They say that if you want to see your hometown or nation in a different light you should walk with a stranger who is seeing and experiencing it for the first time. I probably learnt more about England during my spells living abroad than I have in the years before or since. So I was … Continue reading Vince Cable on Science: a home-spun piece from afar
Comprehensive Spending Review
Evan Harris and cuts to science funding
You may be interested in this call to arms by Evan Harris on The Guardian blog today. His essential point is that scientists and their supporters need to focus their attention on HM Treasury from this point onwards. Geoff Brumfiel makes a similar call in his article today also in The Guardian. That is certainly … Continue reading Evan Harris and cuts to science funding
Sunshine, stem cells and policy hypochondria over the NHS
It has been a busy 24 hours in medical research. Beginning with the sunnier side of things, I am sure few of you will have esacaped the wall-to-wall coverage of the study published yesterday showing Vitamin D exerts an influence over certain genes associated with diseases like multiple sclerosis and arthritis. The research is notable for its … Continue reading Sunshine, stem cells and policy hypochondria over the NHS
Further thoughts on a single regulator for research
Mid-summer it might be, but my sense is that the prospect of a single regulator for research continues to be the leading topic of debate around and about the community (after the Comprehensive Spending Review of course). My office brought to my attention this series of comment pieces about a single regulator and its impact … Continue reading Further thoughts on a single regulator for research
Osborne on economic growth
Various reports are flashing across the wires right now concerning the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne's, speech at Bloomberg's offices in London today. The following is from BBC News. You can read the full text on the HM Treasury website here. Which begs the question why it takes the Department of Health … Continue reading Osborne on economic growth
Root and branch research
It felt as if my summer started early this year. Two weeks ago in fact. With a short trip to Harpenden in Hertfordshire. Muggy sunshine mixed with heavy, sheet-metal-like rain showers as I took the train ride north of London. It felt good to be leaving the city for a change. The reason for my … Continue reading Root and branch research
Andrew Lansley in No10
Not because he has taken over as PM I hasten to add but because he will be popping over there to do an online Q&A tomorrow, Thursday 22nd Juy, about the Health White Paper. Details on the No10 website here.
Science besieges the castle with evidence: to what impact?
Global warming was not high on the Victorians' agenda as anyone who attends a summer event in parliament will attest. But the heat is usually a good sign that your event is packed and the conversation flowing. So it was with yesterday's excellent All-Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research summer reception. The show of strength … Continue reading Science besieges the castle with evidence: to what impact?
Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)
I originally intended this to be a politics free blog for once. But such is life. Today we put in our submission on the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR) which you can find on our website. I see there was some coverage of the Royal Society's own submission in this morning's papers. Many of the messages … Continue reading Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR)
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