Policy
Lifting the curtain – in celebration of LGBTQ+ scientists’ visibility
Who inspired you to find who you are or who you could be? “Dear Minister, I am a twelve-year-old Queer. I want to be a Queer artist like Michelangelo, Leonardo or Tchaikovsky.” As a child, Derek Jarman, the film-maker, artist and gay-rights activist, knew who his heroes were. He looked up to them because their … Continue reading
“Parliament is a stronger body because of the scientists present today.”
It was another packed room for this year’s Parliamentary Links Day, organised by the Royal Society of Biology on behalf of the science and engineering community.
The debate on regulation of heritable genome editing
Nature has published a letter from a group of scientists and bioethicists calling for a moratorium on the clinical use of heritable genome editing.
What exactly is the Industrial Strategy?
Despite the hot weather there was “standing room only for science” according to Chi Onwurah MP at the 30th anniversary of Parliamentary Links Day, the 10th event in this series to be opened by Speaker of the House of Commons Rt Hon John Bercow MP. This year’s theme was Science and the Industrial Strategy and … Continue reading
Interning with the RSB science policy team
When an email dropped into my inbox advertising the opportunity to undertake an RCUK policy internship, I was initially apprehensive about applying. I wasn’t sure what policy work would entail, I knew little about the RSB, I wasn’t sure if I’d like to live in London and I was unsure if I’d be able to … Continue reading
Athena SWAN applications: Turning data into action
The importance of data in preparing an Athena SWAN application was one of the key messages to the delegates at our Athena SWAN workshop, held in March. Our speakers all agreed on the importance of obtaining good diversity data – both quantitative and qualitative – as a basis for any departmental or institutional Athena SWAN … Continue reading
Adding folic acid to your flour
The early days and weeks following conception are critical to human life. During this period an embryo goes from being a tiny ball of identical cells to a complex array of specialised cells and structures, ready to develop into the organs that will support life. The formation of the spinal cord and brain occurs during … Continue reading
Athena Swan Biosciences Best Practice Workshop
On 7th March 2018, we held our second Athena SWAN Biosciences Best Practice Workshop, timed to lead in with International Women’s day on 8th March. If you weren’t able to attend on the day, footage of parts of the event are able to watch over on the RSB YouTube channel. The Athena SWAN Charter was … Continue reading
Policy Lunchbox: unlocking teaching development
At the last Policy Lunchbox we welcomed David Weston, Chief Executive of the Teacher Development Trust, to explore professional development in teaching and how we can better support teachers. Professional development is key for teachers to carry out their role. Good quality and continuous professional development can help support and develop great teachers and current … Continue reading
Raising awareness for diversity and inclusion across membership organisations
Justina Briliute, BBSRC PhD student at Newcastle University and a policy intern at the Royal Society of Biology Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) are three vital priorities that all workplaces should strive to achieve for their workforce, and those working in the biosciences are no exception.