Last week saw the publication of the Government's Higher Education White Paper. While the majority of proposals will affect Higher Education as a whole, CaSE has registered its preliminary concerns about some aspects of the White Paper which could particularly impact upon science and engineering. CaSE previously published a 'wish list' for the HE White Paper.

Imran Khan was in the audience for a speech by the Education Secretary Michael Gove at the Royal Society where he talked about the importance of mathematics stating: "And we unequivocally believe that maths and science education are at the heart of improving our society and our economy".

On the CaSE blog Hilary Leevers also asks whether, following the creation of AC Grayling's new College of the Humanities, will a similar ' New College of the Sciences' be set up?  

Parliamentary Links Day

CaSE Director Imran Khan gave a presentation at Parliamentary Links Day, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry.   

In his speech Imran spoke about CaSE's recent work, including notable successes on the proposed migrant cap and the Science is Vital campaign. You can watch a video stream of all the presentations here. 

The annual event, also attended by Hilary Leevers, Nick Hall and former CaSE interns, brings together parliamentarians and the scientific and engineering community to discuss better ways of working together. 

CaSE has published a copy of the speech given by Shadow Innovation and Science Minister Chi Onwurah MP at Links Day. A former chemical engineer, Chi used her speech to set out Labour's initial plans for re-building the economy using science and engineering. 

Members of the Advisory Council are called upon by the organisation's staff to assist with specific policy and campaigning issues where their experience and insight is requested.

The senior figures join Nobel laureates, former Government ministers, former Presidents of the Royal Society, and senior figures from industry as unpaid advisors to CaSE. For a full list of CaSE's Advisory Council see here.

Devolved Elections 2011  

Following the results of the devolved elections, CaSE is now looking to engage with the new Parliament and Assemblies in raising the profile of science and engineering.

Scotland    

Imran Khan was a speaker at Understanding and Influencing the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, organised by the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Society of Biology.   

Imran gave a presentation entitled 'Campaigning using the media and social media' and also took part in the afternoon panel discussion alongside Bristow Muldoon (RSE), Stephen Benn (RSC) & Mark Downs (SocBiol).

While in Edinburgh, Imran met with the SNP Science Spokesperson Mike Russell MSP, the leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats Willie Rennie MSP, and the Deputy Leader of the Scottish Conservatives Murdo Fraser MSP.  

Northern Ireland 

CaSE Assistant Director Hilary Leevers spent two days in Belfast for Science and the Northern Ireland Assembly, organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry. Hilary met with Assembly Members, scientists and policy makers to discuss boosting Northern Ireland's science and engineering potential. You can read her summary of the event here. 

Upcoming 

Hilary Leevers will be giving a talk on 'Science policy in the devolved nations post-election' at a Science Policy Lunchbox event on Wed 6th July, hosted by the Biochemical Society.

CaSE produced a devolved policy report, 'Science, Engineering & the Devolved Nations 2011', sponsored by the Royal Society of Edinburgh, which contains analysis of regional and national science and engineering performance, and forms the rationale for our campaigning work in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast. 

If you would like any further information please visit the devolved' section of our website.  

CaSE has launched a new policy events calendar, available to view here.

We've tried to bring together upcoming policy events from a range of hosts into one resource, and hope you find it useful. We're not claiming this list is comprehensive, so if you're hosting or know of any events you'd like to add to the list, please do email us about them - the restrictions are that it should be connected to science and engineering policy in some way, and that it should not charge for entry.

In the next few weeks We are also planning to institute a new 'Science Policy Jobs' section on our website, listing policy roles available at science and engineering institutions. If your organisation is currently (or soon to be) hiring, do let us know and we would be pleased to advertise it. 

CaSE Blog 

The CaSE blog provides ideas and analysis on science and engineering policy developments in the UK. Recent posts include: 

• The head of Oxford Instruments (and a CaSE organisational member), Jonathan Flint, was interviewed on the BBC Today programme, regarding the subject of commercial spin-offs in academia.      

• Dr Jack Stilgoe, Senior Research Fellow at the University of Exeter Business School, on the debate surrounding the Haldane Principle.  

• Becky Purvis, Head of Policy at AMRC, looks at recent polling showing overwelming support for NHS research.      
• Katie Walsh, Map Manger for Hidden Science, on the importance of showing young people where science happens.  

• The co-founders of Women in Technology and Science (WITS) Northern Ireland on the launch event of the chapter and its upcoming work. 

• VAT. Universities are being increasingly asked by Ministers to share services: for instance, back-office functions, libraries, or technical equipment. Unfortunately, whenever they do engage in such sharing, they have to pay 20% VAT on the transaction to HM Treasury. CaSE has met with tax experts and raised the issue with HM Treasury officials.  

• House of Lords Reform. CaSE is looking at how reform of the House of Lords might impact upon science and engineering policy-making. 

Training our Next Generation of Outstanding Teachers
Department for Education Consultation
 

Science as a Public Enterprise
Royal Society

Deadline: 5th August

Lifting barriers to women in STEM; A Strategy for Scotland
Royal Society of Edinburgh
Deadline: 19th August

Consultations on Patent Box and R & D Credits
HM Treasury Consultation
Deadline: 2nd September

Employment related settlement, Tier 5 and overseas domestic workers
UK Border Agency
Deadline: 9th September

Higher Education White Paper - Students at the Heart of the System
BIS Consultation
Deadline: 20th September  

Higher Education White Paper - Early Repayment
BIS Consultation
Deadline: 20th September  

Consultation on funding for teaching and student number allocation
HEFCE
Deadline: 22nd September