28/06/07 The future of science policy
CaSE today urhed the new Prime Minister to ensure that his Government has a Cabinet Minister who can look across all areas of science policy. In a column for BBC Radio 4's Leading Edge, CaSE argued that while major benefits have been delivered for science in the last ten years, there are still big opportunities for further improvement, if the Government structures are right.

read the text of the column

28/06/07 Science in the new Government
CaSE was today pleased that the Prime Minister recognised the importance of science by creating a ministry with innovation at its heart, but urged that to be effective, the new department will need to create fresh and robusr mechanisms for sustaining strong links with schools and business policy.

read the press release

26/06/07 Future of science policy
CaSE today urged the Government to work harder to ensure that the UK is the best place in the world for science. Speaking at a meeting in Parliament organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry, CaSE quoted a message from Gordon Brown saying that he wanted "the UK to be the most attractive place in which to do science". To do that, CaSE pointed out, he would need to solve the huge problems of science in schools and the challenges faced by science funding in universities, in attracting business investment in research and in ensuring that the Government gets the highest quality scientific advice and interprets it in the most effectives ways".

22/06/07 European Innovation
CaSE today urged European leaders to support genuine science and innovation projects rather than wasting money on grandiose projects. Commenting in the Financial Times about the decision to spend £200 million on a European Institute of Technology, CaSE said: "the research community could use this money to support existing excellence. That would be far better than trying to create something new. We don't need to chuck a load of money at a European White Elephant".

21/06/07 Hilary Leevers participated in a workshop at Salford University on the representation of black and minority ethnic groups in SET subjects.

20/06/07 Peter Cotgreave attended the opening of Wellcome Collection

18/06/07 Research funding
CaSE today called on the Government to promote novel research. In a speech to the Parliamentary & Scientific Committee, CaSE argued that although the dual support system of funding university research was working well in many areas, there were some key parts of the research base - such as genuinely blue skies research or strategic investment in newly developing areas - that it was becoming hard to fund. "If you look through official Government publications, there is complete confusion about precisely what the Funding Council part of 'dual support' is supposed to fund," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE, "when resources are tight that means that some areas are slipping through the net".

15/06/07 Government science policy
CaSE was today please to interact with the Government's review of science and innovation policies. Meeting with Lord Sainsbury, who is reviewing the whole range of science policies, CaSE stressed that the pipeline of talent was the key area of concern, with parts of the schools science system in crisis. In addition, CaSE stressed how important it was to make the UK an attractive place for high-technology investment and the need to ensure that the universities were adequately funded for the many amibitions and demands the UK now places on them. "We think a Ministry of Science would allow a Cabinet Minister to take an overview of all these areas, and make sure that policies are properly joined up," said Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE.

14/06/07 Peter Cotgreave attended the Rolls-Royce Science Prize dinner

14/06/07 Hilary Leevers attended the launch of the IoP Code of Good Practice, Project Juno: Advancing women's careers in higher education

13/06/07 Careers advice for science students
CaSE was today delighted to feed into the Education Department's review of careers advice for students studying science. Meeting the National STEM Director, Dr John Holman, CaSE's Director, Dr Peter Cotgreave, said, "We're really pleased that the Government is starting to take seriously the issues that we have been raising."

read CaSE's Opinion Forum on careers advice

13/06/07 Opposition education policy
CaSE was today pleased to engage with the Conservative Party's development of education policy. Meeting with one of the researcher working with Shadow Ministers, dr Peter Cotgreave said, "Boris Johnson and David Willetts are doing some very interesting thinking about science education, and we are looking forward to Mr Willetts giving our Annual Distinguished Lecture on 17 October, so it was good to be able to see how their thinking is developing."

12/06/07 Hilary Leevers met with Dr Almut Sprigade of Education Data Surveys

12/06/07 Higher Education Minister
CaSE was today pleased to take part in a seminar with the Higher Education Minister. Commenting after the Minister, Bill Rammell, had outlined the Government's view of the links between higher education and business, CaSE's Director, Dr Peter Cotgreave, said: "Nobody disagrees with ministers' view that universities have a great deal to offer in terms of training for industry, but there still appears to be a good deal of confusion in current policy. There's little point in asking industry what precise skills it will need in 20 years' time, because it won't be able to answer, and in the meantime, the funding of universities makes it difficult for most of them to get as engaged in their local economy as many would like."

11/06/07 Peter Cotgreave and Hilary Leevers met with Dr Chris Kirk and Rebecca Smith of the Biochemical Society

07/06/07 Schools science
CaSE was today delighted to see schools science in action. Visiting the science department of Northbrook School in London, CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, met with Matthew Lillie, Head of Department and other teaching an support staff to discuss their concerns and find out how they were dealing with the new 21st Century Science curriculum. She commented: "I was impressed with the dedication and enthusiasm of the teachers and it was great to hear how well the students were responding to the new curriculum, although we have concerns that it does not form a good preparation for A-level study in science"

05/06/07 Secondary science education
CaSE today called on the Government to recognise the critical state of secondary science education and to take definitive action to improve the situation. Publishing an Opinion Forum report, CaSE's Assistant Director, Dr Hilary Leevers, said: "We are in a downward spiral in which fewer students choose to study chemistry, physics and mathematics, which means there are fewer graduates to become teachers and inspire the next generation."

read the press release

read the report

01/06/07 Future of science policy
CaSE today set out an agenda for the future of science in Government. In an article in Laboratory News, CaSE points out that the change of Prime Minister offers an opportunity to take stock of science policy and ensure that challenges are attacked without losing the impetus successfully generated by increased research funding. The article concludes that 'a Cabinet minister in charge of the links between education, science, engineering and enterprise could strengthen the UK's capacity to build the knowledge economy we need to succeed in the coming decades.'