May 2014 e-bulletin
In This E-Bulletin
New report: scienceScience Investment Report
CaSE Diversity Report
2014 Euro Elections
AstraZeneca and Pfizer
Scientific Bodies
Science A-level practicals
Consultations

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Diary

15/05/14 Sarah Main met with the Zoological Society of London

 

14/05/14 Naomi Weir attended an Institute of Mathematics and its Applications reception event

 

14/05/14 Dr Sarah Main took part in women in STEM roundtable, hosted by the RSC 

 

13/05/14 Dr Sarah Main met with the Shadow Science Minister Liam Byrne MP

 

12/05/14 Dr Sarah Main appeared before the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on reforms to practical science A-levels

09/05/14 Dr Sarah Main gave a presentation on CaSE's work at the London Mathematical Society

07/05/14 CaSE held the Research Funding Opinion Forum, hosted by BIS

07/05/14 CaSE attended the launch of the government's new STEM campaign, hosted by the Science Museum

02/05/14 CaSE met with Prospect

01/05/14 CaSE met with staff from the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

29/04/14 Naomi Weir attended a strategic migration forum, hosted by Fragomen

29/04/14 Dr Sarah Main gave a presentation on CaSE's work at the Association of Medical Research Charities

24/04/14 CaSE held a meeting of its Board of Directors

23/04/14 CaSE met with the Royal Academy of Engineering

23/04/14 CaSE met with the Institute of Physics and Engineering in Medicine

17/04/14 CaSE met with the University of Cambridge

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

  
New evidence: science investment boosts growth
new independent report for CaSE shows that investing public money in science and engineering is good for the economy. The Economic Significance of the UK Science Base, launched last week, examines the economic impact of public investment in the UK science base.
 
CaSE, in conjunction with the funders of the report, also produced a two page briefing note for policy makers that accompanies the report. 
 
Last week CaSE held a panel discussion to discuss the findings of the report, hosted by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Those on the panel included the Science Minister, and the report's authors, Professor Jonathan Haskel and Professor Alan Hughes.
 

General Election 2015 

This Research Funding event is one of a series of CaSE Opinion Forums over the coming months, to develop policy work and manifesto recommendations in the run-up to the 2015 General Election. The next event will be on scientific advice in government and will be held on 27th June. For further details please get in touch.

New CaSE report: improving diversity in STEM
CaSE has published its new report, Improving Diversity in STEM, showing that diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) is much needed, but by all measures progress is too slow.

The report brings together data and research from the last five years to build a picture of the current state of diversity in STEM, from education to the workforce. It is still the case that women, disabled people and those from ethnic-minorities or socially-disadvantaged groups are consistently underrepresented, particularly at senior levels, in science and engineering.

 

The report's launch received widespread media coverage, including in The Times

Science and engineering in the 2014 Euro elections

One week ahead of the 2014 European Elections, CaSE and Euroscience have published the responses of the Conservatives, Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, UKIP, Plaid Cymru and the SNP, to our questions on their EU science and engineering policies covering research, skills, innovation and evidence-based policymaking.

 

Included with the letter was a CaSE briefing outlining the importance of science and engineering to the future of the UK economy, how the UK compares internationally and how EU membership and European funding impacts UK success.

AstraZeneca and Pfizer 
CaSE's comments on the proposed takeover of AstraZeneca, by rival pharmaceutical company Pfizer, have received widespread media coverage, including in The Independent, The Guardian, and BBC News.

Writing an article in New Scientist, CaSE Director Dr Sarah Main examines what effect the proposed takeover could have on wider UK scientific research. As argued by CaSE, the UK needs a complete ecosystem of excellent academic research, spin-outs, biotechs and large pharma for our life sciences sector to continue to flourish. 
Scientific Non-Departmental Bodies and Agencies
CaSE has expressed its concerns in The Guardian over potential reforms to the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA). Under the proposed changes FERA, which conducts environment research on issues ranging from bees to tree disease, will become a joint venture with a private-sector investor.

CaSE has also commented in The Guardian over potential government cuts to The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, which includes the Millennium Seed Bank. It is vital that government takes into account not just the economic case but the value of the science performed at research facilities like Kew. 
Science A-level Practicals 
CaSE Director Dr Sarah Main appeared before the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee this week as part of their inquiry into Ofqual's decision to remove the examination of practicals from A-level grades. 

CaSE responded to this issue in April, registering concerns that uncoupling practicals from science A-level grades will lead to practicals being deprioritised, especially in schools where resource is tight. CaSE has called for practical experience to be at the heart of A-level science teaching and for its place to be assured by making it mandatory and rigorously assessed. 
Open Consultations 

 

Core Maths: Technical Guidance 

Department for Education

Deadline: 26th May 2014

Medium term strategy for Catapult centres: Hauser review - call for feedback 

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Deadline: 30th May 2014

 

Science and research; proposals for long-term capital investment 

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
Deadline: 4th July 2014

 

For more information on our activities go to our website www.sciencecampaign.org.uk
 
To contact us please telephone 0207 679 4994 or email [email protected]