sipSCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT WHITSUN 2014

The Journal of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Research with a global impact The University of Nottingham is an exciting place to be for the researchers and scientists of the future

From MRI to global food security we have long been associated with world-changing research which has a real impact on everyday lives. More than 90% of our research is of international quality, according to the most recent Research Assessment Exercise

Inside: The University of Nottingham is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its campus in Ningbo China this year. Read about the impact that we have made over the last decade through developing innovative partnerships between China and the UK.

www.nottingham.ac.uk “Brighton father wins prize” or in Scotland) would like to reflect “London husband triumphs”. on this. SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT

The Select Committee on pointed out that Science and Technology (which I the only university degree over also chair) has recently which the Government maintains sip investigated some of these issues. control on admission numbers is We focused on the academic Medicine. sector and again observed the It is ironic that science, uniquely, gender imbalance in the higher has failed to address the echelons. Even today, Nancy The Journal of the Parliamentary and Andrew Miller MP employment issues arising from Scientific Committee. Rothwell is the only woman vice- Chairman, Parliamentary and the simple fact that it is women The Committee is an Associate Scientific Committee chancellor at a Russell Group Parliamentary Group of members of who bear children. Many University. both Houses of Parliament and British professions (accountancy, the law, members of the European Parliament, It is however a fact that teaching etc) have managed to representatives of scientific and technical institutions, industrial recruitment of women at 18 into work out how to re-integrate organisations and universities. It is now nearly 50 years since universities is not a problem in the women returners. Science needs Dorothy Hodgkin won the Nobel biological and life sciences – more more organisations like the Prize for Chemistry. than 55% of entrants are female. Daphne Jackson Trust (and those In physics and engineering, it bodies which support it). One Since no British woman has won remains below 30%. Nobel Laureate (Brighton father!) a Nobel science prize since, it is expostulated that had he had ten not possible to test whether the The Minister, David Willetts, years out in mid career, he could appalling sexism of the British elaborated on this issue when he not have won a Nobel. The fact media at that time has moved on. addressed the event which we Science in Parliament has two main that 20 other males in the room Typical of the coverage was organised jointly with BIS, on 20th objectives: had not had ten years out, but 1. to inform the scientific and industrial “British housewife wins Nobel March. had still not won a Nobel prize, communities of activities within Prize” and “Oxford mother wins Parliament of a scientific nature and He pointed out that young seemed to have passed him by. Nobel Prize”. Whilst it is of interest of the progress of relevant women, in particular, are legislation; that Professor Hodgkin was We also need a system in encouraged to think about 2. to keep Members of Parliament married and the mother of three, science which recognises the Medicine as a career. They abreast of scientific affairs. it is hardly central to the story. contribution of all, including therefore abandon studying either teachers and technicians, none of But the problem is worse than Maths or Physics after GCSE. The whom are likely to win a major we would like to admit. Since English educational system is by prize, but who nonetheless make 1964, all UK laureates have many international standards, a major contribution to the wealth, possessed a Y chromosome BUT narrow, and our University health and happiness of our not a single story in the press admission system, equally narrow. nation. when they won recorded Perhaps (educated

CONTENTS

THE LATE SIR DAVID PRICE 2 DIGITAL DIPLOMACY 14 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin of Roding Dr John Preece SELECT COMMITTEE 41

THE UK SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY CENTRES 3 BADGERS 15 HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON Dr Penny Fidler Addresses to the P&SC by Adam Quinney, Professor SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 42 CARDIFF STRENGTHENS LINKS WITH CHINA 6 Christl Donnelly and Professor Rosie Woodroffe Juliet Davies VALUING NATURAL CAPITAL 18 HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION 44 CELEBRATING A DECADE OF INNOVATIVE Addresses to the P&SC by Julian Harlow and Professor PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHINA 8 Brett Day PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND Chris Rudd SET FOR BRITAIN 2014 23 TECHNOLOGY 45 THE FANTASTIC FUTURE OF FOOD 10 VOICE OF THE FUTURE 2014 26 SELECTED DEBATES 47 Jon Poole CHAMPIONING THE PEOPLE WHO CHAMPION MARINE SCIENCE 28 SCIENCE DIRECTORY 48 INNOVATION 12 NATIONAL SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING WEEK Professor Sa’ad Medhat SEMINAR SCIENCE DIARY 56 Addresses to the P&SC by Dr Brian Bett, Professor THE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING PROGRAMME 13 Manuel Barange, Dr Stef Kapusniak, Dr Paul Bell, Dr Petra Gratton Carol Turley and Professor Kevin Horsburgh

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 1 THE LATE SIR DAVID PRICE A Tribute by the Rt Hon the Lord Jenkin of Roding

It is a frequent complaint Then again, in 1979, the post about the House of Commons fell vacant, and David was that far too few MPs have elected and served a second firsthand experience in term, this time for the full three manufacturing industry. Indeed, years. Though he described this is nothing new; in the early himself as a ‘retread’, this 1960s when I was working in election for a second term was the chemical industry, my in fact a great tribute to the bosses, knowing of my interest reputation he had built up, and in politics, complained to me so far as I can find, has never “that there are far too few been equalled. There is no people in Parliament who doubt that the Parliamentary & know anything about industry”. Scientific Committee owed a My response was immediate: big debt of gratitude to Sir “You me an industrial David Price. company and I will tell you the Though David Price was a name of an MP they sacked”. very independent-minded This led to their agreeing that if Conservative MP, he held a I were elected, they would not number of junior offices in the sack me immediately! Government, and in 1962, There was one notable after the “Night of the Long exception to this dismal record: ICI, then by some margin the Knives” he was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of leading UK chemical company, had kept David Price on after his Trade. In the Heath Government of 1970/74 he held a series of election to Parliament in 1955. For me, David had always been a Junior Ministerial roles in Technology, Aviation and Aerospace, beacon on whom I set my sights. subjects in which he made himself a considerable expert. He found himself at the eye of the storm when Rolls Royce, facing Even before I entered the Commons in 1964, he had urged me imminent collapse over the RB211 Aero Engine, had to be that if and when I was elected, I simply had to join the propped up by Government; when he was dropped by Ted Heath Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, and of course I did so. Very it was in part because of the fall-out from the Rolls Royce affair. quickly I realised the value of the P & Sci and was a fairly regular attender at its meetings. So it was no surprise when, in 1973, the With his experience in industry, he spoke with authority on the then Chairman, Sir Harry Legge-Bourke MP, felt obliged to resign subjects where he held Front Bench positions and earned a due to illness, that David Price was elected to take his place. He merited reputation for knowing what he was talking about. He was quickly established his authority. Under his leadership, the a One Nation Tory who did not hesitate to express views Committee prospered, with programmes of meetings, speakers and somewhat out of line with many of his colleagues’. After his wife, visits which attracted rising attendances. He always made it his Rosemary, broke her back in a serious fall, David became a great practice to undertake some research in the Commons library on champion of the disabled, and campaigned tirelessly for improved any topic due to be discussed, so that if, following the opening access to public buildings for people in wheelchairs. speeches, there was any hesitation in the discussion, he was able Through all this David’s support for the Parliamentary & Scientific to start it off with a well-chosen question or comment. He also Committee could always be relied on; there is no doubt that over personally wrote to the speakers after an event to thank them for the years in which he was in Parliament, this support was greatly addressing the Committee – a courtesy which many appreciated. valued by his colleagues in all Parties. He will be sadly missed. He was re-elected in 1974.

2 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 THE UK SCIENCE AND DISCOVERY CENTRES Inspirational science for schools and families across the UK

As a nation and as a global major hands-on science backgrounds to take part in society we have some major engagement organisations high-tech science practicals, challenges ahead, especially in including science and discovery science workshops, discussions relation to climate and energy. centres, national museums, and science visits. Science More than ever we need our environment centres and centres are in all parts of the UK young people to be inspired by learned societies. and are the UK’s largest science and engineering and to infrastructure dedicated to Together these trusted see it as something they want to inspiring children and families organisations encourage over 20 be part of. This is vital for both with STEM and supporting million children and adults every our future economic success school science. They are year to delve into science in a and societal well-being. Equally charitable enterprises embedded hands-on, intriguing and we want every UK citizen to feel in their communities, acting as Dr Penny Fidler personal way. Over ten million Chief Executive of the UK sufficiently confident with regional science hubs, with of those who participate are Association for Science and science and the process of excellent local relationships with Discovery Centres schools, teachers, families, ... Science centres are in all parts of the UK ... university scientists and industrial partners. Largely they are self- science to ask questions, assess female and science centres are sustaining, achieving income evidence and discuss matters signatories of the No10 / BIS through fundraising, entry tickets, and policies that will have a big ‘Women into Engineering and and a variety of revenue- impact on their lives. Technology’ Compact launched generating business enterprises. in May 2014. The UK Association for Science What they offer is valued highly and Discovery Centres brings Each year, teachers bring two enough that in most science together over 60 of the nation’s million school students from all centres, families and schools pay

ASDC is an educational charity. If you are an MP and would like to find out more or to visit your local science centre please contact Dr Penny Fidler on 0117 915 0186 or the science centre direct. The ASDC National conference is on Sept 24 2014 at the Royal Society www.sciencecentres.org.uk

At-Bristol Science Centre. Courtenayphotographic.co.uk

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 3 to visit science centres, and visit increase students’ motivation to Schools are, however, the tip The ASPIRES data also repeatedly. study science of the iceberg. The majority of demonstrated that science the 20 million visitors to science interventions need to begin at Working together as a national 85% felt that the workshop centres are families, exploring primary school to broaden network, science centres can will have made them more likely and experimenting together. students’ career aspirations in deliver excellent practical science to consider a career in science STEM. Interventions solely at and science programmes to The recently published 5-year 100% of the teachers said that secondary school are likely to be schools, students and their ESRC-funded ASPIRES research, they would recommend the too little too late. families in all parts of the UK. on young people’s science and workshops to their colleagues career aspirations age 10-14, Science centres champion As an example of this, The UK 100% felt that the workshop revealed that the amount of both these approaches and Association for Science and inspired their students Discovery Centres secured funding from the Wellcome Trust 80% of a school child's time is ... inspiring interest in both girls and boys ... to run a national strategic spent out of school. To assume ‘family science capital’ is key to work with huge numbers of programme ‘Hands-on DNA’. In that science can only be taught young people deciding to primary students. For example partnership with three expert inside a classroom is to give pursue a career in STEM. One of ASDC ran a national strategic science centres, we trained, students a very limited view of the major goals of science programme between 2012 and equipped and supported 15 science, and they miss out on all centres is to build this science 2014 called ‘Explore Your science centres from Dundee to the excellent opportunities capital by engaging young Universe’ in partnership with the to run high level which have been developed to people in science activities in Science and Technology Facilities ... Supporting school science across the UK ... family groups, so the Council (STFC). The programme aimed to ‘inspire a new sense of molecular biology workshops excitement among young with school students. Students people around the physical ran DNA experiments and used sciences by sharing the amazing techniques that are regularly stories and technologies of used in labs and hospitals STFC’. across the UK, and are in the The project created an curriculum, but rarely exceptional set of equipment undertaken in UK schools. and resources, and trained and Many thousands of students supported ten UK science and have now done these Hands-on discovery centres to run cutting- DNA workshops. We collected edge physics and engineering evidence of impact on the first schools workshops, family 1,500 students at 15 science shows and meet-the-expert centres (half aged 14-16 half events. The equipment included aged 16-18). The results from Hands-on DNA a solar telescope, a cloud students aged 14-16 after just chamber, a thermal imaging support teachers across the UK. conversation continues after two hours are shown below: camera, meteorites, levitating In many countries science they leave. There is now magnets (using super- 95% felt it increased their centres form an integral part of considerable evidence showing conductors), a piece of CERN confidence in them being able the national science learning that science learning happens in and even a minidemonstration to understand this area of strategy. Indeed, in Finland a lifelong and life-wide manner. of a particle accelerator using a science (which regularly tops the OECD We ignore the non-school Van de Graaff generator. Along PISA scales in science) student component at our peril. China 89% felt it increased their with the training academies for teachers have placements within has taken this data and invested interest in science scientists and science centres, science centres to ensure all heavily in a variety of hands-on 90% of students had never this enabled a large range of physics experiments to be used this type of equipment ... science interventions need to begin at before in school carried out in science centres. primary school ... 74% felt it made them think In the first year, 156,880 that working in science might be teachers are confident and science experiences that happen children and adults took part in interesting trained to deliver inspirational in informal contexts as they feel Explore Your Universe with their science. This approach would be it is vital to the future wealth families or schools. Crucially, And their teachers said… particularly valuable to UK and prosperity of their nation. scientists and engineers working 100% felt that more primary teachers. They now have the largest with STFC went into science workshops like this would science centres in the world. centres and met families and school children discussing all

4 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 sorts of topics including their careers. Over 50,000 children and adults met female and male The Association for Science and Discovery Centres Network space scientists, physicists, engineers and technicians through this programme.

King’s College London assessed the impact on the first 3,883 students and 369 teachers who took part in the workshops, making it the UK’s largest multi-centre dataset of Satrosphere Science Centre the impact of informal science learning. Dundee Science Centre One notable finding was that Our Dynamic Earth this physics programme had Scottish Seabird Centre Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

been equally successful in Glasgow Science Centre Scottish Government National Museums Scotland inspiring interest in both girls Royal Observatory Edinburgh

and boys. 56% of girls and boys 30mi 60km aged 10-13 said the workshop Tyne and Wear Museums (Discovery Museum) made them feel more interested Centre for Life in studying science, and 41% W5 said it had made them more likely to consider a career in Armagh Planetarium York Archaeological Trust National Railway Museum science. This effect was found Lakeland Wildlife Oasisis National Media Museum Eureka! The National Children’s Museum

after just one hour of physics Daresbury Laboratory MOSI MAGNA experiments and discussions. National Museums Science Gallery Dublin Kelham Island Museum Catalyst Nowgen

Jodrell Bank ... ensure school Techniquest Glyndŵr Discovery Centre Woolsthorpe Manor, National Trust Snibston children from less Centre for Alternative Technology National Space Centre

Thinktank, Birmingham Cambridge Science Centre advantaged areas visit Science Museum more often... Oxford University Museum of Natural History Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Science Oxford Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute Science and discovery centres Amgueddfa Cymru – Nationalonal Museu Museumm W Walesales RAL Science Alive The Royal Institution Wellcome Trust are keen to do more. They have British Interactive Group (BIG) The Living Rrainforest Institute of Physics British Science Association Techniquest At-Bristol The Look Out Discovery Centre the capacity and expertise to ScienceScience MMuseumuseum Centre of the Cell Winchester Science Centre inspire more families and more NaturalturralralH Historyistory MuseuMuMuseumseum Royal Museums Greenwich The Observatory Science Centre Royal Botanic Gardens Kew primary and secondary students King’sKing’s College LonLondondon Eden Project EXplora Science The Royal Society Horniman Museum and Gardens in a creative, innovative and National Marine Aquarium

highly cost-effective manner. Porthcurno Telegraph Museum

They (like ASDC) are charitable www.sciencecentres.org.uk enterprises that exist to engage © The Association for Science and Discovery Centres people from all backgrounds with science. They are poised and ready to offer more bursary day operations and are nimble Excellent and innovative science schemes to ensure school and creative in securing mixed learning is vital to the UK’s future children from less advantaged income streams to support their economic success as well as our areas visit more often, and mission. However, unlike arts, health and well-being. If we want return with their families. They sports or heritage organisations, to keep our position as world want to inspire girls to get more future-focused hands-on science leaders in science, we need to involved in science, and to run and discovery centres are invest in nurturing the curiosity high-end science practicals for generally ineligible to apply for and inventiveness in our young which schools do not have the capital funds from public people and use every equipment or specific expertise. mechanism at our disposal to sources. This poses a major inspire them – not simply school. Science and Discovery Centres challenge and we are hopeful Girls using a Van de Graaff run successful sustainable day to this situation will soon change, generator in Explore Your universe

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 5 Cardiff strengthens links with China to create more effective cancer treatments Working collaboratively by pooling the best researchers, facilities and resources from likeminded, world-leading institutions has always been a priority for Cardiff University. In the field of medical research and in particular cancer research, this approach has led to the development of partnerships between Cardiff University and some of China’s leading cancer organisations.

The University’s latest venture Cardiff, along with colleagues at conventional therapies such as has resulted in the Cardiff Peking University and at the chemotherapy. The Centre will Juliet Davies University-Yiling Group Joint Yiling Group, have been testing also extend the research Executive Officer at the Cardiff Medical Research Centre. This the benefits of the Chinese collaboration to other areas of University-Peking University Cancer Institute, Cardiff University was established in 2013 in herbal medicine Yangzheng medicine. partnership with a leading Xiaoji. The herbal formula had Cardiff’s collaboration with institution, the Yiling Group been shown to be beneficial to Yiling has also allowed the Medical Research Institute. It will cancer patients, but until now creation of new scholarship develop new treatments for the way in which it works had opportunities for Chinese cancer and infectious diseases, remained unknown. The medical scholars, enabling them with a focus on Chinese collaboration investigated how medicine. The Centre will also the formula works and to undertake study and training offer training opportunities for discovered that it blocks a in the UK. Likewise, UK students medics and scientists. pathway involved in reducing will be able to gain overseas experience by spending time in ... new treatments for cancer and China. By 2017, 17% of Cardiff University’s home students will Professor Wen G Jiang infectious diseases ... Professor of Surgery and Tumour have studied, worked or The Yiling Group Medical the spread of cancer cells Biology and Academic Director volunteered abroad for at least a of International Relations, Research Institute was formed in around the body. The Chinese month. Cardiff University 1992 by Professor Yiling Wu, a formula has been shown to be highly accomplished scientist, beneficial to patients with certain The venture between Cardiff medic, academician, solid tumours when used alone, University and Yiling, with the entrepreneur and politician. and in particular when used as support of the Welsh Yiling Pharmaceuticals is one of an adjuvant treatment alongside Government, will also create China's high-tech pharmaceutical companies, devoted to R&D, manufacture and marketing of new medicines. It has some unique approaches in therapeutic development for diseases such as arrhythmia, heart failure, flu and cancer.

Cardiff University has been collaborating with Yiling Group for the past two years, initially investigating the potential mechanism(s) of some anti- Launch of the Cardiff University – Yiling Group Joint Medical Research Centre by Professor Yiling Wu and Cardiff University’s President and Vice cancer medicines. The team at Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan

6 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 opportunities to attract inward University. This gave them the investment to the UK for R&D in opportunity to embrace a anti-cancer medicines. different environment and learn different techniques and As one of the UK’s leading approaches which complement centres for cancer research, their experiences in Cardiff. Cardiff University established the Cardiff University-Peking World-wide partnerships are University Cancer Institute in important in helping a University 2011. It has been collaborating to build a global reputation. with Peking University in Beijing Cardiff University’s aim is to be for over a decade and has consistently ranked in the top hosted many of their scientists 100 universities, and such and specialists. Peking University The official launch of the Cardiff University - Peking University Cancer Institute is the top ranked university in ... not only for breast China and one of the premier cancer but also for universities in the world. The prostate and kidney Cardiff-Peking Cancer Institute consists of two centres. Cardiff cancer ... University has invested in the collaborations play a role in provision of new space, achieving this ambition. More equipment and research posts importantly however, it is to support the collaboration. At through such collaboration that Peking, the Institute is located in advances in the understanding the University Cancer Hospital and treatment of global diseases and Beijing Cancer Institute, one The official launch of the Cardiff University – Capital Medical University Joint Centre for Biomedical Research will be made. of the leading hospitals and research centres. Joint on to establish the Cardiff projects have focused on brain Cardiff’s ground-breaking directorship and management University-Capital Medical metastasis and gastrointestinal cancer research partnership synchronise the research, University Joint Centre for cancers. work with China won the training and education activities. Biomedical Research. Cardiff International Collaboration Cardiff’s relationship with CMU category at the annual Times ... reducing the spread of cancer cells ... has led to a Cardiff University Higher Education awards in China Medical Scholarship. This 2011. All 3 partnerships are Currently, the focus is on some University and Capital Medical has already supported more under the directorship of world- of the most aggressive forms of University (CMU) have enjoyed than 50 Chinese medics in the leading breast cancer researcher cancer, including gastrointestinal a fruitful relationship since 2003. last 5 years to spend time in Professor Wen G Jiang. Professor cancers, pancreatic cancer, lung CMU ranks among the top Cardiff. The scholars have the Jiang is a Professor of Surgery cancer and endocrine-related academic medical institutions in opportunity to undertake some and Tumour Biology and cancers, which are amongst the China and is one of the key research away from their Academic Director of priority areas in both the UK and universities in Beijing. Capital workplace and the chance to International Relations at Cardiff China. Research also Medical University is the world's share views and expertise with University. concentrates on cancer largest medical university, with metastasis, angiogenesis, 22 affiliated hospitals and more ... focus is on some of the most aggressive biomarkers and new methods of than 23,000 beds. It delivers a forms of cancer ... treatment, including alternative full range of health, medicine medicine such as traditional and life science related subjects. Cardiff’s academic staff. This For further information please Chinese medicine. programme has led to many contact Juliet Davies: This has created opportunities joint papers. Scholars benefit Every year, a symposium is [email protected] for research in a number of from the chance to live and held either in Cardiff or Beijing fields. Research has been learn in a different city and at which speakers present their advancing on the metastasis of University, and to make contacts latest research on cancer breast cancer examining how and friends that will be for life. biology, genetics and treatments. the disease spreads around the Cardiff is also keen for its staff It highlights key areas in cancer body. To date, the collaborative and PhD students to spend time research and cancer treatment research has discovered new in China. Last year for the first to explore in the future. biomarkers not only for breast time, 2 PhD students from Based on the success of the cancer but also for prostate and Cardiff spent 6 weeks working Institute, Cardiff University went kidney cancer. Other research with scientists at Capital Medical

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 7 CELEBRATING A DECADE OF INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CHINA

transferable skills, a creative and Ningbo campus. It will work with 3D structures and components. critical outlook and a sense of companies around the world in In 2013, UNNC organised a team spirit and are sought after areas such as port services and highly influential conference in by major employers around the logistics, marine advanced Ningbo to explore how 3D globe. All students who have materials, natural products and printing has developed and its graduated from UNNC since environmental management. potential for improving the 2004 have found jobs or The Academy will also have a efficiency of manufacturing in moved on to postgraduate dedicated team of international the city. studies at top international academic leaders and research Energy is another important universities within six months of and business engagement staff, area of expertise at UNNC. Our passing their final exams. and will draw on the input and Centre for advice of independent world- Chris Rudd Technologies, based in Ningbo Pro-Vice-Chancellor (External Pushing the boundaries of leading academic and industry which opened in 2008, will Engagement), The University of science experts to deliver innovative and Nottingham provide solutions to problems At the end of last year, during internationally competitive arising from sustainability issues the Prime Minister’s visit to programmes. relating to the environment, China, we announced our most There are a number of other energy, engineering and In 2004, The University of ambitious project yet in Ningbo, notable areas of scientific technology. For example, our Nottingham became the first a £25 million cooperative research in which academics at researchers have recently foreign University to establish agreement between the Ningbo the University of Nottingham invented a material that can a campus in China, in the city Municipal Government, the Ningbo China (UNNC) are retain and release heat of Ningbo, based south of University of Nottingham Ningbo pushing forward the boundaries according to the specific Shanghai on the East China China and Zhejiang Wanli of science. Engineering requirements of a building. The Sea. Developed on grounds Education Group to form the researchers are working very material, known as novel non- occupying 144 acres, the first International Academy for closely with the Additive deformed energy storage phase establishment of the Marine Economy and Manufacturing and 3D Printing change material (PCM), is a University of Nottingham Technology (IAMET). Research Group in the UK to major scientific breakthrough Ningbo China (UNNC), with The marine economy is one of develop the next-generation, with long-term environmental the full support of the Chinese China’s key strategic multimaterial and multifunctional benefits. Cheap to manufacture, government, marked an development areas and the additive manufacturing and 3D PCM will dramatically reduce historic moment in the IAMET will be based at a printing technologies with a bills and cut a building’s energy opening up of Chinese Higher purpose-built facility at the focus on end-use functionalised use by up to 35%. Education and its development of the knowledge-based economy. It also signalled an increase in the level of collaboration between Chinese businesses and the UK. Ten years on, and UNNC now admits more than 1200 of the most talented young people of their generation each year, from provinces and municipalities across China. More than 6,300 students at undergraduate, masters and PhD level are now based at our Ningbo campus. UNNC graduates have The first cohort of graduates from the Sondrel integrated circuit design programme in 2013

8 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 The award of the Nobel Prize to achieve an exciting new (GNAFI). A partnership with extensively with many Chinese to Nottingham academic Sir environment for world-leading Guangdong University of businesses. In recent years, we Peter Mansfield for his work in research. Finance, the Institute will provide have established research and MRI and the groundbreaking advanced training to senior training collaborations with the The city of Ningbo has also research within the University’s managers from industry, likes of the aerospace giant, granted around £1m in funding Sir Peter Mansfield Magnetic commerce, financial institutes AVIC; the automobile to UNNC for an ambitious Resonance Centre, means that and government organisations manufacturers FAW and project to produce at least 25 The University of Nottingham is and will train up to 2,000 Changan; the railway company manufacturing engineers and 25 internationally recognised for its Chinese financial specialists each China South Rolling Stock (CSR); patents for new technologies expertise in MRI. Consequently, year to support the thriving China Resources Group, and over five years. UNNC UNNC has also identified MRI as financial centre in Guangzhou. many other major companies. researchers will work with at an area for its own strategic least 50 companies in Ningbo In addition to the work with However, it is not just the development, with an unrivalled to invent low-carbon Guangdong University of bigger businesses that are opportunity to become a technologies and develop new Finance, we have also benefiting from our China significant player in MRI business models that established many research connections. For instance, education and training in China. reconfigure the manufacturing collaborations with other through our Brewing Science Training the brightest sector in the city to enhance Chinese Universities, including department, we have been researchers profitability and sustainability Fudan, Shanghai Jiaotong, China helping a number of We are also supporting and minimise environmental Agricultural University and microbrewers in the East scientific research at UNNC harm. Zhejiang University. Midlands to develop beers for through doctoral training. In the Chinese market, and with A significant number of Another example of the 2011, The University of the support of partners such as Chinese high fliers have also breadth of our collaborative Nottingham and the Ningbo UKTI and British Craft Beers, they been working with us through work is the Sino-UK Geospatial Municipal People’s Government are now exporting to merchants the Chevening Young Leaders Engineering Centre. This is a signed a Memorandum of in China. In addition, we also programme. Organised on project jointly supported by The Understanding to pave the way enable SMEs to make links more behalf of the Foreign and University of Nottingham and for more cooperation in generally with Chinese Commonwealth Office and the the Chinese Academy of international scientific and businesses and officials through All-China Youth Federation, the Surveying and Mapping, the technological development. Four activities such as our On course is tailor-made for leaders research arm of China's National topics were identified, including Location dinner, which is held in of the future, helping to develop Administration of Surveying, the digital economy, marine Shanghai, and via the many high-calibre people to take on Mapping and Geoinformation technology, energy and Sino-UK events we organise in senior political and industrial (NASG). The Sino-UK Geospatial environmental protection, and Nottingham. posts later in their careers. Centre operates in both Beijing manufacturing. and in Nottingham. The centre Building new academic Funded by The University of offers Executive Training for partnerships Nottingham, the University of Chinese leaders working in Nottingham Ningbo China, the Our work in China extends far surveying and mapping Engineering and Physical beyond Ningbo. In 2012 we companies, in areas such as Science Research Council and established a new joint venture technology, management and Ningbo Municipal Government, in conjunction with the East business. the £17m International Doctoral China University of Science and Innovation Centre (IDIC) will Technology. The Shanghai Doing business with China train 100 of the brightest PhD Nottingham Advanced Academy We are helping British researchers over the next six (SNAA) is a joint collaboration in companies obtain the skills they years to become leaders in the the fields of life sciences, green need, and, in the first L-R Dr Li Jun, President of FAW's R&D Centre with Professor Chris fields of energy and digital technology, aerospace, and partnership of its kind, the Rudd, Pro Vice Chancellor of The technologies. global food security — all of University has been working University of Nottingham which are key strengths of The with British company Sondrel, an The four-year PhD programme, As our partnerships with University of Nottingham and Integrated Circuit design services split between the University’s business, academia and the East China University of consultancy for the campuses in China and the UK, government extend across Science and Technology semiconductor industry, to offer exposes students to research, China, and as our Ningbo (ECUST). three-month training industry and entrepreneurship campus matures, The University programmes at UNNC. The first on an international scale. The One of our most exciting of Nottingham is increasingly two cohorts, each of around unique model of the Centre collaborative projects with a able to help British companies twenty students, who completed integrates a number of co- Chinese university has just been make vital links with China and the course earlier this year were dependent strands, Doctoral launched in Guangzhou – the we are looking forward to all offered jobs by the sponsor. Training Centre, Innovation-led Guangdong Nottingham building many more Research and Accelerator Fund Advanced Finance Institute In addition, we are also working partnerships in the future.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 9 THE FANTASTIC FUTURE OF FOOD: 50 YEARS OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) this year celebrates its 50th Jubilee. While we will not miss the opportunity to celebrate the past, the focus for the Institute’s celebrations is on looking to the future.

The important role of food Sadly these stories often pick which have evolved as a result science and technology in up on negative aspects of food, of being used under crisis. ensuring a sustainable supply of nutrition and health. As an Indeed, some of the safe and nutritious food seems institute and an independent technologies which are now Jon Poole, Chief Executive, Institute of never to have been so critical. professional membership body being utilised on a routine basis Food Science and Technology Barely a month goes by without involved in this sector, we do have only become available on at least one significant news not see this as a threat. These a mass and economical scale in story hitting the headlines on a stories reinforce the important the last few years. related subject. In the recent message that food science and It is only through effective past we have seen a plethora of technology lie at the heart of the scientific research that we can stories relating to the horse solutions to these issues rather continue to advance the meat scandal and its than being the cause. profession and continuously improve the quality, production ... ensuring a safe and reliable food and safety throughout the supply chain ... supply chain. IFST has recently

implications in terms of food Many of our members are published a new Information Statement entitled Modern authenticity and ensuring a safe involved in critical research and Techniques Used in Food and reliable food supply chain. development targeted at Similarly, the number of stories Authenticity Testing. This was reducing the prevalence of food- relating to obesity, diet, nutrition written and peer-reviewed by borne diseases and ensuring the and health is increasing faster our members, and is available than the UK waistlines on which production of food that is safe on our website. they are reporting. ... safe from chemical and Slightly slower burning news physical contaminants ... items but just as critical include

the sustainability of our food from chemical and physical In reality, even given the recent supply – within the UK but also contaminants. This highly horse meat scare, consumers on a global scale. Other subjects complex work often goes generally do not fear going into related to sustainability and unnoticed by the general public. a supermarket. Consistently safe which also regularly vie for During the horse meat scandal, and reliable food is considered a headline status include the introduction of new technologies food analysts were responsible hygiene factor – something such as genetic modification and for testing meat samples using a which the public expects. From nanotechnology. number of techniques, some of time to time we hear of food

10 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 product recalls. Some of these projects in support of these of conduct around food safety placements, graduate are voluntary, and are just one issues and the food sector. which we believe will support placements and internships free further course of action at the the Food Standard Agency’s of charge for students to browse end of a very thorough testing REGISTER FOR FOOD principles of risk-based and apply. SAFETY PROFESSIONALS enforcement and assessment. process that aims to ensure that Provided placements meet The first of our Jubilee projects Ultimately this register will the food we eat is reliably safe minimum standards set by IFST, is our planned Register for Food ensure that those involved in and of the highest quality. students will be awarded Safety Professionals. Currently delivering food safety are That said, food scientists are in achievement ‘badges’ which EU Regulation 852/2004 recognised as having the no way complacent. They know they can include within their CV, (Article 5) requires all food necessary level of knowledge, that the increased complexity of building their profile and business operators to skills and experience required to a globalised food supply chain improving their employability. To implement and maintain deliver HAACP processes at the along with increasing food prices deliver this ambitious legacy hygiene procedures based on level at which they are working. may lead to more opportunities project IFST is currently raising and greater temptation for food ... greater temptation for food fraud ... funds from its members as well fraud. This is a subject at the as directly from employers. We heart of the recent Elliott Review HACCP principles. HACCP Prevention of food fraud, as already have some major food into the Integrity and Assurance (Hazard Analysis and Critical highlighted in the Elliot Review, brands supporting us but need of Food Supply Networks due Control Point) is an is often the responsibility of food further support to bring this to for final publication in early internationally recognised way of safety professionals. Our new reality. summer 2014. There is no managing food safety and register will ensure that a focus Our FoodStart project is being doubt that the horse meat protecting consumers. on the prevention of food fraud formally launched at our Jubilee incident has highlighted some is incorporated within the Food business operators are conference on 14-15 May and important issues and further assessment criteria for attaining required to identify Critical our Register for Food Safety steps that can be taken to accreditation. All food safety Control Points (CCPs) and then Professionals will be formally tighten the food supply chain. professionals will then be establish procedures to monitor launched at our House of Lords required to maintain a record of One unintended consequence these and take corrective actions Reception on 2 July hosted by their continuing professional of many of these news stories where needed. All of this, of Lord Rooker, an event which will development – critical for has been the negative impact course, must be recorded and also be a celebration of our scientific professionals in such a they have put on the image of HACCP procedures carefully 50th Jubilee theme – the fast moving subject. the food industry. As with many verified on an ongoing basis. Fantastic Future of Food. other sectors, food – from farm HACCP principles are normally FoodStart – IFST’S For more details of both of to fork – struggles to attract high established at a senior, strategic LEGACY PROJECT these projects and our Jubilee ... recognised code of conduct around Celebrating the Fantastic events please visit our website: food safety ... Future of Food is the main www.ifst.org or email Jon Poole, theme for our 50th Jubilee year. Chief Executive, [email protected]. quality young people needed level in a food business, then But, as highlighted earlier, pivotal both today and for the future. carefully managed, and to the future of food is the need This is especially acute in terms delivered on a day-to day basis to attract sufficient talent to of attracting the next generation by those responsible for deliver this. A second key project of food scientists and production. for IFST is the development of technologists.This is even harder IFST’s new voluntary register our FoodStart project. We are to do against such a negative aims to provide a four tier designing and building a website backdrop of reporting. framework that will recognise which will provide a single point In our 50th Jubilee year, IFST and encourage the professional of contact for students wishing is focusing on the future needs development of all levels of to experience working in the of the sector and is pleased to food safety professionals. It will food sector. Food employers will be delivering two important new also establish a recognised code be able to post work experience

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 11 CHAMPIONING THE PEOPLE WHO CHAMPION INNOVATION

THE INNOVATION • Supporting policy initiatives, cities as ‘test beds’ for MANIFESTO funding and incentives which developing new market models improve the impact and take The Innovation Council’s vision • Assisting SMEs with product up of innovation, particularly by has culminated in the Innovation and service innovation and with SMEs and across a wider Manifesto, which articulates what access to new markets purview than just the private we have pledged to do in 9. Facilitate cross-sector sector support of Government’s policies innovation transfer and provide an inspirational 5. Embed innovation in new • Improving the capacity to reference point for innovators: business models and innovate across sectors and organisational design 1. Create and sustain a culture access new international of innovation • Networking emerging practice markets through new that supports growth in Prof Sa’ad Medhat, FIKE, CEO • Promoting access to effective approaches to cross-sector and Professor Medhat is the founder of innovation organically and/or practice by successful cross-cultural engagement NEF with an established reputation through acquisition for driving forward initiatives from innovative organisations, so that 10. Protect and harness policy through to implementation. people working in industry, • Recognising and sharing intellectual property education and the public sector organisational structures and • Providing SMEs with advice and can improve performance on behaviours which have proven guidance on the Intellectual innovation to be successful in driving Property landscape, litigation innovation • Providing development, training and challenges Innovation is an important and standards which 6. Improve the rate of differentiator in highly encourage entrepreneurial innovation through investment ENABLING INNOVATION competitive markets. It has mind-sets and approaches in research and development NEF: The Innovation Institute is become a more sophisticated 2. Develop talented people to • Promoting sustainable experienced in working with function that is mandated by drive and manage innovation mechanisms to improve the Government, industry, education organisations. However, to • Promoting the uptake of rate of innovation through R&D and the public sector to achieve and maintain investment in, for example, the stimulate change and innovative cultures and standards and frameworks which help to identify, innovation pipeline, improvement. The Institute will: practices an active leadership diversification and innovation for innovation is required. recognise and exploit • Champion the innovation innovation talent and drive diffusion agenda with Government, NEF: The Institute recognises business growth • Promoting the adoption of new industry, education and the the critical contribution that approaches that combine public sector through a range of innovation plays in addressing • Designing and delivering science, industry and education interventions business, economic, social and programmes which develop the knowledge, skills and in effectively harnessing • Work with industry and environmental challenges. As a innovation and in successfully professional body and ‘do-tank’, attitudes capable of supporting education to promote the uptake innovation supporting new business of the Investor in Innovations the Institute supports people creation who drive innovation and acts as 3. Design and implement a standard to stimulate and a channel for discussion on regulatory framework to drive 7. Support infrastructure benchmark innovation issues relating to innovation with innovation development which enables • Accredit programmes that Government. Guided by the growth recognise and drive innovation to 1 • Working with industry and Innovation Council of over 40 Government to prioritise areas • Identifying and promoting enable knowledge exchange and Chief Officers representing our for regulatory change which enablers for innovation and continuous improvement economy, the Institute is can make a significant impact growth – access to space, stimulating innovation through on levels of innovation and access to funds and access to sector-to-sector knowledge business performance support transfer and horizon-scanning in • Providing tailored support to, 4. Promote and secure areas of potential common and development for, young investment that enables 1 Innovation Council: AMEC, Arla; Balfour interest. Subsequently, this people involved in new Beatty, BASF, BBC, BOSCH, Britvic, BT, innovation to flourish critical industrial intelligence is business creation, innovation Bupa, Buro Happold, Cobham, Cobra, fed through to educational • Bringing Government and Costain, Crossrail, DHL, Dunhill, DuPont, and growth EDF Energy, EMC2, Evolvi, Extrinsica, GE institutions, enabling them to industry together to design Healthcare, GSK, Lego, Mars, MBDA 8. Sensitise the market and prepare for future skills funded initiatives which will Missile Systems, Medvivo, Microsoft, support market innovation MITE, National Grid, Plessey development in new and enable innovation and provide Semiconductors, Rolls Royce, Royal emerging technology areas of real return-on-investment • Promoting new frameworks for Mail, Tate & Lyle, Telefonica, Thales, UK growth. through growth market innovation such as PIA, Unilever, UCS.

12 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 THE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING PROGRAMME Petra Gratton, Programme Manager, Women in Engineering, Brunel University in school thinking about careers some excellent female role models with whom to identify. The engineers will be required to participate in promoting the profession, in line with the requirements of Engineering UK’s Standard for Professional Engineering Competence.

To encourage women engineers who are eligible for UK/EU fee status to join the programme, Brunel is offering 40 scholarships, covering tuition fees and a living allowance of £15,000 for the academic year 2014-15. As well as qualifying At a Women in Engineering workshop held at Brunel University in March, engineering employers were represented by BAESystems, Ford, Mabey, Millbrook, Network Rail, Robert Bosch Group, Lucy Switchgear and for a place on one of the Cavendish Nuclear Ltd. selected MSc courses, applicants must provide a personal Engineering contributes a huge much in evidence in industry, is into STEM roles. The pipeline is statement which demonstrates amount to the UK economy: something Brunel University’s leaking! £1.06 trillion in turnover for the Women in Engineering their commitment to their From the point of view of a 14- year ending March 2011, which programme addresses. This chosen engineering profession. year-old girl considering careers is nearly a quarter of the programme has been enabled Priority will be given to those in school, the problem is that turnover of all UK enterprises. by funding and support from a who have not studied beyond there are very few women in Some contribution is from number of sources including the Bachelor’s degree level before, evidence in engineering, and a manufacturing, which makes up Higher Education Funding and to those who have worked very small number at the top of almost half of UK exports, and Council for England, the Babcock (paid or unpaid) preferably in their profession (however that accounts for 72% of UK International Group, the the sector of their professional might be defined by our business research and Institution of Mechanical studies. teenager). The Women in development. However, there is Engineers and TWI Ltd. Reception of the Women in Engineering programme aims to more to engineering than Engineering programme has Jobs for engineers are there, support women who have manufacture. It also includes all and they pay well. According to the operation and maintenance EngineeringUK, engineering ... women are not very much in evidence of society’s infrastructure, such as enterprises predict having 2.74 in industry ... energy, communications, million job openings during this transportation, mining, graduated in engineering, and been overwhelmingly positive decade to 2020. The starting construction, property, defence want to develop the necessary since its launch in January, and it average salary is £27,415 for and emergency services. business acumen and leadership is anticipated that we will see those who go to work for skills to propel them up their more women engineering The Royal Academy of engineering companies rather career path, whilst they are graduates from Brunel University Engineering has estimated a than for non-engineering studying for their MSc degree. in 2015 than ever. There will be need for 100,000 STEM companies (which is 15.7% Through contact with industry, many opportunities for graduates each year to serve all more than the mean for all networking and visiting sites, engineering enterprises to these various sectors, which graduates, and less than only they will have the opportunity to promote themselves to the represents a shortfall of about those in medicine and dentistry). get a better understanding of graduates. If you are interested 10,000. The fact that the female It is worrying to find from the the roles available to them. As in supporting this initiative, half of the population has not HESA statistics that only 51% of well as benefiting the individual please contact womenin traditionally pursued engineering female (compared with 68% of women who participate in the [email protected]. careers, and women are not very male) STEM graduates continue programme, this will give those

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 13 The most interesting article on digital diplomacy you’ll read all day Dr John Preece Science and Innovation Network, Toronto, Canada

You’re browsing a news site, A 2013 University of Bristol our messaging through high- Strategies like these ultimately and see the following link: 12 study looked at the differences traffic platforms? It’s an intriguing serve prosperity goals. In the risky British discoveries that between several new websites’ thought (15 Important Reasons Science and Innovation Network, changed our world. Do you click “Top Stories” (what editors think to Collaborate with the UK on we are aiming to communicate it? Even though it’s recognisably is important) and “Most Popular” Regenerative Medicine British excellence and expertise link bait, carefully crafted to (what people are actually Research), but there isn’t really so well that when someone entice you into spending more reading) lists. Perhaps a one-size-fits-all approach to thinks of science – for research time on a site, research suggests unsurprisingly, serious topics like science communications. We collaborations, study, policy that you would. politics and business were use tools like Twitter to add a advice or anything – they think poorly-read, while the tabloid very personal touch to civil of the UK and come to us. We Captivating headlines are in staples of crime, natural service duties; Tumblr to deliver also aim to communicate our some ways an expected disasters, celebrity and the response to the fire hose of new weather were universally ... very personal touch to civil service duties ... information on the Web. With popular. Similarly, a Conductor over 2 million blog articles and survey found that headlines visually rich content to a own activities and successes, to 50 million tweets posted every containing numbers (10 Female different audience; Facebook to raise our profile in the countries day, content creators need to British Scientists You Should answer questions from another in which we work and inspire deploy every technique they can Know About) were far more audience. BuzzFeed has a place new scientists and research to make their stuff stand out popular than other ways of too – our colleagues in groups to work with us. For from everything else. According expressing the same Washington DC run a popular example, here in Canada we to viral media site Upworthy, information, as were headlines channel about life in the UK (11 have taken advantage of the fact traffic on an article can vary by with fewer superlative Stats That Prove British Music that official FCO blogs appear up to 500% depending on the statements (10 Female British Rules) and the USA (Baseball: quite high in Google search headline – and more traffic Scientists You Really Should You’re Doing It Wrong). results to showcase our means more potential collaborative projects and allow Know About). Government communications advertising revenue. British and Canadian scientists to have not disintegrated into ... communicate British science ... talk informally about their work. anarchy with the advent of We are also working on creating digital tools; most official In digital diplomacy, we’re less This is a tendency that viral a somewhat rarefied reputation channels – as anyone who’s interested in making money media platform BuzzFeed has on Twitter for science diplomacy worked on an intergovernmental (though saving money by exploited mercilessly. Virtually with the UK and on public agreement will know – are still delivering government services every headline on the site is outreach through digital events rigorously shaped and refined. through digital channels is a big strategically written to maximise (such as our recent Google However, we now have a more priority) and more interested in the chances of you reading it, Hangout on open data). While human element to making sure that information is with about half being of the we are not setting up communications, with a easily findable and widely read. “number” type. And while you randomised controlled trials of multitude of individual Here in the UK Science and may sniff at the déclassé subject these channels, they are employees working on Innovation Network, one of our matter (12 Celebrities Whose something of an experiment and engagement as a part of their aims is to communicate British Facial Hair is Worse Than we will be looking closely at the science – discoveries, Yours), you may be in the job that’s slightly separated from results to see if they deliver announcements, policy – to our minority – BuzzFeed attracts the official machinery of the what we want them to. stakeholders. In the past, we organisation. The Government over 85 million unique visitors have relied on press releases Digital Service’s Inside GOV.UK And congratulations on your per month, more than the BBC, and speeches to get our blog (formerly Inside Inside engagement and attention span CNN, New York Times and message out; today, we have a Government) is a good example if you read this far – research Reuters combined. vast array of digital tools to reach of an initiative to engage citizens also suggests that only 20% of a much wider audience. Does this mean that, in order and let them take a peek readers get past the headline. to maximise readership, we behind the frontend of their should be publishing most of digital services.

14 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 BADGERS Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday 21st January BADGERS

Adam Quinney spoke about proximity sensors have shown have the disease. The NFU farming and the effect that TB in that badgers tend to live in would like to have an effective cattle is having on the industry. family clusters and generally do vaccine for badgers, but this is He stressed that the NFU is anti- not move more than 2km from not easy to find. The best TB and not anti-badger. He their setts. Unfortunately, such current vaccine has to be pointed out that not only can results have proved to be more injected, which first requires the badgers transmit TB to cattle, useful for learning about badger animals to be caught – no easy but cattle can transmit TB to behaviour than their effect on task. Oral vaccines are available, badgers. The usual mechanism cattle. but are much less effective. The is via the animal latrines ie in NFU would also like an effective the urine which gets absorbed Badgers tend to be up and vaccine for cattle, but this is into the food. TB is a very about at night and sleep in the even more difficult to achieve as Adam Quinney complicated disease. Animals day, whereas cattle tend to do cattle are part of the human Vice President, NFU can be infected but not the opposite – up and about in food chain. Moreover, different infectious. The time during the day and lying down chewing parts of a cow or bull are which an animal is infected the cud at night. Hence the The summaries of the talks before becoming infectious is importance of badger latrines exported to different countries given at the meeting by Adam very variable – from weeks to and cattle fodder. Tests have depending on local tastes and Quinney and Professor Rosie months. The can also shown that raising the troughs requirements; hence many Woodroffe are based on an be spread when infected for cattle food and water different tests would be required article by Edward Stansfield animals bite other animals. reduces the level of TB in cattle. to show that the vaccine is not CMath FIMA CSci published in detrimental to human health. Badger proofing farms is very The primary test for TB in Mathematics Today. expensive, and not practical, as it animals is a skin test, which is In conclusion, Adam said that requires fences around fields to said to be 90% effective ie on there is no single answer – TB be buried to a considerable average 10% of infected has not so far been stopped, depth. Experiments using animals will not be detected to but it has been slowed down.

BADGERS BADGER CULLING AND ITS EFFECTS ON CATTLE TB Cattle tuberculosis (TB) is a infection, cattle sales and approaches to limiting badger- serious animal health problem. movements are restricted, and to-cattle transmission. The disease is caused by the farmers are given detailed The Independent Scientific bacteria . biosecurity advice. Group on Cattle TB (ISG, of Public health measures include Transmission from British which I was the deputy chair) pasteurization, which kills any wildlife, in particular badgers designed, oversaw, analysed and M. bovis in milk and dairy (Meles meles), has hampered interpreted the Randomised products. Routine testing of cattle-focused efforts to control, Badger Culling Trial (RBCT). In cattle identifies M. bovis-infected and eradicate, the disease. the RBCT, 30 large (100km2) cattle to limit onward cattle-to- Badger culling has been areas were selected in ten sets cattle transmission, to avoid undertaken, in various forms, of three, within which one area Professor Christl Donnelly cattle suffering due to TB and to MRC Centre for Outbreak Analysis since the 1970s. Yet, the role of was randomised to proactive secure public health. Following and Modelling, Department of badgers continues to be fiercely culling, one to reactive culling Infectious Disease , confirmation of M. bovis debated, as do the appropriate and one to no culling. Proactive

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 15 culling was undertaken annually overlapped more in culling 100km2 circular culling area, the estimated badger population on all accessible land, whereas areas. Furthermore, in unculled 83.5km2 of land is up to 2km of the culling area by at least reactive culling was undertaken areas, badger home ranges outside it (ratio=0.835), 70%5. Moreover, to provide only once on and around increased with proximity to the whereas for a 200km2 circular statistical confidence that at least farmland on which cattle had boundaries of proactive culling culling area, 112.8km2 of land is 70% of badgers had been been confirmed with bovine TB. areas. The finding that badger up to 2km outside it removed, the minimum number All badgers culled within the behaviour was affected up to (ratio=0.564). It was on this of badgers to be culled was RBCT were captured using 2km from the proactive culling basis that we found, in 2010, considerably more than 70% of baited cage traps and shot. areas suggested to the ISG that that we could only be (95%) the estimated size of the local cattle TB incidence should also confident of avoiding net badger population, due to In 2003, reactive culling was be examined up to 2km outside increases in confirmed cattle TB imprecision in the population suspended because the RBCT areas. across the entire affected area estimate6. incidence of confirmed cattle TB in reactively culled areas was ... the role of badgers continues to be In late 2013, initial culls were found to be significantly higher fiercely debated ... undertaken in two pilot culling than in the matched unculled areas, in Gloucestershire and areas 1. This unforeseen result In 2006, the ISG and for circular culling areas greater Somerset, following delays due caused considerable debate colleagues reported that than 141km2 in size 4. to difficulties in estimating the about potential mechanisms for proactive culling had reduced resident badger population. The In 2011, Defra published the increased risk and about the the incidence of confirmed cattle Independent Expert Panel details on an approach to robustness of the RBCT. TB among herds in proactively reported that “The combined license farmer-led badger culls 5. Subsequent analyses of data culled areas, compared with approach of controlled shooting The approach differed within the reactive areas herds in unculled areas 3-4. and cage trapping also did not importantly from proactive (ignoring data from the unculled However, we also reported that remove at least 70% of the culling in the RBCT in that areas) identified an association proactive culling increased the population inside either pilot between reactive badger culling incidence of confirmed cattle TB i) it allowed the shooting of free- area; substantially fewer than and increased confirmed cattle among herds on land up to ranging badgers, as well as 70% were removed in both TB risks on nearby farms. 2km outside proactively culled cage-trapping, raising concerns areas.” 7 The government Furthermore, affected herds in areas, compared with herds on for and for announced on 3rd April 2014 reactively culled areas took land up to 2km outside unculled health and safety; that annual culling will resume areas, though this increase longer to clear TB from their ii) it allowed culling to take place in the pilot areas, but no new disappeared after annual culling cattle than herds in unculled over a 6-week period each cull licences will be granted for stopped 3-4. 8 areas. year (instead of the intensive the time being . ... affected herds in reactively culled areas took 11 consecutive nights of cage Time will tell whether trapping and shooting in the subsequent culls in the pilot longer to clear TB ... RBCT); areas will be more effective than An ecological hypothesis These results, although iii) it required culls to be the initial culls. If they are not, proposed to explain the reactive biologically sound, have created organised and undertaken by the risk is that herds within the culling finding was that one-off particular challenges for farmers and their contractors pilot areas will experience localized culling disrupted policymakers and stakeholders. rather than government increased TB risks (as in badgers’ territorial behaviour, The estimated positive and Wildlife Unit staff. reactively culled areas) rather thereby increasing contacts negative impacts of proactive than decreased TB risks (as in In order to be licensed, proactively culled areas). between infected badgers and culling are such that the net applicants had to demonstrate cattle. The impacts of culling on benefit (that is the cattle herd that they would meet several References badger activity, in particular incidents prevented inside the licensing requirements including 1. Donnelly CA, Woodroffe R, Cox DR, ranging behaviour, were culling area minus the cattle that culling areas were large, at Bourne J, Gettinby G, et al. (2003) Impact measured using bait marking. of localized badger culling on TB incidence herd incidents caused up to least 150km2 in size. This was Coloured baits were fed to in British cattle. Nature 426: 834–837. 2km outside the culling area) informed by the finding on net badgers at their setts (dens) and will be greater for larger roughly benefits from idealised circular 2. Woodroffe R, Donnelly CA, Cox DR, the resulting colour-marked bait Bourne FJ, Cheeseman CL, et al. (2006) circular culling areas. culling areas greater than returns (faeces) were mapped Effects of culling on badger Meles meles 141km2 in size4. spatial organization: implications for the for proactively culled, reactively Everything else being equal, control of bovine tuberculosis. Journal of the best shape for a landlocked culled and unculled areas, as Because shooting free-ranging Applied Ecology 43: 1–10. well as on land up to 2km proactive culling area is circular badgers was an untested culling 3. Donnelly CA, Woodroffe R, Cox DR, 2 as it minimizes the ratio of land outside proactively culled areas . method, there was concern over Bourne FJ, Cheeseman CL, et al. (2006) Badger home ranges, estimated up to 2km outside the culling whether these culls could Positive and negative effects of from bait returns, were area to the land area within the remove the minimum number widespread badger culling on cattle consistently larger and culling area. For example for a of badgers required to reduce tuberculosis. Nature 439: 843–846.

16 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 4. Jenkins HE, Woodroffe R, Donnelly CA (2010) The Duration of the Effects of Excerpts from the Independent Expert Panel’s report: Monitoring the efficacy of badger Repeated Widespread Badger Culling on population reduction by controlled shooting during the first six weeks of the pilots 7 Cattle Tuberculosis Following the Cessation of Culling. PLoS ONE 5(2): e9090. Para 4.6 “In the Gloucestershire pilot area a total of 708 badgers were removed during the first six 5. Defra (2011) The Government’s policy weeks of culling, with an estimated cull efficacy of 27.5 to 39.1% from cull sample matching and on Bovine TB and badger control in 21.8 to 50.8% from capture-mark-recapture analysis. The number removed by shooting was 543 England https://www.gov.uk/government/ and was 165 by cage trapping, giving an estimated shooting efficacy of 25.3 to 37.1% from cull publications/the-government-s-policy-on- sample matching and 16.7 to 39.0% from capture-mark-recapture analysis. …” bovine-tb-and-badger-control-in-england

6. Donnelly CA, Woodroffe R (2012) Epidemiology: Reduce uncertainty in UK badger culling. Nature 485: 582. ... particular challenges for policymakers ... 7. Independent Expert Panel (2014) https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ system/uploads/attachment_data/file/300 Para 4.7 “In the Somerset pilot area a total of 866 badgers were removed during the first six 383/ahvla-efficacy-report.pdf weeks of culling, with an estimated cull efficacy of 34.5 to 48.1% from cull sample matching and 8. Defra (2014) https://www.gov.uk/ 45.5 to 101.9% from capture-mark-recapture analysis. The number reported to be removed by government/publications/pilot-badger- shooting was 398 and was 467 by cage trapping, giving an estimated shooting efficacy of 14.6 to culls-in-somerset-and-gloucestershire- defra-response-to-the-report-by-the- 24.8% from cull sample matching and 20.9 to 46.8% from capture-mark-recapture analysis. …” independent-expert-panel BADGER CULLING AND VACCINATION Professor Rosie Woodroffe Senior Research , Institute of Zoology

Rosie Woodroffe entitled her Rosie referred to these effects For vaccination programmes to first year the overall risk of new talk Badger Culling and as “disease dynamics”. New be effective, all young badgers is reduced by 76%, Vaccination. What she did was born animals in the wild are need to be protected, and this and 79% in cubs if more than show how the results described susceptible, but can become means that the programme has 30% of the adults have been by the previous two speakers immune either by vaccination or to be repeated every year. Over vaccinated. This doesn’t reduce can be explained in terms of by getting better after being time, this will eradicate the the number of badgers, but it mathematically modelling the infected after mixing with the disease. Each year the risk of does reduce the risk of infection. way that diseases spread across infectious. Culling in general will infection will be reduced. However, the effect that this has an area. This involves three affect both the susceptible and Studies have shown that in the on TB in cattle is not yet known. kinds of animal: those that are the immune, and will change susceptible, those that are the balance, but it does provide immune, and those that are fewer opportunities for infected How does changing badger density influence TB infected. Disease spreads by and susceptible animals to mix. risk to cattle? infected animals mixing with Culling can produce two reactive culling outside proactive more cattle TB susceptible animals, some of opposing consequences – fewer culling areas which then also become badgers (which is good), but the West infected. The progress of a proportion of infected badgers Somerset disease depends on many may increase (which is bad). % reduction in factors, not least of which are The graph illustrates this, based 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% badger density

the level of mixing, the area over on the results of the recent trials TB incidence West which they roam, the rate at in Gloucester and Somerset Gloucestershire relative change in cattle which the young are born, the ending on 1 November 2013. inside proactive less cattle TB rate at which the old die and the When possums were culled in culling areas effect of the disease on New Zealand some years ago, mortality. Of course, culling and similar effects were observed. vaccination both directly affect the model.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 17 HOW DO WE VALUE OUR NATURAL CAPITAL? Meeting of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee on Tuesday 25th February VALUING NATURAL CAPITAL

Valuing changes in natural capital can help stop its decline – but only if we do it properly. Over the next year, the Natural Capital Committee1 (NCC) will develop its advice further about how to prioritise action to conserve and enhance our natural assets in order to meet the Government’s ambition to be “the first generation to leave the natural environment of England in a better state than it inherited” 2.

Throughout my career as a Germany’s or Gabon’s, has a concluded that “although UK Government economist, my capital stock which it uses to Julian Harlow ecosystems are currently Natural Capital Committee science colleagues have often produce output. This stock can delivering some services well, Secretariat, Defra. accused my profession of be broken down into: others are in long-term decline”. ‘knowing the price of everything • produced capital (such as Similar patterns of degradation and the value of nothing’.I roads, railways, housing), are being observed across the hope to dispel that myth and world. In 2005, the Millennium argue that the degradation of • human capital (knowledge and Assessment 5 concluded that our natural environment is skills), “nearly two thirds of the occurring precisely because its • social capital (trust, behavioural services provided by nature to value is not being adequately norms and institutions), and humankind are found to be in recognised and included in our decline worldwide. In effect, the • natural capital (for example, decision-making processes. benefits reaped from our forests, water, land, soils, and By incorporating these values engineering of the planet have wild species). into decisions made by been achieved by running Government, businesses and These different capitals are down natural capital assets”. combined in different ways to individuals, scarce resources can Why is this happening? Why produce goods and services that be used more efficiently, are we failing to conserve and we consume. We derive value economic growth can be better invest in our natural assets? The from them. Natural capital is supported, and our wellbeing answer is a wide range of different from other forms of can be increased. Society would complex, interrelated factors, but capital in that we do not have to be a lot better off if we valued a very important one, perhaps ‘make it’ – it is a gift of nature. natural capital properly. the most important in fact, is Indeed, many assets (the living our inability to measure ones at least) are capable of ... its value is not adequately and value changes sustaining themselves being adequately in those assets. We don’t have indefinitely, if used wisely. recognised ... readily observable values. However, like other forms of Because of this natural assets The emerging interdisciplinary capital, natural capital can be are often assigned a value of field of ‘natural capital’ has given overused and degraded. ‘zero’ in the decisions we take; rise to a new set of terminology Investment is typically required the inevitable consequence of that many find confusing. This to maintain natural assets so which is degradation over the presents some, well recognised, that they can continue to long-term. communication challenges. provide the goods and services When economists talk about Natural capital refers to those from which we derive value. placing monetary values on the elements of nature that produce Evidence demonstrates we are environment, it is not because (or are of) value 3. not investing enough in our we lack moral principles or Natural capital is a stock natural capital. The UK’s National because we do not recognise 4 concept. Any economy, be it Ecosystem Assessment that nature has a value beyond

18 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 human use. It is because we informing management action to want to be able to compare Figure 1 conserve our natural assets. different things using a common What is already clear is that if we unit of measurement. All of us continue to ignore their true compare different things using value and fail to tackle the money every day – that is one growing pressures that are being of its main functions, and doing placed on them, we will surely so allows us to make informed be much worse off. choices easily. This is the basic References rationale for trying to value 1 The Natural Capital Committee is an natural capital – to avoid a independent advisory committee set up default value of zero and to by the Government to advise on how facilitate comparison between society can take better account of the value of nature and ensure this value fully different investments. informs decision-making. More As a proponent of valuation, I However, woodlands provide a 1. Some assets [in England] information can be found at www.naturalcapitalcommittee.org. am not recommending that we whole series of other things that are currently not being used estimate the ‘total value’ of all are of value to us – they sustainably. The benefits we 2 HM Government (2011) The Natural Choice: Securing the value of nature. natural capital. This is a futile sequester carbon from the derive from them are at risk, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/ exercise although several studies atmosphere, they regulate water which has significant economic system/uploads/attachment_data/file/22 have attempted it. Most flows in catchments and provide implications; 8842/8082.pdf economists agree that such spaces for outdoor recreation, to 2. There are substantial 3 NCC (2014) Towards a framework for initiatives do not produce name but a few. By including measuring natural capital. Working Paper economic benefits to be gained reliable results and are not the value of these benefits in 1. www.naturalcapitalcommittee.org. from maintaining and improving useful for policy or decision- planting decisions, the amount 4 UK National Ecosystem Assessment natural assets. The benefits will making purposes. and location of new woodlands (2011) Synthesis and key findings. be maximised if their full value http://uknea.unep-wcmc.org/Resources/ ... Natural capital is different from other forms is incorporated into decision- tabid/82/Default.aspx of capital ... making; and, 5 http://www.millenniumassessment .org/en/index.html 3. A long-term plan is Neither are proponents of would look different to a necessary to maintain and 6 See article by George Monbiot, valuation attempting to estimate situation where only the value of http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr improve natural capital, thereby values of changes in natural timber and the forgone losses in ee/2012/aug/06/price-rivers-rain- delivering wellbeing and assets so that they can be agricultural output are greatest-privatisation. supporting economic growth. assigned a price and exchanged considered. Professor Ian 7 See Lázaro-Touza, L. & Atkinson, G. for cash 6. Price and value are Bateman (a member of the Over the next year, the NCC (2013) Nature, roads or hospitals? An empirical evaluation of sustainable very different things. Let me NCC) and colleagues from the will formulate advice and development preferences, Ecological illustrate using woodlands as an University of East Anglia have recommendations to Economics, 95, 63-72. example. Few would disagree modelled these issues and Government about how we 8 The details of which can be found the that they are an important and conclude that society could be should conserve and invest in NCC’s second State of Natural Capital very valuable natural asset. But hundreds of millions of pounds our natural assets. We will report and the forthcoming UK National how important and how better off each year by taking explore issues including: national Ecosystem Assessment Follow-On valuable are they compared with into account carbon and and corporate accounting; (NEAFO) project. schools, roads or hospitals 7 ? recreational values in new developing better ways of The Committee also heard That is the investment decision woodland planting decisions 8. measuring changes in natural we always face. from Professor Rosie Hails ... natural assets are often assigned a value MBE, Science Director for Woodland areas are obviously Biodiversity and Ecosystem a source of timber when of ‘zero’ ... Science at the Centre for harvested and the price of THE NATURAL CAPITAL capital; improving the use of Ecology and Hydrology (CEH). timber acts as a good indicator COMMITTEE cost-benefit analysis; and, of timber value. In order to She is a member of the UK The Natural Capital Committee importantly, how Government, produce timber, the skills and government’s ‘Natural Capital has been set up to advise on businesses and society might expertise of foresters are Committee’, as well as a this vital issue. Figure 1 outlines approach formulating a long- needed (human capital), along member of the Advisory its terms of reference. term plan to improve our natural with reproducible capital (saws Committee on Releases to the assets. Environment (ACRE). and machinery) and natural The Committee has recently capital (good soils, water and published its second ‘State of These initiatives will make a A summary of her the tree species themselves). Natural Capital’ report which significant contribution to presentation will appear in the has three key messages: improving our knowledge and next issue.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 19 HOW DO WE VALUE OUR NATURAL CAPITAL? VALUING NATURAL CAPITAL

through the regulation of floods, beneficial impact of a proposed government. Countless reports the breakdown of waste and policy on profits, jobs and and research publications pollution or the existence of economic growth it’s all too emanate from UK academics natural areas in which to enjoy easy to ignore counterbalancing (Hoepner et al, 2012). Indeed, recreational time. costs enumerated in, for the latest large-scale UK example, hectares of lost natural contribution comes in the form Amongst economists, there habitat, declines in species of the National Ecosystem has been a growing diversity or increases in pollutant Assessment – Follow On understanding that natural concentrations. (NEAFO) project whose final capital is as fundamental to report will be released later in economic activity as other Some twenty years ago, 2014. productive assets such as built economists and ecologists Professor Brett Day and human capital. Unlike those made their first tentative One of the analyses in the Professor of Environmental Economics, University of East Anglia other assets, however, natural attempts to work together in NEAFO project resulted from the capital is rarely owned … who understanding natural capital. work of myself and colleagues at owns the atmosphere, or the oceans, or processes of nutrient ... the banner of the ecosystem services cycling? As a result, the flow of approach ... goods and services coming from Economists and ecologists are natural capital, especially those Ecologists were able to explain the University of East Anglia not obvious bedfellows. The of a less tangible variety, are to economists the mysterious (Bateman, Day et al, 2014). world of the power-dressing rarely paid for in markets … workings of the natural world. Complementing our own economist, pre-occupied with who pays for clean air, or the Now it would be possible to expertise in economics, climate issues of finance, investment pollination services provided by estimate how flows of and hydrology with that of and growth, would seem to insects, or a walk in the woods? environmental goods and ecologists from the University of have little in common with that Since these goods and services services might be affected by Aberdeen, the British Trust for of the welly-wearing ecologist, are provided for free, their value changing policies. Economists Ornithology and the Forestry engrossed in the complex to society is easily overlooked. brought a toolkit of non-market Commission, we set out to build interactions of the natural world. Until recently, policies and valuation methods which a computer programme that Over recent years, however, an projects have been evaluated allowed ecologists to express could estimate the impact of unlikely alliance has developed with only cursory consideration the value of the natural world in policy decisions on the value of between the power-dressers of their impacts on natural terms of hard cash. Tentative ecosystem service flows across and the welly-wearers centred collaborations turned into major capital. That is regrettable since Britain over the next fifty years. on their mutual concern for projects and from that a whole ignoring those impacts can lead Affectionately nick-named TIM natural capital. new area of academic pursuit to poor decisions, decisions that (The Integrated Model), this Natural capital comprises that programme links state-of-the-art wide array of environmental ... services coming from natural capital are rarely models of economic, ecological, assets and processes that paid for in markets ... climate and hydrological directly or indirectly contribute to fail to acknowledge the very real has evolved, brought together subsystems in one spatially- the well-being of people. That’s losses that people endure when under the banner of the explicit super-model of a lot of stuff. The air, oceans, flows of non-market ecosystem services approach. ecosystem service flows in land, soil, rivers, minerals and environmental goods and Britain. forests are all examples of From the outset, the UK has services are damaged. natural capital: each contributes been a leading player in this. We TIM’s central focus is the in some way to a flow of For ecologists the great value now have an established forum capital asset of land. Policies that benefits. Sometimes those flows of the natural world has always for the exchange of ideas and change decisions concerning the are in the form of tangible been self-evident. Rather, the the development of research use of land (whether it is entities (economists would call issue has been one of capacity through NERC’s Valuing dedicated to agriculture, forestry, them goods) like coal, timber or conveying their concerns in a Nature Network. DEFRA’s Natural nature or to housing and fish. Sometimes those flows are language that resonates with Capital Committee provides a factories) have far-reaching in the form of less tangible policy makers. When presented high-profile conduit for those ramifications for ecosystem entities (services) such as with hard figures on the ideas to be communicated to service flows. For example,

20 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 dedicating land to agriculture analysis considered a case study profits from timber are generally woodlands without considering results in outputs of food that in which each country plants lower than those from farming, wider ecosystem service benefits can be sold in markets for a 250,000ha of new woodland the policy still yields an overall results in poor decisions and profit. At the same time, (roughly 3% of land area) over negative sum of about £134m negative value for money to the intensive agricultural practices a 50 year period. TIM examined per annum: an amount which taxpayer. harm bird populations and the costs and benefits of taxpayers would have to pay in The right hand side map of generate diffuse pollution that planting in every location in compensation to farmers in Figure 1 shows where new damages freshwater Britain and through its order to induce them to allow woodlands would be located if ecosystems. Alternatively, computing intelligence was able the afforestation to go ahead. decisions took into account both displacing farmland with to identify planting locations There are other, generally market-priced and non-market woodland reduces food which maximise values. positive, ecosystem service flows ecosystems service flows (the production but generates a flow Figure 1 illustrates some of the that result from this proposed analysis shown particularly of timber, another market good key findings of that analysis. The afforestation: carbon considers carbon and recreation that can be sold for profits. left hand side map shows where sequestration, the creation of values). Relative to the previous Woodlands also provide a Britain’s new woodlands should recreational opportunities and map, a dramatic shift is evident habitat for birds, provide a be planted if the only ecosystem improvements for wildlife and in in the location of Britain’s new wonderful recreational resource service flows considered are water quality. Since those woodlands, bringing them off for people and have the ecosystem services are ignored remote upland peat areas and ... reduces food production but generates a in the analysis, the choice of adding a ‘green fringe’ of flow of timber ... planting locations does little to woodland around Britain’s major ensure these value flows are population centres. potential to lock up carbon from those whose values are readily optimised. For example, planting As Table 1 shows, since we the atmosphere. The beauty of observable in market trees in upland locations often would now be planting on more TIM is that it brings all these transactions. In this case, the disturbs carbon-rich peat soils productive farmland, initial different consequences together, calculus reduces to a simple releasing large quantities of financial outlays more than turns them into economic comparison of the value of carbon into the atmosphere. double to £287m per annum. values and allows policy makers timber production with the value When taken together, the values However, the value of avoided to explore the impacts of land of agricultural output. As shown resulting from these additional and stored greenhouse gases use policy through one interface. on the map, the conclusion of ecosystem services are increases substantially. Likewise, such an analysis is that the best insufficient to offset the market While there have been other recreation values increase place to plant new woods is in costs of the scheme. massively due to the much attempts to create integrated remote upland locations where Accordingly, overall, the taxpayer greater accessibility of these models of land use (Schaldach the value of displaced incurs a net loss of roughly new woodlands. Overall, non- and Priess, 2008) none has agricultural output is at a £66m per annum (see details in market values increase more been as ambitious, detailed or minimum. Even so, because Table 1). In short, locating new than ten-fold such that value for far-ranging as TIM. TIM’s most money changes from negative innovative feature is that rather Analysis 1: Planting locations Analysis 2: Planting locations to a very strong positive balance than simply calculating the maximise value from market- maximise value from both of over half a billion pounds per particular changes in ecosystem priced ecosystem services market-priced and non-market ecosystem services annum. service value flows resulting from a particular change in policy, TIM has the intelligence ... taxpayers would to search across different have to pay in options and design policies that compensation to generate the most value. That farmers ... intelligence requires intense data-processing made possible The impact of these different by TIM’s use of high- approaches to decision-making performance computing is perhaps made most visible hardware and high-speed through Figure 2 which computational algorithms. illustrates the location of new To illustrate TIM’s capabilities, woodlands relative to the two the UEA-led research team largest urban centres in England: explored proposals to Social Value: -£66 mill per annum Social Value: +£546 mill per annum London and the West Midlands. significantly increase the area of Figure 1: Britain’s new woodlands - the location and total social value of In both cases the use of market woodland in England, Scotland planting 250,000 ha of new woodland in England, Scotland and Wales prices alone to determine over the next 50 years. and Wales (IPF, 2012). The planting locations results in a

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 21 References Table 1: Market, non-market and total social values of planting Britain’s new woodlands under two decision rules (£million per annum) Bateman, IJ, Day, BH, et al, (2014). Economic value of ecosystem services, Analysis 1: Analysis 2: Final Report from Work package 3a to the Planting locations maximise Planting locations maximise UK National Ecosystem Assessment - Follow-On (NEAFO) programme, value from market-priced value from market & CSERGE, University of East Anglia. ecosystem services non-market ecosystem services Hoepner, A et al (2012). “Environmental Market Value -£134 -£287 and ecological economics in the 21st century”, Ecological Economics, 77, pp. Non-Market Value £68 £833 193–206.

Total Social Value -£66 £546 Independent Panel on Forestry (2012). Final report, Department for Environment Table Notes: Food and Rural Affairs, London.

• Market values = agricultural and timber output Schaldach, R and J A Priess (2008). • Non-market values = greenhouse gases and recreation (water quality impacts and impacts on “Integrated models of the land system: a wildlife are quantified but not monetised although afforestation improves both of these review of modelling approaches on the measures); regional to global scale”, Living Reviews in Landscape Research, 2, pp. 1-34. • Total social values = Market values + Non-market values • values priced using low range carbon equivalent prices (see Bateman, Day et al., 2014)

complete absence of woodlands ... woodland fringes being generated around each city ... around these urban centres, primarily because the recreational values of woodland are ignored. In contrast, when wider ecosystem services are accounted for, optimal planting decisions result in woodland fringes being generated around each city and town in the region: a policy that would create a legacy of multipurpose, high value woodlands for generations to come.

The NEAFO project demonstrates how far the study of natural capital and ecosystem services has come. Interdisciplinary teams of economists and natural scientists are now working together using state-of-the-art models and computing methods to provide decision makers with a solid evidence base upon which to make policy decisions about the natural environment. The way things are going, we could well find that the next generation of economists are as comfortable in a pair of muddy wellies as they are in their pin- striped city suits! What a horrible thought!! Figure 2: New woodlands for Britain’s urban centres: The location of new woodland around London (upper row) and Central England (lower row) if planting locations are determined by food and timber alone (left hand column) and food and timber, plus recreation and greenhouse gases (right hand column).

22 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 SET FOR BRITAIN 2014 Parliament Showcases Britain’s Future Scientists Engineers Technologists Mathematicians

SET for Britain 2014, the annual poster competition and exhibition for early-career researchers, was held on Monday 17th March in the House of Commons Terrace Marquee. Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, acted as host to scientists, engineers, technologists and (for the first time) mathematicians from all over the country who brought their posters to Westminster to take part in the competition and to present their research to their local Members of Parliament. During the course of the day the SET for Britain organisers were delighted to welcome 84 Parliamentarians from both Houses. Medals, certificates and cash prizes were awarded to the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. These awards were made possible by generous donations from INEOS Group, BP, Essar Oil UK, Clay Mathematics Institute, WMG, Germains Seed Technology, Boeing, Bank of England and the Institute of Biomedical Science.

The competition was divided into five sections: Biological and Finally, the winners of the four Gold awards competed for the Biomedical Sciences, Chemistry, Engineering, Mathematical Westminster Medal, donated by the SCI in memory of Dr Eric Sciences and Physics. The posters in each section were judged by Wharton. The judges for this part of the competition were Pallab experts from the Society of Biology, The Physiological Society, the Ghosh, Science Correspondent, BBC News; Professor Michael Elves Royal Society of Chemistry, the Royal Academy of Engineering, the and Andrew Miller MP. In view of the diversity of subject matter, Council for the Mathematical Sciences and the Institute of Physics. their challenge was to assess the presenters on the strength of their skill in communicating the scientific concept in their poster. The The judges’ difficult task had begun two months earlier with the Westminster Medal was presented by Derek Heywood, Board of selection of 210 posters (60 Bioscience and Engineering; 30 in Trustees SCI, and Mrs Sue Wharton to Dr Maria Jose Marin Altaba, each of the other sections) for the exhibition from a field of over University of East Anglia, winner of the Gold award in the Chemistry 500 high quality entries. section. SET for BRITAIN Presentations by Britain’s Early-Stage Researchers in Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematical Sciences at the House of Commons Monday, 17th March 2014 Engineering and Mathematical Sciences Physical Sciences Exhibition Exhibitions (Chemistry and Physics) 12.15 pm - 2.40 pm 6.30 pm - 8.45 pm Biological and Biomedical Sciences Exhibition Presentation of Westminster Medal 3.30 pm - 5.30 pm 9.00 pm

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 23 Presentation of the Engineering Medal and Gold Award to Nicola Blackwood MP with Dr Llion Evans, Culham Centre for Dr Stephen Hicks, . L-R: Volker Schultz, Fusion Energy CEO Essar Oil UK Ltd, Stephen Hicks, Andrew Miller MP, Sir John Parker, President, Royal Academy of Engineering.

Presentation of the Mathematical Sciences Medal and Gold Award to Rt Hon Peter Hain MP with Dr Julie Vile, Cardiff University, who won the Dr David Platt, University of Bristol. L-R: Dr Platt, Professor Bronze Award for Mathematical Sciences. Nick M J Woodhouse, Clay Mathematics Institute, Andrew Miller MP.

Graham Robertson, University of Strathclyde, receives the GW Mendel Miss Nai Cieh Liu, University of Cambridge, with Dr Julian Huppert MP Medal and Gold Award. L-R: John Pierce, Chief Bioscientist, BP; Dr Philip Wright, Chief Executive, The Physiological Society; Dr Mark Downs, Chief Executive, Society of Biology, Graham Robertson, Andrew Miller MP.

PRIZE WINNERS MATHEMATICS Gold Award and De Montfort (Mathematical Sciences) Medal ENGINEERING Dr David Platt, University of Bristol Gold Award and Engineering Medal PROVING GOLDBACH'S WEAK CONJECTURE Dr Stephen Hicks, University of Oxford SMART GLASSES TO HELP THE BLIND SEE Silver Award Dr Christian Yates, University of Oxford Silver Award CONTROLLING LOCUST PLAGUES: MATHEMATICAL MODELLING LEADS TO Dr Claire Donoghue, Imperial College London UNDERSTANDING OF HOW CANNIBALISM STABILISES SWARMING IN DESERT TEACHING MACHINES TO DIAGNOSE KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS FROM MRI LOCUSTS

Bronze Award Bronze Award Mr Christopher Spargo, Newcastle University Dr Julie Vile, Cardiff University RELUCTANCE REVOLUTION: ENGINEERING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE TIME-DEPENDENT STOCHASTIC MODELLING FOR PREDICTING DEMAND AND SCHEDULING OF EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES

24 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Miss Morelia Camacho-Cervantes, University of St Andrews, L-R: Professor Paul Hardaker, Chief Executive, Institute of Physics; Richard with Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP Longden, INEOS Group, Dr Tessa Baker, University of Oxford, winner of the Cavendish Medal and Physics Gold Award; Andrew Miller MP.

Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for Universities and Science, and Skills, with Dr Elly Martin, National Physical Laboratory. Dr Alexander Merle, University of Southampton, listen to Jan Mertens, winner of the Physics Silver Award.

Dr Maria Jose Marin Altaba, winner of the Westminster Medal, seen here Dr Maria Jose Marin Altaba, winner of the Roscoe Medal and Chemistry with L-R: Pallab Ghosh, Science Correspondent, BBC News; Gold Award, with L-R: Professor Lesley Yellowlees, President, Royal Society Mrs Sue Wharton; Dr Stephen Benn, Society of Biology; Derek Heywood, of Chemistry; Richard Longden, INEOS Group; Andrew Miller MP. SCI; Andrew Miller MP; Professor Michael Elves.

BIOLOGICAL AND BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES Bronze Award Gold Award and GW Mendel Medal Mr Daniel Toolan, University of Mr Graham Robertson, University of Strathclyde DYNAMICAL STUDIES OF SPIN-COATED POLYMER FILMS HEALTHY COMMUNICATION: BRAIN DISORDERS ON A CHIP Silver Award PHYSICS Miss Amelie Heuer-Jungemann, University of Southampton Gold Award and Cavendish Medal CANCER DETECTION AND TREATMENT VIA DNA-GOLD NANOPARTICLE CONJUGATES Dr Tessa Baker, University of Oxford TESTING GRAVITY WITH COSMOLOGY Bronze Award Miss Morelia Camacho-Cervantes, University of St Andrews Silver Award THE ADVANTAGES OF BEING SOCIAL IN A GLOBALLY INVASIVE FISH Mr Jan Mertens, University of Cambridge GRAPHENE CONTROLS COLOUR OF PLASMONIC NANOANTENNAS CHEMISTRY Bronze Award Gold Award and Roscoe Medal Dr Kerry O’Shea, University of Glasgow Dr Maria Jose Marin Altaba, University of East Anglia PLAYING LEGO WITH ATOMS: FUNCTIONAL OXIDES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL QUICK AND SIMPLE DIAGNOSTIC FLU TEST USING GOLD AND SUGARS APPLICATIONS Silver Award Dr Adrian Boatwright, University of Leicester WESTMINSTER MEDAL NANOPARTICLES WITH MAGNETISM APPROACHING THE THEORETICAL LIMIT Dr Maria Jose Marin Altaba, University of East Anglia

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 25 VOICE OF THE FUTURE 2014

The Boothroyd Room was packed to the hilt with young scientists and engineers for this year’s highly successful Voice of the Future event again organised by the Society of Biology on behalf of the science and engineering community. It was opened by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP, who praised both the Society for its leadership and the event itself as a real contribution in bringing science and Parliament together. ... "no other event like it on the planet" ...

Andrew Miller MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee, said there was "no other event like it on the planet" as proceedings were streamed live organisations, and aged the Science Minister and skills shortages in the face of on the Parliament.uk website between 16 and 35, were Shadow Science Minister. questions from young scientists and subsequently broadcast on and engineers. invited to question key political The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, the BBC Parliament Channel. figures including the Universities and Science He was asked by young panel Four panels totalling about 100 Government's Chief Scientific Minister, defended the members about why the young researchers from 22 of Adviser, Members of the Science Coalition's record on science Government seems to be the UK’s most important science & Technology Select Committee, funding, science education and focused on research projects

26 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 discouraging overseas students Government has “the best overwhelming evidence that from studying here. embedded science advice in they are safe. Committee any government in the world”, member and Liberal Democrat “We do not have a cap on the in response to questions about MP David Heath said the EU numbers of students who can using evidence in policy-making. was looking at allowing countries benefit from coming here to But he said that politicians are that want to use GM crops to study,” he said. “We have often forced to make decisions use them, because most of heightened the criteria – for on a time scale that means Europe was being held back by example they must have a evidence is incomplete or not countries such as Germany who certain standard of English, available. are “completely unmovable on ... think about the potential implications of the issue”. their research ... with direct economic impact. which ensures classes aren’t The Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP, The Minister assured the held back for that reason. The the Shadow Minister for assembled panel that there was challenge is to communicate Universities, Science and Skills, “no policy to move funding around the world that if you pledged his full support to the away from fundamental and come to study here you will get idea of funding postgraduate curiosity-driven research”. a warm welcome.” education through Government- backed student loans. “The impact agenda is about Earlier Sir Mark Walport, the “Managers at Barclays and getting researchers to think Government’s Chief Scientific NatWest should not be in about the potential implications Adviser, said the UK charge of who is funded for of their research, not to get further study if we want to them to study something else,” increase our skills base,” he said. he said. ... held back by countries such as Germany ...... often forced to make decisions ... Members of the Select A video of the full session is Committee – used to sitting available on the UK Parliament He was also forced to defend round the horseshoe asking the website and the Society of the Coalition's immigration questions rather than at the Biology has created a storify of policy when asked if it had witness table answering them – the tweets. damaged science and were asked why the engineering in the UK by development of GM crops was still being held back despite

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 27 MARINE SCIENCE National Science and Engineering Week Seminar on Thursday 20th March BIODIVERSITY, DOING THE MATHS (WITH ALAN TURING)

diversity, fewer species, lower and Thermodynamics (building diversity. But life is never as a better steam engine, simple as that. In most cases, understanding black holes). It is the more specimens you perhaps easier to understand as where S is the number of examine the more species you probability – the bookmaker’s species, N is the total number of will encounter – how do you odds on making a successful individuals in a larger collection, compare diversity between guess about future events (see and ni is the number of samples of different sizes? And Box 1). individuals in the i-th species. how do you deal with common Box 1 This method is known as species and rare species, do we ‘rarefaction’, rarifying a larger count them as equals? sample to make it comparable Dr Brian J Bett National Oceanography Centre DOING THE MATHS with a smaller sample (see red sample in Fig 1). (PART 1) We live in the age of There are several ways of Figure 1 biodiversity, but are in danger measuring diversity. The of forgetting what it means. following is chosen for its The diversity of coloured Church, State, we the people, common use and for its marbles. The samples are ordered by the chance of and most certainly the media connection to Alan Turing, picking a blue marble at use the word so frequently it recently recognised for his random. This is a measure of exceptional contribution to many the dominance of blue (Blue must be important. So what %). The number of colours does it mean? How do you branches of computational (species) present also assess it, measure it, monitor science (including biology)1. influences diversity. The Shannon index attempts to Comparing species diversity it, protect it, and value it? Too The measure in question is the combine the dominance and (richness) between samples of many topics to address in one Shannon Index (H’), proposed species richness aspects of different size, by interpolation 2 biological diversity. and extrapolation. Solid symbols short article, so consider some by Claude Shannon in 1948 , are field data, open symbols are of the numbers, the pioneering the field of calculated values, shaded areas mathematics and the information theory. Like Turing, DOING THE MATHS represent statistical uncertainty. arithmetic of biodiversity. Shannon was a war time code (PART 2) The Shannon Index, and many Rarefaction is useful, but is breaker, the two meeting when other diversity measures, deal costly in the sense that it BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY Turing shared the Bletchley Park with the question of counting discards much of the hard won Biodiversity is a measure of Cypher School’s methods with both common and rare species. field data by rarefying all larger variety in things biological. It the US Navy's cryptanalytic How do we compare diversity samples down to the size of the refers to the variety of species service. Shannon’s formula is between samples of different smallest sample. The power to present in a sample, or some very simple, where S is the given area. It can refer to any sizes? A simple ‘paper and discriminate between real field level of biological organisation – pencil method’ was developed differences may also be the genes within an individual, by Howard Sanders in 19683. substantially reduced in the the biological community types Soon after a more formal process. Fortunately Alan Turing present in a landscape, or the number of species and pi is the method was published by Stuart comes to the rescue again ecosystem types on a planet. proportion of individuals Hurlbert 4, that examines the through ‘Good-Turing frequency belonging to the i-th species, ‘probability of interspecific estimation’, as published by HIGHER, HIGHER, and has units of bits of encounters’, the chances of two Irving Good 5,6, a statistical LOWER, LOWER information per individual. This individuals of different species assistant to Turing at Bletchley At its simplest, biodiversity formula is used in Information bumping in to each other, to Park. Following on from war could be a count of the number Theory (war time code predict the number of species time code breaking experience, of different species in a breaking, compressing the expected to be present in a the concept is that common collection. More species, higher photo files on mobile phones) subsample of x individuals, words (or species) provide little

28 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 information about words BIODIVERSITY, DOING exist, or in other words some References (species) not yet encountered, THE ARITHMETIC 7,000,000 animal species 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/ while the rarest words (species) remain to be described 9. The news/plans-for-world-class-research- The first step in monitoring, centre-in-the-uk provide the majority of protecting, and valuing situation is a little worse in our seas where only 8% of the 2 Shannon CE (1948) A Mathematical information about these so far biodiversity would seem to be Theory of Communication. Bell System unseen words (species). animal species thought to exist understanding what it is, and have been described, in remote Technical Journal 27:379-423 Nicholas Gotelli and Anne how it can be appropriately sea areas (e.g. deep sea) that Chao 7 review this approach in 3 Sanders HL (1968) Marine benthic measured (see above). There is, number will be appreciably diversity: a comparative study. The contemporary assessments of however, one step that must lower, and for the smaller American Naturalist 102:243-282 biodiversity, through the animals in remote seas that come before that – identifying 4 Hurlbert SH (1971) The nonconcept of development of ‘non-parametric the species in the first place. number will be approximately species diversity: a critique and 0% (see Fig 2). Is there a vast asymptotic species richness And here we encounter the alternative parameters. Ecology 52:577- army of taxonomists tackling this 586 estimators’ such as the Chao1 “taxonomic impediment” 8 –a problem? The world total of 5 Good IJ (1953) The population world-wide shortage of professional taxonomists is taxonomic knowledge, trained frequencies of species and the numbered at a few thousand, estimation of population parameters. taxonomists and curators. who each describe a few new Biometrika 40:237–264. estimator, for f2 >0, where Sobs Taxonomy is the science of species each year – I leave you is the number of species to do the final piece of 6 Good IJ (2000) Turing’s anticipation of recognising, describing, naming, empirical Bayes in connection with the arithmetic. observed in the sample, f1 is the classifying, and cataloguing life cryptanalysis of the naval Enigma. number of species represented on Earth, taxonomists are those Journal of Statistical Computation and Figure 2 by a single individual only who carry out that work, and Simulation 66:101-111 (singletons), and f2 is the curators are those who obtain, 7 Gotelli NJ, Chao A (2013) Measuring number of species represented maintain and sustain the and estimating species richness, species by two individuals only diversity, and biotic similarity from specimens and data required by sampling data. In: Levin SA (ed) (doubletons). This approach taxonomy. Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, 5:195-211. allows the number of species Waltham, MA: Academic Press The arithmetic of this problem is The taxonomic impediment – of observed in a sample to be simple and staggering. In about some 8,000,000 animal species 8 Convention on Biological Diversity, extrapolated to the expected thought to exist on Earth, how http://www.cbd.int/gti/problem.shtml 250 years of taxonomic many have we described in number of species observed in endeavour, we have described 250-years of science. 9 Mora C, Tittensor DP, Adl S, Simpson a larger sample (or perhaps an about 1,000,000 animal species AGB, Worm B (2011) How many entire community) (see blue on Earth, about 12% of those species are there on Earth and in the sample in Fig 1). that are currently thought to ocean? PLoS Biol 9: e1001127

MARINE SCIENCE THE ROLE OF THE OCEANS IN SECURING SUSTAINABLE FOOD FOR 9 BILLION PEOPLE

Human societies face two According to the FAO we will sources of protein. If we expect challenges over the 21st need 60% more food in 2050 these trends to continue, where century: anthropogenic compared to the present. Buried will protein come from? and in this figure is that recent global Marine ecosystems provide a population growth. The economic development has significant proportion of the impacts of these will be increased demand for animal animal protein we consume. significant, and the most protein. We consume Capture fisheries and urgent of these will be to approximately 41kg of meat and Aquaculture production yield produce enough food to feed 19kg of fish per person per year, approximately 170Mt of protein, 9 billion people while 50% more than our roughly a third of the global maintaining our natural consumption in the 1980s. This Professor Manuel Barange protein production. Maintaining Director of Science, Plymouth ecosystems in a long-term increase is even larger in the or even growing this will be Marine Laboratory sustainable state. developing world for both

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 29 essential in the future. Fisheries 200Mt, depending on the runs around the “present day” We then plotted individual have two additional diversity of species caught, the and the “2050” time slices. nations on a 2D domain considerations that make them upper figure achievable if we determined by the predicted We then used the output of crucial to human societies. Over developed fisheries for species changes in fish production by these models to estimate fish 500 million people depend such as Antarctic krill and 2050, and their current production change, by country. directly or indirectly on fisheries, mesopelagic fish. But what are sensitivity to fisheries (figure 1). The methods are explained in and a large proportion of these the expected impacts of climate Among the nations covered, detail in Blanchard et al (2012). are in Asia. Fishing is a change on these estimates? those most nutritionally and geographically-skewed activity in economically dependent on terms of volume, and thus in ... some of our fisheries have turned the fisheries are in West Africa (from terms of livelihoods. 40% of all sustainability tide ... Senegal to Nigeria), the Bay of fish caught is internationally Bengal (Bangladesh and Burma) The results indicated increased traded, bringing over 20 billion IMPACTS OF CLIMATE and in SE Asia (Indonesia, potential fish productivity at high US$ to developing countries, a CHANGE ON FISHERIES Cambodia). Fisheries also played latitudes and decreased volume larger than their PRODUCTION a significant role in the As the IPCC reminds us, combined income from coffee, productivity at low/mid latitudes, economies and food systems of climate change is happening, rubber, cocoa, bananas, meat, but with considerable regional Peru and Ecuador, Iceland, NW and its impacts will become tea and sugar! Thus, fisheries variation. Overall, increases and and SW Africa, India, Thailand, more apparent in coming sustainability has global trade decreases in fish production by Vietnam and Japan. While other decades. How will this affect implications, particularly for the 2050 are estimated to change nations such as Norway, Chile the production of the oceans? developing world. Aquaculture, by less than 10%, with a mean and China have significant A consortium of UK institutions the fastest growing agricultural of +3.4% from present yields fisheries interests, they also have led by the Plymouth Marine production industry, is (Barange et al 2014). diverse economies to which Laboratory investigated this responsible for a part of this fisheries contribute little overall. from basic principles. Knowing Because we observed trade, and is already exceeding Combining dependency with that the majority of fish is differences in production in global beef production in volume. projected impact of climate different countries, we change on fish catches suggests ... 40% of all fish caught is internationally developed an index of fisheries that these impacts will be of traded ... dependency, based on the greatest concern to South and importance of fish and fisheries South East Asia, South West THE OCEANS AND FOOD caught along a very narrow to national economies – in Africa (from Nigeria south to The ocean is responsible for margin around the continents terms of trade and livelihoods – Namibia), Peru, and some 50% of the primary production (the Shelf Seas), which roughly and to national food provision. tropical small-island states. of the planet, and this fuels the coincide with the national food web that ultimately results Exclusive Economic Zones, we in the 85Mt of fish (plus an developed high resolution additional 20Mt as estimated models capable of capturing discards) that we catch annually. the dynamics of tides, coastal With so many examples of upwelling, and other physical overfishing, can we count on processes that determine capture fisheries to continue production in these regions. feeding our protein cravings? We run these models for a After decades of inefficient present day scenario, and then management there are for 2050, driven by the IPSL indications that some of our ocean-atmosphere climate fisheries have turned the change model, itself forced by sustainability tide. Recent work the A1B IPCC greenhouse gas has shown that the majority of emissions scenario. A1B European stocks are now being described a future of rapid fished sustainably, while at economic growth, global global level over 40% of population that peaks in mid- assessed stocks are now on a century and declines thereafter, sustainable trajectory. Assuming and the rapid introduction of these trends continue and we more efficient technologies. As develop sustainable practices, there is a degree of natural how much fish can the oceans variability in the natural world, Figure 1. Potential catch change by 2050 and national dependency on produce? It has been estimated our model results were an fisheries. Circles correspond to the regional centroid, scaled by the expected population in the regions by 2050 (from Barange et al 2014). that this figure is between 100- average of 10 years of daily

30 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 These rely relatively heavily on price estimations (these those with a deficit needs to their fisheries sector in terms of commodities are used as feeds reflect food rather than trade wealth, food and employment in aquaculture), and needs. creation, while climate change is technological development Climate change will impact on projected to impact negatively projections in the aquaculture marine ecosystems and their their potential fish catches. Our industry, to investigate the resources by changing their results indicate greater instances feasibility of sustaining current production patterns. Overall a of negative impacts in parts of per capita fish consumption in small growth in fish production the tropics, where countries 2050. The results were is achievable, consistent with have a greater economic and cautiously optimistic. We nutritional dependence on fish and fewer available resources to ... importance of fish and fisheries to invest in climate adaptation. national economies ...

FOOD FOR THOUGHT concluded that meeting current recent projections from the Barange, M., G. Merino, J.L. Blanchard, J. consumption rates is feasible, World Bank. The impacts of the Scholtens, J. Harle, E.H. Allison, J.I. Allen, J. Earlier in this article I made Holt, S. Jennings. 2014. Impacts of climate reference to the dramatic rise in despite a growing population production changes will not be change on marine ecosystem production aquaculture production, while and the impacts of climate consistent across regions and in fisheries-dependent societies. Nature Climate Change 4: 211-216. the results so far only reflect change on potential fisheries countries: there will be winners trends in future capture fisheries. production, but only if the and losers, with potential for Blanchard, J.L., S. Jennings, R. Holmes, J. If human population growth following conditions are met: conflict to arise. Our results Harle, G. Merino, J. I. Allen, J. Holt, N. K. Dulvy and M. Barange. 2012. Potential challenge existing predictions of continues as expected, and if • Global fish resources need to consequences of climate change for fish production from the seas is be managed and used inevitable shortfalls in fish supply primary production and fish production in expected to grow by only 3.4%, efficiently and sustainably, by the mid-21st century, large marine ecosystems. Phil. Trans. R. can we maintain current per contingent on successful Soc. B 367: 2979-2989. • Aquaculture industry must capita fish consumption rates in implementation of strategies for Merino, G., M. Barange, J. Blanchard, J. reduce its reliance on wild the future? The answer can only sustainable harvesting, industrial Harle, R. Holmes, I. Allen, E.H. Allison, M.C. fish for feed through Badjeck, N.K. Dulvy, J. Holt, S. Jennings, C. be if aquaculture continues to development and trade significant technological Mullon, L.D. Rodwell. 2012. Can marine grow. In a parallel study (Merino efficiencies. Changes in fisheries and aquaculture meet fish development, et al 2012) we used our fish management effectiveness and demand from a growing human production predictions, human • The distribution of wild fish trade practices will remain the population in a changing climate? Global Environmental Change, 22, 795-806. population estimates from products from nations and major influence on gains or United Nations, fishmeal and oil regions with a surplus to losses in global fish production.

MARINE SCIENCE UNDERWATER MINERAL EXTRACTION – “What’s Happening Already?”

Lately, many projections have commercial and environmental happening recently from the been made about the future of perspective. It also contemplates coast out to a depth of 6000m. mining in the oceans and seas. the future size of the industry. The views expressed are wide- Beaches have been mined for ranging, particularly from an WHAT’S HAPPENING some time for minerals such as environmental perspective. There NOW? titanium. Mining is taking place in is also significant debate on Recent seminars, summits and the surf- zone, using walking scientific and technical aspects, workshops refer to “deep-sea” jack-up platforms and crawler- and on the best policy and regulation (both in territorial and ... “How deep is deep?” ... international waters). This article Dr Stef Kapusniak gives a view of where the mining. Oddly, there does not mounted suction equipment for Soil Machine Dynamics Ltd industry is now, the drivers appear to be a consensus about diamonds and gold. Shallow behind it and the viability of the “How deep is deep?” Therefore, deposits (such as tin and emerging industry, from both a let’s take a look at what has been magnetite) are being mined off

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 31 the coast of Malaysia and • Absence of overburden or Indonesia. The Russians have waste rock (stripping ratio mined polymetallic nodules in advantage) the Baltic Sea in the Bay of • Population Growth which is Finland using a standard suction compounded by increased ... much of this urbanisation and per capita technology is already metal requirements as economies develop available ... • Improved underwater dredger. Diamond gravels have technology been mined for quite a while off the coast of Namibia at a depth • Strategic reasons (in the case of approximately 150m. Dredging of rarer metals) is taking place at a variety of Some of these make offshore depths in softer materials for a mining irresistible to so-called variety of reasons (civil “Big territory/Small Island” states construction, flood alleviation, and present opportunities in a aggregate extraction etc). number of British Overseas Extended dredging equipment is Territories. being lined up for the extraction of phosphates, off Namibia, VIABILITY OF THE Mexico and New Zealand, and of EMERGING INDUSTRY iron sands off the coast of the Figure 1: “Shallow” mining of softer sediments and gravels Commercial viability latter. In the case of seafloor massive some cases primary separation sulphides, rare-earth muds, ferro- Some of these techniques may sulphide (SMS) deposits, such as of the target minerals from the manganese crusts (on sea- achieve extraction of softer those explored by Nautilus host rock or sediments. mounts) and polymetallic material at depths of roughly Minerals, JOGMEC and Neptune Fortunately, much of this nodules (in abyssal plains). The 400m. With harder rocks and Minerals the commercial viability technology is already available equipment which has been with increasing depths, it is based on reserve quality. The becomes more difficult (as it ... vast deposits of the Kalahari desert ... projected head-grade of copper is approximately 7 times that of does with underground mining from the oil & gas and subsea designed for extraction of these on land). At greater depths, the average inland copper mine. trenching industries. materials ranges from high- The “by-product” of gold is different technology is required power, heavy duty cutting At greater depths the focus is projected at a head-grade of for cutting, sensing, positioning, equipment to lighter lower power approximately 5.5 times that of navigation, ore-lifting and in currently on polymetallic collection devices. Examples the average inland gold mine. include the Nautilus equipment The quality is so good that it can (designed for harder materials at be sold and shipped from the a depth of approximately site as a pre-concentrate. This is 2000m) and a Korean prototype with a negligible stripping ratio collector (designed for collection and a mobile infrastructure that of nodules – potentially at depths can sail off to the next deposit. of 6000m) - both shown in Some of these deposits are in Figure 2. Similar advances have relatively calm sea areas. The been made in Japan and India. commercial and technical barriers WHAT ARE THE are comparatively small. DRIVERS? Crusts on seamounts and In addition to an amount of abyssal nodules have similar entrepreneurial spirit, the drivers metal concentrations. In terms of for these developments include: the manganese grade of these • Decreasing average ore deposits, this is below that found grades on land inland in the vast deposits of the Kalahari desert and in Ghana. Figure 2: Nautilus’ cutter and KIOST’s collector • High grade quality of some of However, some contain attractive the ores offshore percentages of cobalt, nickel and

32 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 titanium and they also contain • We “mine” approximately than in the mining activity itself. rare earth elements (REE’s). It 1,400Mt of crude oil per annum • Is volcanic activity in the must be stressed however that offshore already. What are the oceans a renewable source of the total metal content in these comparative risks for solid minerals and how much is precipitations is not necessarily minerals? created naturally per annum 100% recoverable. “Nodules are • We “mine” approximately already? Should we harvest this not nuggets” and with some 150Mt of seafood and slaughter rather than strip further tracts of processing methods increasing over 2000 whales (that we know tropical rainforest to get the the recovery rates of one mineral of) per annum already. minerals we require? can reduce the potential recovery of the next. Advances in targeted • Flat-topped seamounts exist • The International Seabed industrial and organic solvents which are the size of . Some Authority (ISA) has adopted are however occurring with a of them have been scoured by robust precautionary principles number of recent patents. bottom trawling. A bottom- and set aside conservation and monitoring areas. There is ... because plumes are effectively “gold-dust”... perhaps some room for further horizontal integration of policies, practices and Smart investors will want to regulation across territorial look at relative risks and boundaries. opportunities across the whole Figure 4: Black smokers, fresh volcanic deposits and rainforest value chain from exploration to clearance FUTURE VOLUMES market as well as the social, The EU relies on the rest of the strategic and environmental many SMS deposits are too deep world for 80% of its implications. to be penetrated by light and are consumption of strategic Many relatively low-volume- characterised by “black smokers”. minerals (100% in some). As requirement and rare minerals The creation of a mining plume reserves and grades are depleted are also present in the gangue in this situation would have a on land and demand grows it is material of inland mines in small negligible impact. Design of the inevitable that offshore mineral quantities. They currently pass Figure 3: Effects of bottom-trawling collection apparatus of subsea extraction rates will increase. through processing plants into equipment for this sort of deposit There will be acceleration if aims to minimise the generation strategic reasons emerge – as tailings. With improving trawling fishing unit can scour of plumes – because plumes are they did previously in the oil & technology and a growing market 10km2 of seamount per day. effectively “gold-dust” and gas industry, where approximately there is scope to syphon off With a typical crust thickness, this because low turbidity enhances one third of the volumes are some of these. equates to an area allowing pilot visibility. “mined” offshore and where approximately 2 years of mining. there is an increasing trend COMPARATIVE So there is perhaps some room • The environmental risks in towards deeper deposits already ENVIRONMENTAL for vertical integration of all metalliferous mining are usually – (Figure 5). IMPACT activities in the water column. higher in the processing arena Some view this emerging • Recycling efforts are improving industry as part of a wider (such as street sweeping to human plague which is collect REE’s from clean fuel hazardous to the planet. I think of exhaust technology). it as evolution and make a number of comparative • Some of the metals targeted observations: by subsea mining are used in “green” technology – indeed • Mining and dredging is they are critical to it (electric car already occurring at sea and has batteries, clean fuel technology been for a long time – and high power magnets in wind particularly in shallow areas of turbines for example). territorial waters. • In shallow, low turbidity • Industrial effluents and waste environments, plume generation materials are pumped directly can be a problem due to the into the sea in many parts of the importance of light in shaping the Figure 5: Offshore growth world already. ecosystems found there. But

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 33 MARINE SCIENCE MARINE

the National Renewable Energy • What effects will energy- later refined to provide more Centre () 3, Strangford harvesting devices have on the detail. The Crown Estate 10 has Lough, and Wave Hub 4, are environment both individually leased a number of the most able to offer a range of different and cumulatively? promising sites to developers for marine conditions or test both testing purposes and facilities. • How can the costs and risks commercial energy extraction, of operating in such extreme with some of those now having During the last 2-3 years as environments be minimised? received consent and additional more prototypes have been funding 11 to install the first successfully tested in the ocean, These issues are the focus of arrays of devices. many of the device developers significant research in the have received major academic sector, funded in part Site developers usually Dr Paul S Bell investments from or been by UK Research Councils and commission more detailed National Oceanography Centre acquired by large multinational partly by industry. The studies using computer models Paul Bell has worked at the companies 5. This shows the Engineering and Physical based around highly detailed National Oceanography Centre sector is entering a new phase ... may lead to some novel approaches ... in Liverpool since 1992, and as prototypes give way to the leads the NERC/DEFRA funded first commercial installations of Sciences Research Council seabed surveys together with FLOWBEC project investigating multiple devices, backed by (EPSRC) has focused largely on measurements of the waves the interactions of marine established industry and energy the resource and engineering and currents at their sites. The renewable energy devices with companies. challenges through the computer models used fall into SuperGen programme 6, and the two broad types: the environment, and also leads The large areas, extreme Natural Environment Research NERC’s Marine Renewable conditions and relative • 2D Models – Assume Council (NERC) together with Energy Knowledge Exchange inaccessibility of many of the simplified vertical differences in the Department for Programme. potential sites, particularly for flow from surface to sea bed, wave energy may lead to some Environment, Food and Rural but can often run on a desktop novel approaches in how energy Affairs (DEFRA) funded a PC as a result and hence During 2014-2015, is actually used, as electricity number of research projects popular with industry users. installation of the first arrays cables to shore may not always which are currently under way • 3D Models – Allow different of small numbers of tidal be practical or affordable. investigating the environmental water layers to behave more stream turbines are expected Alternatives to cabling include costs and benefits of marine 7 realistically, but the increased to begin in UK waters, with usage of the energy at the point energy . level of complexity necessitates plans for the first commercial of generation to manufacture the use of high-performance arrays of wave energy devices high energy-cost products, fuels WHERE IS THE ENERGY? computing facilities usually only also in the advanced stages of or even fresh water through In 2007 the UK Department available in academia and large development. desalination of seawater. for Business, Enterprise and research organisations. The UK is home to plentiful ... tested several generations of devices ... tidal energy resources, as well as All models depend on the large areas of ocean exposed to THE CHALLENGES Regulatory Reform (BERR) quality of input data – with the full force of Atlantic waves. Developing an understanding commissioned the production of availability and cost of high- This wealth of natural resources of the type of high energy the Atlas of UK Marine quality seabed maps being a has stimulated the development marine environments suitable Renewable Energy Resources 8, critical issue. Models also need of dozens of designs for marine for energy harvesting is a which used computer to be checked (validated) and in energy harvesting devices1, challenging task for scientists simulations (models) of the some cases calibrated against many originating with UK and engineers. Key questions tides and waves to produce measurements. universities and SMEs. Some of are: maps of the available energy, the leading developers have validated against a variety of MEASURING CURRENTS • Where are the greatest now tested several generations measurements such as the tide AND WAVES concentrations of energy and of devices at sites such as the gauge measurements from the The industry-standard how much is harvestable? European Marine Energy National Tidal and Sea Level approach to wave and current Centre 2 in Orkney. Many other • What forces should the Facility 9 (NTSLF) and a range of measurement is to deploy wave test sites and facilities such as devices be designed to survive? wave buoy records. This was buoys and acoustic (sonar)

34 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 current meters at specific places local conditions at the time. • Video/camera surveys, eg of interest. Unfortunately, the Despite this, there are significant from aeroplanes or from boats inherently high energy of these advantages to being able to with underwater cameras sites leads to a significant risk of locate the equipment out of the • Passive underwater equipment loss or damage. water in terms of ease of recordings of marine mammal Additional costs of recovering operation and maintenance, and sounds lost equipment can more than it can allow near immediate double the original planned cost access to the resulting data • Active sonar tracking of of the measurements, a rather than having to wait for an marine wildlife underwater such particularly difficult issue when instrument to be recovered from as seals, diving birds, fish etc resources are limited. the sea bed. The ability to map A reward poster for the return of ocean conditions across a site The type of sites with strong electronic fish tags – image courtesy of can provide a valuable spatial Dr Stephen Cotterell, The Marine Biological tidal currents can also be very Association of the UK context to the point spatially variable, with headlands, measurements and help plan tidal channels and shoals all Tagging of specific individuals the best places to put future in- causing variations in currents to observe longer term water measurements. and wave patterns. As a result, behaviour is becoming more common and tags suitable for the usual approach of taking DEVICE – A radio tagged harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) with GPS/GSM transmitter attachment to birds, seals and measurements at a small ENVIRONMENT glued to its fur. Photo courtesy of the Sea fish are now available. The larger number of points may not INTERACTIONS Mammal Research Unit. tags may transmit their provide an adequate In order to understand the • Radar tracking of birds in information back to the representation of conditions interactions between devices flight, and possibly larger marine researchers via satellite, radio or across such complex sites. and the flow and wildlife at a species when on the water phone networks, but the smaller site, it is necessary first to have surface, such as whales Not surprisingly, there has ones on birds and fish usually an understanding of the been significant interest in the • Satellite images of large rely on being returned on a undisturbed environment and use of remote sensing marine mammals voluntary basis by those that how the various types of wildlife techniques based on a variety of find them once they are are using these areas. Then one • Tagging and tracking of radar, camera and satellite separated from their host or can begin to investigate whether individual animals methods to map various aspects following capture of the animals the wildlife are likely to be in the of the ocean from shore based Concurrent observations of involved. Two of the same place at the same time as vantage points, from the air or wildlife above the surface (radar, NERC/DEFRA funded projects, operating devices, what physical from space. The NERC/DEFRA visual) and below the surface RESPONSE and QBEX 13, are effect they might have and funded FLOWBEC 12 project for (sonar) made during the employing such methods to whether this might be an issue. example includes the use of two FLOWBEC project show the track seals and fish respectively. different types of radar for The methods of assessing advantages of this approach What is becoming apparent is mapping tidal currents and what forms of wildlife are when combined with that individual animals of the waves at different study sites. present at a site and how that environmental information (eg same species tagged at the wildlife may be using that site from radar). same location may behave in The drawback of remote include: sensing methods is that they are an indirect measurement of the • Visual observations by expert ocean and the quality of the human observers on shore or results is often dependent on on a vessel

Examples of marine radar remotely sensed tidal currents (left: flood tide and right: ebb tide) overlaid on marine radar images at the European Marine Energy Centre tidal test site. The radar is operated The FLOWBEC sonar frame being prepared for lowering to the sea bed for by the National Oceanography Centre as part of the FLOWBEC project. a 2-week period monitoring marine wildlife at the European Marine Energy The arrow colours indicate current speed in metres per second. Centre tidal test site in 2012. The OpenHydro tide turbine test platform can be seen in the top right of the image. Photo by Dr Beth Scott, University of Aberdeen.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 35 very different ways, be harvested, provided costs Further Information: 8. http://www.renewables-atlas.info/ demonstrating the need for and environmental effects can 1. http://www.aquaret.com/ An e- Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources website information on sufficient be minimised. learning site with illustrations of the main types of marine energy numbers of individuals to 9. http://www.ntslf.org/ National Tidal The ongoing work investigating harvesting devices. and Sea Level Facility website capture these natural variations the interactions of marine 2. http://www.emec.org.uk/ The in behaviour. 10. http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/ renewable energy devices with European Marine Energy Centre energy-infrastructure/wave-and-tidal/ Embarking on studies such as the environment is driving website Crown Estate Wave and Tidal Energy this highlights how much we still innovation across all 3. http://www.narec.co.uk/ The National web pages have to learn about marine environmental technologies to Renewable Energy Centre website 11. https://www.gov.uk/government/ wildlife, as there is often develop novel tools and 4. http://www.wavehub.co.uk/ The news/20-million-boost-for-uk-marine- power Marine Energy Array relatively little information methods to support both Wave Hub website Demonstrator funding announcement available about presence and industry and regulators. 5. http://www.renewableuk.com/ behaviour of marine animals Ultimately this will begin to allow en/publications/reports.cfm/wave-and- 12. http://noc.ac.uk/project/flowbec FLOWBEC project webpage individually and collectively at society to move towards low- tidal-energy-in-the-uk-2013 Wave and Tidal Energy in the UK, Conquering particular sites. carbon electricity14 with a clarity 13. http://www.mba.ac.uk/simslab/QBEX Challenges, Generating Growth, Report QBEX project webpage of understanding regarding the by RenewableUK, February 2013 AND FINALLY trade-offs between methods to 14. http://www.lowcarboninnovation. 6. http://www.supergen-marine.org.uk/ co.uk/working_together/strategic_fram What is undeniable is that support both industry and Supergen Marine website ework/overview/ Coordinating Low there is energy available, and in regulators. 7. http://www.nerc.ac.uk/research/ Carbon Technology Innovation quantities significant enough to funded/programmes/mre/NERC & Support, The LCICG’s Strategic DEFRA Marine Renewable Energy Framework Programme

MARINE SCIENCE : THE SILENT STORM

It will last for 10,000’s of years, and depend on the ocean for enters the surface of the ocean it cover three quarters of Earth’s their food and livelihood. The rapidly causes a series of surface and impact us all. We cause is global – carbon dioxide chemical reactions, which

cannot hear or see or feel it but (CO2) produced from our fossil increase the acidity of the its effects are already being felt, fuel combustion, emitted to the surface seawater. Acidity may be from oysters and the atmosphere. Half of emitted thought of as simply the multimillion dollar aquaculture CO2 remains in atmosphere hydrogen ion concentration (H+) business on the west coast of (causing climate change) and in a liquid, and pH is the North America, to the sea the remainder is absorbed logarithmic scale on which this is butterfly, a key link in the ocean nearly equally by ocean and measured. Acidity increases as food web in polar and sub-polar land. The ocean absorbs 24 the pH decreases. The pH of the Dr Carol Turley OBE waters. million tons of CO every day. Plymouth Marine Laboratory 2 open-ocean surface layer is The average person is This silent storm is called unlikely to ever become acidic responsible for 4kg of the CO ocean acidification but despite 2 (ie drop below pH 7.0), because that is absorbed by the ocean our normal senses being unable seawater is buffered by dissolved each day. to detect it scientists and their salts. The term “acidification” sensors can measure it These observations have been refers to a pH shift towards the accurately at long term stations conducted over decades by acidic end of the pH scale, in the ocean. These sensors hundreds of researchers (Figure similar to the way we describe

show a year on year change in 1). CO2 when combined with an increase in temperature from the chemistry of the ocean water forms an acid (carbonic 2°C to 4°C it’s still cold, but we (Figure 1) and these changes acid). By definition, an acid say it’s “warming.” Ocean are affecting the organisms, produces hydrogen ions when acidification is changing seawater

including humans, that live in added to water. When CO2 carbonate chemistry –

36 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 this may leave less energy for Corals and shell builders are other biological processes like expected to decline, seagrasses growing, reproducing or may increase, some fish responding to other stresses. It become disoriented and there will not only cause problems for may be changes in how prey many organisms with calcium and predators interact. Some carbonate skeletons or shells species will not be directly (such as oysters, mussels, corals affected but if their prey or and some planktonic species) predator, or their habitat or but could also affect the ecosystem changes then they physiology, metabolism and could be indirectly impacted. behaviour of many other Natural laboratories occur organisms, ecosystems and where CO bubbles rise through processes, with potentially 2 the seafloor acidifying the serious implications for society. surrounding water close to the The biological impacts of ocean vents (Figure 3). This creates a acidification will vary, because gradient of pH. As you move different groups of marine away from the vents pH organisms have a wide range of increases and gives us a glimpse sensitivities to changing seawater into what a high CO ocean chemistry (Figure 2). Impacts 2 may look like. Numerous studies from ocean acidification at any show that the closer to the vents life stage can reduce the ability (and the higher the CO and of a population to grow or to 2 lower the pH) there is less recover from losses due to biodiversity, fewer calcifiers, disturbance or stress, even more fragile, dissolving shells, though juvenile forms tend to be more invasive species, more most vulnerable to acidification seagrasses and degraded corals. (eg Pacific oyster larvae). These observations support the

Figure 1: Long-term trends of surface seawater pCO2 (top), pH (middle), and carbonate ion (bottom) concentration at three Figure 2. Results of a metanalysis subtropical ocean time series in the North Atlantic and North Pacific of all the experiments and Oceans, including: a) Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS, observations show that some 31°40' N, 64°10' W; green) and Hydrostation S (32°10', 64°30' W) species are more susceptible from 1983 to present, b) Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) at Station than others. Kroeker et al. (2013, ALOHA (A Long-term oligotrophic Habitat Assessment; 22°45' N, Glob. Change Biol.) 158°00' W; orange) from 1988 to present and c) European Station for Time series in the Ocean (ESTOC, 29°10' N, 15°30' W; blue) from 1994 to present. Atmospheric pCO2 (black) from the Mauna Loa Observatory Hawaii is shown in the top panel (IPCC AR5 WG1 Report, Chapter 3, 2013).

concentrations of dissolved CO2, continuation of such a hydrogen ions, and bicarbonate fundamental and rapid change ions are increasing, and the to ocean chemistry is bad news concentration of carbonate ions for life in the sea. The current is decreasing. rate of acidification is more than 10 times faster than at any time The ocean has already during the last 56 million years. removed about 25% of If we keep emitting CO at the anthropogenic CO over the last 2 2 same rate (Business as Usual) 250 years. This can be ocean acidity is projected to considered beneficial, since it increase to more than double by has slowed the accumulation of 2100. CO2 in the atmosphere and the rate of global warming; without Changes in pH and carbonate this ocean sink, atmospheric chemistry force marine

CO2 levels would already be organisms to spend more greater than 450 parts per energy regulating chemistry in million. However, the their cells. For some organisms,

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 37 conclusions of controlled acidification and deoxygenation) experiments in the laboratory could more rapidly threaten that marine ecosystems and the biodiversity, biogeochemical organisms within them will cycles, ecosystems and the change. goods and services the ocean provides to society, thereby Predicting what marine increasing the risk to human ecosystems will look like in a food security and industries that future high CO world is difficult 2 depend on productive marine but as fish is a primary source of ecosystems. animal protein for 1 billion people, mostly in developing The Working Group II countries there must be a risk to contribution to the IPCC Fifth food security and livelihoods. Assessment Report (Climate There may be a decline in wild Change 2014: impacts, fish catches due to decreases in adaptation and vulnerability) their prey, weakened foodwebs concluded in its Summary for and deteriorating ecosystems Policy Makers (http://www.ipcc- Figure 4. Modelled global sea-surface pH from 1870 to 2100. The like coral reefs. Shellfish wg2.gov/AR5/images/uploads/I blue line reflects estimated pH change resulting from very low CO2 aquaculture may experience PCC_WG2AR5_SPM_Approved. emissions to the atmosphere (IPCC Representative Concentration increasing difficulty as already pdf) that: Pathway, RCP* 2.6). The red line reflects pH from high CO2 emissions (the current emissions trajectory, RCP* 8.5). seen on the Pacific coast of Credit: Adapted from in IGBP, IOC, SCOR (2013). Ocean Acidification Summary for “For medium- to high-emission Policymakers – Third Symposium on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World. International North America. Coral reefs seem Geosphere-Biosphere Programme, Stockholm, Sweden, adapted from Bopp et al., 2013. scenarios (RCP4.5, 6.0, and particularly vulnerable. They 8.5), ocean acidification poses provide home for millions of substantial risks to marine species, storm protection for strategies, as well as the all- Sea Acidification in a Changing ecosystems, especially polar coastlines, houses and important mitigation strategies, Climate Programme (EU), ecosystems and coral reefs, to prevent further acidification. If Biological Impacts of Ocean associated with impacts on the we keep emitting CO2 at the Acidification Programme physiology, behavior, and same rate (Figure 4: High CO (Germany), SCRIPPS Institution population dynamics of 2 emissions) then ocean of Oceanography (US), OCEANA individual species from ecosystems and the goods and and the Ocean Acidification phytoplankton to animals services that they provide International Coordination (medium to high confidence). humankind will change rapidly Centre (IAEA, Monaco). Working Highly calcified mollusks, from both warming and echinoderms, and reef-building together we have shared the acidification. However, if we corals are more sensitive than cost, the effort and our findings reduce CO emissions to the crustaceans (high confidence) 2 and synthesised them in atmosphere we will keep global and fishes (low confidence), different media for policy- and temperature between 0.9° - with potentially detrimental decision-makers. To help 2.3°C and reduce risks from consequences for fisheries and increase awareness of the key livelihoods. Ocean acidification ocean acidification too (Figure 4: issues impacting on the ocean very low CO emissions). acts together with other global 2 inahighCO2 world, the Figure 3. CO2 bubbles rise from changes (eg, warming, partnership has produced an seafloor at Ischia, Bay of Naples, a A partnership of research natural lab to study acidification. decreasing oxygen levels) and programmes and institutions has Ocean Stress Guide Photo credit: Jason Hall-Spencer, University of with local changes (eg, pollution, (www.oceanunderstress.com). It Plymouth. been bringing the science of eutrophication) (high ocean acidification to the is imperative that international infrastructure, income from confidence). Simultaneous delegates at the UNFCCC decision-makers, in particular, tourism and a biodiversity drivers, such as warming and climate negotiation meetings understand the enormous role legacy. ocean acidification, can lead to since 2009 and at the UN the ocean plays in sustaining life interactive, complex, and In addition, ocean acidification Conference on Sustainable on Earth and the consequences amplified impacts for species can also make species more Development, Rio+20. The of high CO2 emissions for the and ecosystems.” susceptible to the impacts of partners include Plymouth ocean and society. The warming waters, which have The world is already Marine Laboratory, UK Ocean publication has already received decreased oxygen levels, further committed to some acidification Acidification Research support from a number of stressing marine organisms. (Figure 4) and we are now Programme, European significant bodies including the Acting together, these three detecting impacts from it. We Programme on Ocean World Bank, European Union major stressors (warming, need to consider adaptation Acidification (EU), Mediterranean and UN bodies.

38 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Short guides to ocean acidification: Short films on ocean acidification: xDQSI&list=PLk8mh9aWmPaRzVoQTI- Useful web sites: Hot, Sour and Breathless: ocean under A powerful 12 minute film on Ocean mjuBHOJ0x4y113&index=5 The UK Ocean Acidification Research stress – a short guide for policy makers: acidification: Connecting science, industry, And for the younger readers try this Programme (UKOA): www.oceanunderstress.com policy and public: https://www.youtube. amazing award winning 7 min animation http://www.oceanacidification.org.uk/ com/watch?v=_BPS8ctVW2s Ocean Acidification Summary for by school children aged 11-15 yrs from The Ocean Acidification International Policymakers from the Third Symposium A 5 minute film on ocean acidification Ridgeway School, Plymouth: Coordination Centre (OA-ICC): on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World: “The Other CO2 Problem” produced by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5w_ http://www.iaea.org/ocean- http://www.igbp.net/news/news/news/ the World Bank as part of its first Massive FgpZkVY. They researched it, wrote and acidification/page.php?page=2181 oceanacidificationsummaryforpolicymaker Open Online Course on climate change acted the script, produced the characters The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate sreleased.5.30566fc6142425d6c911265. “Turn Down the Heat: Why a 4°C Warmer and animated them and even wrote and Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/ html World Must be Avoided” produced the music. The children have a index.htm http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dr4jhg clear message to policy makers and it is now in six other languages. MARINE SCIENCE NATURAL HAZARDS AND

A storm surge is a large scale increase in sea level due to a storm. They can last from hours to days and can elevate sea level over an area of hundreds of square kilometres. Low atmospheric pressure allows sea level to rise and gale force winds, combined with the Earth’s rotation, force water towards the coastline. Storm Professor Kevin Horsburgh surges are caused by our Head of Marine Physics and Ocean European weather systems Climate Chair of the IOC/WMO JCOMM (extra-tropical cyclones) and also Expert Team on Waves and Coastal tropical cyclones (hurricanes). Hazards They affect low lying coastlines The storm surge at Lowestoft tide gauge on 5 December 2013. The National Oceanography Centre storm surge is the difference between the observed sea level and the around the globe and are predicted tide – in this case 2m responsible for significant damage and loss of life. In 1970 31 January –1 February 1953. The fact that the damage was a devastating storm surge Flood defences were breached so limited during the December The storms that battered the resulted in approximately a 2013 storm, compared to the UK during December 2013 and by huge waves, and coastal quarter of a million deaths in January 2014 marked some of towns in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, tragedy of 1953, is thanks to Bangladesh. In the USA, the most severe weather in Suffolk, Essex and Kent were significant government Hurricane Katrina and recent years. During 5th and 6th inundated as seawater flooded investment in coastal defences, Superstorm Sandy are recent December, sea levels in parts of the streets. In the Netherlands, flood forecasting and sea level reminders of this global hazard. the North Sea were the highest 1800 lives were lost, whilst in monitoring. The modern coastal Storm surges can raise sea since the 1953 floods and the England and Scotland 326 flood warning network is called levels by up to 8m in tropical Thames Barrier and Dutch flood people were killed and over 600 UK Coastal Monitoring and areas and by over 3m in the barriers were closed for several square kms of land were Forecasting (UKCMF) 3;itisa North Sea. tides. The largest storm surges flooded 1. The estimated cost of partnership between the struck the north east coast of Coastal flooding around the the floods then was £40-£50 , the Met England from Tyneside to UK is a threat to life as well as million which would be around Office and the National Norfolk. Some flooding occurred to economic and environmental £1 billion in current prices. Oceanography Centre. (with 400 homes flooded near assets. The worst natural Today, £150 billion of assets and Numerical weather models feed Hull and about 10000 homes disaster in modern times was 4 million people are at risk from into computer models of storm being evacuated in East Anglia). the North Sea storm surge of coastal flooding in the UK 2. surges and waves. The model

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 39 forecasts are combined with the past century, sea level rise real-time monitoring of coastal around the UK is consistent with sea levels, and are interpreted global averages. Even with no by a team of forecasters working change to the storm climate of around the clock at the Flood northern Europe the rise in Forecasting Centre to provide mean sea level will increase the regional forecasts. The numerical frequency of extreme water models of both atmosphere and levels (since storm surges and ocean are subject to continuous waves will be superimposed on improvement as more powerful a higher mean sea level); any computers and new scientific particular threshold (eg a sea insight becomes available. The wall) will – on average – be system also makes use of a exceeded more often. This will technique called ensemble Schematic diagram of the components of the UK Coastal Flood place greater demands on flood Forecasting System forecasting to quantify the warning systems to deliver more inherent uncertainty in short- accurate forecasts and with term weather prediction. coastline. These joint probability number of severe, consecutive longer lead times, in order to Multiple model runs are made, techniques estimate the storms and was exceptional in protect lives and property. It adjusting model boundary likelihood of extreme storm terms of record breaking rainfall follows that sustained conditions and parameters, to surges coinciding with higher for some parts of the UK, it was investment in flood warning provide a range of outcomes than average tides, and they are not unprecedented in a climatic mechanisms and coastal that can then be used to judge the basis of coastal defence context. Since it is not possible defences would be wise. the reliability of the forecast and design standards. to predict accurately future changes to mid-latitude provide a probabilistic approach Any worldwide change in storminess we must assume References to flood warning. coastal flood frequency or that changes in extreme water 1 McRobie, A., Spencer, T. and Gerritsen, amplitude could significantly H. (2005) The Big Flood: North Sea We now have a sophisticated levels around Europe will be storm surge, Philosophical Transactions network of 42 tide gauges affect coastal populations and governed by mean sea level of the Royal Society of London A, 363, the global economy. In studies around our coastline to support rise. 1263-1270 coastal flood forecasting but based on tide gauge data, any 2 Environment Agency (2009) Flooding observed trends in extreme sea there are fewer data from 1953, in England: A national assessment of so making a direct comparison level have been shown to be flood risk. Environment Agency, Bristol, of the two events is difficult. controlled by changes to mean UK. http://publications.environment- agency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO0609BQDS- Water levels on north east sea level rather than changes in E-E.pdf. coastlines (at North Shields) storminess; and for the UK there 3 http://www.environment-agency. were approximately 0.5m higher is no observational evidence of gov.uk/research/policy/116129.aspx in December 2013 than in any long-term trend in storm 1953, and the December 2013 surges 4. The latest generation of 4 http://www.mccip.org.uk/media/ 18620/2013arc_backingpapers_4_slr. climate models provide no water level at the Hull Barrier pdf was the highest ever recorded. significant evidence for future 5 Geoffrey Parker (2013) Global Crisis: changes to storm-related On the other hand, water levels IPCC estimates of War, Climate Change and Catastrophe future sea level rise in the Thames estuary on 5th extremes (due to low in the Seventeenth Century, 904pp, for different December were about 0.5m confidence in their ability to emissions ISBN: 9780300153231 lower than those seen in 1953. simulate extreme winds). Of pathways. From 6 IPCC, 2013: Summary for IPCC Summary for course, the natural variability of Policymakers. In: Climate Change The emerging picture is of a Policy Makers storm surge in 2013 very similar our climate system makes it (2013) 2013: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the to that of 1953 but with greater possible that we may experience Fifth Assessment Report of the severity in the northern part of more consecutive wet and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate the North Sea, most likely due windy winters like the most The Intergovernmental Panel Change [Stocker, T.F., D. Qin, G.-K. to the December 2013 storm recent. There is a wealth of Plattner, M. Tignor, S. K. Allen, J. on Climate Change (IPCC) is Boschung, A. Nauels, Y. Xia, V. Bex and 5 tracking in a more northeast- historical information to unequivocal in its assessment of P.M. Midgley (eds.)]. Cambridge wards direction. Those who suggest that European climate in the gradual rise in mean sea University Press, Cambridge, United study our highly variable weather the 17th century was dominated level 6. The projected rise in Kingdom and New York, NY, US know that no two storms are by several decades of cool, wet globally averaged sea level for identical, which is why complex and windy weather, with 1628 the year 2100 is in the range statistical methods have been dubbed a “year without 0.29-0.82m, depending on devised to estimate extreme summer”. Whilst the winter of . On water levels around the UK 2013/14 saw an unusual the basis of observed data over

40 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 HOUSE OF LORDS SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY SELECT COMMITTEE

The members of the Committee International STEM students Nuclear follow-up (appointed 16 May 2013) are Lord In January 2014, the Committee launched a In July 2013, the Committee undertook an Dixon-Smith, Baroness Hilton of Eggardon, Lord O’Neill of short follow up to its 2012 report on higher evidence session with Professor David Mackay, Clackmannan, Lord Krebs (Chairman), education in science, technology, engineering Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department of Baroness Manningham-Buller, Lord Patel, Lord Peston, Baroness Perry of and mathematics (STEM) subjects. This focused Energy & Climate Change, to follow up on its Southwark, Lord Rees of Ludlow, the specifically on the effect on international STEM November 2011 report, Nuclear research and Earl of Selborne, Baroness Sharp of students of immigration policy. Forty or so development capabilities. A further follow-up Guildford, Lord Wade of Chorlton, Lord Willis of Knaresborough and written submissions were received, seven oral session was held with the Minister for Energy, Rt Lord Winston. evidence sessions were held in February and Hon Michael Fallon MP, on 10 December 2013. March, and a report published on 11 March 2014. Science spend In May 2013, ahead of the Comprehensive Waste and the bioeconomy Spending Review, the Committee held a one-off The Committee launched an inquiry into waste session on science spend. This resulted in a letter and the bioeconomy in July 2013. The Call for being sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on Evidence closed on 27 September. Evidence 4 June 2013 calling for an increase in the science was collected on the technology used to exploit budget. In a separate but related development, bio-waste and waste gases to generate high- on 4 December 2013, the Committee wrote to value products. The inquiry aimed to assess the the Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for potential for this technology to enable bio-waste Universities and Science, to seek clarity on claims and waste gas to replace current feedstocks, and in the media suggesting that the ring-fenced the contribution this could make to a science budget may be used to shore up the bioeconomy. Oral evidence sessions were held Department’s budget in other areas. across autumn 2013 and early 2014. The Committee published its report on 6 March Open access 2014. A Government response is expected in The Committee undertook a short inquiry into May. the implementation of the Government’s open access policy. It issued a call for evidence to key Scientific infrastructure stakeholders. The Committee took oral evidence The Committee launched an inquiry into in January 2013 and published its report in scientific infrastructure in May 2013. The call for February. The report was debated on 28 February. evidence closed on 22 June. Oral evidence was It followed this up with a letter to RCUK taken across June and July on the large and expressing concern about its revised open access medium-sized scientific infrastructure currently policy in March. A Government response to the available in the UK with a particular focus on: report was published in May 2013. future needs and strategic planning, funding and governance arrangements, international FURTHER INFORMATION partnerships and partnerships with industry. The The reports, Government responses, written and Committee published its report on 21 oral evidence to the Committee’s inquiries November 2013. The Government responded in mentioned above, as well as the Calls for February 2014. Evidence and other documents can be found on the Committee’s website. Further information Regenerative medicine about the work of the Committee can be The Committee launched an inquiry into obtained from Chris Clarke, Committee Clerk, regenerative medicine before the 2012 summer [email protected] or 020 7219 4963. The recess. A group visited the California Institute for Committee Office email address is Regenerative Medicine. Oral evidence was taken [email protected]. from October to March 2013. The Committee reported on 1 July 2013 and a Government response was received on 1 October. A debate was held in the Chamber on 13 March 2014.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 41 HOUSE OF COMMONS SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

The Science and Technology CURRENT INQUIRIES The written and oral evidence received in this Committee is established under inquiry is on the Committee’s website. A Report Standing Order No 152, and The European and UK Space Agencies charged with the scrutiny of the is being prepared. expenditure, administration and On 15 February 2013 the Committee announced policy of the Government Office for an inquiry: The European and UK Space Agencies. Women in STEM careers Science, a semi-autonomous On 16 October the Committee took evidence organisation based within the The written and oral evidence received in this Department for Business, from Dr Bryn Jones, Visiting Fellow, School of inquiry is on the Committee’s website. A report Innovation and Skills. Physics, University of Bristol, Jenny Marsden, was published on 28 October 2013. The The current members of the Principal Physicist, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Government response was published as a special Science and Technology Committee Trust, and Dr Nicola Patron, Head, Synthetic are: report on 6 March 2014. Biology, Sainsbury Laboratory. Jim Dowd (Labour, West Climate: public understanding and its policy On 30 October the Committee took evidence and Penge), David Heath (Liberal implications Democrat, Somerton and Frome), from Dr June McCombie, former Chair of IOP Stephen Metcalfe (Conservative, On 28 February 2013 the Committee Project, Juno Panel, Institute of Physics, Sarah South Basildon and East Thurrock), announced an inquiry: Climate: public Andrew Miller (Labour, Ellesmere Dickinson, Manager, Athena SWAN Charter, understanding and its policy implications. Port and Neston), David Morris Equality Challenge Unit, Professor Dame Julia (Conservative, Morecambe and Lunesdale), Stephen Mosley The written and oral evidence received in this Higgins, Chair of Diversity Programme, Royal (Conservative, City of Chester), inquiry is on the Committee’s website. A Report Society, and Dr Pia Ostergaard, Senior Fellowship Pamela Nash (Labour, Airdrie and Shotts), Sarah Newton was agreed and was published on 2 April 2014: Advisor, Daphne Jackson Trust; Professor Uta (Conservative, Truro and Falmouth), Communicating climate science, HC 989. Frith, Emeritus Professor of Cognitive Graham Stringer (Labour, Blackley Development, University College London, and Broughton), David Tredinnick Government Horizon Scanning (Conservative, Bosworth) and representing Russell Group, Professor Jane On 23 October the Committee took evidence (Plaid Cymru, Powell, Deputy Warden, Goldsmith's, University Arfon). from Alun Huw Williams, Principal, SAMI of London, representing 1994 Group, and Clem Consulting, Doug McKay, Vice President, Andrew Miller was elected by the Herman, Senior Lecturer, Computing and House of Commons to be the Chair International Organisations, Shell International, and Communications, Open University. on 9 June 2010. The remaining Natalie Day, Head of Policy, Oxford Martin School, Members were formally appointed to the Committee on 12 July 2010. University of Oxford; Dr Martyn Thomas, Royal On 4 November the Committee took evidence Caroline Dinenage, Gareth Johnson, Academy of Engineering, Jonathan Cowie, former from Dr Lesley Thompson, Engineering and Sarah Newton and Hywel Williams Head, Science Policy, Institute of Biology, and Physical Sciences Research Council (representing were formally appointed to the Committee on 27 February 2012 in Professor Ann Buchanan, Academy of Social the Research Councils UK), and David Sweeney, the place of Gavin Barwell, Gregg Sciences. Director, Research, Innovation and Skills, Higher McClymont, Stephen McPartland Education Funding Council for England. and David Morris. Jim Dowd was On 27 November the Committee took evidence appointed on 11 June 2012 in the place of Jonathan Reynolds. David from Fiona Lickorish, Head, Institute for On 18 November the Committee took Morris was re-appointed on 3 Environment, Health, Risks and Futures, Cranfield evidence from Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister December 2012 in the place of University, Jessica Bland, Technology Futures Gareth Johnson. David Tredinnick of State for Universities and Science, Department was appointed on 4 February in Analyst, Nesta, and Marcus Morrell, Senior Futures for Business, Innovation and Skills. place of Caroline Dinenage. David Analyst, Arup; Professor Burkhard Schafer, Heath was appointed on 25 The written and oral evidence received in this Professor of Computational Legal Theory, November 2013 in place of Roger inquiry is on the Committee’s website. A Report Williams. Edinburgh School of Law, Professor Paul Newman, Mobile Robotics Group, University of Oxford, Nick was agreed and was published on 6 February Reed, Intelligent Transport Systems UK, and Dr 2014: Women in scientific careers,HC701. Graeme Smith, Business Manager, Connected GO Science Review of Science Advisory Services, Control and Electronics, Ricardo UK Ltd. Councils On 4 December the Committee took evidence On 2 April the Committee took evidence from from Sir Mark Walport, Government Chief Scientific Professor Sir Mark Walport, Chief Scientific Adviser, and Jon Day, Chair, Horizon Scanning Adviser to HM Government and Head of the Oversight Group, Cabinet Office. Government Office for Science; Professor Les

42 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Iversen, Chair, Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs and Richard Knight, National CJD Research and Surveillance Unit, Professor Chris Gilligan, Chair, Defra’s Science Advisory Council. Professor Sheila Bird, Medical Research Council Unit, Dr Paula Bolton-Maggs, Serious Hazards of Transfusion (SHOT) The oral evidence received in this inquiry is on the Committee’s Haemovigilance Scheme and Dr Simon Mead, Association of British website. Neurologists. Antimicrobial resistance On 18 December the Committee took evidence from Dr Pat Goodwin, Society of Biology, Professor Laura Piddock, British Society REPORTS for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, Professor John Threlfall, Society for In addition to the above, the Committee has also published: Applied Microbiology, and Professor Sharon Peacock, Cambridge Pre–appointment hearing with the Government's preferred Infectious Diseases Initiative, University of Cambridge. candidate for Chair of the Arts and Humanities Research On 8 January 2014 the Committee took evidence from Professor Council (AHRC) Anthony Kessel, Public Health England, Dr Michael Moore, Royal On 29 January 2014, the Committee published its Seventh College of General Practitioners, Professor Alison Holmes, Imperial Report of Session 2013-14, Pre–appointment hearing with the College London and Dr Susan Hopkins, Royal College of Physicians; Government's preferred candidate for Chair of the Arts and John Hardcastle, Novolytics, Dr David McIntosh, Novartis, Professor Humanities Research Council (AHRC), HC 989 George Lewith, University of Southampton Medical School and Doris-Ann Williams, British In Vitro Diagnostics Association. On 29 January 2014 the Committee took evidence from Phil FURTHER INFORMATION Sketchley, National Office of Animal Health, John FitzGerald, Further information about the Science and Technology Committee Responsible Use of Medicines in Agriculture Alliance, Catherine can be obtained from the Clerk of the Committee, Stephen McLaughlin, National Farmers’ Union and Cóilín Nunan, Alliance to McGinness, or from the Senior Committee Assistant, Darren Save our Antibiotics. Hackett, on 020 7219 2792/2793 respectively; or by writing to: On 26 February 2014 the Committee took evidence from The Clerk of the Committee, Science and Technology Committee, Professor Jeremy Farrar, Wellcome Trust, Professor Sir John Savill, House of Commons, 7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA. Enquiries can Research Councils UK, Kush Naker, Universities Allied for Essential also be e-mailed to [email protected]. Anyone wishing to Medicines UK and Professor Sir Anthony Coates, Antibiotic be included on the Committee’s mailing list should contact the staff Discovery UK; Dr Louise Leong, Association of the British of the Committee. Anyone wishing to submit evidence to the Pharmaceutical Industry, James Anderson, GlaxoSmithKline, Committee is strongly recommended to obtain a copy of the Dr David Williams, Discuva and Michael McIntyre, European Herbal guidance note first. Guidance on the submission of evidence can and Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association. be found at www.parliament.uk/commons/selcom/witguide.htm. The Committee has a website, www.parliament.uk/science, where On 12 March 2014 the Committee took evidence from Professor all recent publications, terms of reference for all inquiries and press Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer, Sally Wellsteed, notices are available. Department of Health, and Nigel Gibbens, Chief Veterinary Officer; George Eustice MP, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Jane Ellison MP, Department of Health, Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer and Professor Peter Borriello, Veterinary Medicines Directorate.

The written and oral evidence received in this inquiry is on the Committee’s website. A report is being prepared.

Blood, tissue and organ screening On 5 February the Committee took evidence from Mark Ward and Joseph Peaty, TaintedBlood, Liz Carroll, Haemophilia Society, Dr Matthew Buckland, UK Primary Immunodeficiency Network and Christine Lord; Professor Marc Turner, Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs Prion Group, Dr Roland Salmon, Advisory Committee on Dangerous Pathogens and Dr Sheila MacLennan, UK Blood Services Joint Professional Advisory Committee.

On 5 March 2014 the Committee took evidence from Dr Steven Burton, ProMetic Biosciences Ltd, Dr Kelly Board, DuPont Chemicals and Fluoroproducts, Dr Alex Raeber, Prionics AG, Nigel Talboys, Terumo BCT and Professor John Collinge, MRC Prion Unit.

On 26 March 2014 the Committee took evidence from Professor

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 43 HOUSE OF COMMONS LIBRARY SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT SECTION

Staff in the Science and RECENT PUBLICATIONS Standardised packaging of tobacco product Environment Section provide SN06175 confidential, bespoke briefing to Mitochondrial Donation Members and their offices daily. SN06833 Standardised packaging (or ‘plain packaging’) of They provide support to Commons tobacco products is generally taken to mean the Select Committees, and produce New treatments could provide an option for longer notes and research papers women with mitochondrial DNA mutations to removal of all attractive promotional aspects. which can be accessed at enable them to give birth to healthy children. Except for the brand name (which would be http://www.parliament.uk/topics/ presented in a standardised way), all other topical-issues.htm These new techniques involve using donor mitochondria in an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) trademarks, logos, colour schemes and Opposite are summaries of some treatment. promotional graphics would be prohibited. The recently updated published package itself would be standardised and display briefings. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority only information (such as health warnings) For further information contact: (HFEA), following scientific and ethical review and required by law. Sarah Hartwell-Naguib a public consultation in 2012, advised the During the House of Lords Grand Committee Head of Section Government that there is support for the Tel: 020 7219 1665 stage of the Children and Families Bill in email: introduction of these treatments. However, they November 2013, cross-party amendments were [email protected] have recommended that research is still needed introduced to provide regulation-making powers and the treatment should be offered within a strict on standardised packaging of tobacco products regulatory framework. with the purpose of improving children’s health. In June 2013, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Following extensive debate the amendments were Dame Sally Davies, announced that draft withdrawn but it was advised they would be regulations to allow mitochondrial donation would returned to at the next stage of the Bill. be published later in the year. It is estimated that On 28 November 2013, Jane Ellison, the the introduction of this treatment could save Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, around 10 lives a year. These draft regulations announced an independent review into the public were published on 27 February. There will be a health evidence on standardised tobacco public consultation on these until 21 May 2014. packaging. She confirmed that the Government There is a number of safety and ethical would table an amendment to the Children and considerations which have been raised in regard Families Bill to establish regulation-making powers to these techniques. The treatments involve in this area. This was tabled at the Report stage in changing the embryo’s mitochondrial DNA prior to the House of Lords on 29 January 2014 and was implantation. The nuclear DNA, which makes up agreed by both Houses. over 99% of our total DNA will not be altered by On 3 April 2014, the report of the public health these treatments. There has been opposition to review undertaken by Sir Cyril Chantler was their proposed introduction and the media have published. He concluded that it was very likely reported that the techniques will lead to three that the introduction of standardised packaging parent babies. would lead to a modest but important reduction in the uptake and prevalence of smoking and This note provides a summary of the role of would have a positive effect on public health. Jane mitochondria, mitochondrial disease and the Ellison announced that the Government were proposed new techniques. It outlines the minded to introduce regulations to provide for investigations into these techniques that took standardised packaging and these would be place prior to the Government announcement; an subject to a short final consultation. HFEA scientific review of the safety and efficacy of methods, an ethical review of the techniques for TB Vaccination in Badgers and Cattle mitochondrial replacement undertaken by the SN06447 Nuffield Council on Bioethics and an HFEA public The vaccination of badgers against TB is an consultation. The main safety and ethical alternative approach being investigated to address considerations associated with the introduction of the problem of the disease in cattle. The current these techniques into clinical practice will be vaccine for badgers, which is injectable, reduces discussed. the burden of disease in badgers. However administering the vaccine involves baiting and

44 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 trapping, and is resource intensive. There is no evidence yet that use In February 2011, a statutory regulation scheme for herbal of the vaccine in badgers would reduce disease in cattle. There is as practitioners was proposed which would allow prescribing of yet no date for when an oral badger vaccine, which would be easier unlicensed preparations by registered herbalists under a clause in to administer, will be available. the 2001 Medicines Directive. It was planned that this scheme would come into force in 2012. In July this year, the Under Secretary TB vaccination of cattle is also being explored as an option, with the of State for Health, Dr Daniel Poulter highlighted issues which have Government expecting to commence field trials in 2015. This is made the introduction of the scheme difficult. He announced the expected to take between two and five years. For this to be a useful setting up of a working group to consider options. It will meet early option the test needs to be effective at distinguishing between in 2014. infected and vaccinated cattle. TB vaccination of cattle would also have to be approved at EU level, which the Government expects ACTIVITIES would take up to 2023. Announcements on planning in the Budget and the publication of The Welsh Government suspended a badger cull programme in new web-based planning practice guidance led to updates of 2011 and replaced it with a five year trapping and vaccination standard notes on planning reform proposals, permitted programme. It published its first report in January 2013. development rights and the green belt, in addition to a Library blog piece on garden cities. An additional standard note, Badger Cullling: TB Control Policy - SN05873, provides information and analysis of the badger cull trial The section contributed to the House of Commons Research Paper that took place in West Gloucestershire and West Somerset in for the Second Reading of the Deregulation Bill providing summer 2013. background and analysis of the clauses on: rights of way, climate change, air quality, noise, household waste, health and safety and Regulation of herbal medicines other environmental measures. SN06002 Herbal remedies for human use have for some time been regarded The note on standardised tobacco packaging was updated to take as medicines under UK legislation, subject to the same licensing account of the progress of the Children and Families Bill, which procedures as pharmaceuticals. Efficacy requirements have been provides powers for later implementation of standardised packaging. difficult to meet. Most EU Member States developed pragmatic The Bill received Royal Assent (and became and Act) on 14 March arrangements to tackle this. In the UK herbal remedies have 2014. historically been exempted from licensing. In the first quarter of the year the section has had an increased role A review of herbal regulation at EU level was prompted by safety in producing debate packs including on international wildlife crime concerns and the need for market harmonisation of various national (06/02/14), managing flood risk and Government levies on energy herbal regulatory regimes. bills (03/03/14), and the Elliot review and food crime (02/04/14). The Directive on Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products (Directive Staff visited Lancaster University and University College London to 2004/24/EC) replaces most existing member state regulations and deliver presentations on how academia can engage with Parliament. creates a unified licensing system for traditional herbal medicine This included highlighting the work of POST, the Library, and products (in use for at least 30 years, of which 15 must usually have committees, and encouraging the building of contact with specialists been in the EU). The Directive came into full effect on 30 April in parliament and submission of evidence to select committees – all 2011. in the name of evidence-based policy making. The blog from the Lancaster trip is available at: http://commonslibrary The Directive has met with some opposition from suppliers and blog.com/2014/03/17/reaching-out-from-westminster/ users of herbal medicines. Objections include perceived disproportionate costs of regulatory compliance and the difficulty Our planning specialist went to Royal Town Planning Institute on 11 some non-European herbal traditions may have in meeting the February for meetings with their policy and communications team. requirement. There are concerns that this will result in threatening the viability of businesses and a reduction in consumer choice. PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (POST)

RECENT POST PUBLICATIONS by the 2013 Energy Act. This POSTnote outlines DSR, how it is provided, its role for the UK and its potential future development. Electricity Demand Side Response Livestock Emissions January 2014 POSTnote 452 January 2014 POSTnote 453 Demand-Side Response describes electricity users (the demand Livestock farming results in the emission of the greenhouse gases side) changing their patterns of use in response to incentives. It is (GHG) methane and nitrous oxide. Such emissions are difficult to one of several options eligible for Government support introduced accurately quantify and control. This POSTnote examines current policy and prospects for further reductions in emissions.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 45 Risks from Climate Feedbacks made more accessible. This briefing examines ways of achieving January 2014 POSTnote 454 greater transparency and the issues that they raise. The Fifth Assessment Report of the IPCC concluded that human Surveillance of Infectious Disease activities are causing the climate to warm, but there is uncertainty March 2014 POSTnote 462 in how the climate will continue to change. Climate feedbacks Microbes such as bacteria and viruses cause a wide range of could both increase and decrease global warming. This POSTnote infectious diseases. They can be highly adaptable and evolve discusses what climate feedbacks are, as well as the challenges rapidly to changing environments. This can change their ability to they present for climate change mitigation policies. spread and their susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. Surveillance is Electronic Cigarettes key for detecting and responding to novel and re-emerging January 2014 POSTnote 455 microbes. This briefing describes current surveillance efforts and Electronic cigarettes produce a vapour typically containing nicotine, examines new technological developments and their likely impacts which users inhale. There is debate about their potential role in on UK and international public health. tobacco smoking reduction and cessation. This POSTnote HIV Prevention in the UK summarises the evidence on the safety and quality of electronic April 2014 POSTnote 463 cigarettes, explores some of the social issues raised and reviews Preventing HIV is a priority for research and public health. Research current UK and EU regulation. developments and the trends in the nature of the epidemic mean Telehealth and Telecare that policy is continually revised in order to educate the public, February 2014 POSTnote 456 reduce transmission of the virus and treat those affected. This note The UK’s elderly population is growing and with it the number of describes patterns of infection and policies to increase HIV testing. people with long-term health problems. This is putting pressure on It also summarises evidence for using antiretrovirals as a preventive the health and social care systems. Increased use of technology measure. such as telehealth and telecare may help to improve quality of care Intermittent Electricity Generation and reduce costs. This note describes current UK telehealth and April 2014 POSTnote 464 telecare initiatives and the role they may play in delivering future Sources of electricity that exhibit uncontrolled increases or care. decreases in output are often referred to as intermittent. This New Technologies POSTnote examines the effect of wind, solar, wave and tidal February 2014 POSTnote 457 intermittency on the provision of electricity to meet demand, Nuclear power stations provide a low carbon source of electricity, electricity prices and carbon dioxide emissions. The note also which could help the UK achieve its policy to reduce greenhouse describes measures to manage intermittency. gas emissions by 80% by 2050. This POSTnote reviews new and potential future nuclear power technologies. It also outlines the CURRENT WORK regulatory approach toward new nuclear build and summarises Biological Sciences – Minimum Age of Responsibility, Childhood some of the related challenges. Allergy, Population Health Management, GM Crops Environment and Energy – Short Lived Climate Pollutants, Ancient Ambient Air Quality Woodlands, Reducing Diffuse Water Pollution from Agriculture, February 2014 POSTnote 458 REDD+, Smart Metering of Electricity, Gas and Water, Energy National and European regulations have improved UK ambient air Storage, Phosphate Resources quality. However, current air pollution levels continue to harm Physical sciences and IT – Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Big Data human health and the environment. This POSTnote summarises Overview and Big Data in Business the evidence for effects of air pollutants and policies to address them. Social Sciences – Alternative Currencies, Big Data, Crime and Security, Big Data and Transport, End-of-Life Care Stroke February 2014 POSTnote 459 CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS Stroke is the third largest cause of mortality in the UK, and the Could the Lights Go Out? largest cause of adult disability. It has a high clinical and societal burden, and can have a profound effect on people’s lives. This On January 7th, POST hosted a roundtable briefing entitled ‘Could POSTnote summarises the different types of stroke, and examines the Lights Go Out in 2015/16?’ supported by the Royal Academy treatment, prevention strategies and recent service re-organisation. of Engineering. The event followed recent estimates from and the electricity market regulator Ofgem that show levels Social Media and Big Data of spare electricity generating capacity falling to low levels in winter March 2014 POSTnote 460 2015/16. The briefing gave MPs and Peers the opportunity to Analysing large quantities of readily available data from social media discuss with external experts the risk to the security of electricity has created new opportunities to understand and influence how supply over the period 2014-18 and approaches to mitigate the people think and act. This POSTnote examines the application of risk. The briefing was attended by 4 MPs, 6 peers as well as ‘big data’ approaches to social media in three key areas: elections committee and members’ staff. The event was chaired by Lord and polling, commercial applications and security. It also covers the Oxburgh, with external experts from the Department of Energy and regulation of social media data and public concerns around privacy. Climate Change, National Grid, Ofgem, the Royal Academy of Engineering, UK Energy Research Centre, industry body Energy UK Transparency of Clinical Trial Data and energy company . March 2014 POSTnote 461 Results from many clinical trials are not published or made Risks from Climate Feedbacks available. Recently there have been calls for clinical trials data to be On 28th January, POST hosted a breakfast briefing to launch the

46 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 POSTnote on Risks from Climate Feedbacks and for STAFF, AND INTERNS AT POST parliamentarians to discuss the uncertainties and evidence of their Fellows role in the climate system and their likely implications for adaptation Adriana De Palma, Natural History Museum, Biotechnology and with representatives from academia, the insurance industry, NGOs Biological Sciences Research Council and policy. It was chaired by Andrew Miller MP and presentations were made by: Professor Colin Prentice, AXA Chair in Climate Oscar Branson, University of Cambridge, Natural Environment Impacts, Imperial College London, Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, Research Council Chair in Climate Modelling, University of Exeter, Chris Jones, Head Mark Richardson, University of Reading, Natural Environment of Earth System Research, Hadley Centre, Professor Tim Research Council Lenton, Chair in Climate Change, University of Exeter, Trevor Rosalind Davies, University of Birmingham, Engineering and Physical Maynard, Head of Exposure Management, Lloyds, Professor Bill Sciences Research Council Sutherland, Chair in , University of Cambridge Daniel Rathbone, Imperial College London, Engineering and & British Ecological Society President and Leo Hickman, Climate Physical Sciences Research Council Change Chief Advisor, WWF UK. Maria Thorpe, University of Manchester, Engineering and Physical Food Aid Provision Sciences Research Council On 9th April, POST hosted a seminar on Food Banks in Elizabeth Duxbury, University of East Anglia, Biotechnology and collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Biological Sciences Research Council Hunger and Food Poverty. This event was an opportunity for Helen Brewer, Rothamsted Research, Biotechnology and Biological parliamentarians to hear from leading researchers about the latest Sciences Research Council findings of research on food poverty and food aid provision across the UK. It was chaired by Sarah Newton MP and presentations Clare Wenham, University of Aberystwyth, Nuffield Council on were made by Professor Elizabeth Dowler, Professor of Food and Bioethics Social Policy, University of Warwick, Ms Hannah Lambie-Mumford, Rachel Stocker, University of Durham, British Psychological Society Researcher, University of Sheffield, Dr Filip Sosenko, Research Paul Gilbert, University of Sussex, Economic and Social Research Associate, Dr Nicola Livingstone, Researcher, Heriot-Watt University Council and Dr Matt Barnes, Research Director, National Centre for Social Stephen Hanley, University of Leeds, Economic and Social Research Research. Council

SELECTED DEBATES ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION Badger Cull 13.3.14 HoC 456 Mrs Deep Sea Mining Bill 7.2.14 HoL 391 Baroness Wilcox Forestry: Independent Panel Report 12.2.14 HoL 675 Baroness Royall of Blaisdon Listed opposite (grouped by EDUCATION & SKILLS subject area) is a selection of Apprenticeship 26.3.14 HoL 560 Lord Young of Norwood Green Debates on matters of scientific Higher Education 9.4.14 HoL 1303 Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon interest which took place in the House of Commons, House of ENERGY Lords or Westminster Hall Carbon Capture and Use 21.1.14 HoC 65WH Laura Sandys between 21st January and 10th Fracking 17.3.14 HoL GC42 Lord Borwick April 2014. FOOD AND HEALTH Dementia 22.1.14 HoL 722 Baroness Gardner of Parkes A full digest of debates and PQs Elliott Review and Food Crime 2.4.14 HoC 233WH Laura Sandys on scientific issues during the Innovative Medicine 1.4.14 HoL 909 Baroness Thomas of Winchester 2013/14 session of Parliament Medical Records (Confidentiality) 11.2.14 HoC 215WH George Mudie, George Freeman can be found at Mitochondrial Transfer 12.3.14 HoC 164WH Jacob Rees-Mogg http://www.scienceinparliament. (Three-Parent Children) org.uk/publications/uk-digests/ Neglected Tropical Diseases 6.2.14 HoL GC127 Baroness Hayman NHS Patient Data 25.3.14 HoC 49WH Barbara Keeley NHS Patient Data 27.2.14 HoC 173WH George Freeman NHS: Competition 10.2.14 HoL GC214 Lord Turnberg Patient Medical Records 4.3.14 HoC 240WH Roger Godsiff Regenerative Medicine: 13.3.14 HoL 1936 Lord Patel S&T Committee Report MISCELLANEOUS Bletchley Park 12.3.14 HoL 1819 Baroness Trumpington Defence & Cyber Security 4.3.14 HoC 787 James (Sel Co report) Development: Post-2015 Agenda 2.4.14 HoL 1005 Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead World Water Day 11.3.14 HoC 291 Naomi Long

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 47 Research Councils UK Contact: Alexandra Saxon Head of Communications Research Councils UK Polaris House North Star Avenue Swindon SN2 1ET

Tel: 01793 444592 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.rcuk.ac.uk

Each year the Research Councils invest around £3 billion in research covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, economics, environmental sciences and the arts and humanities. Research Councils UK is the strategic partnerships of the seven Research Councils. It aims to: • increase the collective visibility, leadership and influence of the Research Councils for the benefit of the UK; • lead in shaping the overall portfolio of research funded by the Research Councils to maximise the excellence and impact of UK research, and help to ensure that the UK gets the best value for money from its investment; • ensure joined-up operations between the Research Councils to achieve its goals and improve services to the communities it sponsors and works with. Science Directory Biotechnology Economic and and Biological Social Research Sciences Research Council Council (BBSRC) Contact: Jacky Clake, Head of Communications, Contact: Sarah Cooper, Economic and Social Research Council, Parliamentary Relations Manager, Contact: Matt Goode Polaris House, North Star Avenue, EPSRC, Polaris House, Associate Director, Communications & Swindon SN2 1UJ North Star Avenue, Swindon SN2 1ET External Relations Tel: 01793 413117 Tel: 01793 444570 BBSRC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Swindon SN2 1UH. Tel: 01793 413299 Website: www.esrc.ac.uk Website:www.epsrc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.bbsrc.ac.uk The ESRC is the UK’s leading research and training EPSRC is the UK’s main agency for funding research agency addressing economic and social concerns. and training in engineering and physical sciences, BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research, We pursue excellence in social science research; investing around £800m a year in research and innovation and training on behalf of the UK public. work to increase the impact of our research on postgraduate training, to help the nation handle the Our aim is to further scientific knowledge to policy and practice; and provide trained social next generation of technological change. promote economic growth, wealth and job creation scientists who meet the needs of users and The areas covered range from information and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. beneficiaries, thereby contributing to the economic technology to structural engineering, and BBSRC research is helping society to meet major competitiveness of the , the mathematics to materials science. This research challenges, including food security, green energy effectiveness of public services and policy, and forms the basis for future economic development in and healthier lifespans and underpins important UK the UK and improvements for everyone’s health, quality of life. The ESRC is independent, established lifestyle and culture. EPSRC works alongside other economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial by Royal Charter in 1965, and funded mainly by Research Councils with responsibility for other areas biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. government. of research.

Medical Natural Science & Research Environment Technology Council Research Council Facilities Council Contact: Sophie Broster-James Contact : Judy Parker Mark Foster Public Affairs and Stakeholder Engagement Head of Communications Public Affairs Manager Manager NERC, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory One Kemble Street, London WC2B 4AN. Swindon SN2 1EU Harwell Science & Innovation Campus Tel: 020 7395 2275 Tel: 01793 411646 Didcot OX11 0QX E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01235 778328 Fax: 01235 445 808 Website: www.mrc.ac.uk Website: www.nerc.ac.uk E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.stfc.ac.uk Over the past century, the MRC has been at the forefront of NERC is the UK’s leading public funder of environmental scientific discovery to improve human health. Founded in science. We invest £330 million each year in cutting-edge The Science and Technology Facilities Council is one of 1913 to tackle tuberculosis, the MRC now invests taxpayers’ research, postgraduate training and innovation in Europe’s largest multidisciplinary research organisations money in the highest quality medical research across every supporting scientists and engineers world-wide. The area of health. Twenty-nine MRC-funded researchers have universities and research centres. Our scientists study the physical, chemical and biological Research Council operates world-class, large-scale won Nobel prizes in a wide range of disciplines, and MRC research facilities and provides strategic advice to the processes on which our planet and life itself depends – scientists have been behind such diverse discoveries as UK Government on their development. The STFC vitamins, the structure of DNA and the link between from pole to pole, from the deep Earth and oceans to the partners in two of the UK’s Science and Innovation smoking and cancer, as well as achievements such as atmosphere and space. Campuses. It also manages international research pioneering the use of randomised controlled trials, the We partner with business, government, the public and the projects in support of a broad cross-section of the UK invention of MRI scanning, and the development of wider research community to shape the environmental therapeutic antibodies. We also work closely with the UK’s research community, particularly in the fields of Health Departments, the NHS, medical research charities research and innovation agenda. Our science provides astronomy, nuclear physics and particle physics. The and industry to ensure our research achieves maximum knowledge, skills and technology that deliver sustainable Council directs, co-ordinates and funds research, impact as well as being of excellent scientific quality. economic growth and public wellbeing. education and training.

48 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Association AIRTO of the British Pharmaceutical Contact: Professor Richard Brook OBE FREng Contact: Dr Matt Norton AIRTO Ltd: Association of Independent 3 Riverside, Granta Park Industry Research & Technology Organisations Limited Cambridge, CB21 6AD c/o The National Physical Laboratory Tel: 01223 824575 Contact: Dr Louise Leong Hampton Road, Teddington E-mail: [email protected] Director of R&D Policy Middlesex TW11 0LW Website: 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, Tel: 020 8943 6600 http://www.alzheimersresearchuk.org/ London SW1E 6QT E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7747 7193 Twitter: @airtoinnovation Fax: 020 7747 1447 Website: www.airto.co.uk Alzheimer’s Research UK is the UK’s leading E-mail: [email protected] dementia research charity. Currently, we support Website: www.abpi.org.uk AIRTO – The Association for Independent Research and Technology Organisations – is the foremost 130 projects worth over £21.5m. As research The ABPI is the voice of the innovative pharmaceutical membership body for organisations operating in the specialists, we fund pioneering research at leading industry, working with Government, regulators and other UK’s intermediate research and technology sector. universities across the UK and the globe with the stakeholders to promote a receptive environment for a AIRTO’s members deliver vital innovation and aim of defeating dementia. Our expertise helps strong and progressive industry in the UK, one capable of knowledge transfer services which include applied and providing the best medicines to patients. bring together leading dementia scientists to share collaborative R&D, frequently in conjunction with ideas and understanding. The ABPI’s mission is to represent the pharmaceutical universities, consultancy, technology validation and industry operating in the UK in a way that: testing, incubation of commercialisation opportunities We work with people with dementia to reflect their • assures patient access to the best available medicine; and early stage financing. AIRTO members have a concerns and firmly believe that science holds the • creates a favourable political and economic environment; combined turnover of over £4bn from clients both at key to defeating dementia. • encourages innovative research and development; home and outside the UK, and employ over 40,000 • affords fair commercial returns scientists, technologists and engineers.

AMPS The British Ecological Contact: Tony Harding Contact: Dr Catherine Ball Society (Science Policy Officer) 07895 162 896 for all queries whether for Biochemical Society The British Ecological Society membership or assistance. Charles Darwin House Contact: Ceri Margerison, Policy Manager Branch Office Address: 12 Roger Street British Ecological Society Merchant Quay, London WC1N 2JU Charles Darwin House, 12 Roger Street, Salford Quays, Tel: 020 7685 2433 London, WC1N 2JU Salford Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] M50 3SG. Website: www.biochemistry.org Tel: 020 7685 2510 Fax : 020 7685 2501 Website: www.BritishEcologicalSociety.org Website: www.amps-tradeunion.com The Biochemical Society exists for the advancement Ecology into Policy Blog of the molecular and cellular biosciences, both as http://britishecologicalsociety.org/blog/ We are a Trades Union for Management and an academic discipline and to promote its impact Professional Staff working in the pharmaceutical, Twitter: @BESPolicy chemical and allied industries. on areas of science including biotechnology, The British Ecological Society’s mission is to advance agriculture, and medicine. We achieve our mission We also have a section for Professional Divers working ecology and make it count. The Society has over 4,000 globally. We represent a broad base of both office and though our publications and journals, scientific members worldwide. The BES publishes five field based staff and use our influence to improve meetings, educational activities, policy work, internationally renowned scientific journals and organises the largest scientific meeting for ecologists in working conditions on behalf of our members. awards and grants to scientists and students. The Europe. Through its grants, the BES also supports We are experts in performance based and field related Biochemical Society is the largest discipline-based ecologists in developing countries and the provision of issues and are affiliated to our counterparts in EU learned society in the biosciences with 6800 fieldwork in schools. The BES informs and advises Professional Management Unions. members. Parliament and Government on ecological issues and welcomes requests for assistance from parliamentarians.

British British In Vitro Nutrition Diagnostics Association Foundation

(BIVDA) Contact: Professor Judy Buttriss, Contact: Jonathan Brüün Director General Chief Executive Contact: Doris-Ann Williams MBE Imperial House 6th Floor British Pharmacological Society Chief Executive 15-19 Kingsway The Schild Plot, 16 Angel Gate, British In Vitro Diagnostics Association London WC2B 6UN City Road, London EC1V 2PT Devonshire House Tel: +44(0) 20 7557 7930 Tel: : 020 7239 0171 164 – 168 Westminster Bridge Road Email: [email protected] Fax: 020 7417 0114 London SE1 7RW Email: jb@.ac.uk Websites: www.nutrition.org.uk Website: www.bps.ac.uk Tel: 0845 6188224 www.foodafactoflife.org.uk Email: [email protected] The British Pharmacological Society is the primary www.bivda.co.uk The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) was UK learned society concerned with research into drugs and the way they work. Our 3000+ members BIVDA is the UK industry association representing established over 40 years ago and exists to deliver companies who manufacture and/or distribute the work in academia, industry, regulatory agencies and diagnostics tests and equipment to diagnose, authoritative, evidence-based information on food the health services, and many are medically monitor and manage disease largely through the NHS and nutrition in the context of health and lifestyle. qualified. We cover the whole spectrum of pathology services. Increasingly diagnostics are used pharmacology, including laboratory, clinical, and outside the laboratory in community settings and also The Foundation’s work is conducted and toxicological aspects. Enquiries about the discovery, to identify those patients who would benefit from communicated through a unique blend of development and application of drugs are specific drug treatment particularly for cancer. nutrition science, education and media activities. welcome.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 49 The British Psychological Mrs Tracey Guise Contact: Judith Willetts, CEO Society Chief Executive Officer Vintage House British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 37 Albert Embankment Contact: Tanja Siggs Griffin House | 53 Regent Place | Birmingham Policy Advisor - Legislation London SE1 7TL. B1 3NJ Tel: 020 3031 9800 The British Psychological Society www.bsac.org.uk | www.antibiotic-action.com Fax: 020 7582 2882 St Andrews House www.e-opat.com | www.nas-pps.com E-mail: [email protected] 48 Princess Road East |www.appg-on-antibiotics.com Website: www.immunology.org Leicester LE1 7DR www.bsacsurv.org Tel: 0116 252 9526 The BSI is one of the oldest, largest and most active The BSAC is an inter-professional organisation with over immunology societies in the world. We have over Email: [email protected] forty years of experience and achievement in antibiotic Website: www.bps.org.uk education, research and leadership. The Society has an 4,000 members who work in all areas of active international membership and: immunology, including research and clinical The British Psychological Society is an organisation • Is dedicated to saving lives through the effective use and practice. development of antibiotics, now and in the future. of over 48,000 members governed by Royal • Communicates effectively about antibiotics and antibiotic The BSI runs major scientific meetings, education Charter. It maintains the Register of Chartered usage via workshops, professional guidelines and its own programmes and events for all ages. We Psychologists, publishes books, 11 primary science high impact international journal, the Journal of disseminate top quality scientific research through Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. Journals and organises conferences. Requests for our journals and meetings and we are committed to • Is home to the UK-led global initiative Antibiotic Action information about psychology and psychologists bringing the wonders and achievements of • Serves as secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group from parliamentarians are very welcome. on Antibiotics immunology to as many audiences as possible.

Brunel Cavendish Chartered University Laboratory Institute of Contact: Geoff Rodgers The Administrative Secretary, The Cavendish Patent Attorneys Brunel University Laboratory, J J Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK. Kingston Lane Contact: Lee Davies – Chief Executive E-mail: [email protected] Uxbridge UB8 3PH http://www.phy.cam.ac.uk The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys Tel: 01895 265609 95 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1DT The Cavendish Laboratory houses the Department of Physics Fax: 01895 269740 Tel: 020 7405 9450 of the University of Cambridge. E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7430 0471 Website: www.brunel.ac.uk The research programme covers the breadth of contemporary physics E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cipa.org.uk Brunel is a world-class university based in London. Extreme Universe: Astrophysics, cosmology and high Our distinctive mission combines teaching and energy physics Members of CIPA practise in intellectual property, research excellence with the practical and Quantum Universe: Cold atoms, condensed matter theory, scientific computing, quantum matter and semiconductor especially patents, trade marks, designs, and entrepreneurial approach of our namesake, physics copyright, either in private partnerships or industrial Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Materials Universe: Optoelectronics, nanophotonics, companies. It advises government and international Brunel works closely with business to bring social detector physics, thin film magnetism, surface physics and circles on policy issues and provides information the Winton programme for the physics of sustainability and economic benefit by undertaking services, promoting the benefits to UK industry of Biological Universe: Physics of medicine, biological groundbreaking research to find solutions to major obtaining IP protection, and to overseas industry of systems and soft matter problems and producing graduates with the using British attorneys to obtain international The Laboratory has world-wide collaborations with other protection. knowledge and skills sought by employers. universities and industry

Clifton The Council Eli Lilly and Scientific for the Company Trust Mathematical Sciences Ltd Contact: Dr Eric Albone MBE Contact: Lindsay Walsh Contact: Thom Thorp, Senior Director, Clifton Scientific Trust De Morgan House Corporate Affairs 49 Northumberland Road, Bristol BS6 7BA 57-58 Russell Square Tel: 01256 315000 Tel: 0117 924 7664 Fax: 0117 924 7664 London WC1B 4HS Fax: 01256 775858 E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 7637 3686 Eli Lilly and Company Ltd, Lilly House Website: www.clifton-scientific.org Fax: 020 7323 3655 Priestley Road, Basingstoke, Hants, Email: [email protected] RG24 9NL Email. [email protected] Science for Citizenship and Employability, Website: www.cms.ac.uk Science for Life, Science for Real Website: www.lilly.co.uk

We build grass-roots partnerships between school and The Council for the Mathematical Sciences is an Lilly UK is the UK affiliate of a major American the wider world of professional science and its authoritative and objective body that works to develop, pharmaceutical manufacturer, Eli Lilly and Company applications influence and respond to UK policy issues affecting of Indianapolis. This affiliate is one of the UK’s top • for young people of all ages and abilities mathematical sciences in higher education and pharmaceutical companies with significant research, and therefore the UK economy and society by: • experiencing science as a creative, questioning, investment in science and technology including a • providing expert advice; human activity neuroscience research and development centre and • engaging with government, funding agencies and bulk biotechnology manufacturing operations. • bringing school science added meaning and other decision makers; notivation, from primary to post-16 • raising public awareness; and Lilly medicines treat schizophrenia, diabetes, cancer, • locally, nationally, internationally (currently • facilitating communication between the osteoporosis, attention deficit hyperactivity between Britain and Japan; also the Ukraine) mathematical sciences community and other disorder, erectile dysfunction, depression, bipolar Clifton Scientific Trust Ltd is registered charity 1086933 stakeholders disorder, heart disease and many other diseases.

50 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 GAMBICA Association Ltd

Contact: Miriam Laverick Contact: Dr Philip Newton Contact: Dr Graeme Philp Head of Communications Director of Science Broadwall House EngineeringUK The Food and Environment Research Agency 21 Broadwall Weston House, 246 High Holborn Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ London SE1 9PL London WC1V 7EX Tel: 01904 462415 Tel: 020 7642 8080 Tel: 020 3206 0444 E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7642 8096 Fax: 020 3206 0401 Website: www.defra.gov.uk/fera E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gambica.org.uk Website: www.EngineeringUK.com The Food and Environment Research Agency’s over EngineeringUK is an independent organisation that arching purpose is to support and develop a GAMBICA Association is the UK trade association promotes the vital role of engineers, engineering sustainable food chain, a healthy natural for instrumentation, control, automation and and technology in our society. EngineeringUK environment, and to protect the global community laboratory technology. The association seeks to partners business and industry, Government and the from biological and chemical risks. promote the successful development of the industry wider science and technology community: producing evidence on the state of engineering; Our role within that is to provide robust evidence, and assist its member companies through a broad sharing knowledge within engineering, and rigorous analysis and professional advice to range of services, including technical policy and inspiring young people to choose a career in Government, international organisations and the standards, commercial issues, market data and engineering, matching employers’ demand for private sector. export services. skills. The Glass and Geological Glazing Society Federation

Contact: Nic Bilham Contact: James Lee Contact: Sophia Griffiths Director of Policy and Communications 54 Ayres Street 5 Cambridge Court Burlington House London SE1 1EU 210 Shepherds Bush Road Piccadilly Tel: 020 7939 9100 London W6 7NJ London W1J 0BG Fax: 0870 042 4266 Tel: 020 7603 6316 Tel: 020 7434 9944 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7439 8975 Website: www.ggf.org.uk Website: www.ifst.org E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.geolsoc.org.uk The GGF is the main representative organisation for IFST is the independent qualifying body for food companies involved in all aspects of the professionals in Europe. Membership is drawn from manufacture of flat glass and products and services The Geological Society is the national learned and all over the world from backgrounds including professional body for Earth sciences, with 11,000 for all types of glazing, in commercial and domestic industry, universities, government, research and Fellows (members) worldwide. The Fellowship sectors. development and food law enforcement. encompasses those working in industry, academia Members include companies that manufacture and and government, with a wide range of perspectives install energy efficient windows, in homes and IFST’s activities focus on disseminating knowledge and views on policy-relevant science, and the commercial buildings, the performance glass used relating to food science and technology and Society is a leading communicator of this science to in every type of building from houses to high-rise promoting its application. Another important government bodies and other non-technical tower blocks and the components that are used to element of our work is to promote and uphold audiences. manufacture every type of glazing. standards amongst food professionals.

Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Contact: Joseph Winters Technology (IMarEST) 76 Portland Place, London W1B 1NT Tel: 020 7470 4815 Contact: Bev Mackenzie Contact: Mr Peter Martindale, CEO and Secretary E-mail: [email protected] Institute of Marine Engineering, Science Website: www.iop.org and Technology (IMarEST), Aldgate House, The Institute of Measurement and Control 33 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1EN 87 Gower Street, London WC1E 6AF Tel: +44 (0) 20 73874949 The Institute of Physics is a leading scientific society. Tel: +44(0) 20 7382 2600 Fax: +44 (0) 20 73888431 We are a charitable organisation with a worldwide membership of more than 50,000, working Fax: +44(0) 20 7382 2667 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] together to advance physics education, research Website: www.instmc.org.uk and application. Website: www.imarest.org Reg Charity number: 269815 We engage with policymakers and the general Established in London in 1889, the IMarEST is a The Institute of Measurement and Control provides a public to develop awareness and understanding of leading international membership body and learned forum for personal contact amongst practiioners, the value of physics and, through IOP Publishing, society for marine professionals, with over 15,000 publishes learned papers and is a professional we are world leaders in professional scientific communications. members worldwide. The IMarEST has an extensive examining and qualifying organisation able to confer marine network of 50 international branches, the titles EurIng, CEng, IEng, EngTech; Companies and In September 2013, we launched our first affiliations with major marine societies around the Universities may apply to become Companions. fundraising campaign. Our campaign, Opportunity Physics, offers you the chance to support the work world, representation on the key marine technical Headquartered in London, the Institute has a strong committees and non-governmental status at the that we do. regional base with 15 UK, 1 Hong Kong and 1 Malaysia International Maritime Organization (IMO) as well Local Section, a bilateral agreement with the China Visit us at www.iop.org, follow us as other intergovernmental organisations. @physicsnews Instrument Society and other major international links.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 51 Institute of Institution Physics and of Civil Engineering The Institution of Chemical Engineers Engineers in Medicine Contact: Joanna Gonet, With over 38,000 members in 120 Public Affairs Manager, Contact: Rosemary Cook CBE (CEO) countries, IChemE is the global One Great George Street, Westminster, Fairmount House, 230 Tadcaster Road, London SW1P 3AA, UK York, YO24 1ES membership organisation for Tel: 020 7665 2123 Tel: 01904 610821 Fax: 01904 612279 chemical engineers. A not for profit E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] organisation, we serve the public Website: www.ice.org.uk Website: www.ipem.ac.uk interest by building and sustaining

IPEM is a registered, incorporated charity for the an active professional community Representing over 80,000 professional civil engineers around and promoting the development, the world, ICE actively contributes to the development of advancement, in the public interest, of physics and public policy at all levels of government in areas concerning engineering applied to medicine and biology. It understanding and application of infrastructure, engineering and our quality of life. accredits medical physicists, clinical engineers and chemical engineering worldwide. Established in 1818, ICE is recognised worldwide for its clinical technologists through its membership register, excellence as a centre of learning, as a qualifying body and organises training and CPD for them, and provides as a public voice for the profession. Our members design, build and maintain the infrastructure that keeps our country opportunities for the dissemination of knowledge Alana Collis, Technical policy officer running. through publications and scientific meetings. IPEM is +44 (0) 1788 534459 Under our Royal Charter, we have a duty to provide licensed by the Science Council to award CSci, RSci and [email protected] independent, expert advice on infrastructure issues for the RSciTech, and by the Engineering Council to award www.icheme.org benefit of the public and to serve wider society. We are seen CEng, IEng and EngTech. by Parliament and industry alike as the authoritative voice of Kuala Lumpur | London | Melbourne | Rugby | Singapore | Wellington infrastructure.

Institution of Institution of Engineering Mechanical Designers Engineers

Contact: Libby Brodhurst Contact: Richard Campbell Contact: Paul Davies 1 Birdcage Walk Courtleigh IET, Westbury Leigh London SW1H 9JJ Michael Faraday House, Tel: 020 7973 1293 Westbury Six Hills Way, Wiltshire BA13 3TA E-mail: [email protected] Stevenage, Website: www.imeche.org Tel: 01373 822801 SG1 2AY Fax: 01373 858085 Tel: +44(0) 1438 765687 E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.ied.org.uk Web: www.theiet.org The Institution provides politicians and civil servants with information, expertise and advice on a diverse The only professional membership body solely for those working in engineering and technological The IET is a world leading professional organisation, range of subjects, focusing on manufacturing, product design. Engineering Council and Chartered sharing and advancing knowledge to promote energy, environment, transport and education Environmentalist registration for suitably qualified science, engineering and technology across the policy. We regularly publish policy statements and members. Membership includes experts on a wide world. Dating back to 1871, the IET has 150,000 host political briefings and policy events to establish range of engineering and product design members in 127 countries with offices in Europe, disciplines, all of whom practise, manage or a working relationship between the engineering educate in design. North America, and Asia-Pacific. profession and parliament.

LGC

Queens Road, Teddington Middlesex, TW11 0LY Tel: +44 (0)20 8943 7000 Contact: Dr Elizabeth Rollinson, Contact: Katriona Methven, Director of Fax: +44 (0)20 8943 2767 Executive Secretary Scientific and Technical-Regulatory Affairs, E-mail: [email protected] The Linnean Society of London L’Oreal UK & Ireland Website: www.lgcgroup.com Burlington House, Piccadilly, London W1J 0BF 255 Hammersmith Road, London W6 8AZ LGC is an international science-based company and Tel: 020 7434 4479 ext 12 Tel: 0208 762 4489 market leader in the provision of analytical, forensic E-mail: [email protected] and diagnostic services and reference standards to Website: www.linnean.org E-mail: [email protected] customers in the public and private sectors. The Linnean Society of London is a professional Website: www.loreal.co.uk Under the Government Chemist function, LGC learned body which promotes natural history in all fulfils specific statutory duties as the referee analyst and provides advice for Government and the wider its branches, and was founded in 1788. The Society L’Oréal employs more than 3,500 scientists world- € analytical community on the implications of is particularly active in the areas of biodiversity, wide and dedicates over 600 million each year to analytical chemistry for matters of policy, standards conservation and sustainability, supporting its research and innovation in the field of healthy skin and regulation. LGC is also the UK’s designated mission through organising open scientific and hair. The company supports women in science National Measurement Institute for chemical and meetings and publishing peer-reviewed journals, as research through the L’Oréal UNESCO For Women biochemical analysis. well as undertaking educational initiatives. The in Science Programme and engages young people Society’s Fellows have a considerable range of With headquarters in Teddington, South West with science through the L’Oréal Young Scientist biological expertise that can be harnessed to inform London, LGC has 36 laboratories and centres across Centre at the Royal Institution. L’Oréal also and advise on scientific and public policy issues. Europe and at sites in China, Brazil, India, South collaborates with a vast number of institutions in Africa and the US. A Forum for Natural History the UK and globally.

52 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Marine Biological Met Office National Association Physical Laboratory Contact: Dr Matthew Frost Contact: John Harmer Marine Biological Association, The Met Office Contact: Fiona Auty Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB 127 Clerkenwell Road National Physical Laboratory Tel: 07848028388 London EC1R 5LP. Hampton Road, Teddington Fax: 01752 633102 Tel: 020 7204 7469 Middlesex TW11 0LW E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 020 8977 3222 Website: mba.ac.uk Website: www.metoffice.gov.uk Website: www.npl.co.uk/contact-us Since 1884 the Marine Biological Association has The Met Office doesn’t just forecast the weather on The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is the United been delivering its mission ‘to promote scientific television. Our forecasts and warnings protect UK Kingdom’s national measurement institute, an research into all aspects of life in the sea, including communities and infrastructure from severe internationally respected and independent centre of the environment on which it depends, and to weather and environmental hazards every day – excellence in research, development and disseminate to the public the knowledge gained.’ they save lives and money. Our Climate Programme knowledge transfer in measurement and materials The MBA represents its members in providing a delivers evidence to underpin Government policy. science. For more than a century, NPL has clear independent voice to government on behalf Our Mobile Meteorological Unit supports the developed and maintained the nation’s primary of the marine biological community. It also has an Armed Forces around the world. We build capacity measurement standards - the heart of an extensive research programme and a long history as overseas in support of international development. infrastructure designed to ensure accuracy, an expert provider of advice for the benefit of policy All of this built on world-class environmental consistency and innovation in physical makers and wider society. science. measurement.

Natural NEF: The Nesta History Innovation

The Science of Nature Museum Institute Contact: Simon Morrison Contact: Joe Baker Contact: Robyn Burriss Executive Director of Communications Head of External Affairs Bective House, 10 Bective Place, London, 1 Plough Place Natural History Museum SW15 2PZ London EC4A 1DE Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD Tel: 0208 786 3677 Tel: 020 7438 2608 Fax: 0208 271 3620 Tel: +44 (0)20 7942 5478 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Fax: 020 7438 2501 Fax: +44 (0)20 7942 5075 Website: www.thenef.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Nesta is the UK’s innovation foundation with a mission to Website: www.nhm.ac.uk The Innovation Institute aims to drive innovation and growth help people and organisations bring great ideas to life. in science, technology and engineering to achieve growth, We do this by providing investments and grants and prosperity and wellbeing in the UK. Our partners, clients and mobilising research, networks and skills. We maintain and develop the collections we care for and stakeholders include: Nesta doesn’t work alone. We rely on the strength of the use them to promote the discovery, understanding, I Businesses responsible use and enjoyment of the natural world. partnerships we form with other innovators, community I Education providers organisations, educators and investors too. We are part of the UK’s science base as a major science I Government bodies We are an independent charity and our work is enabled infrastructure which is used by our scientists and others from New Engineering Foundation, our charitable arm, focusses on by an endowment from the National Lottery. across the UK and the globe working together to enhance SciTech skills development. NEF work in vocational training knowledge on the diversity of the natural world. and further education is supported by a Panel drawn from key Nesta is a registered charity in England and Wales with a Our value to society is vested in our research responses to industries. company number 7706036 and charity number challenges facing the natural world today, in engaging our Our Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Exchange is a 1144091. Registered as a charity in Scotland number visitors in the science of nature, in inspiring and training the professional body and a “do tank”, led by the Innovation SC042833. Registered office: 1 Plough Place, London, next generation of scientists and in being a major cultural Council to support the role of innovation in society. EC4A 1DE. tourist destination. www.nesta.org.uk

Boughton Green Road, PHARMAQ Ltd Northampton, NN2 7AL Tel: 01604 735500 Contact: Tim Utton, Contact: Dr Benjamin P North Fax: 01604 716502 Deputy Director of Communications PHARMAQ Ltd E-mail: [email protected] University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD Unit 15 Sandleheath Industrial Estate Fordingbridge Website: www.northampton.ac.uk Tel: +44 (0) 115 846 8092 Hants SP6 1PA. Fax: +44 (0) 115 846 6787 Tel: 01425 656081 The University of Northampton is a Top 50 UK E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] University*. We are committed to science education Website: www.nottingham.ac.uk Website: www.pharmaq.no through initial teacher training, a STEM With 43,000 students and campuses in PHARMAQ is the only global pharmaceutical company Ambassador network which works within the with a primary focus on aquaculture. Our mission is to Nottingham, China and Malaysia, The University of community and teaching and research to doctoral provide environmentally sound, safe and efficacious health Nottingham is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly products to the global aquaculture industry through level. We are only UK University with Ashoka U global university.’ With more than 90 per cent of all targeted research and the commitment of dedicated ‘Changemaker Campus’ status recognising our people. We have a product portfolio that includes over 20 research of international quality according to the fish vaccines along with specialist feed additives, commitment to social innovation and most recent Research Assessment Exercise, the anaesthetics, antibiotics, sea lice treatments and biocide entrepreneurship. University is ranked in the World’s Top 75 disinfectants. Through our sister company, PHARMAQ Analytiq, we also offer a range of diagnostics services that universities by the QS World University Rankings. (*Guardian University Guide 2014) can be used to help safeguard fish welfare and improve productivity.

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 53 Prospect

Contact: Dr Philip Wright Contact: Sue Ferns, Chief Executive Director of Communications and Research, Hodgkin Huxley House New Prospect House Contact: Juniour Blake 30 Farringdon Lane 8 Leake St, London SE1 7NN London EC1R 3AW External Relations Manager Tel: 020 7902 6639 Fax: 020 7902 6637 Royal Academy of Engineering Tel: +44 (0) 20 7269 5710 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 3 Carlton House Terrace www.prospect.org.uk Website: www.physoc.org London SW1Y 5DG Prospect is an independent, thriving and forward- Tel: 020 7766 0600 Physiology is the science of how molecules, cells and looking trade union with 117,000 members across E-mail: [email protected] organs work in the body. Representing over 3000 the private and public sectors and a diverse range of Website: www.raeng.org.uk occupations. We represent scientists, technologists life scientists, The Physiological Society supports and other professions in the civil service, research As the UK’s national academy for engineering, we scientific research through its grants schemes, councils and private sector. bring together the most successful and talented conferences and its three open access journals. Prospect’s collective voice champions the interests of engineers for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering. We have four The Society also supports the teaching of physiology the engineering and scientific community to key strategic challenges: drive faster and more balanced in schools and universities, and works to promote an opinion-formers and policy makers. With negotiating rights with over 300 employers, we seek economic growth; foster better education and skills; understanding of physiology amongst policy-makers to secure a better life at work by putting members’ lead the profession; and promote engineering at the and the general public. pay, conditions and careers first. heart of society.

Royal Botanic The Royal Gardens, Kew Society Contact: Office of the Director of Science Contact: Dr Peter Cotgreave Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Contact: Dr Gail Cardew Director of Fellowship and Scientific Affairs Surrey, TW9 3AB Director of Science and Education The Royal Society, 6-9 Carlton House Terrace Tel: 020 8332 3121 The Royal Institution London SW1Y 5AG. Email: [email protected] 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS Tel: 020 7451 2502 Fax: 020 7930 2170 Website: www.kew.org Tel: 020 7409 2992 Fax: 020 7670 2920 Email: [email protected] RBG Kew is a centre of global scientific expertise in plant E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.royalsociety.org and fungal diversity, conservation, and sustainable use, Websites: www.rigb.org, housed in two world-class gardens. Kew is a non- departmental public body with exempt charitable status www.richannel.org and receives approximately half its funding from Twitter: ri_science The Royal Society is the UK academy of science government through Defra. The key strategic priorities of comprising 1400 outstanding individuals Kew’s science programme are to: The Royal Institution (Ri) has been at the forefront of • understand and conserve biodiversity public engagement with science for over 200 years representing the sciences, engineering and • accelerate discovery and global access to plant and and our purpose is to encourage people to think medicine. It has had a hand in some of the most fungal diversity information further about the wonders of science. We run public innovative and life-changing discoveries in scientific • map and prioritise species and habitats most at risk events and the famous CHRISTMAS LECTURES®,a • promote sustainable local use of plants and fungi history. Through its Fellowship and permanent staff, • collect and store seed from 25% of plant species national programme of Masterclasses for young through the Millennium Seed Bank Partnership people in mathematics, engineering and computer it seeks to ensure that its contribution to shaping • restore and repair habitats science, educational activities at the L’Oréal Young the future of science in the UK and beyond has a • inspire interest in plant and fungal science and Scientist Centre and policy discussions with science conservation students. And through the Ri Channel we share the deep and enduring impact. Kew’s mission is to inspire and deliver science-based plant stories behind cutting-edge science with people conservation worldwide, enhancing the quality of life. around the world.

Society for Applied

Microbiology Contact: Dariel Burdass Head of Communications Contact: Philip Wheat Society for General Microbiology Society for Applied Microbiology Contact: Dr Matthew Brown Bedford Heights, Brickhill Drive Charles Darwin House Head of Communications and Campaigns Bedford MK41 7PH 12 Roger Street, London Royal Society of Chemistry, Burlington House, Tel: 01234 326661 WC1N 2JU Piccadilly, London, W1J 0BA Fax: 01234 326678 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sgm.ac.uk Tel 020 7440 3306 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.sfam.org.uk Email [email protected] The Society for General Microbiology is the largest Website: www.rsc.org learned microbiological society in Europe with a SfAM is a UK organization, serving microbiologists worldwide membership based in universities, industry, The Royal Society of Chemistry is the world’s leading internationally. It works to advance, for the benefit of hospitals, research institutes and schools. The Society chemistry community, advancing excellence in the the public, the science of microbiology in its application publishes key academic journals, organises chemical sciences. With 48,000 members and a to the environment, human and animal health, international scientific conferences and provides an knowledge business that spans the globe, we are agriculture, and industry. With Wiley-Blackwell, SfAM international forum for communication among the UK’s professional body for chemical scientists; a publishes five internationally acclaimed journals. Value microbiologists. The Society promotes the not-for-profit organisation with 170 years of history for money and a modern, innovative and progressive understanding of microbiology to a diverse range of and an international vision of the future. We outlook are its core principles. A friendly society, SfAM stakeholders, including policy-makers, students, promote, support and celebrate chemistry. We work values integrity, honesty, and respect, and seeks to teachers, journalists and the wider public, through a to shape the future of the chemical sciences – for promote excellence and professionalism and to inspire comprehensive framework of communication activities the benefit of science and humanity. young microbiologists. and resources.

54 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Society SCI Society of of Biology Cosmetic Scientists Contact: Dr Stephen Benn Director of Parliamentary Affairs Contact: Reshna Radiven Society of Biology Contact: Gem Bektas, SCI Secretary General Charles Darwin House 14-15 Belgrave Square Society of Cosmetic Scientists 12 Roger Street London SW1X 8PS Suite 109 Christchurch House London WC1N 2JU 40 Upper George Street Tel: 020 7685 2550 Tel: 020 7598 1500 Luton Bedfordshire LU1 2RS E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Tel: 01582 726661 Website: www.soci.org Fax: 01582 405217 Website: www.societyofbiology.org E-mail: [email protected] The Society of Biology is a single unified voice, SCI is an inclusive, multi-disciplinary forum Website: www.scs.org.uk representing a diverse membership of individuals, connecting scientists and business people to Advancing the science of cosmetics is the primary learned societies and other organisations. We are advance the commercial application of chemistry objective of the SCS. Cosmetic science covers a wide committed to ensuring that we provide Government and related sciences for public benefit. SCI is open range of disciplines from organic and physical and other policy makers – including funders of chemistry to biology and photo-biology, dermatology, biological education and research – with a distinct point to all to join and share information, ideas, microbiology, physical sciences and psychology. of access to authoritative, independent, and evidence- innovations and research. Members can network Members are scientists and the SCS helps them based opinion, representative of the widest range of with specialists from sectors as diverse as food and progress their careers and the science of cosmetics bioscience disciplines. Our vision is of a world that ethically and responsibly. Services include publications, understands the true value of biology and how it can bio-renewables, water, waste and environment, educational courses and scientific meetings. contribute to improving life for all. energy, materials, manufacturing and health.

Society of STEMNET Universities Maritime Federation Industries for Animal Welfare Contact: John Murray Contact: Kirsten Bodley, Chief Executive Contact: Dr Robert Hubrecht Society of Maritime Industries 2nd Floor, Weston House Chief Executive and Scientific Director 28-29 Threadneedle Street, 246 High Holborn The Old School, Brewhouse Hill London EC2R 8AY London WC1V 7EX Wheathampstead, Herts. AL4 8AN. Tel: 020 7628 2555 Fax: 020 7638 4376 Tel: 020 3206 0450 Tel: 01582 831818. Fax: 01582 831414. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Website: www.maritimeindustries.org Website: www.stemnet.org.uk Website: www.ufaw.org.uk Registered in England Charity No: 207996 The Society of Maritime Industries is the voice of the STEMNET is an independent charity which enables young people to meet inspiring role models, understand real world UFAW, the international animal welfare science UK’s maritime engineering and business sector applications of STEM and experience practical activities that society, is an independent scientific and educational promoting and supporting companies which bring learning and career opportunities to life. We do this charity. It works to improve animal lives by: through three core programmes: design, build, refit and modernise ships, and supply • supporting animal welfare research • STEM Ambassadors - We run the UK network of STEM equipment and services for all types of commercial Ambassadors: over 27,000 inspiring volunteers • educating and raising awareness of welfare and naval ships, ports and terminals infrastructure, • STEM Clubs Programme - We provide free, expert advice issues in the UK and overseas and support to all schools which have set up or plan to offshore oil & gas, maritime security & safety, • producing the quarterly scientific journal Animal develop a STEM Club Welfare and other high-quality publications on marine science and technology and marine • Schools’ STEM Advisory Network (SSAN) - We deliver free animal care and welfare renewable energy. impartial advice to teachers and use our business links and partnerships to enhance the STEM curriculum in secondary • providing advice to government departments schools in the UK and other concerned bodies.

OFFICERS OF THE SCIENCE IN PARLIAMENT PARLIAMENTARY 3 Birdcage Walk London SW1H 9JJ & SCIENTIFIC sip T: 020 7222 7085 COMMITTEE F: 020 7222 7189 Contact: Chris Eady The Welding Institute, Granta Park, Great President: The Rt Hon Lord Jenkin of Roding www.scienceinparliament.org.uk Abington, Cambridge, CB21 6AL Chairman: Mr Andrew Miller MP Editor: Professor Alan Malcolm Tel: 01223 899614 Deputy Chairman: Mr Tom Blenkinsop MP Editorial Assistant: Annabel Lloyd Fax:01223 894219 Hon Treasurer: The Lord Willis of Knaresborough E-mail: [email protected] Hon Secretary: Mr Stephen Mosley MP The production of this issue has been supported Website: www.twi-global.com Vice-Presidents: Mr Paul Ridout by contributions from the Institute of Food Science The Welding Institute is the leading institution providing Mr Philip Greenish CBE and Technology, the University of Nottingham, the engineering solutions and knowledge transfer in all Mr John Slater Society of Biology, Brunel University, the New aspects of manufacturing, fabrication and whole-life integrity management. Dr Stephen Benn Engineering Foundation and those organisations Industrial membership provides access to innovative Mr Atti Emecz with entries in the Science Directory (pages 48 to Professor Ian Haines problem-solving from one of the world’s foremost 55). independent research and technology organisations. Dr Guy Hembury Non-Corporate services include membership and Professor Colin Seabrook registration, education, training and certification for internationally recognised professional development Advisory Panel: Dr Stuart Taylor and personnel competence assurance. Mr David Youdan TWI provides Members and stakeholders with Dr David Dent authoritative and impartial expert advice, knowhow and safety assurance through engineering, materials Secretariat: Professor Alan Malcolm and joining technologies. Mrs Annabel Lloyd

Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 55 Andrew Miller MP, Stephen Metcalfe MP and Dr Julian Huppert MP invite you to attend on behalf of the science and engineering community Parliamentary Links Day 2014 Science and Public Trust

Tuesday 24 June 2014 10:00 - 13:00 The Attlee Suite Portcullis House House of Commons London SW1A 0AA RSVP [email protected]

SCIENCE DIARY THE PARLIAMENTARY AND THE ROYAL INSTITUTION EPSRC SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE Details of future events can be found at Tuesday 10 June 19.00 Tel: 020 7222 7085 www.rigb.org Recognising Inspirational Scientists and [email protected] Booking is essential. For more information Engineers (RISE) www.scienceinparliament.org.uk and to book visit www.rigb.org Awards Evening Reception There is a charge for tickets. Members go House of Commons Terrace Tuesday 17 June 16.30 Contact: [email protected] Annual General Meeting free. ______followed at 17.30 by Did we Realise our Potential? ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY PARLIAMENTARY OFFICE OF Wednesday 25 June 18.00 SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Thursday 26 June 2014 Beveridge Lecture For details of events organised by POST visit Why are Chemicals good for you? Better Informed Policymaking http://www.parliament.uk/mps-lords-and- Discussion meeting part of a week-long Rt Hon Peter Riddell CBE, Institute for offices/offices/bicameral/post/post-events/ science event at Liverpool John Moores Government ______University For details visit: THE INSTITUTION OF http://www.statslife.org.uk/events/events- MECHANICAL ENGINEERS Tuesday 15 July 17.30 calendar/icalrepeat.detail/2014/06/25/71/- For details visit: www.imeche.org/events A Levels /2014-beveridge-lecture-peter-riddell-better- ______informed-policymaking THE ROYAL SOCIETY Contact: [email protected] THE LINNEAN SOCIETY OF ______LONDON Details of all events can be found at For details visit: www.linnean.org royalsociety.org/events ______More information on P&SC members’ events can be found at: www.sciencein

Published by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee, 3 Birdcage Walk, London SW1H 9JJ. parliament.org.uk/members-news Published four times a year. The 2014 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 to Mrs Annabel Lloyd, Tel 020 7222 7085 Copyright ©2014 by Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. All rights reserved. None of the articles in this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Typeset and printed by The Bridge Press.

56 Science in Parliament Vol 71 No 2 Whitsun 2014 Postgraduate Scholarships for WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

To women aspiring to become future leaders of their profession through postgraduate study, Brunel University offers: • 40 scholarships for UK/EU students covering both tuition fees for qualifying MSc courses and a living allowance of £15,000 • Industry-led mentoring and networking opportunities • A prize for the best dissertation

MSc courses qualifying for a scholarship:

• Advanced Electronic and • Automotive and Motorsport • Project and Infrastructure Electrical Engineering Engineering Management • Advanced Engineering Design • Building Services Engineering • Renewable Energy Engineering • Advanced Manufacturing • Building Services Engineering • Sustainable Electrical Power Systems with Sustainable Energy • Sustainable Energy Technologies • Advanced Mechanical • Computer Communication and Management Engineering Networks • Water Engineering • Aerospace Engineering • Embedded Systems • Wireless Communication Systems • Engineering Management

For further information and eligibility please visit: www.brunel.ac.uk/women-in-engineering or contact Petra Gratton at [email protected]

RELEVANT TO INDUSTRY AND SOCIETY

201273 250314 The Innovation Manifesto www.thenef.org.uk