Tagged With: science policy
NHS Choices website becomes ‘neutral’ on homeopathy
by Rebecca Nesbit, Society of Biology * since I wrote this post, the NHS Choices website has been modified again with the introduction of a sentence stating that a Government report said homeopathic remedies perform no better than placebos The ongoing debate about whether homeopathy should be provided on the NHS has again stirred up … Continue reading
GM: is opinion more important than science?
by Rebecca Nesbit, Society of Biology Today’s announcement by Environment Secretary Owen Paterson that the British public should be persuaded of the benefits of genetically modified crops has predictably caused controversy. The top message from anti-GM campaigners seems to be ‘you’re wrong about GM – the public don’t want it’. GM Freeze, quoted in the … Continue reading
Consulting on consultations
by Jackie Caine, Science Policy Officer at the Society of Biology Earlier in the year, the Cabinet Office announced a change in the guidance for government departments and other public bodies when engaging stakeholders in policy making. These Consultation Principles aim to achieve engagement by relieving some of the processes which they feel have become … Continue reading
Podcast: views after the #policylates debate
At the first #policylates debate, held on the 29th November at Charles Darwin House, the panel discussed whether or not the UK Parliament could do with more scientists. With the online poll initially showing 96% ‘yes’ votes, this was reduced to about 60% ‘yes’ amongst audience members by the end of the debate. The debate … Continue reading
Why the badger cull became a ‘Marmite debate’
by Rebecca Nesbit, press officer at the Society of Biology ‘Marmite debates’ were a common theme at the food security meeting hosted by the BBSRC last week. Just like reactions to Marmite, opinions in debates about GM crops and the badger cull tend to be polar opposites. This is in sharp contrast to the science … Continue reading
Do we need more scientists in Parliament?
Haralambos Dayantis blogs about the Society of Biology’s upcoming debate on ‘do we need more scientists in Parliament?’ The first #policylates event at Charles Darwin House is only a few weeks away, where panellists will be discussing whether we need more people with STEM backgrounds in Parliament. The issue has already generated some discussion on … Continue reading
Sharing best practice in Higher Education
Eva Sharpe, HE Policy Officer This summer, the Heads of University Biosciences held its first Parliamentary Summer Reception in the House of Commons, co-hosted by Andrew Miller MP, Dr Julian Huppert MP and Mark Lancaster MP. The event celebrated HUBS becoming a Special Interest Group of the Society of Biology, bringing members together with the … Continue reading
Campaigning for libel reform
Guest blog from James Lush, Policy Officer at the Biochemical Society Is has been a very busy couple of weeks for openness. First there was the Government-commissioned Finch Group report on open access to research publications. Then there was the Royal Society report ‘Science as an open enterprise’. And on Wednesday, the libel reform campaign … Continue reading
Science, sport, and politics combine for Parliamentary Links Day
Around 250 MPs and distinguished scientists gathered at the House of Commons to discuss Science and Sport, as the Society of Biology hosted the biggest ever Parliamentary Links Day. House of Commons speaker Rt Hon Jon Bercow MP opened the event, telling delegates that although there was a ‘great distance to travel’ in terms of … Continue reading
Whose Impact is it Anyway?
Guest post by Ceri Margerison, Policy Manager at the British Ecological Society ‘Whose Impact is it Anyway?’ was the question that the latest in the ‘Talk Science‘ series of events at the British Library tried to address on Tuesday evening. The event, a panel discussion chaired by William Cullerne Bown of Research Fortnight and in … Continue reading