Fiona Fox Chief Executive

Set up in 2002 after things went very wrong: - MMR & autism - GM crops - BSE

AIMS

Vision Policy decisions and public debate informed by accurate, evidence-based scientific information in the news media

Mission To make it easier for journalists to access the best science when stories hit the headlines and to ensure that more scientists engage with the media when stories hit the headlines

Values Reliable, fast, accurate, authoritative, independent, media savvy SMC Philosophy

" We’ll get the media to ‘DO’ science better when scientists ‘DO’ media better "

Engaging with the media

If you don’t speak to the media, then someone else will

The 2014 BIS Public Attitudes to Science survey found:

• 89% adults say traditional media is one of their two most important sources of information about science: i.e. newspapers, TV, radio and news websites

• Only 6% adults say the same of social media, but this rises to 21% for 16-24 year olds

The public need to hear from the experts in mainstream media

Science Media Centres around the world: Current Funders March 2014

AbbVie European College of Neuropsychopharmacology National Nuclear Laboratory Airwave Solutions Food and Drink Federation Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Alzheimer's Research UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Gatsby Charitable Foundation Novartis UK Association of Medical Research Charities GE Healthcare Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) (AMRC) GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)Human Fertilisation & Nuclear Industry Association Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Embryology Authority (HFEA) Oxitec (ABPI) Human Tissue Authority (HTA) PR Works AstraZeneca Imperial College Proctor & Gamble BASF Institute of Mental Health Research Councils UK (RCUK) Bayer Rolls-Royce Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine Royal Academy of Engineering Council (BBSRC) Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) Royal Pharmaceutical Society BP International Ltd Institution of Civil Engineers Royal Society British Heart Foundation Institution of Engineering and Technology (The Sanofi British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) IET) Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) British Pharmacological Society Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) Scottish Mental Health Research Network British Psychological Society John Wiley & Sons Smith & Nephew British Retail Consortium King's College London Society for Applied Microbiology (SfAM) Cancer Research UK (CRUK) Life Technologies Society for General Microbiology (SGM) L'Oreal Society for Radiological Protection Chartered Institution of Building Services Maudsley Charity Society of Biology Engineers Medical Research Council (MRC) Springer science+business media Chemical Industries Association Mental Health Foundation Syngenta Chilled Food Association Mental Health Research Network Technology Strategy Board Coca-Cola Mental Health Research Network Cymru UK Cleaning Products Industry Association Colgate-Palmolive Merck Sharp & Dohme (MSD) Ltd UK Energy Research Centre CropLife International Met Office University College London Dept for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) Mobile Manufacturers Forum University of Bristol Diamond Light Source Mobile Operators Association University of Cambridge DMG Media, including Daily Mail, The Mail on MQ: Transforming Mental Health University of East Anglia Sunday, Metro and Mail Online National Grid University of Oxford Elsevier National Institute for Health and Clinical Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Excellence (NICE) Council (EPSRC) National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Main Strategies

Rapid Reactions - responding to breaking stories

Round-ups - putting research into context

Media Briefings - scientists set the agenda Rapid Reactions responding to breaking stories March 2011 Earthquake and tsunami in Japan Rapid Reaction

Science Media Centre Rapid Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 11 March 2011 Experts comment on Japan earthquake and tsunami Dame Sue Ion, nuclear engineer and Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Dr Dan Faulkner, structural geologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences

Prof Andreas Rietbrock, seismologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences

Dr Ken McCaffrey, Reader in the Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University

Paul Haigh, a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and an independent nuclear consultant

Dr Alex Densmore, Department of Geography and Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience, Durham University

Prof Dave Tappin, Marine geologist and expert in tsunamis, British Geological Survey

Dr Roger Musson, Head of Seismic Hazard, British Geological Survey

Dr. Clark H. Fenton, Senior Lecturer in Engineering Geology & Seismic Hazards,

Dr Jeff Peakall, Reader in Sedimentology at the University of Leeds, said:

Prof. Dr. Polat Gülkan, President of the IAEE (International Association for Earthquake Engineering)

John S Whalley, Geoscience Programme Manager, University of Portsmouth

Science Media Centre Rapid Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 11 March 2011 Experts comment on Japan earthquake and tsunami Prof. Rolf Aalto, a geographer at the University of Exeter, has studied tsunamis and works as a geochronologist with fallout radionuclides on a weekly basis. "The geological evidence in Japan (and elsewhere around the Pacific) indicates a history of giant tsunamis over the past several thousand years. Unfortunately, an engineering and political decision was made to design protection and plan cities around a hypothesized 5m tsunami - about the size of those experienced in Japan over the last century. However, it was not a surprise to geologists that a tsunami two to three times larger appeared, following a massive local earthquake. Although the scale of both the earthquake and tsunami were exceptional, they were both well within the realm of what can occur within that tectonic setting.

Dr Dan Faulkner, structural geologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, said: “The tectonic setting is quite complex in that part of the world, but in my understanding, there is part of the north American plate that sits in between the Pacific plate to the east and the Eurasian plate to the west.”

Prof Andreas Rietbrock, seismologist from the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, said: “It is the North American plate, which in this area is divided up into some small micro plates.”

Dr Ken McCaffrey, Reader in the Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University, said: “It is complicated, but it is what we call a microplate – the Ohkotsk microplate. It is a small fragment of the North American plate that is trapped between the main North American plate and the Eurasian plate.”

Paul Haigh, a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) and an independent nuclear consultant said: "All Japanese reactors are designed to withstand substantial earthquakes since they are situated in a known earthquake zone. Instrumentation is provided for the early detection of tremors which would lead to a controlled shutdown of the reactor. These systems appear to have successfully shut down the affected reactors. Problems at Onagawa are attributed to the failure of mechanical/electrical systems used to provide cooling water.

Science Media Centre Ongoing Rapid Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 16 March 2011

Japan earthquake and nuclear emergency

Sir John Beddington, Chief Scientific Officer for the UK government

Prof Malcolm Joyce, Professor of Nuclear Engineering at Lancaster University

Tony Roulstone, Course Director, MPhil in Nuclear Energy, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

Dr. Philippe Blondel, Deputy Director, Centre for Space, Atmospheric & Oceanic Science, University of Bath

Prof Steve Jones, independent nuclear and environmental consultant

Dr Richard Wakeford, Dalton Nuclear Institute and Visiting Professor of Epidemiology, University of Manchester

Prof Paddy Regan, Professor of Nuclear Physics at the University of

Dr Jim Smith, Reader in Environmental Physics at the University of Portsmouth

Dr Mike Thorne, independent consultant in radiological and environmental science

Prof Malcolm Sperrin, Director Of Medical Physics And Clinical Engineering, Royal Berkshire Hospital

Tony Ennis, Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers and independent environmental safety consultant

Science Media Centre Ongoing Rapid Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 16 March 2011

Japan earthquake and nuclear emergency

Prof Richard Wakeford, Dalton Nuclear Institute, University of Manchester, said: “The reactor cores were still hot when the reactor shut down (essentially when the chain reaction stops), as time goes on that radioactive decay heat will get less and the problem will get less. In this case, the diesel generators that ran the cooling systems were flooded by the tsunami, so sea water is now being used to cool the core. If the fuel is uncovered by cooling water it could become so hot it begins to melt – if all the fuel is uncovered you could get a large scale meltdown. So Japanese authorities are doing all they can at the moment to keep the core cooled with seawater.

Prof Robin Grimes, Professor of Materials Physics, Imperial, said: “One important thing to remember is that all nuclear fuel that has been in a reactor for some time will have generated some plutonium, but that this is significantly less radioactive than the fission products. Consequently this has much less radiological significance.”

Professor Malcolm Sperrin, Director Of Medical Physics And Clinical Engineering, Royal Berkshire Hospital, said: “There is a lot we don’t know at the moment but this looks very serious. However, there are a number of things that we should remember. First of all the Western nuclear industry is very geared up for dealing with accidents and incidents. There are likely to be detailed procedures in place – Japan will have planned, prepared and practised for something like this.”

Prof. Andrew Sherry, Director, Dalton Nuclear Institute, The University of Manchester “It is important to understand the details of what has happened before judging the severity of the Fukushima nuclear incident at resulting from the earthquake. The 40 year old BWR plant includes a multi-barrier approach to containment of nuclear materials that includes fuel cladding, reactor pressure vessel, containment vessel and the containment building. At this stage is not yet clear the cause of this morning's explosion, nor the level of resulting damage.”

Science Media Centre Fact Sheet Radiation exposure

Two types of radiation: -Ionizing - of sufficiently high energy to ionize atoms (i.e. to knock out an , leaving the atom with a positive charge) -may be produced by nuclear reactors, also naturally occurring; -can damage living tissue; -includes alpha particles, beta radiation, X-rays and gamma rays;

-Non-ionizing - does not have sufficient energy to ionize atoms -- effects on the body not well understood; -Includes electromagnetic radiation, visible light, , microwaves, radio waves

Sources of ionizing radiation exposure in the environment: -Natural sources - cosmic rays, sunlight, low levels in food, water and the environment -Artificial sources - x-rays, radiological medicine, CT scans, low level exposure from nuclear power stations, air travel

Equivalent dose (or dose equivalent) -This is a measure of ionizing radiation exposure that combines amount of radiation absorbed by human tissue with the medical effects of that type of radiation - allows comparison of exposure levels of different types of radiation; -Measured in sieverts (Sv) -One sievert is 1,000 millisieverts (mSv). One millisievert is 1,000 microsieverts.

Exposure levels and their effects -2mSv per year - typical background exposure from the environment -2.4 mSv per year - average dose to US nuclear industry workers -9 mSv per year - exposure to airline crew flying between New York and Tokyo -20 mSv per year - current limit (averaged) for nuclear industry employees and uranium miners -100mSv per year - lowest level at which any increase in cancer risk is clearly evident -1000mSv (1 sievert) - cumulative - estimated to cause a fatal cancer many years later in 5 out of every 100 people exposed to it -1,000mSv (1 sievert) - single dose - temporary radiation sickness - not fatal -5,000mSv (5 sieverts) - single dose - fatal within a month to half of those who receive it -10,000mSv (10 sieverts) - single dose - fatal within weeks.

Science Media Centre Fact Sheet Nuclear reactors

Key components of a nuclear reactor

-Fuel - usually uranium-based (uranium oxide UO2 is the most common), in the form of pellets in tubes that form fuel rods, which are then arranged in the reactor core -Moderator - a material in the core which slows down the neutrons released from fission so that they cause more fission. Usually water, but may be heavy water or graphite. -Control rods - made from neutron-absorbing material which absorbs the neutrons produced by nuclear fission. Inserted into or withdrawn from the core as necessary to control or halt the reaction -Coolant - a liquid or gas that circulates through the core to transfer heat from it -Steam generator - part of the coolant loop that generates steam to power the turbine -Turbine - driven by steam to produce electricity -Containment - structure around the core to protect it from the external environment and prevent radioactive material from getting out

Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) -Most common type - present in US, France, Japan, Russia, China

-Fuel is enriched uranium oxide (UO2) - usually as pellets arranged in tubes to form fuel rods -A type of light water reactor, in which water is used as the coolant, circulating through the core to transfer heat away. The primary cooling circuit flows through the core and transfers heat via a steam generator to a second circuit in which the turbine is located. -Water also acts as the moderator, which slows down the reaction.

Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) (Fukushima reactor type) -Second most common reactor type - present in US, Japan, Sweden - the Fukushima plant is of this type -Fuel is enriched uranium oxide -Also a type of light water reactor, with water as the coolant and the moderator -Different from a PWR in that there is only one cooling circuit, which runs to the generator and back to the reactor in one loop -The coolant system is currently out of action in the Fukushima plant, as are the diesel generators that provided backup - engineers are working to cool the plant and get this system back up and running. Science Media Centre Briefing

What? Japan earthquake and nuclear power

When? TOMORROW, Tuesday 15th March 2011, 10:30am

Where? The Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS

Six top experts respond to your questions about the earthquake in Japan and subsequent developments, particularly with regard to the damaged nuclear reactors. Their expertise covers the seismology of the quake and the resulting tsunami, the engineering of nuclear power plants, radiation safety and related health concerns.

Speakers include:

Dr David Rothery, Volcano Dynamics Group, Open University Prof Laurence Williams FREng, Professor of Nuclear Safety, John Tyndall Institute, University of Central Lancashire Prof Paddy Regan, Professor of Nuclear Physics at the University of Surrey Prof Richard Wakeford, Dalton Nuclear Institute and Visiting Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Manchester Prof Malcolm Sperrin, Director Of Medical Physics And Clinical Engineering, Royal Berkshire Hospital Prof Francois Perchet, Programme Coordinator, World Nuclear University Attendees

Andrew Czyzewski The Engineer David Derbyshire Mail Sonia Gallego Al-Jazeera + crew Mike Swain Mirror David Shukman BBC Mark Blunden Evening Standard Roger Harrabin BBC Judith Burns BBC + crew John Ingham Express Victoria Bird + crew Hannah Devlin Times Mike Hanlon Mail Richard Alleyne Telegraph Rob Dukes ITN + crew Emily Beament PA Gerard Wynn Reuters Richard Black BBC Jess Brammar ITN Andrew Jack FT Laurence McGinty ITN Science Media Centre Expert Encounter

Who? Professor Andrew Sherry, Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute

When? 11.00am Thursday 17th March 2011

Where? The Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS

Professor Andrew Sherry is the Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute and Associate Director of the Materials Performance Centre at The University of Manchester. He obtained his PhD in the Materials Science Department at The University of Manchester on the high temperature fracture of nickel-based superalloy single crystals. He joined the Atomic Energy Authority in 1987, working in the Engineering Metallurgy Group at Risley. He continued to work at Risley through the formation of AEA Technology and Serco Assurance where he led research in materials ageing, structural integrity. He joined The University of Manchester in 2004, as Director of the Materials Performance Centre and was appointed Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute in 2009.

Andrew has wide experience of assessing and predicting the performance of materials used within the nuclear industry, working in the field of structural integrity alongside experts at EDF Energy, UK National Nuclear Laboratory, Rolls-Royce, HSE, and Serco Techfor over 20 years. He is active in research, sits on a number of expert technical panels and provides advice on structural and materials issues to industry and government within the UK, Europe and the USA. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining.

Topics he is happy to discuss include: broad reactor engineering issues including sources of radioactive release and severe accidents. Materials. New reactor designs. The need for nuclear within the UK and global energy mix. Attendees Mike Swain Mirror David Derbyshire Daily Mail Arj Singh PA TV Steve Conner Independent Kate Kelland Reuters Sylvia Pfeifer FT Robin Mckie Observer Sofia Ismail Horizon Clive Cookson FT Richard Alleyne Telegraph Emily Beaument PA Hannah Devlin The Times Science Media Centre Background Briefing

What? Japan: radiation and the environment

When? 10.30am Tuesday 30th March 2011

Where? The Science Media Centre, 19 Albemarle Street, W1S 4BS

Come to the SMC tomorrow morning for an update on the nuclear situation in Japan from some of the leading UK experts who have been following events and analysing the available information over the last fortnight.

We will be focusing on environmental persistence of radiation, including its effects on food and farming in the region. We also have panellists who can discuss the health implications for workers and the public; and the likely explanations for the radioactivity from within the nuclear plant itself.

Speakers include:

Prof Steve Jones, Independent nuclear and environmental consultant Dr Jim Smith, Reader in Environmental Physics at the University of Portsmouth Prof Andrew Sherry, Director of the Dalton Nuclear Institute and Associate Director of the Materials Performance Centre at the University of Manchester Prof Richard Wakeford, Visiting Professor in Epidemiology at the University of Manchester Attendees Jan Piotrowski The Economist Richard Alleyne Telegraph Roger Harrbain BBC radio David Derbyshire Daily Mail Ian Sample The Guardian Kate Kelland Reuters Mike Swin Daily Mirror Tom Feilden BBC Hannah Devlin The Times Steve Connor The Independent Tom Clarke C4 News January-February 2013 Horsemeat scandal Rapid Reaction

Science Media Centre Rapid Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Wednesday 16 January

Expert reaction to horse meat found in burgers

Dr Paul Wigley, Reader in Foodborne Zoonoses sat the University of Liverpool “The consumption of horse meat is not common in the UK for cultural and aesthetic reasons. There is nothing inherently unhealthy about eating horse meat and it is commonly eaten in other parts of Europe and around the world.

“There are only a small number of abattoirs in the UK producing horse meat for human consumption but there are more in Europe. These abattoirs are subject to the same standards and legal requirements as abattoirs producing any other type of meat for human consumption. Horses need to be accompanied by a 'passport' that identifies the animal and confirms that it is intended for human consumption. The horses, as with other species, are inspected by the Official Veterinarian (OV) at the abattoir before they are killed. Each carcass is also inspected after slaughter to ensure that it is fit for human consumption.”

Catherine Collins, Principal Dietitian at St George's Hospital NHS Trust “Few of us are directly involved in food production, so provenance is extremely important in being able to trust food producers who supply our foods. Horsemeat itself is as nutritious as other red meats, but the fact that it, and pork extracts, appeared in a beef product without notice is of concern - particularly for those following Kosher or Halal diets. Animal husbandry is another key issue for meat eaters, and of course there is no way to know the health or welfare of the animals included in these products. More reaction from:

Dr Emma Roe, Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Southampton

Dr David Jukes, food law expert from the University of Reading

Michael Walker, Science and Food Law Consultant at LGC

Dr. Mark Tallon, Chair of the Food Law group at the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST)

Prof Tim Lang, Professor of Food Policy at City University London

Prof Chris Elliott, Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast

Gaynor Bussell, Dietitian and member of the British Dietetic Association The Times The Independent Reuters Science Media Centre Rapid Reaction IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday 13 February 2013

Expert reaction to continuing horsemeat story

Prof Chris Elliott, Director of the Institute for Global Food Security at Queen's University Belfast

Dr Emma Roe, Lecturer in Human Geography, University of Southampton

Nigel Horrox, Editor of specialist publication International Meat Topics

Science Media Centre Rapid Reaction IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Thursday 14 February 2013

Expert reaction to the continuing horsemeat story and bute (phenylbutazone)

British Veterinary Association

Professor Peter Lees, Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Pharmacology, Royal Veterinary College

Professor Tim Morris, veterinary surgeon and Vice Chair of the British Horse Industry Confederation

Independent Telegraph BBC News

"It has been well recognised over the last year that not all these passport-issuing bodies are operating to the same standard," said Dr Tim Morris, vice chair of the British Horse Industry Confederation. "If the passport system is not robust, that makes it easy to provide a duplicate passport and opens up the possibility of fraud." Message:

Public and policy makers get access to the best science in the midst of a media frenzy

= A better informed debate Estelle Morris, former Education Minister:

“I learned more about radiation from seeing scientists on Sky News on the hour every hour, than I ever learned in school” Round-ups putting research into context - we receive press releases from the top 10-15 journals - identify stories that can be sensationalised or mis-reported - seek 3rd party experts to provide context Wednesday 20th August 2014 Scientists comment on the study investigating two antibiotics and risk of cardiac deaths Roundup

Science Media Centre Roundup UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL 23.30 UK time on Tuesday 19 August 2014

Expert reaction to study investigating two antibiotics and risk of cardiac deaths as published in British Medical Journal

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director, British Heart Foundation, said:

“All medications can come with side effects, which is why your doctor will always weigh up the risks before prescribing drugs to patients.

“Health professionals already know to exercise caution when prescribing clarithromycin in patients who have, or may be pre-disposed to Long QT syndrome – a condition that can cause sudden cardiac death. This study shows that they should continue to follow that advice.

“More research is now needed to understand the effect of this antibiotic on the wider population. The bottom line is no one should be taking antibiotics unless they absolutely have to and doctors should give careful consideration before prescribing them. If you are taking clarithromycin at the moment, you should not stop without discussing this further with your GP.”

Prof Kevin McConway, Professor of Applied Statistics, The Open University, said: “It’s important to realise that the researchers are not calling for clinicians to stop prescribing clarithromycin, but instead for more data from different populations of patients, to see whether or not their finding can be confirmed. They have good reasons for that cautious conclusion…

Dr R Andrew Seaton, Consultant in Infectious Diseases and General Medicine, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, said: “This paper looks at two antibiotics that, as well as killing bacteria, are known to prolong the electrical activity of the heart muscle during each beat (the QT interval)…

Dr Tim Chico, Reader in Cardiovascular Medicine and consultant cardiologist, University of Sheffield, said: “It would be a mistake to conclude that this study proves clarithromycin increases the risk of cardiac death. A slightly higher number of patients died while or soon after taking clarithromycin compared with penicillin but this may have been due to other differences between these patients, who the study authors acknowledge were different in several important ways…

Dr Kieran Hand (PhD), Consultant Pharmacist Anti-Infectives, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, and clinical-academic fellow, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southampton:

Clinicians in the UK will not be surprised by these findings as cardiac complications are a recognised risk with this group of antibiotics (macrolides). All antibiotics are associated with rare serious side effects and there is not necessarily a safe alternative to macrolides…

Telegraph Times Daily Mail Independent Press Association AFP 19 September 2012 Expert reaction to GM maize and tumours in rats Rapid Reaction

Science Media Centre Rapid-Reaction FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Expert reaction to GM maize causing tumours in rats as published in Food and Chemical Toxicology Prof David Spiegelhalter, Winton Professor of the Public Understanding Of Risk, University of Cambridge Prof Tom Sanders, Head of the Nutritional Sciences Research Division, King’s College London

Prof Mark Tester, Research Professor, Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, University of Adelaide

Prof Alan Boobis, Professor of Biochemical Pharmacology, Imperial College London

Prof Anthony Trewavas, Professor of Cell Biology,

Prof Ottoline Leyser, Associate Director of the Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge

Prof Maurice Moloney, Institute Director and Chief Executive , Rothamsted Research

Dr Wendy Harwood, senior scientist, John Innes Centre BBC Online Reuters New York Times Fox News The Washington Post TheAge.com.au Le Soliel (Canada)

La Presse (Canada) On the website of the British group Science Media Centre, several biochemists have deplored the sample size... Some have even compared the statistical approach used to a "fishing expedition." The Mail Online Everyone was sitting in the The multiple briefing reading out the caveats about comments you've been sending the science over and asking them to defend pushed it down themselves! the agenda Thanks to you and the team for the fantastically useful Well done, a highly comments on the GM story impressive action to head [Are you going with yesterday – enabled me to off what would inevitably the story?] Only resist pressure from the back have been a significant online and radio - bench on an issue well scare story. It demonstrates quite a press turnout outside my comfort zone. A SMC's value to society in at briefing so needs perfect example of the value addition to the to be marked, your of the SMC… appreciation of the press. roundup (sorry) very useful

I am proud of our plant scientists today - and the live critiquing by journalists in the middle of someone else's Good work.. I made briefing goes down in history - it’s like we were able to a point of reading all insert scientists in the room (gives new meaning to plant the SMC emails. scientists) - I will give talks about this episode for years to Cracking stuff come Media Briefings scientists set the agenda Media Briefings Background briefings News briefings Expert encounters Emergency briefings 27 September 2013 IPCC announcement of AR5 News Briefing & Roundup

Science Media Centre screening

What? The IPCC AR5 WGI Stockholm press conference

When? 9.00am Friday 27 September 2013

Where? The Wellcome Trust, 215 Euston Road, NW1 2BE

You are invited to the SMC to watch the IPCC press conference live from Stockholm. We will be streaming the webcast from 9am to 11am.

Prof John Shepherd, Professorial Research Fellow, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton Prof William Collins, University of Reading Prof Chris Rapley, Professor of Climate Science at University College London Prof Stephen Belcher, Head of the Met Office Hadley Centre Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Head of Open Oceans at the British Antarctic Survey Prof Ted Shepherd, Grantham Professor of Climate Science, University of Reading Dr Jason Lowe, Head of Knowledge Integration and Mitigation Advice at the Met Office Hadley Centre Dr Chris Brierley, Co-Director of the UCL Environment Institute and Lecturer in Climate Modelling Prof Tim Palmer, Head of the Probability Forecast Division, European Centre for Medium Range Forecasts Prof Joanna Haigh, Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London Prof Jonathan Bamber, Director of Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol Ed Hawkins, University of Reading Prof David Mackay, University of Cambridge Briefing attendees

Tom Bawden Independent Fiona MacRae Daily Mail Tom Moore Sky Sarah Hajibaghan Sky Richard Gray Telegraph Tom Heap BBC Cathy Jones Channel 5 Martin Poyntz-Roberts BBC Radio 4 Clive Cookson FT Ben Webster Times Jim Connelly 5 Live Marnie Chesterton BBC Inside Science Damian Carrington Guardian Chris Gibson ITN Anjana Ahuja Freelance Lawrence McGinty ITV Emily Beament Associated Press Charlotte Pamment PA TV Nick Scott-Plummer Channel 4 Science Media Centre Round-up IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY 27 September Expert reaction to IPCC AR5

Prof Tim Lenton, Chair in Climate Change at the University of Exeter, said: “What concerns me most in this new report is the growing evidence that frozen parts of the climate system are responding extremely sensitively to global warming – the retreat of Arctic summer sea-ice is unprecedented and the rate of ice loss from both the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has increased 5-fold in just the last two decades.”

Prof David Lee, Professor of Atmospheric Science at Manchester Metropolitan University and Lead Author on Chapter 8 (Anthropogenic and Natural Radiative Forcing) said: “This report represents a major milestone in our increased and better understanding of the science of the causes of climate change. The report highlights that the warming is ‘unequivocal’, and observations show how the atmosphere and oceans have warmed, snow and ice extent have decreased, and sea level has risen.

“Of course the big question is: have the observed increased concentrations of greenhouse gases, including CO2, caused the observed changes? We have shown that global mean surface temperatures have increased by 0.85 degrees C over the period 1880 – 2012, which is more than the last assessment report in 2007. Our increased scientific understanding of the causes has led us to conclude that the human influence on the climate system is clear, and that it is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th Century…”

Further scientist comments from…

Dr Kate Willett, Senior Scientist (Climate Monitoring and Attribution group), Met Office Hadley Centre Prof Matthew Collins, Joint Met Office Chair in Climate Change at the University of Exeter Prof Corinne Le Quéré, Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Dr Tim Osborn, Reader in Climate Change at UEA’s School of Environmental Sciences Dr Tim Johns, Met Office Hadley Centre Prof Bob Watson, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and the University of East Anglia Prof Kevin Anderson, Deputy Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Dr Alice Bows-Larkin, Reader in Energy and Climate Change, Tyndall Centre at Manchester University Prof Jim Hall, Chair in Climate and Environmental Risks, Director of Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute, Prof Richard Dawson, Chair of Earth System Engineering, Newcastle University and the Tyndall Centre Prof Andy Jordan, Chair in Environmental Sciences, Tyndall Centre and the University of East Anglia Dr Charlie Wilson, Lecturer in Energy and Climate Change, Tyndall Centre and the University of East Anglia Prof Keith Shine, Professor of Physical Meteorology at the University of Reading Dr Chris Huntingford, Climate Modeller at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH) Dr Colin Summerhayes, Scott Polar Research Institute and reviewer of Chapter 5 (Palaeoclimates) Prof David MacKay FRS, Chief Scientific Advisor to the Department of Energy and Climate Change Dr Emily Shuckburgh, British Antarctic Survey Prof Joanna Haigh, Professor of Atmospheric Physics at Imperial College London Prof Peter Wadhams, Professor of Ocean Physics at the University of Cambridge Prof Jonathan Bamber, Director of the Bristol Glaciology Centre at the University of Bristol Prof Mike Hulme, Professor of Climate and Culture at King’s College London Prof Ted Shepherd, Grantham Professor of Climate Science, University of Prof Mark Maslin, University College London Prof Andrew Shepherd, Professor of Earth Observation at the University of Leeds Prof Sir Brian Hoskins, Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College London Prof Piers Forster, Professor of Climate Change at the University of Leeds Prof Rowan Sutton, Lead Author on Chapter 11 (Near-term Climate Change) Dr Ed Hawkins of the University of Reading Prof Bill Collins of the University of Reading Dr Richard Allan of the University of Reading Dr Dave Reay, Reader in Carbon Management at the University of Edinburgh Sky News Independent Guardian Mail BBC 23 September 2014 Ebola – what next? Background Briefing Science Media Centre background briefing UNDER EMBARGO UNTIL END OF BRIEFING (11:00 UK time on Tuesday 23 September 2014)

What? Ebola – what next?

When? 10:00am, Tuesday 23 September

Where? 5th floor, , 183 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE

Speakers will include:

Dr , Director, Wellcome Trust

Prof Peter Piot, Director and Professor of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Prof Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer & Chief Scientific Adviser, Department of Health (DH)

Prof David Heymann, Professor of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and Chairman, Public Health (PHE)

Prof Chris Whitty, Chief Scientific Adviser and Director of Research and Evidence, Department for International Development (DFID)

Dr Ben Neuman, Lecturer in Virology, University of Reading

Tom Feilden BBC R4 Today Sarah Bosely Guardian Fiona MacRae Mail Nick McDermott Sun Briefing attendees Kat Lay Times John von Radowitz PA Branwen Jeffreys BBC Adam Brimelow BBC Simon Co BBC Smith Mundasad BBC Helen Briggs BBC John Murphy BBC James Pheby AFP Kate Gillan AFP (camera) Ann Gulland BMJ Rebecca Smith Telegraph Elizabeth Blunt Irin News Anjana Ahuja FT Maki Kitamura Bloomberg Kate Kelland Reuters Maria Cheng AP Thomas Moore Sky Jonathan Miller Sky (camera) Mike Inglis Sky (camera)

693 Media Enquiries taken in 2013 2700 Experts on our database 1400 Press officers on our database 450 Journalists on mailing lists Science in a Briefing Notes on most soundbite leaflets contentious subjects for scientists for non science producers and presenters Training for scientists, journalists and science press officers Before the Headlines statistical analysis of new studies Leaflets for scientists

Peer Review Animal Research Risk Uncertainty Top Tips

020 7611 8300 [email protected] www.sciencemediacentre.org