Category Archives: UK Science policy

Evidence-based policy is a good thing – but please proceed with caution.

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Sylvia McLain

Science is full of observable facts. Fact, when I drop a hammer off the top of the Shard, it’s going to fall to the ground. It doesn’t matter if I drop it or Brian Cox drops it (either Brian Cox) … Continue reading →

Posted in evidence based, UK Science policy | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Should we fund projects or people?

Posted on July 19, 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Its a question put out there by Times Correspondent Hannah Devlin on Twitter. I think the answer is a resounding, projects, projects can I say it again projects. Idealistically it is certainly true you should fund the best people: I … Continue reading →

Posted in UK Science policy | Tagged , | 36 Comments

Death by a thousand cuts: is it time for a change?

Posted on May 22, 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Just in case I wasn’t paying enough attention to the news or even Twitter, last week I got an email from the EPSRC saying.. As a result of the 50% reduction to the Research Councils capital budget, EPSRC has taken … Continue reading →

Posted in UK Science policy | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Scientists need to ask ‘important’ questions – oh and stop “whingeing”

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Sylvia McLain

Scientists need to ask ‘important’ questions – oh and stop “whingeing” Science question time on Feb 16th – put on by the Biochemical Society, CaSE (Campaign for Science and Engineering) and the good folks from Imperial College was, I thought, … Continue reading →

Posted in Mark Walport, Science Question Time, UK Science policy | Tagged , , | 21 Comments

Science Funding cuts are political not a reflection of elitist science

Posted on January 3, 2011 by Sylvia McLain

In the US and the UK governments are making or threatening science education and funding cuts, is that partly the fault of scientists being ‘elitist’ ? Today is the first day of the new Republican Majority Congress in the US … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, science communication, UK Science policy, US government | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

On being a ‘foot soldier’

Posted on September 15, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Or cannon fodder speaking out. In case you haven’t heard, science funding in the UK is under threat. From Paul Nurse, who said we need to fund only ‘excellent’ science to Vince Cable who thinks 45% of research in the … Continue reading →

Posted in science, UK Science policy, Vince Cable | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Ensuring that there really will be no jam tomorrow-

Posted on August 27, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

STOP IT GEORGE OSBORNE Shutting down research facilities today? Does this mean Jam tomorrow? No! No! No! It’s short-sighted and stupid. Even Margaret Thatcher knew that… The ISIS facility in Oxfordshire (a neutron source in danger of being ‘mothballed’) was … Continue reading →

Posted in UK Science policy | Tagged | 5 Comments

China is becoming more progressive than the UK

Posted on June 21, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

So China just announced it is opening up its trade and (slowly) letting the Yuan float free – previously they have kept the Yuan fixed against the dollar, in part, to make exports to other countries cheap. This, I think, … Continue reading →

Posted in China, economics, higher education, politics, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on China is becoming more progressive than the UK

Persevering against all odds is NOT the way forward

Posted on June 17, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Beware of the hype.. Most of us love a good old perseverance, against all odds, pulling yourself up by your boot straps story. And there are thousands of them about scientific people – some apocryphal, some mythological and some of … Continue reading →

Posted in science ethics, UK Science policy, women in science | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ivory towers, science and society

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

why it takes all kinds Ok it appears there is no more money – I mean science, research, business innovation, technology and higher education money, where both the US and the UK governments are making cuts. (see my previous post) … Continue reading →

Posted in higher education, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments