Policy
Planning the future of UK science – ‘the best job in government’?
By Dr Supatra Marsh, BBSRC Policy Fellow at the Society of Biology At a Science and Technology Committee meeting last week, Chair Andrew Miller MP introduced the new Minister for Universities, Science and Cities, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP as having ‘the best job in government’. Greg Clark spoke passionately about his desire to ‘bring … Continue reading
Dual-use for Dummies
Dr Supatra Marsh, BBSRC Policy Fellow at the Society of Biology, is organising Policy Lates: Dodging a biological bullet – what can we learn from the US and Europe about Biosecurity? During my BBSRC science policy fellowship at the Society of Biology I have been organising the next Policy Lates event focussing on dual-use research. … Continue reading
Publish or perish: Is the peer review process fit for purpose?
Francesca Soutter, BBSRC policy intern at the Society of Biology and PhD student at the RVC, has been following the often heated discussions around the future of publishing. The peer review process is often considered as a pillar-stone of excellent science. However, the process first introduced in the 1700s has come under increasing scrutiny with … Continue reading
Is trust in scientists dependent on context?
by Francesca Soutter, policy intern at the Society of Biology On the 24th June 2014, scientists and policy makers came together at Portcullis House for Parliamentary Links Day. The agenda for was Science and Public Trust with keynote speeches by Sir Mark Walport, Rt. Hon Liam Byrne and Sir Paul Nurse, and two chaired panel … Continue reading
Parliamentary Links Day: science and public trust
By Sophie Kleanthous, intern at the Society of Biology Parliamentary Links Day is upon us once more with a whole host of key speakers, discussing trust and public engagement with science. The Society of Biology organises Links Day on behalf of the science and engineering community to build strong relationships with Parliament and MPs. The … Continue reading
What is natural capital?
Daija Angeli, project officer in the Natural Capital Initiative (NCI), works with the term natural capital every day. When a member of NCI’s Steering Group mentioned that people don’t know what it means until you tell them about bumblebees and apple trees, she thought it was time to reflect on the term again. Most of … Continue reading
Building public support for UK agri-science
Anna Tiley, policy and communications intern at the Society of Biology, summarises highlights from the most recent meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Science and Technology in Agriculture. This post can also be found on the UK PlantSci blog. On Tuesday 13th May the UKPSF Executive Officer, Dr Mimi Tanimoto, and I attended a … Continue reading
How do you use PhD theses?
Dr Katie Howe, research and engagement manager at the British Library, takes a look back at the results from a recent survey with the Society of Biology. This post was previously published on the British Library science blog. In the British Library’s science team we’re interested in how people access scientific information and how we … Continue reading
Having a heart to heart
Francesca Soutter, policy intern at the Society of Biology, writes about her experience of a recent Parliament evidence session on blood, tissue and organ screening. Is the British stiff upper lip preventing us from discussing our wishes with our nearest and dearest should the worst happen? Organ donation rates in the UK are lagging behind … Continue reading
How does science get into policy?
Daija Angeli, project officer at the Natural Capital Initiative, reflects on the British Ecological Society (BES) Policy Training Day she attended last week. How can scientists and researchers effectively engage with policy and decision makers and how do they best communicate science to these audiences? The British Ecological Society (BES) Policy Training Day offered answers to … Continue reading