Tag Archives: Science policy

Under the microscope

Posted on May 21, 2014 by Sylvia McLain

This week I attended ‘Circling the Square’ – a conference on science, science communication and science policy at the University of Nottingham (lovely Campus – well worth a visit). I certainly felt in the minority being a physical scientist rather … Continue reading →

Posted in Circling the square, science and the media, science communication, science policy | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Why we need Neutrons for science

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Sylvia McLain

So you may not know it, but one of the world’s premier scientific research facilities is in Oxfordshire. Its not the University of Oxford I am referring to, but the ISIS neutron and muon source at Rutherford Appleton Lab outside … Continue reading →

Posted in ISIS neutron and Muon Souce, science funding, STFC | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

‘The death of british science’? Really ?

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Sylvia McLain

I almost don’t feel I can comment -but of course I am going to anyway. Today I watched, or rather half-watched via twitter and other media outlets, the protest about ‘the death of British science’. The protesters, about 100 strong, … Continue reading →

Posted in Death of British Science, science funding | Tagged , , | 11 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

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

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

Do we really need another sputnik before we do something?

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Do you like your mobile phone? Do you like the fact that you can use the world wide web to connect with your friends? do you like using your iphone when you sit on a delayed train? Yes? Than why … Continue reading →

Posted in higher education, science | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Science funding, where do we go from here???

Posted on May 8, 2010 by Sylvia McLain

Science needs a Saatchi! Whether you supported the Lib Dems or Labour, or even the Conservatives things are looking pretty dire for science funding. As the New Scientist says in the elections ‘Science is the Loser’. Science is, or rather … Continue reading →

Posted in politics, science, UK Science policy | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments