Author Archives: Natasha Little
The ‘EU effect’ on our environment
Opinion piece by Matt Turley AMRSB, NERC-funded PhD student at the University of Brighton and policy intern at the Royal Society of Biology A panel debate held this week by WWF-UK, RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts, following the release of their commissioned report by the Institute for European Environmental Policy, aimed to draw attention to … Continue reading
Young scientists question MPs and Ministers
By Harriet Gliddon, PhD student at Imperial College London The House of Commons Science and Technology Committee and the Royal Society of Biology recently hosted the fifth Voice of the Future event. This is a unique event, where the normal select committee format is reversed, and MPs and civil servants answer the questions of early … Continue reading
Newton’s Apple: bridging the gap between scientists and lawmakers
By Michael Wood, policy intern at the Royal Society of Biology and the Biochemical Society It appears that there is a considerable level of disconnect between those who work in science and those who work in politics, and that until very recently this lack of engagement had not been tackled. For this reason, a group … Continue reading
How safe is pathogen research?
By Michael Wood, policy intern at the Royal Society of Biology and the Biochemical Society Despite extensive vaccinations programmes and improved sanitation, communicable diseases that are caused by pathogens are still responsible for 20% of global deaths. Although an improvement from the figure of 25% in 1990, this still represents 11 million deaths annually which … Continue reading
Explaining complicated ideas is not always easy
By Dr Emily Grossman, molecular biologist, broadcaster and educator, who trains contestants for the FameLab International science communication competition. Dr Grossman is running a Science Communication Workshop at the Royal Society of Biology on Monday 18th April. When trying to explain complex information to an audience, the first task is to get the content right. But how we communicate is also … Continue reading
Coming out in STEM
by Gabriele Butkute, science policy assistant at the Royal Society of Biology and the Biochemical Society. “I don’t mind people who are gay; I just don’t want that flaunted in my face”. That’s what Fran Cowling, one of the panel members at The Royal Society’s event, Out in STEM was once told. While unfortunately similar … Continue reading
Society welcomes transparent data as first step in widening university participation
By Dan Rowson AMRSB, education policy officer at the Royal Society of Biology The Government has announced that universities will be required to publish statistical data on applications, admissions and retention by gender, class and ethnic background. The Royal Society of Biology welcomes this development after expressing the need for full transparency of university data … Continue reading
Biosciences and Brexit
Opinion piece by Debs Roebuck, PhD Researcher Drug Delivery Systems CASE with MedImmune at Imperial College London and former BBSRC Science Policy Fellow at the Royal Society of Biology. With membership of the European Union (EU) soon to be decided by voters in a UK in/out EU referendum, pro-and anti-EU campaigners are making their opinions … Continue reading
Actions for plant science in the UK
By Dr Sandy Knapp FRSB, head of the Plants Division of the Natural History Museum, London Plant science has a broad reach – from molecules to ecosystems, and from blue skies to near-market research and practical applications. The UKPSF was formed to bring the plant science sector together and to harness the power of our … Continue reading