Category Archives: Policy

In which climate apocalypse feels inevitable

Here in England, we are braced for an historic heat wave. The Met Office has issued its first ever ‘Red Warning of Extreme Heat‘ for much of the UK, with temperatures set to reach a new record of 40 degrees … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Science fiction, Staring into the abyss | 2 Comments

In which we need more lab coats in the Commons

Like many commuters serving as a captive audience on the London Underground, I tend to read the free Evening Standard most nights. I enjoy the op ed pieces by Rosamund Urwin, who has always struck me as both light-hearted and … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Politics | 4 Comments

In which science policy suits up

What must Britain do to retain its global scientific reputation in a changing world? This evening at the Royal Society, various men of science, industry and politics gave us their opinion (“UK Research: Building Bridges, Building Prosperity”). These included the … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Politics, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 17 Comments

In which we look to the horizon: science is more vital than ever

When Science Is Vital joined with hundreds of other organizations to successfully fend off threatened cuts to the science budget in 2010, the next Spending Review seemed aeons away. By now, of course, most scientists in Britain have heard the … Continue reading

Posted in Policy, Politics, science funding, Science is Vital | 3 Comments

In which the post-doctoral playing field is leveled – in one small corner

The British governmental body responsible for funding research and postgraduate training in engineering and the physical sciences, known as the EPSRC, has been getting some bad press recently. But I couldn’t help being impressed by their new fellowship policy, which … Continue reading

Posted in Careers, Policy, The profession of science, Women in science | 8 Comments

In which science careers get a fair hearing

Once again I revisit the question broached by Science is Vital in our recent report Careering Out of Control? A Crisis in UK Science Careers. Last week I participated in a round table discussion about this very issue co-hosted by … Continue reading

Posted in Careers, Policy, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 24 Comments

In which we lay hands on an oil tanker

Many of you have probably heard about the Science Careers campaign that we at Science Is Vital are currently running – which is also the reason I have not blogged for a few weeks. I’m a little in shock right … Continue reading

Posted in Careers, Policy, science funding, Science is Vital, The profession of science | 9 Comments