29/09/06 The future of science policy
CaSE today took part in a workshop by the held by the Council for Science & Technology to discuss the future of science policy in the UK. Looking forward 20 years, the workshop examined what trends might be desirable in the development of our science base, and which might be undesirable. Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE, who attended the half-day meeting, said, "This was an excellent chance for a small group of individuals to help the CST develop its ideas in its role in advising the Prime Minister".

29/09/06 Science in Northern Ireland
CaSE today met with senior figures in the Ulster Unionist Party to discuss science in Northern Ireland. Meeting with Ken Robinson, Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly with responsibility for Employment & Learning, Dr Brian Crowe, the Party's Head of Policy, and Dr. Mark Neale, a Special Advisor to Party, CaSE was able to discuss the future of science in Northern Ireland based on CaSE's publications on the subject. "This was a really good chance to help one of Ulster's main political parties moves forward with its ideas about science and education," said Rosemary Davies of CaSE.

read CaSE's recent report on school science in N Ireland
read a talk by CaSE about the future of science in N Ireland from 2004

28/09/06 Peter Cotgreave attended a meeting of the Science Board of the Institute of Physics and gave a presentation on the science in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

28/09/06 Finance & General Purposes Committee Meeting at Tavistock Square

26/09/06 Opposition policy
CaSE today enjoyed an excellent meeting with Opposition spokespeople on science education and the universities. Meeting with Boris Johnson MP , Shadow Minister for Higher Education and Fabian Richter, Chief of Staff to the Shadow Eduation Secretary, CaSE discussed the Research Assessment Exercise, funding for science students at the universities and the lack of qualified science teachers in schools. "This was an excellent opportunity to exchange ideas and to help maintain a good debate in Parliament about the issues that matter to CaSE's members," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE.

26/09/06 Peter Cotgreave attended a meeting of the Board of the Science Media Centre.

25/09/06 Peter Cotgreave met with Professor Peter Scott, Vice Chancellor of Kingston University.

22/09/06 Science in Schools
CaSE today highlighted the need for more well-trained science teachers in schools. In comments in the Times Educational Supplement, following a report about science in Wales, CaSE pointed out that recent figures showed that one in every six vacant teaching posts was in mathematics. In primary schools, on 50% of teachers in England say they have good resources to teach science, and in Wales, the figure falls to just 42%. "The lack of trained science teachers, especially in physics, is putting strain on the teachers who are available, it is harming the economy, and most importantly, it is denying chances to the children who are not being given the education they deserve," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE.

22/09/06 Caroline Holland met with Professor Linda Partridge of UCL, a member of CaSE's Advisory Council.

21/09/06 Private sector research and development
CaSE today held an Opinion Forum on incentives and barriers to investment in private sector R&D. Representatives of the Treasury, Department of Trade & Industry, academics, small businesses met with people from the pharmaceutical, chemical, IT and communications industries to discuss policies to promote a more innovative economy. Caroline Barr, Head of Science & Industry at the Treasury, and Allan Mayo, a in the Technological Innovation Group at the DTI, gave presentations about Government policy, and the meeting also considered City attitudes to investing in R&D-intensive companies, the role of the education system in delivering the skills needed for a scientific economy, and the role of public sector procurement in promoting innovation. "This was a fantasically energetic meeting that came up with some excellent ideas," said Richard Joyner, Chairman of CaSE, "I can't wait to see the final report, which we think will be a very valuable contribution to developing policy".

19/09/06 Science policy in Wales
CaSE today warmly welcomed the Welsh Assembly's review of science policy, and urged the Welsh Government to act quickly to implement the key recommendations.

read the press release

12/09/06 Peter Cotgreave met with Jane Cannon, Director of Investor Relations at QinetiQ and a member of CaSE's Advisory Council

13/09/06 Peter Cotgreave met with Dr David Elliott, Chief Executive, and Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson, President of the Royal Astronomical Society.

12/09/06 Scientific community
CaSE today reiterated its commitment to engaging as fully as possible with the whole engineering and scientific community during a visit to the Norwich Research Park. "We are here at the Research Park today, a few days ago we were visiting Sharp Laboratories, and in two day's time, we will be at the Royal Astronomical Society," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE. "We're engaging with engineers and industry, with pure researchers, with the education community and with learned societies. That's one reason why CaSE has such a credible voice in the policy world. We really know what's going on across the scientific landscape."

12/09/06 Peter Cotgreave and Caroline Holland met with Prof Chris Lamb, Director of the John Innes Centre; Prof David White, Director of the Institute of Food Research; Dr Robin Daniels, Chief Executive of the Norwich Research Park; and other researchers at the Research Park.

06/09/06 Peter Cotgreave and Caroline Holland met with Dr Stephen Bold, Chief Executive of Sharp Laboratories of Europe.

04/09/06 Careers advice for young scientists
CaSE today highlighted the need for better information and advice for young people deciding whether to pursue careers in science. In an article in Laboratory News, CaSE points out that the relative lack of students choosing to study sciences and engineering had many causes, including inappropriate Government funding rules. But a major concern is the fact that the careers advisory service in schools appears to be relatively poorly equipped to deal with students who show and aptitude for or interest in sciences and engineering. "This is a big issue," said Professor Richard Joyner, Chairman of CaSE, "and we will be holding an Opinion Forum on the subject later in the year, jointly with the Science Council and Engineering & Technology Board.

01/09/06 Economic importance of science
CaSE today defended the economic importance of science, and urged the Government not to implement proposals that would harm the UK's ability to capitalise on its research. In comments in the Times Higher Education Supplement, CaSE pointed out that plans to put experts in 'economic importance' on panels judging whether to fund research grants would backfire. "Puttin users on peer review panels and adding 'usefulness' to the criteria is the worst possible way of increasing the impact of this kind of work," said Dr Peter Cotgreave of CaSE, "Faraday, Watson & Crick, Einstein, Newton and Darwin would all have been refused Research Council grants if a contemporary 'user' had been asked to score their applications, but gtheir work is collectively worth billions of pounds in economic impact". CaSE added that there was a strong case for the Government to support more near-market research, but the Research Councils were not the right vehicles for doing so.