August E-Bulletin 2012
In This E-Bulletin
Science Fudning
EU Research
Higher Education
Annual Lecture and AGM
CaSE News
Annual Review
Other Work
Guest Articles
Consultations

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Diary


26/07/12 CaSE met with the Science Museum

24/07/12 Imran Khan met with the Director of Research Funding from BIS

24/07/12 CaSE met with the British Society for Immunology

19/07/12 CaSE met with UKRC

17/07/12 CaSE held a Board of Directors Away Day and Dinner

13/07/12 Imran Khan gave a presentation at a UCB Pharma event

12/07/12 Beck Smith and Imran Khan attended a Royal Society event with the Business Secretary

12/07/12 Dave Hawksett met with the UK Deans of Science

11/07/12 Imran Khan met with the Chairman of ResearchResearch

11/07/12 Beck Smith attended a reception of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Medical Research

11/07/12 Imran Khan attended a diversity event at the Wellcome Trust

05/07/12 Graham Shaw joined CaSE as an intern

04/07/12 Beck Smith attended a Royal Society summer event

04/07/12 Beck Smith attended a meeting of the Engineering Professor's Council and the Heads of University Biological Sciences (HUBS)

04/07/12 Beck Smith attended a Policy Lunchbox on education

 

 

 
Please forward this on to any colleagues or friends you think would be interested in supporting science and engineering.

  
Science Funding in the Spotlight 

Responding to the possible discovery of the Higgs boson by scientists at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) last month, Prime Minister David Cameron confirmed the Government's commitment to science during Prime Minister's Questions, adding that the Government had 'preserved' the science budget.

 

This exciting announcement by the LHC illustrates the excellent work being achieved by British-funded research and we're delighted to see the Prime Minister recognise this fact.

 

However, as CaSE's analysis shows, this is set against an effective £1.7billion cut in cash terms during this Spending Review period. This is a particular concern for those funding councils which support major projects, such as the UK's contribution to the LHC.   

Elsewhere, CaSE's concerns over the state of British science funding were raised during a debate on BBC2's Newsnight programme, and by Channel 4 News' FactCheck blog. CaSE has also met with the Head of Research Funding at the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, to discuss our concerns. 

Protecting EU Research
CaSE has called on the Government to protect the EU's research budget from a UK-led campaign for overall cuts.

The UK is one of eight member nations calling for EU budget cuts, which includes funding for 'Horizon 2020' - the EU's research programme. Such efforts threaten to cut €80 billion (£63 billion) in research funding - an area in which the UK receives a disproportionately large amount of the overall budget.

Speaking to the Times Higher Education on the issue, CaSE Director Imran Khan said that if the UK did not insist on protection for research, it would be both "hypocrisy and an own-goal."

Negotiations over the budget are expected to be concluded in mid-2013. In the meantime, CaSE will continue to campaign on this issue - to ensure that the UK supports and benefits from high-quality EU-funded research. 
Lords echo CaSE concerns on higher education
The House of Lords Science & Technology Committee has published its new report on Higher Education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths) Subjects, following an extensive inquiry to which CaSE submitted evidence.

The committee echoed our concerns over careers advice, funding for undergraduate STEM degrees, postgraduate courses, and much else, and we will be calling on the Government to accept the Committee's recommendations.  

CaSE Annual Lecture and AGM - 27th November 2012 
We are currently finalising the 2012 CaSE Annual Lecture, which is scheduled to take place on the evening of Tuesday 27th November. Further details of our eminent guest speaker will be published shortly and sent round in an upcoming e-bulletin.
CaSE News 71 Published 
The latest issue of CaSE News has now been published.

 

As well as a round-up of CaSE's ongoing work, CaSE News 71 includes analysis of science and engineering expertise in other Parliaments, the government's R&D Scoreboard, and the latest Science Question Time event on growth.

 

CaSE News 71 also features guest articles on how innovation can drive economic growth, and the challenges facing the new Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Mark Walport.

 

If you would like to receive a hard copy of CaSE News you can become a member for only £2.50 a month.
CaSE Annual Review 2011/12
CaSE has published its Annual Review for 2011/12. It gives a summary of CaSE's activities over the year, including meetings with ministers, policy consultations, events and campaign achievements. 

 

Highlights during the year include:
  • Publishing an authoritative report highlighting a £1.7 billion cut in science spending. 
  • Securing significant concessions for foreign scientists and engineers from the Government's non-EU 'migrant cap'. 
  • Promoting evidence based policy, through our work on  expertise in the House of Lords and the Chief Scientific Advisor network. 
  • Growing to over 100 organisational members and boosting our media profile.
Other work 
  • Science and engineering expertise in the House of Lords was raised during a House of Commons debate on the Government's House of Lords Reform Bill. For a fuller look at CaSE's report on House of Lords expertise and reform agenda, see the latest edition of CaSE News.   
  • Imran Khan gave a presentation on careers pathways in science, at a UCB Pharma event in Slough. Imran was also interviewed by BBC Radio Berkshire on the subject.
  • CaSE has registered its disappointment with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's decision to appoint a civil servant in the role of departmental Chief Scientific Advisor, and has called on the department to give the position the necessary scope of influence.  
  • CaSE held an Away Day of its Board of Directors, to discuss the organisation's ongoing strategy and objectives. 
Guest Articles on CaSE Blog
Consultations
For more information on our activities go to our website www.sciencecampaign.org.uk
 
To contact us please telephone 0207 679 4994 or email nickh@sciencecampaign.org.uk