Science and Technology

UK science is under threat – from English higher education policy

By Kieron Flanagan Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: January 8, 2014

The UK science base must be protected from poorly thought out and badly implemented English higher education reforms, writes Dr Kieron Flanagan. The UK science community has reacted with dismay to the news, leaked to the Guardian, that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (which makes science policy for the UK and provides funds for the UK wide […]

Evangelising from 32,000 feet: why call for more greens to fly is wrong

By Kevin Anderson Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: December 11, 2013

In November 2013, Brendan May wrote a piece for the Guardian’s Environment Blog on ‘Why more environmentalists should fly’. In this article, Professor Kevin Anderson, Dr Dan Calverley and Maria Sharmina respond, strongly arguing the case against having more jet-setting greens. It was with growing dismay that we read Brendan May’s blog post, in which […]

A fair COP? Climate summit good for engagement, but progress was oh so slow

By Alice Larkin Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 27, 2013

At last week’s Conference of the Parties (COP) in Warsaw, key figures met to discuss the small matter of how to combat climate change by cutting carbon emissions. Dr Alice Bows-Larkin travelled there with colleagues, using research to highlight to policy players just how much carbon emissions need to be cut if catastrophic temperature rises […]

Nuclear has come in from the cold, but now we must act to preserve our energy expertise

By Francis Livens Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 20, 2013

The UK is to get its first new nuclear power station in a generation. Professor Francis Livens reflects on a policy shift that has seen nuclear power emerge from the wilderness to become a much-hailed clean source energy that will ‘help keep the lights on’. But, he warns, if nuclear is to be our future, […]

Time is ripe to overhaul UK’s messy surrogacy legislation

By Danielle Griffiths Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 13, 2013

Dr Danielle Griffiths, along with colleagues Dr Amel Alghrani and Professor Margot Brazier, argue that existing law and regulation of surrogacy in the UK offers little guidance, is out of touch with reality, and needs overhauling as a matter of some urgency The surrogacy industry in India is booming. It has been estimated that Britain is […]

Electronic cigarettes: public health problem or potential solution?

By Catriona Rooke Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: November 6, 2013

The use of electronic cigarettes in the UK continues to grow, posing complex challenges for regulators and public health policymakers alike. Current debates represent a struggle over whether e-cigs will ultimately be viewed as a trusted medicine, an everyday consumer product or a problematic recreational drug, writes Dr Catriona Rooke. In June the UK medicines […]

Innovation in the water industry: Is the price too high?

By Andrew Balmer Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: October 30, 2013

While the recent hike in energy prices has made headlines, issues around the UK water supply get rather less attention. Breaching the UK’s impregnable ‘innovation barrier’ – to fix leaking pipes and tackle climate change – is one big challenge, writes Dr Andrew Balmer. Another is to prompt policymakers to be brave enough to ensure […]

White heat at 50: Harold Wilson and scientific collaboration with Europe

By Stuart Butler Filed Under: Featured, Science and Technology Posted: October 23, 2013

The beginning of the month marked the 50th anniversary of Harold Wilson’s iconic ‘white heat’ speech. Stuart Butler asks what we can learn about participation in European scientific and technological collaboration from decisions made by Wilson’s government. This post originally appeared on the Guardian’s Political Science Blog At the beginning of this year George Osborne […]

Why it’s time for us to spend big on science

By Brian Cox Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 16, 2013

In his recent party conference speech, Science Minister David Willetts said he was ‘up for’ making Britain the best place in the world to do science. But in order to do that – and reap the economic rewards – politicians need to be prepared to spend big, argues Professor Brian Cox. This blog post is […]

A ‘National’ Health Service? It would be a good idea

By Julian Simpson Filed Under: Science and Technology Posted: October 8, 2013

The NHS is seen as a fundamentally British institution and even a symbol of national identity. But, writes Dr Julian Simpson, it might make more sense to call it an ‘International’ Health Service. And while ‘health tourism’ and migrant doctors’ language skills make headlines, the real issue is whether it should remain dependent on an […]