So only one day in the new office and my team have sent me away already. But it is with a mission. I am waiting for my flight to Edinburgh as I write. Today we are taking part in the Science in Parliament event there. It couldn't be more timely. On Thursday the Scottish Government … Continue reading Scotland's day of reckoning
Author: simondenegri
Science in the Big Society
A quick post. I meant to mention, and link to, this interesting post and discussion thread on Alice Bell's excellent blog on Wednesday. It was prompted by a Royal Society blog by Jack Stilgoe. In a nutshell it is a discussion of the relevance of the Big Society to science. I notice that the British … Continue reading Science in the Big Society
'A nation of General Practitioners' and other bits of philosophising
The news earlier this week that the National Institute of Clinicial and Health Excellence (NICE) is to lose its powers for deciding which drugs should be made available on the NHS (to be replaced by a new system based around GP commissioning) brought an alternative version of Adam Smith's remarks about shopkeepers to mind: "To found a … Continue reading 'A nation of General Practitioners' and other bits of philosophising
Willetts on the Haldane Principle
I understand that the Science Minister, David Willetts, has today made a written ministerial statement on the Haldane Principles. In a short statement he says that the Coalition Government strongly supports the principles but notes the uncertaintly over its interpretation and announces that: 'I intend to clarify this in a statement which will be released … Continue reading Willetts on the Haldane Principle
David King on science funding
Former Government chief scientific adviser, David King, writes eloquently on the Nature blog today about his concerns over the cuts in science funding announced last week.
Capability Dave announces cluster therapy for research
Monday saw the Science Mnister, David Willetts, and Health Minister, Earl Howe, announce what are being called therapeutic capability clusters (research consortia) at the ABPI/BIA conference in London. PharmaLetter has an article on it and what I think is the formal news release can be found on Pharma Live. Don't be fooled by the PR … Continue reading Capability Dave announces cluster therapy for research
Guest Blog: Dame Bridget Ogilvie on the spending review
A change is as good as a rest they say. So I am delighted that our former Chair (as well as former Director of the Wellcome Trust), Dame Bridget Ogilvie, took up my invitation to give us her perspective on the spending review and its implications. Its closing sentiments about the development of young scientists … Continue reading Guest Blog: Dame Bridget Ogilvie on the spending review
Willetts on the science settlement
An extract from today's speech by the Science Minister, David Willetts, at the HEFCE conference in London. Medical research charities will be pleased with the recognition of their role in delivering research that he mentions several times: The other main news from the Chancellor yesterday concerned funding for science and research. It is good news … Continue reading Willetts on the science settlement
CSR and science funding: that morning after feeling
So understandably the debate goes on whether we should be drinking champagne or lucozade this morning after yesterday's announcement. But I rather liked this sobre assessment by Jenny Rohn, originator of the Science is Vital campaign which has appeared in The Guardian. The New Scientist has also published a detailed analysis penned by Imran Khan … Continue reading CSR and science funding: that morning after feeling
The good, the not so good and the uncertain
I can only think of turning the last few hours of trying to absorb today's announcements and figures in the following way: The good Surely even the harshest critic would have to acknowledge that, comparatively speaking, science fared well in today's spending review. It was certainly spared the savage cuts that we are seeing elsewhere … Continue reading The good, the not so good and the uncertain
CSR – AMRC reaction on science settlement
UPDATE The full spending review document can be seen here. Note the very explicit reference and commitment to the Medical Research Council (MRC) including expenditure growth in real terms (p52). We have just had a message through from NIHR which repeats the spending review document messages and is heavy on language about pulling through the … Continue reading CSR – AMRC reaction on science settlement
CSR press reports: science spending to be 'frozen'
Well, we won't have too long to wait to know whether this is true but the Guardian is reporting this evening that science spending is to be frozen in tomorrow's CSR for a review period, representing a 10% reduction in real terms over that time as inflation reduces the spending power of departments. ...and further … Continue reading CSR press reports: science spending to be 'frozen'
CSR and painting by numbers
We are packing up. No, no, no, not in that sense. It is just that we are moving office in a few weeks. I am ashamed to say that I am the last of our team to begin the task of separating the recently aquired detritus from the must-keep documents that tell something of our history. … Continue reading CSR and painting by numbers
Briefings on the impact on science of a cap non-EU migrants, data protection etc
A quick pass-by to alert you to the fact that we have a new briefing available on the impact on science of the proposed cap on non-EU migrants...and that we have published our response to the Ministry of Justice consultation on the current legislative framework for data protection. On the former I believe that the … Continue reading Briefings on the impact on science of a cap non-EU migrants, data protection etc
Today in The Times: AMRC charities voice concern over changing climate for UK science
Update at 4.30pm: Both The Guardian and The Times have been running reports this afternoon about an email from the head of Universities UK, Steve Smith, to the heads of higher eductaion institutions which has been leaked to the BBC. They are reporting that the email warns of a £3bn cut in university teaching budgets … Continue reading Today in The Times: AMRC charities voice concern over changing climate for UK science
Science funding: it's the economy….!
Research Councils UK have published a report this morning written by the economist Romesh Vatilingam which looks at the economic impact of research in the UK. It states that a £1 billion cut in science funding will costs the UK £10 billion. The British Heart Foundation have put out a news release in response. The … Continue reading Science funding: it's the economy….!
A non-commercial break…and FP8
A brief interlude in all things politics gives me the opportunity to relay some events of the last few weeks. First, a long overdue welcome to our three new member charities: Epilepsy Action; Furlong Research Charitable Foundation and; Pancreatric Cancer UK. That takes our membership up to 124 charities. Monday night saw me attend the … Continue reading A non-commercial break…and FP8
Public, private and charitable research: the spillover effect
RAND Europe and the Office of Health Economics (OHE) last week published this rather fascinating occasional paper from a seminar in May. It examines the spillovers (wider benefits) from biomedical and health research and seems highly salient given what is going on. I thought some of the diagrams were helpful in visualising the multilying effect of … Continue reading Public, private and charitable research: the spillover effect
Science is Vital Rally in London
UPDATE: Prateek Buck, a scientist at UCL, has written a first-person account/guest blog of the rally which appeared on GuardianUnlimited a few hours ago. Such a great day. You can here the speeches from the rally at the Guardian online here. And there's a good piece on BBC News Online. Please keep signing the petition … Continue reading Science is Vital Rally in London
Science is Vital Rally – Be there!
A reminder about the 'Science is Vital' rally in London tomorrow afternoon. Details here. And don't forget to sign the petition if you haven't already. It would be great to reach 25,000signatures by the time of the rally. It is currently at around 22,300 which is amazing in itself. See you there.
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