ben Ashby, University of Reading Vincent Knight, Professor Elizabeth Mansfield, and Professor Demetrios Papageorgiou.

Josephine Solowiej-Wedderburn, University of Thomas Wilder, University of East Anglia and Fatumah Atuhaire, University of Southampton, Surrey and Neil Coyle MP Clive Lewis MP and Caroline Nokes MP

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 29 PHYSICAL SCIENCES EXHIBITION – CHEMISTRY

The STEM for Britain 2020 Awards:

Gold Award: Florence GREGSON School of Chemistry, University of Bristol SPHERES OR CUBES - HOW DO SALT DROPLETS DRY?

Silver Award: Fabienne BACHTIGER Computational Chemistry, University of Warwick UNRAVELLING THE MICROSCOPIC DETAILS OF ICE FORMATION AND PREVENTION IN BIOLOGICAL MATTER

Bronze Award: Gemma SMITH Department of Chemistry, University of Janet Hadfield, CEO, Biotherapy Services Ltd, Awards Sponsor, Gemma Smith (Bronze Award Winner); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Dr Jo Manchester Reynolds, Director of Science and Communities, Royal Society of Chemistry; Florence Gregson STABLE MICROPOROUS MATERIALS FOR (Gold Award Winner); Fabienne Bachtiger (Silver Award Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee REVERSIBLE CAPTURE OF SULFUR DIOXIDE

Our sincere thanks to Dr Jo Reynolds, Director of Science and We are also grateful to the Panel of Chemistry Judges for Communities, Royal Society of Chemistry and Ms Janet their work: Dr Peter J Machin (Chair), Professor Paul M Cullis, Hadfield, CEO Biotherapy Services Ltd, for presenting the Professor Helen Fielding, Dr Bryan Hanley, and Professor prizes. Peter Knowles.

Sir Graham Brady MP and Xue Han, University Benjamin Rowsell, University of Bristol and Christiane Schotten, University of Leeds and the of Manchester Thangam Debbonaire MP Rt Hon Hilary Benn MP

Francesco Ibba, University of Oxford and David Rutley MP and Oliver Ring, Astra Zeneca Joshua Nicks, University of Sheffield and Olivia Anneliese Dodds MP Blake MP

30 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 PHYSICAL SCIENCES EXHIBITION – PHYSICS

The STEM for Britain 2020 Awards:

Gold Award: Lui TERRY Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol CONFINING HYDROGEN: A LOW ENERGY ROUTE TO ROOM TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTIVITY

Silver Award: Graham BRUCE School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews MAKING THE MOST OF INTERFERENCE: PRECISION MEASUREMENTS OF LASERS USING SPECKLE

Bronze Award: Maeve MADIGAN Dr Tamara Clelford, Trustee, Institute of Physics; Maeve Madigan (Bronze Award Winner); Lui Terry (Gold Award Winner); Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Department of Applied Mathematics and Committee; Graham Bruce (Silver Award Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary Theoretical Physics, University of Cambridge & Scientific Committee LEPTOQUARKS AT FUTURE COLLIDERS

Our sincere thanks to Dr Tamara Clelford, Trustee, Institute of We are also grateful to the Panel of Physics Judges for their Physics, for presenting the prizes. work: Dr Mark Telling (Chair), Dr Ceri Brenner, Dr Olivia Keenan, Professor Tara Shears, and Dr Klaus Suhling.

Daniela Koeck, University of Sussex, and Andrew Griffith MP Adam Forrest, Heriot Watt University and Joanna Cherry MP

Philip Heron, Durham University and Amanda Solway MP, Minister for Angela Davey, University of Manchester and Jeff Smith MP Science

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 31 THE WESTMINSTER MEDAL The finalists…

Lui Terry, Gold – Physics; Luisa Mihaela Paun, Gold – Mathematics; Sarah Houston, Gold – Biosciences; Florence Gregson, Gold – Chemistry; Tomas Ysehak Abay, Gold - Engineering At the end of the day, the winners of the five Gold medals competed for the Westminster Medal, in memory of Dr Eric Wharton, founder of STEM for Britain. Here, with the quality of the science already proven with a Gold medal, the judges decided on which of the five posters best demonstrated the presenter’s skill in communicating the scientific concept. And the winner was…SARAH HOUSTON Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London USING THE EYE AS A WINDOW TO THE BRAIN IN MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

LR: Dr Sarah Main, Director, Campaign for Science & Engineering; Fred Parrett, Trustee, Society of Chemical Industry London Group (Westminster Medal Sponsor); Sue Wharton, STEM for Britain; Dr Stephen Benn, Vice-President, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee; Sarah Houston (Westminster Medal Winner); Stephen Metcalfe MP, Chair, Parliamentary & Scientific Committee

We sincerely thank The Society of Chemical Industry for generously supporting the Westminster Medal and are grateful to Fred Parrett, SCI Trustee, and Mrs Sue Wharton for presenting the award.

32 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 STEM for Britain is very much a team effort and would not be possible without the help of all the major Learned Societies involved…

“Clear communication is critical as we struggle to address the “STEM for Britain is one of the highlights of the parliamentary calendar. We are Covid19 global pandemic, underpinned by an effective proud to support it and to present The Physiological Society Prize. explanation of the underlying science. The importance of The world faces great challenges in the years to come that will not be addressed science communication has always been at the heart of the by science or politics alone, but by us working together for a common purpose. “STEM for Britain competition, but looking forward there can “ For example, in the COVID-19 crisis, physiologists from our Society are working be little doubt that it will be seen as an essential skill sitting closely with frontline clinicians to analyse the data and help improve treatment as an equal with research quality and integrity: explaining the options for the disease. value and importance of research to parliamentarians has Events like STEM for Britain are vitally important for scientists and politicians to become a critical component of policy making. engage with each other on these key issues.” Congratulations are due to all the entrants for such high quality work.” Professor Bridget Lumb, President of The Physiological Society Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Biology

“We are delighted to see young engineers bringing their research to Parliament, to “The Nutrition Society is delighted to have participated in meet their MPs and share their knowledge and research ideas with policymakers. STEM for Britain 2020. This unique event continues to The Academy believe that it is important that parliamentarians are aware of the provide an exceptional opportunity for early career advances that are being made and the potential for future economic and social researchers in the fast-growing field of nutrition science to “benefit.” “achieve wider exposure for their cutting-edge research Professor Karen Holford CBE FREng FLSW, projects through this interaction with Parliamentarians. The Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Committee Society was particularly pleased to see STEM for Britain attracting a very positive level of support from within Parliament on the day. Finally, it was a landmark occasion for the Society being proud to have awarded the first STEM for Britain Nutrition Society prize at the event.” Mark Hollingsworth Chief Executive Officer “It is wonderful to showcase the importance of the mathematical sciences to a wider audience. It is paramount to encourage early-career research scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians and the STEM for Britain event is a very effective way of doing this.” “ Dr Nira Chamberlain Council for the Mathematical Sciences “STEM for Britain enables Members of Parliament to learn first-hand about new research from some of the very best early career UK scientists. “It is a splendid showcasing event, with a competitive element, that has taken place for many years and will, I hope, run for many more. These kinds of events are invaluable in furthering everyone’s knowledge of the ground-breaking work being undertaken by our young scientists. Policy makers and young “It’s essential to have quality science informing policymaking – and that’s why we’re researchers get to meet and swap ideas and knowledge. “very pleased to once again support STEM for Britain. There is no other event quite All the exhibitors should be immensely proud of what they like it to bring amazing chemical science research – and the people who work on it have achieved, and I am sure that they valued and enjoyed – into Parliament. Everyone presenting here is not only doing important scientific sharing the excitement of their research with key politicians research but the equally important role of communicating it widely – an essential and policy makers.” skill for future chemical science leaders.” Jonathan Flint Dr Jo Reynolds, Director of Science and Communities, President of the Institute of Physics Royal Society of Chemistry

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 33 STEM for Britain 2021 is scheduled to take place in the Houses of Parliament in the second week of March during British Science Week

Applications are invited from Monday 14th September 2020 from early-career research scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians who wish to exhibit posters in one of the following five areas: • Biological and Biomedical Sciences • Chemistry • Engineering • Mathematical Sciences • Physics The closing date for applications is Monday 7th December. A wide range of important scientific, engineering and mathematics institutions and organisations are lending their support to this event, including the Royal Society of Biology, The Physiological Society, the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Council for the Mathematical Sciences, the Institute of Biomedical Science, the Clay Mathematics Institute, the Nutrition Society, the Heilbronn Institute, the Institute of Physics, Warwick Manufacturing Group, United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Dyson Ltd, Biotherapy Services Ltd, IEEE Communications Society, the Biochemical Society, and the Society of Chemical Industry. This reflects the importance we all attach to the encouragement of researchers at this stage in their careers. Prizes will be awarded for the posters presented in each discipline which best communicate high level science, engineering or mathematics to a lay audience. The Westminster Medal for the overall winner will be awarded in memory of the late Dr Eric Wharton, who did so much to establish SET for Britain as a regular event in the Parliamentary calendar. From 14th September full details of the competition and exhibition including the application form can be found on the STEM for Britain website at: www.stemforbritain.org.uk

34 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 Presenting our research at STEM for Britain

Jasmine and Hans are early career research scientists at the It was fantastic to talk to so many people about their research, as National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Jasmine is in the process of well as learn more about encouraging conversation between completing her Doctorate in Engineering with the University of parliament and researchers. Surrey working in NPL’s Materials Testing group, and Hans is a While I didn’t come away with one of the top prizes, there was an Higher Research Scientist in NPL’s Electrochemistry research additional award for ‘Tweet of the session’ in the form of a bottle of group. champagne which I won! Using social media to promote STEM and interact with the science and research community is so valuable; it's JASMINE BONE great to see this being celebrated and I'm always happy to be an I applied to take part in STEM for Britain as it is a great opportunity advocate for communication in research. to present my research to a new audience, and emphasise its importance. This also enables me to continue to develop my own communication skills in presenting my work in DR HANS BECKER poster form, as well as Last December, I submitted a one-page abstract of my research to articulating research to join the STEM for Britain 2020 poster competition. It is a non-experts. This is competition for Britain’s young scientists to communicate their something that is research to MPs in the UK Parliament. It is a rare opportunity to definitely required more in engage our research with the people who have the power to shape science and engineering if the UK’s scientific direction. That’s why I was very excited when I we want to communicate found out I got invited to present my poster in the Engineering the impact of research to session on the 9th of March. the wider public! In It was a busy day in the Parliament when I arrived, with the MPs in addition to increasing my another room discussing measures to tackle the yet-to-be-pandemic own opportunities for Coronavirus. The room was quite packed (which at the time was not personal and professional yet an issue!) with young scientists all over Britain, each with their development, I love state-of-the-art research. My poster details our latest finding in the attending events where I metrology of water electrolysers, the technology that powers a can also meet and Jasmine Bone winning her Champagne hydrogen refuelling station. I used a unique reference electrode network with other for best tweet system and found that expensive materials are feasible to be researchers and learn more about their work too. This is also a substituted with cheaper alternatives. valuable chance to learn more about how research can translate to meeting wider government strategy in the UK. I shared my research with various visitors to my poster, ranging from industry representatives to fellow poster presenters. A few scientists The process involved submitting a one page written abstract about there were also working in the same technology, and we ended up the research, and successful applicants were asked to present their exchanging contact details for future correspondence. Munira poster to MPs and judges at Westminster, with the opportunity to Wilson, the MP for Twickenham and NPL’s local MP, also stopped by win cash prizes. and I had the chance to chat about hydrogen technologies with her. The poster presentation session itself involved speaking to poster I didn’t walk away with a prize, but the whole experience is already a judges and MPs throughout the afternoon about my research, as prize on its own! well as chatting to the other poster presenters involved. The judges were looking for clarity, brevity and enthusiasm about the work in addition to a good poster. I presented my research on the durability of composites in marine environments. Polymer composite materials are increasingly being used in offshore and marine industries for subsea structures, shipping, and wind or tidal turbine blades; particularly as demand for renewable energy increases. While these materials are lighter weight and more corrosion resistant than steel for example, there is still an issue of environmental degradation. It is critical to understand the long term behaviour of these materials to ensure it is accurately designed for cost effective, safe, durable life. My research looks at how the materials that are used for wind turbines and subsea platforms break down under environmental conditions and how that degradation then affects the material performance. Understanding this process allows development of material assessment and the capability to design for long term durability in large composite Left to right - Hans Becker, Munira Wilson MP for Twickenham and structures; something of great interest to industry. Jasmine Bone

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 35 What did the winners of STEM for Britain have to say?

“I am delighted to be awarded the Dyson “STEM for Britain was a unique Award for Outstanding Research towards a opportunity to raise awareness about our work more sustainable future as it is a perfect match and to champion the deployment of offshore to what I’m trying to achieve with my research. technologies. Foundations are usually Our research group led by Dr Ben Woods is unnoticed because they are below the ground researching in morphing wings (i.e. wings that surface, but are still essential to ensure the can change shape during flight in a smooth and integrity of any man-made structure. This event continuous way) and our end goal is to increase the will enable me to share our results and my aerodynamic efficiency of aircraft. By achieving these optimal wing enthusiasm with people actually making the decisions. Beyond the geometries, we could reduce aircraft’s fuel consumption and noise, simple and clear message of going carbon neutral in 2050, I think which would directly translate into more sustainable and discussing my topic with the MPs will give them more information environmentally friendly aircraft.” about the practical solutions, opportunities but also hurdles to clear to achieve this goal.” Andres Rivero Bracho – The Dyson Award Benjamin Cerfontaine – Engineering Bronze

“I thoroughly enjoyed taking part in STEM for Britain this year. This event provided a great “I am delighted to have won the Gold opportunity to share my research with award in STEM this year. This is an amazing members of parliament, and importantly, with a event which enables early-career researchers to wider non-scientific audience who wouldn’t disseminate their work. I very much enjoyed regularly engage with scientific research. The discussing my poster with the MPs and I MPs I spoke to were highly interested in the novel strongly encourage other researchers to research we do at King’s College London in medical imaging with participate.” radioactive metals. I was honoured to receive the Nutritional society sponsored prize and will share this award with my friends and Luisa Michaela Paun – Mathematics Gold colleagues back in the lab.”

George Firth – Nutrition Society Prize ‘Before I properly started my PhD, I initiated a project called ‘BrainCamp Kosovo’ that focuses on teaching high-school students in Kosovo about neuroscience. My institute, SWC, “I am absolutely delighted to win the was more than happy to support it and so it has Cavendish Gold Medal for Physics. It is a real been running since 2018 every year. From here honour to receive such a prestigious award from the motivation to do something more grew, and so Parliament and recognition for my work on I founded a charity last year (Xheladin and Xhufe hydrogen storage and superconductivity. It is a Morina foundation – xhmfoundation.com) focused on providing field I am passionate about, and know that one funding for Kosovan high-school students to attend STEM day we will be able to make real change against workshops or courses to further their STEM careers. I myself am the climate crisis. It was great to be part of STEM for from Kosovo and was lucky enough to have grown up in Belgium, Britain. Events where both scientists and politicians can come a country that gave me many opportunities to get to where I am together and discuss solutions to the burdens of the day are vital, today. Therefore, I always look for opportunities to support and and I hope to be able to attend lots more in the future.” participate in any endeavour like STEM for Britain, where Lui Terry – Physics Gold scientists/researchers come together and share their ‘sheer curiosity for the world around us’. Egzona Morina, Winner, The Physiological Society Prize “I’m over the moon! I never win anything and I’ve worked so hard for this, so I’m really, really pleased. I know of couple of people “I am honoured to receive this award. I who have applied in the past who weren’t would like to thank both the judges and the successful but they said I should give it a go organisers for setting up such an interesting anyway to see, so I gave it a go and I was event. I believe it is very important to have a ecstatic to just be here – I didn’t expect to win! space where scientist can share the beauty of what we do to the rest of the community. Being able to communicate what you do to lay people is really Finally, I would like to thank the Theoretical important for policymaking – it informs policy, it informs other Physics group at King's College London and my people that might actually want to be involved but don’t necessarily collaborators, D. Anninos and have that level of expertise – but you can make that accessible by D. Hofman, for taking me into this journey of understanding the explaining what you do at a more friendly, user-level.” fundamental structure of space and time.”

Fabienne Bachtiger – Chemistry Silver Damian Galante – Mathematics Bronze

36 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 What does STEM for BRITAIN mean to me? From modelling the largest ocean waves on the planet, to delivering some of BP’s most challenging oil and gas projects, Dan Walker has made a career out of chasing engineering challenges. And he’s still chasing them in his current role – leveraging new technologies to help BP play a major role in the energy transition. Here, he talks about his passion for the job and Dan Walker – 2005 Young Engineer for Great the importance of having a global impact. Britain Award Winner

In many ways, I owe my BP with Shell, mainly in Russia and background, particularly offshore, Not an easy task when the world career to the Parliamentary and the US. I was asked to join the team that around us is changing so rapidly! Science Committee’s STEM for But understanding that potential New career frontiers open up ultimately capped and contained Britain (SfB) programme. the well. I then led a global impact helps us make informed Everything changed in 2005, review into engineering risk choices about the direction of I’ve always been fascinated though, when I won a gold across production and drilling for our company. And with the need with the way the physical world medal for excellence in BP. Off the back of that, BP set to transition to a low carbon around us worked and as a child engineering and the Young up an industry taskforce, which I economy ever more urgent, that I had been good at maths and Engineer for Great Britain Award led, working with our peers to challenge has only got bigger in science. But my rural at SfB. This second prize was pool our resources and recent years. comprehensive school found it sponsored by BP, so when at the strengthen the way in which we hard to show me how those awards event at the House of My decision to move from our collectively manage those risks. subjects applied in the real Commons, I met several of its upstream oil and gas business world, so it was only out of senior executives at the time. Technology and the energy into new technologies was a big curiosity that I discovered One asked if I’d ever considered transition step at the time – some found it programmes like those run by joining the industry full time. The quite surprising, but I knew I My career took another, the Royal Academy of rest, as they say, is history. wanted to help with the energy completely different, turn in Engineering that promoted transition. I have always been That said, I didn’t join 2015 when I was asked to set engineering careers. They attracted by roles that present immediately. I actually went back up BP’s first ever cross-business opened my eyes to the the biggest challenges – and to research and lecturing at emerging and disruptive possibility of a career in they don’t come much bigger Oxford for another year, but the engineering. technology team. A different kind than how to help society access appeal of going into industry and of challenge, but a big one, the energy it needs while Later, my research on extreme tackling the biggest frontier nonetheless. We wanted to build reducing our emissions. For me ocean waves led me into energy projects in the world was understanding and capability in it’s about doing work that I’m graduate and postgraduate too great to ignore! new technology areas – often passionate about; in my studies in mechanical A year later I found myself from outside our industry – that experience that means a career engineering at both Oxford working on BP’s flagship oil and have the potential to shape the in science and technology rarely University and the gas projects in some of the energy sector in the future; travels in a straight line. Massachusetts Institute of deepest water depths (great technologies such as batteries Technology in the US. We So, if I was to offer any advice than 2km), with the highest and artificial intelligence. started to build very accurate to 15-year-old me, it would be temperature and pressure Essentially the role of this new models and the oil and gas this: be clear about what excites reservoirs, and in harshest team is to leverage new industry began to take notice. you. Ask yourself ‘what am I environments like the Gulf of technologies that help BP play a This is because if you can model passionate about?’ and then Mexico, where you can get 25- major role in driving the energy these waves, you can start to focus on it like a laser. I’d say the 30-metre hurricane waves. We transition. look at the wave forces on their same thing to anyone in an faced some of the biggest structures. And when you can do As part of this work, I also lead engineering career right now – if engineering challenges on the that then you can intelligently the team that updates and you’re not genuinely passionate planet at the time. And I loved it. design offshore facilities which publishes BP’s Technology about what you’re doing, try safely minimise the use of the A few years into my career at Outlook, which lays out our something else. Keep trying new concrete and steel. So, while I BP, though, the Deepwater thinking on the role that things until you find the thing was in the academic world I Horizon accident happened. technology might play in shaping that sticks. worked on a number of projects Because of my engineering the energy sector out to 2060.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 37 NOISE, SOUND AND ACOUSTICS AN OVERVIEW AND CURRENT POLICY CHALLENGES Acoustics affects each of us every day of our lives. Primarily this is through speaking and listening, but it is also through the acoustic properties of any room we are in and what we can hear when we are outside.

For those under the age of article, the nation is under • There are typically 350,000 about 40, acoustics was lockdown whilst we are tackling noise complaints made every probably responsible for the first the COVID-19 pandemic. One of year to local authorities in time you were seen by your the consequences has been the England 9 family when the ultrasound stark change in our sound • 48% of the population feel image of you in your mother’s environment with people Stephen Turner their home life is spoilt to womb was captured. Acoustics commenting on the absence of President-Elect of the Institute of some extent by noise 10 Acoustics affects the design of concert transportation noise and, instead, halls and other music venues; being able to hear natural That is why it is essential that the design of microphones and sounds such as birdsong more noise is effectively managed. loudspeakers and the clearly 2. Having said that, whilst management of the sound that the outside noise impact might WHAT FACTORS AFFECT affects our marine life. have reduced, there is emerging OUR RESPONSE TO evidence that confining people NOISE? ACOUSTICS IN POLICY to their homes is increasing the Consider the loudest sound MAKING number of noise complaints you have experienced. It could But for those responsible for about noise from neighbours 3. be from being close to a jet policy development and decision aircraft, or close to gunfire, or Prior to the lockdown, the making, it is acoustics in the fireworks, or being close to the following statistics describe the form of the management of loudspeaker system in a night current degree of noise impact: noise that is the most relevant. club. But now consider the most Noise is unwanted sound or • Noise is the second worst annoying noise you have sound that causes a perceived or environmental cause of ill experienced. It is probably none unperceived 1 adverse effect on health in Europe (after air of those listed above, but 4 those experiencing it. This makes pollution) . instead something like a noise different from air pollution. • 100,000 health life years are neighbour’s burglar alarm Virtually none of us can lost annually in the UK due to sounding, or the bass beat comment on the level of transportation noise 5; coming into your property from pollution we experience at any a nearby entertainment venue, one moment, but we all have a • There are 1,000 premature or children playing or your deaths per annum in the UK view about the sound partner snoring, keeping you due to transportation noise 6; environment we are in. awake at night. The level of Furthermore, our views of that • The social cost of sound from any of these is not sound environment will not be transportation noise in as high as those that formed the the same, reinforcing the adage England is estimated to be group of loudest sounds. that “One person’s music is £7bn to £10bn per annum 7; another person’s noise”. Consequently, being annoyed • 11% of the population are by noise is not just the WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF extremely bothered, annoyed consequence of its level. There NOISE? or disturbed by neighbour are many other factors as well, At the time of completing this noise 8; as set out in Box 1.

38 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 Factors affecting whether a THE NOISE POLICY in a way that could apply to any extremely helpful to noise is annoying STATEMENT FOR situation. Arguably, the only new practitioners. policy was the third aim which • Character ENGLAND (NPSE) Figure 2 shows the same The NPSE is ten years old this required consideration of using • Frequency content (high information but this time colour- year and comprises two pages of noise management to enhance pitched, low pitched or coded to show the different policy and 4 pages of the quality of the sound tonal) Government departments or explanatory notes. Although it environment and not simply to • Whether it is continuous, parts of departments who are first came out under the Labour focus on reducing the adverse intermittent or impulsive; responsible for that policy area. administration in 2010, it has impacts of noise. • Duration been adopted by all subsequent So, Defra is shown as ; • Time of day it occurs NOISE POLICY — Governments and this policy MHCLG is ; • Day of week it occurs continuity is enormously helpful OVERVIEW IN ENGLAND — DfT (Aviation) is ; • Relationship of the receiver for practitioners. The graphic at Figure 1 shows — the current legislative and policy DfT (Roads) is ; to the source (if industrial or It contains an overall vision and — framework for noise BEIS is commercial, they may work three aims as shown in these there) management in England — boxes: and so on. • What the receiver is trying to The NPSE can be seen as the Noise management is spread do when the noise occurs Noise Policy Statement for over-arching policy. Underneath over at least 8 different England This means it is challenging to that is the suite of National departments or parts of manage noise effectively. Overall Policy Vision Policy Statements for Major departments. Promote good health and a MANAGEMENT OF good quality of life through the NOISE IN THE UK effective management of noise Noise is a devolved matter with within the context of each administration having Government policy on slightly different policies. sustainable development.

• In England, the overarching policy on the management of Noise Policy Statement for noise is set out in the Noise England Policy Statement for England Noise Policy Aims (https://www.gov.uk/ government/publications/noise Through the effective -policy-statement- management and control of forengland).11 environmental, neighbour and neighbourhood noise • In Northern Ireland, the within the context of overarching policy is set out in Government policy on the Noise Policy Statement for sustainable development: Northern Ireland • avoid significant adverse (https://www.daerani.gov.uk/ impacts on health and sites/default/files/publications/ quality of life; doe/noise-policy-statement- ni.PDF) • mitigate and minimise adverse impacts on health • In Scotland, noise policy is set and quality of life; and out in Planning Advice Note (PAN) 1/2011 • where possible, contribute https://www.gov.scot/ to the improvement of publications/planning-advice- health and quality of life. note-1-2011-planningnoise/ At the time of its publication, it and was stated that one of the Infrastructure Projects; the suite THE NOISE • In Wales -noise policy is found purposes was to make explicit of land use planning policies and MANAGEMENT what was implicit in existing in Planning Policy Wales guidance and the range of CHALLENGE https://gov.wales/sites/default/ policy and legislation concerning legislation, some of which date files/publications/2019-02/ noise management. Thus, much back to the 1970s. Because of In principle, there is nothing planning-policywales-edition- of the policy in the NPSE already the NPSE, there is a now a lot of fundamentally wrong with this 10.pdf existed. It was, instead described policy consistency which again is arrangement. The ubiquitous

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 39 nature of noise inevitably means We anticipate that the and noise management. Its that it touches on a large installation of heat pumps, members include consultants, number of policy areas. The particularly air-to-water and air- academics and regulators. Its challenge comes because for to air heat pumps, will play a activities include working for most officials, noise major role in delivering low industry, developers, government management is only a small part carbon heat for homes built to and local authorities in all of their portfolio. Furthermore, the Future Homes Standard. matters associated with sound there are only two trained Again, this is an extremely and noise management in the acousticians in Whitehall to assist laudable desire, but there was natural and built environment. It them. no mention of noise. Effectively, has just over 3000 members and the acoustics profession Consequently, this arrangement the Government is advocating generates about £4.6bn per can lead to uneven going from a gas boiler that has annum to the economy. implementation of policy; a small fan and is located incomplete management of indoors to an air source heat noise or unintended pump which has a larger fan and References consequences. is located outdoors. The Institute 1 Research over the last 20 years or so of Acoustics (IOA) have raised its has shown that long exposure to One example was the granting concern in its response to that higher levels of environmental noise is of permitted development rights associated with an increased risk of consultation. to convert offices into residential cardio-vascular disease and other premises to assist with tackling similar effects. Thus, although WHAT TO DO? someone living close to a busy road the housing shortage. Initially, At present we have members may say they are not bothered by the there was no requirement to traffic noise, they may yet be of the IOA who work in all the consider the impact of the experiencing effects that are harmful aspects of noise management nearby noise environment on to their health mentioned. We also have the the new residents. Soon there 2 The Institute of Acoustics is using its range of Government were complaints from the new resources to try to quantify this departments with some change in noise impact whilst residents who found themselves responsibility for noise observing the social isolation rules. being affected by noise in the management. What appears to 3 Source: https://www.rheglobal.com/ evening and night from nearby be missing is some central news/614913981658890240/noise- entertainment venues. complaints-surge-during-covid-19- political oversight of noise Previously, the dwellings had lockdown management that can bring been an office and there was together the professionals of the 4 Source: World Health Organization no-one living there who would IOA and the relevant policy 5 Source: European Environment be disturbed. officials. One possible solution is Agency It took a while, but eventually the establishment of an All-Party 6 Ibid there were changes to the Parliamentary Group on Sound 7 Source: UK Government Permitted Development and Noise Management. 8 Source: National Noise Attitude Study Regulations (PDR) that required Although it is recognised that 2012 consideration of the potential there are many of these groups 9 Source: Public Health Outcomes noise impact on the new already, the data shown above Framework dwellings from nearby demonstrates that the effective 10 Source: National Noise Attitude Study commercial activities. management of noise is very 2012 But the current state of the important for the health and quality of life of the citizens of 11 This web page has a banner PDR still means that offices close statement that says “This was to motorways can be converted the UK. The Institute of Acoustics published under the 2005 to 2010 to dwellings without any formal believes that there is a need to Labour government”. It has never been clear what is the purpose of requirement to consider the secure the right level of political traction to make this happen such a statement. The date on the noise impact on those dwellings document clearly shows when it was from the traffic using the and is keen to work with the published and it is the current policy motorway. Parliamentary and Scientific on noise management which Committee to help this to occur. subsequent administrations have There are potential future risks confirmed it to be. Yet the presence of as well. In October last year, Note about the Institute of this banner risks diluting the weight that should be placed on this key MHCLG published its Acoustics: policy document. consultation on the Future The Institute of Acoustics is the Homes Standard. In it stated professional body for those that: working in the field of acoustics

40 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST)

POST has a new website (https://post.parliament.uk/) and its 596: Chemical Weapons special COVID-19 briefings can be found at: 595: Reservoirs of Antimicrobial Resistance https://post.parliament.uk/category/analysis/covid-19/ 594: Limiting Global Warming to 1.5°C POST is a bicameral body that bridges research and policy, 593: Cyber Security of Consumer Devices providing reliable and up-to-date research evidence for the UK POSTbriefs are responsive policy briefings based on mini- Parliament. It is overseen by a Board of MPs, Peers and external literature reviews and peer reviews. Those produced in 2019 experts. and 2020 were: POST briefings are impartial, non-partisan, and peer-reviewed. 36: Understanding insect decline: data and drivers Timely and forward thinking, they are designed to make scientific 35: Evaluating the integration of health and social care research accessible to the UK Parliament 34: Net Gain POSTnotes are four-page summaries of public policy issues based 33: Research for Parliament: Preparing for a changing world on reviews of the research literature and interviews with 32: 5G technology stakeholders from across academia, industry, government and the 31: Evaluating UK natural hazards: the national risk assessment third sector. They are peer reviewed by external experts. POST has also introduced some new short briefings that POSTnotes are often produced proactively, so that parliamentarians summarise the research around COVID-19: have advance knowledge of key issues before they reach the top COVID-19: Current understanding of the political agenda. COVID-19: Behavioural and social interventions And those produced in 2019 and 2020 were: COVID-19: Insights from behavioural science 621: Infrastructure and climate change COVID-19: School closures and mass gatherings 620: 3D bioprinting in medicine Vaccines for COVID-19 619: UK insect decline and extinctions Models of COVID-19: Part 1 618: Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) Ongoing and future projects approved by the POST Board. 617: Climate change-biodiversity interactions 616: Low-carbon aviation fuels BIOLOGY AND HEALTH 615: Climate change and aviation In production 614: Brain computer interfaces Outward medical tourism 613: Non-custodial sentences Disorders of consciousness 612: Autism Researching gambling 611: Human Germline Genome Editing Influence of industry on public health policy 610: Misuse of Civilian Drones Resilient food chains 609: Access to Critical Materials Scheduled 608: Online Safety Education Reformulation of food products 607: Improving Witness Testimony Testosterone and sports performance 606: Compostable Food Packaging 605: Plastic Food Packaging Waste ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT In production 604: Climate Change and Fisheries 603: Climate Change and UK Wildfire Food waste 602: Developments in Wind Power Global deal for nature 601: Sustaining the Soil Microbiome Heat networks 600: Climate Change and Agriculture Plant genetic resources for food and agriculture 599: Early Interventions to Reduce Violent Crime Scheduled 598: Advances in Cancer Treatment Sustainable cooling 597: Climate Change & Vector-Borne Disease in Humans in the Strategic approaches to ecosystem services UK Natural mitigation of flood risk Marine renewables Machine learning for environmental remote sensing

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 41 PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND ICT House of Lords In production • Lord Oxburgh, KBE, FRS Algorithms and accountability • Lord Haskel Cloud and edge computing • Lord Patel KT, FMedSci, FRSE Key EU space programmes Non-parliamentary Food fraud • Professor Elizabeth Fisher, FMedSci • Paul Martynenko, FBCS SOCIAL SCIENCES • Professor Sir Bernard Silverman, FRS, FAcSS In production • Professor Dame Sarah Whatmore, FBA Research glossary Ex-officio Scheduled • Dr Grant Hill-Cawthorne, Head of the Parliamentary Office of Online extremism Science and Technology Screen time in young people • Penny Young, House of Commons Librarian and Managing Director of Research & Information The POST Board oversees POST’s objectives, outputs and future work programme. It meets quarterly. • James Rhys, Principal Clerk, Committee Office, House of Commons Officers • Edward Potton, Head of Science and Environment Section, House • Chair: Adam Afriyie MP of Commons Library • Vice-Chair: Professor the Lord Winston, FmedSci, FRSA, FRCP, • Nicolas Besly, Clerk of Select Committees, House of Lords FRCOG, FREng Head of POST • Secretary: Claire Quigley • Dr Grant Hill-Cawthorne: 020 7219 2952 House of Commons PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY • Rt Hon Greg Clark MP Houses of Parliament • Alan Whitehead MP Westminster • Thangam Debbonaire MP London SW1A 0AA HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEES

Current Select Committee Inquiries Health and Social Care Committee Jeremy Hunt MP was elected as Chair on 29th January 2020. Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee • Management of the Coronavirus Outbreak – 3rd March. At the time of going to press nominations were open for the • Pre-Appointment Hearing for the Role of Chair of NICE – 4th March position of Chair, following Rachel Reeves MP's appointment to the • Social Care Funding and Workforce – 10th March Shadow Cabinet. • Delivery of Core NHS and Care Services during the Pandemic and • My BEIS Inquiry – Opened 3rd March Beyond – 22nd April • Net Zero UN Climate Summits – 6th March For further details: Tel: 020 7219 6182 Email: [email protected] • The Impact of Coronavirus on Business and Workers – 13th March

• Work of the Department & Government response to Coronavirus – Science and Technology Committee 14th April Greg Clark MP was elected as Chair on 29th January 2020. For further details: Tel: 020 7219 5777 Email: [email protected] • Budget 2020 Research & Innovation Spending – 17th March Environmental Audit Committee • UK Science, Research and Technology Capability and Influence in Philip Dunne MP was elected Chair on 29th January 2020. Global Disease – 20th March • Possible Future Inquiries – 12th March • Commercial Genomes – 9th April • Electronic Waste and the Circular Economy – 13th March • UK Telecommunication Infrastructure and the UK’s Domestic • Technological Innovations and Climate Change – Offshore Wind – Capability – 9th April 6th April • A New UK Research Funding Agency – 9th April For further details: Tel 020 7219 5776 Email: [email protected] For further details: Tel: 020 7219 Email: [email protected]

42 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY

The House of Commons Library is an independent research and stakeholder commentary. Information on other key international and information unit. It provides impartial information for conferences on biodiversity and oceans is also included. It will be Members of Parliament of all parties and their staff. This service updated periodically to reflect developments throughout 2020/21. supports MPs in their work scrutinising Government and Plastic waste legislation, and supporting constituents. Published 31 March 2020, CBP-8515 The Library provides confidential, impartial and bespoke briefing to This includes statistics on plastic waste and information on UK Members of the House of Commons and their offices on a daily Government and devolved Government plans and ambitions to basis supporting the full range of parliamentary work, from policy reduce avoidable plastic waste and examples of voluntary initiatives development to constituency issues. from the plastics industry, environmental groups and retailers. The Commons Library publishes a range of products including Electric vehicles and infrastructure research briefings, shorter insight articles and briefings for non- Published 25 March 2020, CBP-7480 legislative debates, all of which are available online for MPs and the general public. These briefings include in-depth and impartial This paper explains what electric vehicles are and how successive analysis of all major pieces of legislation. The briefings also cover governments have planned for infrastructure and provided vehicle areas of policy, frequently asked questions and topical issues. You grants and incentives to encourage and accommodate their growth. can find the briefings on the Commons Library website It also sets out how the electricity grid is preparing to accommodate (https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk) where you can also sign up any increased demand from EV charging and looks at comparative for personalised alerts for new or updated briefings in subject areas. emissions from EVs and conventional vehicles.

A recent focus of briefing has been the Coronavirus and a webpage Carbon capture usage and storage provides access to all the relevant material published by the Published 11 March 2020, CBP-8841 Commons Library as well as the Lords Library and POST (see This paper covers carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS), https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/). This includes: providing information on the processes involved; key benefits and challenges; Government policy and Parliamentary scrutiny. Coronavirus Bill: Overview (including references to 10 further briefings explaining different parts of the legislation) Commons Library analysis of the Environment Bill 2019-20 Published 23 March 2020, CBP-8857 Published 6 March 2020, CBP-8824 The Library has produced many research briefings around the New Nuclear Power debate on Brexit (see Published 4 March 2020, CBP-8176 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/category/brexit/). This briefing summarises current progress on nuclear power, These include most recently: including conventional reactors, advanced designs, waste disposal, What is happening in the UK-EU future relationship and nuclear research. negotiations? Medicines and Medical Devices Bill 2019-20 Published 7 April 2020 (insight article) Published 27 February 2020, CBP-8699 The UK-EU future relationship negotiations: Level playing field Published 17 March 2020, CBP-8852

The Science and Environment Section (SES) is one of eight teams in the Research Service in the House of Commons Library. In 2020 they have published, and continue to update, briefings on issues as varied as:

Support for low carbon power Published 8 April 2020, CBP-8891 This short briefing covers background to the contract for difference mechanism for supporting low carbon power.

COP26: the international climate change conference, Glasgow, UK Published 2 April 2020, CBP-8868 This paper covers the lead up to the conference; the Government's ongoing preparations for COP 26; and key Parliamentary scrutiny

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 43 SCIENCE DIRECTORY UK Research and Innovation Contact: Roxy Squire Parliamentary Affairs Lead, UKRI 58 Victoria Embankment, 4th floor EC4Y 0DS, London

Tel: 02073952280 | 07706000363 Email: [email protected]

Website: www.ukri.org

Big challenges demand big thinkers - those who can unlock the answers and further our understanding of the important issues of our time. Our work encompasses everything from the physical, biological and social sciences, to innovation, engineering, medicine, the environment and the cultural impact of the arts and humanities. In all of these areas, our role is to bring together the people who can innovate and change the world for the better. We work with the government to invest over £7 billion a year in research and innovation by partnering with academia and industry to make the impossible, possible. Through the UK’s nine leading academic and industrial funding councils, we create knowledge with impact.

Website: www.ahrc.ukri.org Website: www.bbsrc.ukri.org Website: www.esrc.ukri.org

AHRC funds outstanding original research across BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research ESRC is the UK’s largest funder of research on the the whole range of the arts and humanities. This and training. This research is helping society to social and economic questions facing us today. This research provides economic, social and cultural meet major challenges, including food security, research shapes public policy and contributes to benefits to the UK, and contributes to the culture green energy and healthier, longer lives and making the economy more competitive, as well as and welfare of societies around the globe. underpinning important UK economic sectors, such giving people a better understanding of 21st as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and century society. pharmaceuticals.

Website: Website: www.epsrc.ukri.org www.gov.uk/government/organisations/innovate-uk Website: www.mrc.ukri.org EPSRC invests in world-leading research and Innovate UK drives productivity and economic MRC is at the forefront of scientific discovery to postgraduate training across the engineering and growth by supporting businesses to develop and improve human health. Its scientists tackle some of physical sciences. This research builds the knowledge realise the potential of new ideas, including those the greatest health problems facing humanity in the and skills base needed to address scientific and from the UK’s world-class research base. They 21st century, from the rising tide of chronic diseases technological challenges and provides a platform for connect businesses to the partners, customers and associated with ageing to the threats posed by future UK prosperity by contributing to a healthy, investors that can help them turn these ideas into rapidly mutating micro-organisms. connected, resilient, productive nation. commercially successful products and services, and business growth.

Website: www.nerc.ukri.org Website: www.re.ukri.org Website: www.stfc.ukri.org NERC is the driving force of investment in Research England creates and sustains the STFC is a world-leading multi-disciplinary science environmental science. Its leading research, skills conditions for a healthy and dynamic research and organisation. Its research seeks to understand the and infrastructure help solve major issues and bring knowledge exchange system in English universities. Universe from the largest astronomical scales to the benefits to the UK, such as affordable clean energy, Working to understand their strategies, capabilities tiniest constituents of matter, and creates impact air pollution, and resilience of our infrastructure. and capacity; supporting and challenging on a very tangible, human scale. universities to create new knowledge, strengthen the economy, and enrich society.

44 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 SCIENCE DIRECTORY Association of the British Contact: Dr Jane Gate, Executive Director Contact: Pharmaceutical AIRTO Ltd: Association of Innovation Tony Harding Industry Research & Technology Organisations Ltd 07895 162 896 for all queries whether for c/o National Physical Laboratory membership or assistance. Contact: Audrey Yvernault Hampton Road, Teddington Branch Office Address: Head of Policy and Public Affairs Middlesex TW11 0LW Merchant Quay, 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, Tel: 020 8943 6600 Salford Quays, Salford London SW1E 6QT E-mail: [email protected] M50 3SG. Tel: 020 7747 7136 Twitter: @airtoinnovation Email: [email protected] Website: www.airto.co.uk Website: www.amps-tradeunion.com Website: www.abpi.org.uk AIRTO, the Association of Innovation, Research and We are a Trades Union for Management and The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Technology Organisations, comprises approximately sixty represents innovative research-based biopharmaceutical Professional Staff working in the pharmaceutical, companies, large, medium and small, leading an exciting new era principal organisations operating in the UK’s Innovation, chemical and allied industries. of biosciences in the UK. Our industry, a major contributor to the Research and Technology (IRT) sector. The IRT sector has a economy of the UK, brings life-saving and life-enhancing We have produced a training programme funded by medicines to patients. Our members are researching and combined turnover of £6.9Bn, employs over 57,000 people the EU on diversity and helping women managers developing over two-thirds of the current medicines pipeline, and contributes £34Bn to UK GVA. AIRTO’s members work remain in the workplace after a career break. This ensuring that the UK remains at the forefront of helping patients at the interface between academia and industry, for both training programme is aimed at both men and women prevent and overcome diseases. Topics we focus on include: private and public sector clients. Members include and is intended to address the shortfall in qualified • All aspects of the research and development of medicines personnel in the chemical and allied industries. including clinical research and licensing independent Research and Technology Organisations, • Stratified medicine Catapult Centres, Public Sector Research Establishments, We are experts in performance based and field related issues and are affiliated to our counterparts in EU • Vaccines, biosimilars, small and large molecules, cell therapy National Laboratories, some university Technology Transfer and regenerative medicine Offices and some privately held innovation companies. Professional Management Unions.

Contact: Colin Danson Contact: Ivana Knyght Distinguished Scientist & Head of Profession Director of Society Programmes Contact: Linda Capper, MBE, MCIPR for Physics and Mathematics Biochemical Society Head of Communications AWE 5th floor, British Antarctic Survey Aldermaston, Reading RG7 4PR 90 High Holborn, High Cross Email: [email protected] London, WC1V 6LJ Madingley Road Cambridge CB3 0ET www.awe.co.uk Tel: +44 (0)20 3880 2793 Email [email protected] Tel: 0118 98 56901 Email: [email protected] Website: www.biochemistry.org Tel: +44 (0)1223 221448 AWE plays a crucial role in our nation’s defence by providing Mobile: 07714 233744 and maintaining warheads for the UK’s nuclear deterrent and The Biochemical Society works to promote the delivers advice and guidance on a 24/7 basis to UK molecular biosciences; facilitating the sharing of British Antarctic Survey (BAS), an institute of NERC, delivers government in the area of national security. expertise, supporting the advancement of and enables world-leading interdisciplinary research in the We are a centre of scientific, engineering and technological biochemistry and molecular biology and raising Polar Regions. Its skilled science and support staff based in excellence, with some of the most advanced research, design Cambridge, Antarctica and the Arctic, work together to and production facilities in the world. AWE is contracted to awareness of their importance in addressing deliver research that uses the Polar Regions to advance our the Ministry of Defence (MOD) through a Government- societal grand challenges. We achieve our mission understanding of Earth as a sustainable planet. Through its owned-contractor-operated (GOCO) arrangement. While our by : extensive logistic capability and know-how BAS facilitates sites and facilities remain in government ownership, their access for the British and international science community to management, day-to-day operations and maintenance of • bringing together molecular bioscientists; the UK polar research operation. Numerous national and Britain’s nuclear stockpile is contracted to a private company: • supporting the next generation of biochemists; international collaborations, combined with an excellent AWE Management Limited (AWE ML). AWE ML is a • promoting and sharing knowledge and infrastructure help sustain a world leading position for the consortium comprising three partners: Jacobs Engineering UK in Antarctic affairs. For more information visit Group, the Lockheed Martin Corporation and Serco Group plc. • promoting the importance of our discipline. www.bas.ac.uk @basnews

British In Vitro

Diagnostics Association Contact: (BIVDA) Contact: Jonathan Brüün Ben Connor, Policy Manager Chief Executive British Ecological Society Contact: Doris-Ann Williams MBE British Pharmacological Society 42 Wharf Rd, Hoxton, Chief Executive The Schild Plot, 16 Angel Gate, London N1 7GS British In Vitro Diagnostics Association City Road, London EC1V 2PT Email: [email protected] 299 Oxford Street, London W1C 2DZ Tel: : 020 7239 0171 Tel: 020 3994 8282 Tel: 0845 6188224 Fax: 020 7417 0114 Website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Twitter: @BESPolicy www.bivda.org.uk Website: www.bps.ac.uk The British Ecological Society is an independent, The British Pharmacological Society is a charity with a BIVDA is the UK industry association representing mission to promote and advance the whole spectrum of authoritative learned society, and the voice of the companies who manufacture and/or distribute the pharmacology. It is the primary UK learned society UK’s ecological community. Working with our concerned with drugs and the way they work, and leads the diagnostics tests and equipment to diagnose, members we gather and communicate the best way in the research and application of pharmacology monitor and manage disease largely through the NHS around the world. available ecological evidence to inform decision pathology services. Increasingly diagnostics are used Founded in 1931, the Society champions pharmacology in making. We offer a source of unbiased, objective all its forms, across academia, industry, regulatory agencies ecological knowledge, and promote an evidence- outside the laboratory in community settings and also and the health service. With over 3,500 members from over informed approach to finding the right solutions to to identify those patients who would benefit from 60 countries worldwide, the Society is a friendly and collaborative community. Enquiries about the discovery, environmental questions. specific drug treatment particularly for cancer. development and application of drugs are welcome.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 45 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Contact Dr Doug Brown, CEO Contact Professor Sacha Mooney Tracey Guise, Chief Executive Officer British Society for Immunology Building 42a, Cranfield University British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 34 Red Lion Square Cranfield, Bedfordshire (BSAC) Holborn United Kingdom 53 Regent Place, Birmingham B1 3NJ London WC1R 4SG E-mail: [email protected] +44 (0)121 236 1988 Tel: 020 3019 5901 website: www.soils.org.uk [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] The British Society of Soil Science (BSSS) or “BS cubed” www.bsac.org.uk Website: www.immunology.org as it is fondly known was founded in 1947 by a number BSAC is a learned society whose members are among the of eminent British soil scientists. It was formed with the world’s leading infectious disease physicians, pharmacists, The British Society for Immunology’s mission is to aims: to advance the study of soil; to be open to microbiologists, and nurses. promote excellence in immunological research, membership from all those with an interest in the study With more than 45 years of leadership in antibiotic research scholarship and clinical practice in order to improve and uses of soil; and to issue an annual publication. and education, BSAC is dedicated to saving lives by fighting infection. It does this by supporting a global network of human and animal health. We are the leading UK Nowadays BSSS is an established international experts via workshops, conferences, evidence-based membership organisation working with scientists membership organisation and charity committed to the guidelines, e-learning courses, and its own high-impact study of soil in its widest aspects. The Society acts as a and clinicians from academia and industry to international journal. forum for the exchange of ideas and provides a BSAC also provides national surveillance and susceptibility forward immunology research and application framework for representing the views of soil scientists testing programmes, an outpatient parenteral antimicrobial around the world. Our friendly, accessible to other organisations and decision making bodies. It therapy (OPAT) initiative, research and development grants, community of over 3,500 immunologists gives us a promotes research by organising several conferences and the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group on each year and by the publication of its two scientific Antibiotics. powerful voice to advocate for immunological science and health for the benefit of society. journals, the European Journal of Soil Science, and Soil BSAC has members in 40 nations and active learners in Use and Management. more than 135 countries. Cavendish Laboratory

Contact: Departmental Administrator, The Cavendish Laboratory, Contact: Geoff Rodgers Contact: Dr Noorzaman Rashid Brunel University London J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. Kingston Lane E-mail: [email protected] Chief Executive Uxbridge UB8 3PH http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk Tel: 01895 265609 [email protected] Fax: 01895 269740 The Cavendish Laboratory houses the Department of Physics +4407966335309 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.brunel.ac.uk of the University of Cambridge. www.ergonomics.org.uk Brunel University London is an international research active university The research programme covers the breadth of with 3 leading research institutes: contemporary physics Our vision is integrated design to improve life, Institute of Energy Futures: Led by Professor Savvas Tassou, the main themes of the Institute are Advanced Engines and Biofuels, Energy Extreme Universe: Astrophysics, cosmology and high wellbeing and performance through science, Efficient and Sustainable Technologies, Smart Power Networks, and Resource Efficient Future Cities. energy physics engineering, technology and psychology. The Institute of Materials and Manufacturing: The main themes of research Quantum Universe: Cold atoms, condensed matter theory, are Design for Sustainable Manufacturing, Liquid Metal Engineering, Institute is one of the largest in the world Materials Characterisation and Processing, Micro-Nano Manufacturing, scientific computing, quantum matter and semiconductor and Structural Integrity. The Institute is led by Professor Luiz Wrobel. physics representing the discipline and profession of Institute of Environment, Health and Societies: Professor Susan Human Factors and Ergonomics. We have sector Jobling leads this pioneering research institute whose themes are Health Materials Universe: Optoelectronics, nanophotonics, and Environment, Healthy Ageing, Health Economics Synthetic Biology, detector physics, thin film magnetism, surface physics and groups in most industries from defence to aviation Biomedical Engineering and Healthcare Technologies, and Social the Winton programme for the physics of sustainability Sciences and Health. and pharmaceuticals that provide expert advice to Brunel University London offers a wide range of expertise and Biological Universe: Physics of medicine, biological knowledge, and prides itself on having academic excellence at the core industry and government. We accredit university of its offer, and was ranked in the recent REF as 33rd in the UK for systems and soft matter courses and consultancy practices and work closely Research Power (average quality rating by number of submissions) and The Laboratory has world-wide collaborations with other described by The Times Higher Education as one of the real winners of the REF 2014. universities and industry with allied learned societies.

Contact: Dr Christopher Flower Contact: Dr Eric Albone MBE, Director, Contact: Lindsay Walsh Clifton Scientific Trust Josaron House De Morgan House 5-7 John Princes Street 49 Northumberland Road, Bristol BS6 7BA Tel: 0117 924 7664 Mob:07721 683528 57-58 Russell Square London W1G 0JN E-mail: [email protected] London WC1B 4HS Tel: 020 7491 8891 Website: www.clifton-scientific.org Tel: 020 7637 3686 E-mail: [email protected] We bring school students and their teachers Fax: 020 7323 3655 Website: www.ctpa.org.uk & • to work closely with scientists and engineers Email: [email protected] www.thefactsabout.co.uk • to experience science as a creative, questioning, team Website: www.cms.ac.uk exploration

• to add real-life meaning and motivation, from primary to The Council for the Mathematical Sciences is an CTPA is the UK trade association representing post-16 authoritative and objective body that works to develop, manufacturers of cosmetic products and • internationally to build global awareness and experience influence and respond to UK policy issues affecting science as a cultural bridge mathematical sciences in higher education and suppliers to the cosmetic products industry. • to build transferable skills for employability and citizenship research, and therefore the UK economy and society by: ‘Cosmetic products’ are legally defined and Two powerful Exemplars • providing expert advice; subject to stringent EU safety laws. CTPA is the • Post-16; our unique UK-Japan Young Scientist • engaging with government, funding agencies and other decision makers; authoritative public voice of a vibrant and Workshop Programme hosted in universities in England and Japan since 2001 • raising public awareness; and responsible UK industry trusted to act for the • Primary; our local Meet-a-Medic Programme since 2005 • facilitating communication between the consumer; ensuring the science behind Clifton Scientific Trust Ltd is registered charity in England mathematical sciences community and other stakeholders cosmetics is fully understood. and Wales 1086933

46 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Contact: Louise Kingham OBE FEI Chief Executive Contact: Dr Katie Perry 61 New Cavendish Street Chief Executive London W1G 7AR Gemma Wood The Daphne Jackson Trust Tel: 020 7467 7100 Head of External Affairs Department of Physics University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH Email: [email protected] The Francis Crick Institute Tel: 01483 689166 Website: www.energyinst.org Midland Road, London NW1 1AT Email: [email protected] M: 07376 446679 Website: www.daphnejackson.org The Energy Institute (EI) is the chartered professional Press office: 020 3796 5252 membership body bringing together expertise for urgent Founded in 1992 in memory of the UK’s first female global challenges. Our ambition is that energy, and its E: [email protected] Professor of Physics, the Trust is the UK’s leading charity critical role in our world, is better understood, managed W: www.crick.ac.uk dedicated to realising the potential of scientists and and valued. We’re a unique network with insight spanning engineers returning to research after career breaks for the world of energy, from conventional oil and gas to the The Francis Crick Institute is a biomedical discovery institute family, caring and health reasons. Recently, we have most innovative renewable and energy efficient dedicated to understanding the fundamental biology expanded our remit to incorporate the social sciences and technologies. We gather and share essential knowledge underlying health and disease. Its work is helping to arts & humanities. Our Fellowship programme, working in about energy, the skills that are helping us all use it more understand why disease develops and to translate partnership with universities, UKRI, charities, learned discoveries into new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat societies and industry, enables individuals to undertake part- wisely, and the good practice needed to keep it safe and illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, infections, time research in universities and research institutes. secure. We articulate the voice of energy experts, taking and neurodegenerative diseases. Fellowships comprise a research project alongside an the know-how of around 20,000 members and 200 companies from 120 countries to the heart of the public The Crick was formed in 2015, and in 2016 it moved into individually tailored retraining programme, with additional debate. And we’re an independent, not-for-profit, safe a brand new state-of-the-art building in central London mentoring and support, enabling recipients to re-establish which brings together 1500 scientists and support staff their research credentials, update skills and redevelop space for evidence-based collaboration, an honest broker working collaboratively across disciplines. confidence, in a suitably supportive environment. between industry, academia and policy makers.

First Group

Contact: Mac Andrade Contact: Director of Science Director Infrastructure Suzanne King Fera Science Ltd. (Fera) First Group Policy and Voice Manager Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ 4th Floor, EngineeringUK Tel: 01904 462000 Capital House 5th Floor, Woolgate Exchange E-mail: [email protected] 25 Chapel Street 25 Basinghall Street Website: www.fera.co.uk London London EC2V 5HA NW1 5DH Email: sking@engineeringuk.com Fera provides expert analytical and professional E-mail: [email protected] services to governments, agrichemical companies, Website: www.firstgroup.com EngineeringUK is an independent organisation that food retailers, manufacturers and farmers to promotes the vital role of engineers, engineering facilitate safety, productivity and quality across the FirstGroup are the leading transport operator in the and technology in our society. EngineeringUK agrifood supply chain in a sustainable and environmentally compatible way. UK and North America and each day, every one of partners business and industry, Government and Fera uses its world leading scientific expertise to the wider science and technology community: our 110,000 employees works hard to deliver vitally provide robust evidence, rigorous analysis and important services for our passengers. During the producing evidence on the state of engineering; professional advice to governments, international sharing knowledge within engineering, and bodies and companies worldwide. Our food last year around 2.2 billion passengers relied on us inspiring young people to choose a career in integrity, plant health, agri-tech and agri- to get to work, to school or college, to visit family informatics services ensure that our customers have engineering, matching employers’ demand for and friends, and much more. access to leading edge science, technology and skills. expertise.

Contact: Steven Brambley Contact: Florence Bullough Head of Policy and Engagement Contact: Lynda Rigby, Executive Head of Rotherwick House Marketing and Membership Burlington House Institute of Biomedical Science, 3 Thomas More Street Piccadilly 12 Coldbath Square, London, EC1R 5HL London, E1W 1YZ London W1J 0BG Tel: 020 7713 0214 Email: [email protected] Tel: 020 7642 8080 Tel: 020 7434 9944 Twitter: @IBMScience E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7439 8975 Website: www.ibms.org Website : www.gambica.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Advancing knowledge and setting standards in Website: www.geolsoc.org.uk biomedical science GAMBICA is the voice of the laboratory technology, With over 20,000 members in 61 countries, the The Geological Society is the national learned and Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) is the leading instrumentation, control and automation industries, professional body for scientists, support staff and professional body for Earth sciences, with 12,000 students in the field of biomedical science. providing influence, knowledge and community. Fellows (members) worldwide. The Fellowship Since 1912 we have been dedicated to the promotion, We offer members a common platform for voicing encompasses those working in industry, academia development and delivery of excellence in biomedical and government, with a wide range of perspectives science within all aspects of healthcare, and to their opinions and representing their common providing the highest standards of service to patients and views on policy-relevant science, and the interests to a range of stakeholders. GAMBICA and the public. Society is a leading communicator of this science to By supporting our members in their practice, we set seeks to spread best-practice and be thought government bodies and other non-technical quality standards for the profession through training, leaders in our sectors. audiences. education, assessments, examinations and continuous professional development.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 47 SCIENCE DIRECTORY Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) Contact: Delia Mertoiu Contact: Michelle Medhat Contact: Bev Mackenzie 5 Cambridge Court Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Institute of Marine Engineering, Science 210 Shepherds Bush Road Exchange and Technology (IMarEST), Aldgate House, London W6 7NJ Rex House 33 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1EN 4 – 12 Regent Street Tel: 020 7603 6316 Tel: +44(0) 20 7382 2600 London SW1Y 4PE E-mail: [email protected] Fax: +44(0) 20 7382 2667 www. InnovationInstitute.org.uk Website: www.ifst.org E-mail: [email protected] We are the UK’s leading professional body for those IKE is the UK’s professional body for innovators. It Website: www.imarest.org involved in all aspects of food science and technology. We are an internationally respected accredits and certificates innovation practices. We influence the inter-relationship between education, Established in London in 1889, the IMarEST is a independent membership body, supporting food leading international membership body and professionals through knowledge sharing and business, and government through research and learned society for marine professionals, with over professional recognition. collaborative networks. Our Innovation Manifesto 15,000 members worldwide. The IMarEST has an highlights our commitment to support the Our core aim is the advancement of food science extensive marine network of 50 international and technology based on impartial science and development of innovative people and branches, affiliations with major marine societies knowledge sharing. organisations. IKE runs think-tanks, conducts around the world, representation on the key marine Our membership comprises individuals from a wide research, develops new business models and tools technical committees and non-governmental status range of backgrounds, from students to experts, and supports organisations to benchmark their at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as working across a wide range of disciplines within innovation capabilities. well as other intergovernmental organisations. the sector.

The Institute Institute of

of Materials Measurement Finishing and Control Contact: Patrick Cusworth Head of Policy Contact: Dr Trevor Crichton FIMF; Contact: Dr. Patrick A Finlay Institute of Physics, 37 Caledonian Road, MInstCorr; MRSC; CChem. Chief Executive Officer London N1 9BU Email : [email protected] The Institute of Measurement and Control Tel : 0121 622 7387 87 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AF Tel: 020 7470 4824 Tel: +44 (0) 20 73874949 E-mail: [email protected] The Institute of Materials Finishing is the premier E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.iop.org technical organisation representing industry, Website: www.instmc.org academia and individual professionals in both the Reg Charity number: 269815 UK’s and global surface engineering and materials The Institute of Physics (IOP) is the professional body finishing sector. The Institute of Measurement and Control is a professional engineering institution and learned society dedicated to the and learned society for physics in the UK and Ireland. We actively promote continual education and science and application of measurement and control The IOP’s mission is to raise public awareness and knowledge dissemination by providing both technology for the public benefit. The InstMC has a distance learning and tutored training courses, as comprehensive range of membership grades for individuals understanding of physics, inspire people to develop well as a technical support service. We also provide engaged in both technical and non-technical occupations. their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of bespoke courses that are tailored to an employer’s Also, it is licensed by the Engineering Council to assess and register individuals as Chartered Engineers (CEng), physics and support the development of a diverse specific needs. The Institute also publishes Incorporated Engineers (IEng) and Engineering Technicians and inclusive physics community. As a charity, the Transactions of the Institute of Materials Finishing (EngTech). IOP seeks to ensure that physics delivers on its and a bimonthly newsletter (IMFormation), as well The InstMC works to develop the knowledge and skills of exceptional potential to benefit society. as holding regular regional and international individual engineers, fostering communication and technical meetings, symposia and conferences. advancing the science and practices within the industry.

Institute of Physics and Engineering

in Medicine The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Contact: Joanna Cox advances chemical engineering’s contribution IET Contact: Rosemary Cook CBE (CEO) worldwide for the benefit of society. We support Michael Faraday House Fairmount House, 230 Tadcaster Road, the development of chemical engineering Six Hills Way York, YO24 1ES professionals and provide connections to a Stevenage Tel: 01904 610821 Fax: 01904 612279 powerful network of around 35,000 members SG1 2AY E-mail: [email protected] in 100 countries. Tel: +44(0)1438 765690 Website: www.ipem.ac.uk We support our members in applying their Email: [email protected] expertise and experience to make an influential Web: www.theiet.org IPEM is a registered, incorporated charity for the contribution to solving major global challenges, advancement, in the public interest, of physics and and are the only organisation to award engineering applied to medicine and biology. Its Chartered Chemical Engineer status and The IET is a world leading professional organisation, members are medical physicists, clinical and bio- Professional Process Safety Engineer sharing and advancing knowledge to promote engineers, and clinical technologists. It organises registration. science, engineering and technology across the training and CPD for them, and provides opportunities for the dissemination of knowledge through world. Dating back to 1871, the IET has over publications and scientific meetings. IPEM is licensed by 163,000 members in 127 countries with offices in the Science Council to award CSci, RSci and RSciTech, Europe, North America, and Asia-Pacific. and by the Engineering Council to award CEng, IEng and EngTech.

48 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Contact: Dr Julian Braybrook Queens Road, Teddington Contact: Jagdeep Rai Middlesex, TW11 0LY Contact: Dr Elizabeth Rollinson, Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 Director of Scientific and Regulatory Executive Secretary E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44(0)20-8762-4752 The Linnean Society of London Website: www.lgcgroup.com Email: [email protected] Burlington House, Piccadilly, Website: www.loreal.co.uk London W1J 0BF LGC is a global leader in the life sciences tools sector, Tel: 020 7434 4479 ext 212 including human healthcare and applied markets (food, E-mail: [email protected] agbio and the environment). LGC provides a L’Oréal employs more than 3,800 researchers Website: www.linnean.org comprehensive range of measurement tools, proficiency testing schemes, supply chain assurance world-wide and dedicates over €877 million each As the world’s oldest active biological society, the standards and specialty genomics tools (oligos, PCR Linnean Society is an essential forum and meeting point tools, NGS reagents), underpinned by leading analytical year to research and innovation in the field of for those interested in the natural world. The Society and measurement science capabilities. Under the healthy skin and hair. The company supports Government Chemist function, LGC fulfils specific holds regular public lectures and events, publishes three statutory duties as the referee analyst and provides women in science research through the L’Oréal peer-reviewed journals, and promotes the study of the advice for Government and the wider analytical UNESCO For Women In Science Programme and natural world with several educational initiatives. The community on the implications of analytical Society is home to a world famous library and collection measurement for matters of policy, standards and engages young people with science through the of natural history specimens. The Society’s Fellows have regulation. LGC is also the UK’s National Measurement L’Oréal Young Scientist Centre at the Royal a considerable range of biological expertise that can be Laboratory for chemical and bio-measurement. harnessed to inform and advise on scientific and public Institution. L’Oréal also collaborates with a vast With headquarters in Teddington, South West London, policy issues. LGC has laboratories and sites across Europe, the US, number of institutions in the UK and globally. China, Brazil, India, and South Africa. A Forum for Natural History

Marine Biological Association

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Contact: Dr Matthew Frost Contact: Paul Haines Marine Biological Association, Medicine Head of Content & Communications The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB 1 Birdcage Walk Contact: Professor Peter Piot, Director Tel: 07848028388 London SW1H 9JJ Keppel Street, London, WC1E 7HT Fax: 01752 633102 Tel: 020 7636 8636 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7304 6833 Email: [email protected] Website: mba.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.imeche.org www.lshtm.ac.uk Since 1884 the Marine Biological Association has The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine been delivering its mission ‘to promote scientific The Institution provides politicians and civil servants (LSHTM) is a world-leading centre for research and research into all aspects of life in the sea, including with information, expertise and advice on a diverse postgraduate education in public and global health the environment on which it depends, and to with over 4,000 students and more than 1,300 staff disseminate to the public the knowledge gained.’ range of subjects, focusing on manufacturing, working in over 100 countries across the world – The MBA represents its members in providing a energy, environment, transport and education including at two MRC Units in The Gambia and clear independent voice to government on behalf policy. We regularly publish policy statements and Uganda which joined LSHTM in 2018. Our depth of the marine biological community. It also has an host political briefings and policy events to establish and breadth of expertise encompasses many extensive research programme and a long history as a working relationship between the engineering disciplines, and we are one of the highest-rated an expert provider of advice for the benefit of policy research institutions in the UK. makers and wider society. profession and parliament.

Contact: Policy Officer Contact: Fiona Auty Contact: Kirsty McBeath Microbiology Society National Physical Laboratory Met Office, 14–16 Meredith Street Hampton Road, Teddington Fitzroy Road, London EC1R 0AB Middlesex TW11 0LW Exeter, Tel: 020 3034 4870 Tel: 020 8977 3222 EX1 3PB E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.npl.co.uk/contact-us Email: [email protected] Website: www.microbiologysociety.org Website: www.metoffice.gov.uk The Microbiology Society is a membership charity The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the United The Met Office doesn’t just forecast the weather on for scientists interested in microbes, their effects Kingdom’s national measurement institute, an television. Our forecasts and warnings protect UK and their practical uses. It is one of the largest internationally respected and independent centre communities and infrastructure from severe microbiology societies in Europe with a worldwide of excellence in research, development and membership based in universities, industry, knowledge transfer in measurement and materials weather and environmental hazards every day – hospitals, research institutes and schools. science. For more than a century, NPL has they save lives and money. Our Climate Programme Our principal goal is to develop, expand and developed and maintained the nation’s primary delivers evidence to underpin Government policy strengthen the networks available to our members measurement standards - the heart of an through the Met Office Hadley Centre. Our Mobile so that they can generate new knowledge about infrastructure designed to ensure accuracy, Meteorological Unit supports the Armed Forces microbes and ensure that it is shared with other consistency and innovation in physical around the world. We build capacity overseas in communities. The impacts from this will drive us measurement. support of international development. All of this towards a world in which the science of microbiology provides maximum benefit to society. built on world-class environmental science.

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 49 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Advancing the science of nature Contact: John Jackson Head of Science Policy and Communication Contact: Alex Miles Natural History Museum Contact: Nick Allen Deputy Director, External Relations Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Executive Officer, Office of the Vice Chancellor (Public Affairs) Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5257 University Drive, Northampton, NN1 5PH University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01604 735500 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.nhm.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Mobile: 07917115197 Website: www.northampton.ac.uk Twitter: @AlextoMiles We challenge the way people think about the natural world www.nottingham.ac.uk – its past, present and future

We use our unique collection and unrivalled expertise to The University of Northampton is an institution tackle the biggest challenges facing the world today. committed to science education through initial With 43,000 students and campuses in We are leaders in the scientific understanding of the origin teacher training, a STEM Ambassador network Nottingham, China and Malaysia, The University of of our planet, life on it and can predict the impact of future which works within the community and teaching Nottingham is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly change. and research to doctoral level. We are an Ashoka U global university’. With more than 97 per cent of We study the diversity of life and the delicate balance of ‘Changemaker Campus’ status university research at the University recognised internationally ecosystems to ensure the survival of our planet. recognising our commitment to social innovation according to the Research Excellence Framework We help enable food security, eradicate disease and manage and entrepreneurship. resource scarcity. 2014, the University is ranked in the top 1% of the We inspire people to engage with science to solve major world’s universities by the QS World University societal challenges. Rankings.

Andrew Mackenzie Contact: Garry Graham, Contact: Mark Hollingsworth Deputy General Secretary, Head of Policy and Communications Chief Executive Officer Senior Management Team Hodgkin Huxley House The Nutrition Society New Prospect House 10 Cambridge Court, 210 Shepherds Bush 30 Farringdon Lane 8 Leake St, London SE1 7NN Road, London, W6 7NJ, UK London EC1R 3AW Tel: 020 7902 6678 Email: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 5728 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)20 7602 0228 E-mail: [email protected] www.prospect.org.uk www.nutritionsociety.org Website: www.physoc.org Prospect is an independent, thriving and forward- looking trade union with over 120,000 members The Nutrition Society is a not for profit, membership As the largest network of physiologists in Europe, across the private and public sectors and a diverse organisation which is dedicated to delivering its with academic journals of global reach, we continue range of occupations. We represent scientists, mission of advancing the scientific study of technologists and other professions in the civil nutrition and its application to the maintenance of our 140-year tradition of being at the forefront of service, research councils and private sector. human and animal health. Highly regarded by the the life sciences. Prospect’s collective voice champions the interests scientific community, the Society is one of the of the engineering and scientific community to largest learned societies for nutrition in the world We bring together scientists from over 60 countries, key opinion-formers and policy makers. With and anyone with a genuine interest in the science and our Members have included numerous Nobel negotiating rights with over 300 employers, we of human or animal nutrition can become a Prize winners from Ivan Pavlov to John O’Keefe. seek to secure a better life at work by putting member. members’ pay, conditions and careers first.

QUADRUM INSTITUTE Contact: Office of the Science Directorate Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB Contact: Laura Knight Tel: 020 8332 5050/5248 Head of Corporate Affairs Email: [email protected] Website: www.kew.org Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Contact: Juniour Blake RBG Kew is a centre of global scientific expertise in plant and Research Park, NR4 7UA External Relations Manager Tel: 01603 255000/5310 fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable use, housed in Royal Academy of Engineering two world-class gardens. Our scientific vision is to document Email: [email protected] 3 Carlton House Terrace and understand global plant and fungal diversity and its uses, Website: www.quadram.ac.uk London SW1Y 5DG bringing authoritative expertise to bear on the critical challenges facing humanity today. Tel: 020 7766 0600 Opening fully in mid-2018, the Quadram Institute will be Kew’s strategic priorities for science are: E-mail: [email protected] an interdisciplinary research centre capitalising on the 1. To document and conduct research into global plant and Website: www.raeng.org.uk academic excellence and clinical expertise of the Norwich fungal diversity and its uses for humanity. 2. To curate and provide data-rich evidence from Kew’s Research Park. Its mission is to understand how food and As the UK’s national academy for engineering, we unrivalled collections as a global asset for scientific the gut microbiota link to the promotion of health and bring together the most successful and talented research. preventing diet and age related diseases. The Quadram engineers for a shared purpose: to advance and 3. To disseminate our scientific knowledge of plants and Institute brings together fundamental and translational promote excellence in engineering. We have four fungi, maximising its impact in science, education, science with a clinical research facility for human trials and conservation policy and management. strategic challenges: drive faster and more balanced one of Europe’s largest gastrointestinal endoscopy units. These priorities enable us to curate, use, enhance, explore economic growth; foster better education and skills; This will synergise interactions between basic and clinical and share Kew’s global resource, providing robust data and a lead the profession; and promote engineering at the strong evidence base for our UK and global stakeholders. research, delivering a step change in the understanding of heart of society. Kew is a non-departmental government body with exempt the role of food in health. charitable status, partially funded by Defra.

50 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Contact: Becky Purvis Contact: Dr Gail Cardew Head of Public Affairs Director of Science and Education The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace Contact: Dr Stephen Benn The Royal Institution London SW1Y 5AG. Director of Parliamentary Affairs 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS Tel: 020 7451 2261 Royal Society of Biology Tel: 020 7409 2992 Fax: 020 7670 2920 Email: [email protected] 1 Naoroji Street E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.royalsociety.org London WC1X 0GB Websites: www.rigb.org, Tel: 020 3925 3440 www.richannel.org The Royal Society is the academy of science in the UK E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: ri_science and the Commonwealth comprising 1400 outstanding Website: www.rsb.org.uk individuals representing the sciences, engineering and The Royal Institution (Ri) has been at the forefront of medicine. The Society has played a part in some of the The Royal Society of Biology is a single unified public engagement with science for over 200 years most fundamental, significant and life-changing voice, representing a diverse membership of and our purpose is to encourage people to think individuals, learned societies and other further about the wonders of science. We run public discoveries in scientific history and Royal Society ® scientists continue to make outstanding contributions organisations. We are committed to ensuring that events and the famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES , a we provide Government and other policy makers – national programme of Masterclasses for young to science across the wide breadth of research areas. Through its Fellowship and permanent staff, it seeks to including funders of biological education and people in mathematics, engineering and computer research – with a distinct point of access to science, educational activities at the L’Oréal Young ensure that its contribution to shaping the future of science in the UK and beyond has a deep and enduring authoritative, independent, and evidence-based Scientist Centre and policy discussions with science opinion, representative of the widest range of impact, supporting excellence in science and students. And through the Ri Channel we share the bioscience disciplines. Our vision is of a world that encouraging the development and use of science for stories behind cutting-edge science with people understands the true value of biology and how it the benefit of humanity. around the world. can contribute to improving life for all.

Society for Underwater Technology Contact: Lisa Rivera Contact: Matt Davies Policy and Public Affairs Manager Society for Underwater Technology Public Affairs Manager LABS, 90 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6LJ Contact: David Liddle, Business Royal Society of Chemistry, [email protected] Development Executive Thomas Graham House (290), 1 Fetter Lane, London EC4A 1 BR Science Park, Milton Road, +44 (0)207 685 2596 Cambridge, CB4 0WF Tel: 020 3440 5535 Tel 01223 438 322 SfAM utilises the expertise of its international Fax: 020 3440 5980 Email [email protected] membership to advance, for the benefit of the E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rsc.org public, the application of microbiology to the Website: www.sut.org The Royal Society of Chemistry is the world’s leading environment, human and animal health, chemistry community, advancing excellence in the The SUT is a multidisciplinary learned society that chemical sciences. With over 50,000 members and a agriculture, and industry. Our values include brings together individuals and organisations with a knowledge business that spans the globe, we are the equality, diversity and inclusivity; collaboration to common interest in underwater technology, ocean UK’s professional body for chemical scientists; a not- amplify impact; scientific integrity; evidence-based science, and offshore/subsea engineering. The for-profit organisation with 170 years of history and society was founded in 1966 and has members decision-making and political neutrality. With an international vision of the future. We promote, from over 40 countries, including engineers, support and celebrate chemistry. We work to shape Wiley-Blackwell, SfAM publishes five internationally scientists, other professionals and students working the future of the chemical sciences – for the benefit acclaimed journals. in these areas. of science and humanity.

Society of Chemical Society of Industry Cosmetic Scientists Contact: John Murray Contact: Sharon Todd Contact: Gem Bektas, Society of Maritime Industries SCI Secretary General 28-29 Threadneedle Street, 14-15 Belgrave Square Society of Cosmetic Scientists London EC2R 8AY London SW1X 8PS Suite 109 Christchurch House Tel: 020 7598 1500 40 Upper George Street Tel: 020 7628 2555 E-mail: [email protected] Luton Bedfordshire LU1 2RS E-mail: [email protected] Website www.soci.org Tel: 01582 726661 Website: www.maritimeindustries.org Fax: 01582 405217 Established by Royal Charter in 1881, SCI is a unique E-mail: [email protected] multi-disciplinary community. Set up by a prominent The Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) is the voice Website: www.scs.org.uk group of forward thinking scientists, inventors and of the UK's maritime engineering and business entrepreneurs, SCI continues to be a multi-science and Advancing the science of cosmetics is the primary sector. Promoting and supporting companies in industry network based around chemistry and related objective of the SCS. Cosmetic science covers a wide sciences. Our charitable objective is to promote links range of disciplines from organic and physical Commercial Marine, Maritime Defence & Security, between science and industry for the benefit of society. Our passion is invention and creation. chemistry to biology and photo-biology, dermatology, Ports & Terminals Infrastructure, Marine Science & microbiology, physical sciences and psychology. We deliver our charitable objective by: Technology, Maritime Autonomous Systems and Members are scientists and the SCS helps them • Supporting the commercial application of science into progress their careers and the science of cosmetics Digital Technology. industry ethically and responsibly. Services include publications, • Tackling global challenges across Agrifood, Energy, educational courses and scientific meetings. Environment, Health and Materials

Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 51 SCIENCE DIRECTORY

Contact: Dr Andrew Muir Contact: Chris Magee Contact: Dr Rob Singh c/o STFC Innovations Ltd Head of Policy and Media Deputy Director, Enterprise Harwell Campus Oxford OX11 0QX Understanding Animal Research Wivenhoe Park Tel: 0121 710 1990 Hodgkin Huxley House Colchester CO4 3SQ E-mail: [email protected] 30 Farringdon Lane, London EC1R 3AW T 01206 874278 Website: https://ukinnovationscience direct tel: 020 3675 1234 E [email protected] seedfund.co.uk/ email: [email protected] W www.essex.ac.uk/business The UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund is a http://www.understandinganimalresearch.org. leading patient capital investor with more than uk/ Established in 1964, the University of Essex is £330 million private investment leveraged to date. ranked as one of the Top 20 universities in the The Fund works to build technology companies Understanding Animal Research is a not-for-profit Research Excellence Framework and is awarded from the earliest stage by working closely with its organisation that explains why animals are used in Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework. It is partners led by STFC, BBSRC, NERC and Dstl, with medical, veterinary, environmental and other scientific home to world-leading expertise in analytics and the National Research and Innovation Campuses research. We aim to achieve a broad understanding of data science, with research peaks spanning the they support, and with entrepreneurial science-led the humane use of animals in medical, veterinary, social sciences, sciences, and humanities. Pioneers teams. UK Innovation & Science Seed Fund is also scientific and environmental research in the UK. We of quantitative methods and artificial intelligence closely aligned with the Catapults and InnovateUK, work closely with policymakers to ensure regulation is techniques, Essex is also in the UK top 10 for helping to commercialise key technological effective and are a trusted source of information for Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and works with advances in industrial biotech, agricultural the national and international media. We are funded businesses to embed innovation into operations, technology, healthcare, medicine, clean energy, by our members who include universities, professional through KTPs, knowledge exchange and contract materials, artificial intelligence, software and space. societies, trade unions, industry and charities. research.

Universities Federation for Animal Welfare Contact: Dr Robert Hubrecht OBE Contact: Chris Eady Chief Executive and Scientific Director The Welding Institute, Granta Park, Great The Old School, Brewhouse Hill Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN. Tel: 01582 831818. Fax: 01582 831414. Tel: 01223 899614 Email: [email protected] Fax:01223 894219 Website: www.ufaw.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Registered in England Charity No: 207996 Website: www.twi-global.com The Welding Institute is the leading institution UFAW, the international animal welfare science providing engineering solutions and knowledge society, is an independent scientific and educational transfer in all aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and charity. It works to improve animal lives by: whole-life integrity management. Industrial membership provides access to innovative • supporting animal welfare research problem-solving from one of the world’s foremost • educating and raising awareness of welfare independent research and technology organisations. issues in the UK and overseas Non-Corporate services include membership and registration, education, training and certification for • producing the quarterly scientific journal Animal internationally recognised professional development Welfare and other high-quality publications on and personnel competence assurance. animal care and welfare TWI provides Members and stakeholders with authoritative and impartial expert advice, knowhow • providing advice to government departments and safety assurance through engineering, materials and other concerned bodies. and joining technologies.

52 Science in Parliament | Vol 76 No 1 | Spring 2020 SCIENCE DIARY PARLIAMENTARY AND SCIENTIFIC Monday 14th September 2020 ROYAL SOCIETY COMMITTEE – ALL-PARTY Discussion Meeting on Non-Tumour Details of all events can be found on the PARLIAMENTARY GROUP Cancers and Precision Medicine and events calendar at [email protected] Tel: 020 7222 7085 Genome Mapping For scientific meetings queries: Email: [email protected] Palace of Westminster, 5:30pm – 7:00pm [email protected] www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Monday 26th October 2020 follow us on Twitter @ParlSciCom Discussion Meeting on Sources, health THE ROYAL INSTITUTION benefits and global challenges of protein Details of all events and booking Sponsored by kind permission of the Information can be found at The COVID-19 Pandemic resulted in the Nutrition Society www.rigb.org/whats-on postponement of the P&SC’s Discussion Meetings in Palace of Westminster, 5:30pm – 7:00pm March, and for May and June 2020. We have created an extra meeting in the Autumn with a view to Monday 9th November 2020 ROYAL SOCIETY OF BIOLOGY preserving the bulk of our programme for this year, Discussion Meeting on Healthy Ageing For further details please contact Karen Patel or and in any case we will endeavour to increase the Sponsored by kind permission of The Dr Stephen Benn at [email protected] number of meetings in 2021. Given the situation at Physiological Society going to press, the following dates remain Palace of Westminster, 5:30pm – 7:00pm ROYAL SOCIETY OF CHEMISTRY provisional: Tuesday 24th November 2020 For further details please contact [email protected] Annual Lunch, House of Lords 12:30pm Monday 7th December 2020 Discussion Meeting on Autonomous Transport Palace of Westminster, 9:30am – 12:30pm including Christmas Refreshments

SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT OFFICERS OF THE PARLIAMENTARY & SCIENTIFIC 3 Birdcage Walk COMMITTEE – ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY London SW1H 9JJ GROUP T: 020 7222 7085 sip [email protected] President Lord Broers Atti Emecz www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Chairman Stephen Metcalfe MP Professor Ian Haines Deputy Chairman: Chi Onwurah MP Dr Guy Hembury Editor: Leigh Jeffes Hon Treasurer: The Lord Willis of Doris-Ann Williams MBE Editorial Assistant: Mrs Karen Smith Knaresborough Professor Francesca Medda Hon Secretary Carol Monaghan MP Advisory Panel: Dr David Dent Vice-Presidents: Sir Peter Bottomley MP Rebecca Purvis Commodore Barry Brooks David Youdan Paul Ridout Secretariat: Leigh Jeffes Dr Stephen Benn Mrs Karen Smith

Published by Parliamentary and Scientific Committee – All-Party Parliamentary Group, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. Published four times a year. The 2019 subscripton rate is £80. Single numbers £20. 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, please email [email protected]. Copyright ©2020 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. Type/layout by VAL Design Services and printed by Premier Print Group. Parliament showcases Britain’s future Scientists Technologists Engineers Mathematicians

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