Voice of the Future 2009

On Tuesday 10 March, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), the Voice of the Future 2009 event takes place at Portcullis House, Westminster. This free event, which aims to to strengthen links between the scientific community, Parliament and Government, is open to anyone with an interest in science under the age of 37. Registration for this event is compulsory and the limited places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. An application form is available to download from the RSC website.

Provisional programme:
12:00 - 12.30 Registration
12:30 - 13.15 Lunch
13.15 - 13.30 Welcome
13.30 - 13.35 Introduction (Phil Willis MP)
13:35 - 15:30 Science Question Time
Questions to Panel of Parliamentarians
Commons Select Committee on Innovation, Universities and Skills

Visit the RSC website for more information and an application form.

Lord Drayson takes on role of Science Minister

The replacement in the October reshuffle of Ian Pearson as Science Minister by Dr Paul Drayson suggests a significant change in Government thinking on science policy. Unlike Pearson, Drayson is a scientist, graduating from Aston University with a degree in Production Engineering before completing a PhD in robotics. Drayson believes the upgrading of the position to a cabinet post demonstrates Brown’s commitment to the subject and, on confirming his appointment, he said: “To have the opportunity to have responsibility for UK science is an honour and I’m very excited about it.” Pearson moves to the Treasury as Economic Secretary and also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

The appointment of Drayson has been largely received with enthusiasm. “He’s a carbon copy of David Sainsbury” says Ian Gibson MP, as quoted in Research Fortnight, “He’s a scientist, he’s had the experience of running a business – and he drives fast cars.” Drayon’s passion for racing looks set to compliment his new role as he promises to ‘put pedal to metal’, moving away from a culture of reviews and reports instead focusing on implementing change.

A committee now with added "science"

The Universities and Skills Committee is to become the Innovation, Universities, Sciences and Skills Committee after the Government agreed to a name change, following the last report from the now non-existent Science and Technology Committee suggesting that any subsequent committee should have "science" in the title.

http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/ius/ius_240108.cfm

Science finds a home

A Government Office for Science, headed by David King, will be created within the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS). It assumes the functions and resources of the Transdepartmental Science and Technology Group of the Office of Science and Innovation at the former Department of Trade and Industry. Other elements of the Office of Science and Technology will join the DIUS Science and Innovation Group, headed by Sir Keith O'Nions.

Source: THES

The end is nigh?

Nobel prize winners, University Vice-Chancellors, Professors and numerous Chief Executives and Presidents of learned societies today wrote to the Guardian to state the case for the supported continuation of the Science and Technology Select Committee. The recent re-structuring of governmental departments has left the committee without an obvious home. The importance of retaining a committee which oversees science in policy-making is stressed.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,,2130978,00.html