Lord Drayson on science
Paul Drayson, the UK's science minister, says: “Wherever research projects receive taxpayers' money, the scientists involved do have a responsibility to see that the country has the chance to benefit economically.” He concludes "Demonstrating the relevance of science through its application is the surest way of protecting investment in science." Lord Drayson agrees that blue skies research is important, and says "There's no compulsion for researchers to become entrepreneurs, so let's dispense with the notion that making money from science inevitably means taking one's eye off the big picture."
"The Society of Biology welcomes Lord Drayson’s recognition that both basic and applied research have key roles to play in delivering economic impacts," says Dr Mark Downs, our chief executive. "The impact of biology based research is enormous, representing substantial value for the tax payer. We would like to hear your views on this and particularly your examples of the impact of biology research." policy@societyofbiology.org
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