Policy News Archive

25 August 2010

Cuts watch: Department-by-department

A BBC News guide to what is being cut by the coalition government as it battles to reduce Britain's record budget deficit. Check here for updates in the run up to Chancellor George Osborne's comprehensive spending review on 20 October. 

Pandemic influenza—(some) reasons to be cheerful?

There was no fanfare to accompany WHO's declaration on Aug 10 that the world was entering a “post-pandemic period” and that influenza A H1N1 had “largely run its course”. But the aftershocks of the pandemic might last for a long time, so this announcement should herald the start of a period of reflection. 

Is the UK's coalition Government serious about public health?

There is much to commend UK Health Secretary Andrew Lansley's vision of a new approach to public health, particularly its recognition of the importance of behaviour change in improving health. Yet given Lansley's wish to base policy on evidence and on results, it is surprising that the new Government has started to dismantle important parts of the infrastructure that delivered the gains in public health seen in the past decade, such as the reduction in the number of smokers in England by 25%.

Diabetes Action Plan

An action plan setting out a three-year vision for improving the health and wellbeing of people with diabetes has been published. The Scottish Diabetes Action Plan 2010 offers the opportunity for the diabetes community to work together to share best practice, support and deliver high quality care. 

Almost 500,000 new sex infections in UK last year

There were almost half a million new cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the UK last year, figures show. Experts at the Health Protection Agency (HPA) say young people are most affected. And one in ten of 15-24 year olds with an STI became infected again within a year. Health ministers said they would look at what more could be done to increase young people's awareness of risks. 

The identification of priority policy options for UK nature conservation

The conservation of biodiversity depends upon both policy and regulatory frameworks. Here, we identify priority policy developments that would support conservation in the UK in the light of technological developments, changes in knowledge or environmental change.

We anticipate that this paper will be of use to a range of audiences. First, policy makers can use it as a source of knowledge to identify priority areas for attention, and to consider the options put forward for addressing policy needs. Secondly, it is likely that nature conservation delivery agencies will use the outputs to assist them in the practical application of policies to conserve biodiversity. Thirdly, we expect that the research community will find the paper a useful guide in directing strategic nature conservation research, and in answering specific questions on a time-scale suited to new policy development. Finally, it is likely that policy advocates from the non-governmental nature conservation community can use the assessment in support of their campaigns. All four prospective user communities participated in the assessment. 

Can biodiversity learn lessons from climate change? CCI wants your views

from the BES blog

The Cambridge Conservation Initiative, a partnership of NGOs and departments at the University of Cambridge, is seeking your views on whether the way in which climate change has been communicated to policy-makers and the public can provide lessons for the communication of biodiversity loss. How can biodiversity move up the political agenda, with policy-makers and members of the public recognising the serious implications of its loss? Will studying how climate change has moved to the forefront of policy and public awareness help in achieving a similar shift for biodiversity?

Your views will help the CCI and the conservation community more widely, in efforts to make sure that biodiversity loss achieves a higher policy and public profile. You are invited to complete a brief survey, giving your view on 35 statements, drawn from interviews with experts in climate change and biodiversity conservation. This should take you no more than 20 minutes. The deadline for completion of the survey is 31 August.

Biodiversity fund launched

Scotland's communities are being given extra help to improve and enhance their natural environment with new funding for biodiversity projects. Up to £250,000 is being released by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) over the next two years to deliver biodiversity conservation at a local level. 

Businesses harness biodiversity to boost profits

Companies are increasingly seeking business opportunities in preserving biodiversity rather than viewing it as a threat to their profits, according to a new McKinsey survey. The survey of some 1,500 executives of companies in all global regions and industries found that 59% of respondents view biodiversity as an opportunity rather than a threat to their company. They identified opportunities to boost corporate reputations by taking action to preserve biodiversity or develop new products from renewable natural resources. 

Guardian urging specific actions to tackle biodiversity loss

from the BES blog

The Guardian last week published an article by George Monbiot and Guillaume Chapron, a researcher at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, calling for readers to nominate key actions which can make a significant difference to halting biodiversity loss worldwide. The authors are seeking actions which ‘make a major contribution to protecting a particular species or ecosystem and that are ’strongly and widely supported by scientific evidence published in academic journals; but that are politically costly or opposed by special interest groups.’

Submit ideas to the Biodiversity100 campaign or see what others have suggested at the Guardian website.  Readers have been given one month to submit their ideas, before the final list of 100 tasks, for presentation to G20 governments, is decided. 

A hundred days of the 'greenest-ever' government

In an era when everything environmental - including biodiversity, waste, and fish stocks - is measured with indicators announcing that you will be the UK's "greenest-ever government", begs a number of questions - most obviously, "measured how?" 

Minister launches practical guide to Northern Ireland's wetlands

Environment Minister Edwin Poots has launched the Fen Management Handbook at the Montiaghs Moss Nature Reserve. This new handbook brings together the latest technical knowledge and expertise from across the UK, including Northern Ireland, to produce guidance on management, restoration and creation of fens.

Speaking at the launch, Environment Minister, Edwin Poots said:  "Wetland ecosystems are rich in wildlife and add greatly to the landscape, by assisting in flood management and by locking in carbon they can help address climate change. Some wetlands have economic importance for everything from reeds for thatching, to angling, to pharmaceuticals and tourism." 

Climate change and the EU's regions

Led by cities, EU regions are playing a frontline role in the fight against climate change as they make key investment decisions regarding the new generation of clean energy and transport projects. 

Geoengineering 'not a solution' to sea-level rise

Even the most extreme geoengineering approaches will not stop sea levels from rising due to climate change, a study suggests. New research proposes that as many as 150 million people could be affected as ocean levels increases by 30cm to 70cm by the end of this century. This could result in flooding of low-lying coastal areas, including some of the world's largest cities.

Scientists led by John Moore from Beijing Normal University, China, write that to combat global warming, people need to concentrate on sharply curbing greenhouse gas emissions and not rely too much on proposed geoengineering methods. 

RSPCA calls for ban on UK zoos importing elephants

Animal protection charity the RSPCA has called on the government to ban zoos from importing elephants. The organisation said the creatures were "suffering" and more had to be done to address issues surrounding their welfare. On Thursday a government-commissioned report into elephant welfare said if zoos wanted a long-term "breeding population", they had to import. 

Food Security: Feeding the world in 2050

The Royal Society published a report on food security in this week’s Philosophical Transactions B. Each of the 21 papers from the report Food Security: Feeding the world in 2050 is available online,  

How greed begets hunger

Crop shortages alone are not behind global food crises. Speculators have been pushing prices up. 

Looming food crisis to hit Afghanistan and Africa first

Sub-Saharan Africa and Afghanistan have the most insecure food supplies in the world, while Nordic countries are least at risk, shows an index published yesterday (19 August). 

Invasive species project launched in south of Scotland

A fresh assault has been launched on invasive non-native species in Dumfries and Galloway. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) has announced a project to tackle the spread of harmful plants and animals in river catchment areas. Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam, giant hogweed, American mink and signal crayfish are among the species being targeted.

Reappointments to NERC Council

David Willetts, Minister for Universities & Science, has announced the reappointment of four independent academic members of the Natural Environment Research Council.

The reappointments are:

• Professor Paul Curran, Vice-Chancellor and Professor of Physical Geography, City University London
• Professor Mike Lockwood, Professor of Space Environment Physics in the Department of Meteorology, University of Reading and an Individual Merit Scientist at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory's Space Science & Technology Department
• Professor Tom Meagher, Professor and Chair of Plant Biology at the University of St Andrews
• Professor Marjorie Wilson, Professor of Igneous Petrogenesis at the institute of Geophysics, School of Earth & Environment and Pro-Dean for Research in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Leeds

They will all serve a second three-year term on the Council, until 31 July 2013.

The Minister also announced that Professor Anne Glover will continue to serve as a government member of the NERC Council for a further three years, in her capacity as Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland. 

Policy Blog makes it into ‘Top 50′

The BES Ecology and Policy Blog has been picked to feature on the list of the ‘Top 50 Public Policy Bloggers’, by the ‘Policy Police’, a site which scans the public policy blogosphere. The list includes categories on General Politics, Environment and Energy, Poverty and Homelessness, Education, Food and Drug and Health Care. 

Royal Society Prize for Science Books 2010 shortlist announced

The six books that make up the shortlist for this year’s Royal Society Prize for Science Books are essential reading for anybody who needs to understand the significance of science in everyday life, and for this reason the Royal Society will today be sending Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg complete sets of this year’s shortlist. 

Events

See the full listings on our webpage and contact us if you would like to highlight an event on this page.

New garden festival to celebrate bees and pollinators

A festival aiming to raise awareness of bees and pollinators is to be held at the University of Bristol's Botanic Garden.  A celebration of bees and pollination runs from 28-30 August and will draw attention to their decline in recent years.

Earth system science and climate: Policy relevant outcomes of the NERC QUEST programme

4 November 2010
Church House Conference Centre,
Westminster, London, SW1P 3NZ

The UK Natural Environment Research Council's programme Quantifying & Understanding the Earth System (QUEST) would like to invite you to its finale event on 4 November 2010 at Church House, London to celebrate its scientific achievements.

The scope of the research programme includes the global atmosphere, oceans, hydrological systems, the cryosphere (ice), biological systems, natural change (climate, volcanic eruptions) and human-induced change and consequences. Specifically, QUEST research projects are centred around the themes:

• How important are climate-biosphere feedbacks?
• How is atmospheric composition naturally regulated?
• How much climate change is "dangerous"?
• Managing the biosphere: what can be done to mitigate climate change?  

Open consultations

See http://www.societyofbiology.org/policy/consultations

Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands

The IUCN UK Peatland Programme’s Commission of Inquiry on Peatlands invites interested organisations and individuals to respond to draft Scientific Reviews of eight priority topics.

Responses should be emailed to the Inquiry team at consultation@iucn.org.uk as soon as possible and no later than Monday 20th September 2010.

The draft reviews will be discussed at the upcoming 'Investing in Peatlands - the Climate Challenge' conference at Durham University on 28-29th September. For more information, and to register for the conference, visit here.

The Commission of Inquiry will also examine wider issues of relevance to policy and land management practice and therefore is keen to receive general views on the priorities for delivering peatland restoration. An Open Inquiry event is to be held at the University of Edinburgh on 3 November 2010 which will take oral evidence based on these submissions.

18 August 2010

Research intelligence - A geneticist in the House

Julian Huppert admits that he feels the weight of expectation placed on him by a scientific community desperate for advocates in the new UK Parliament. The election in May of Dr Huppert, a University of Cambridge geneticist, was one of the few bright spots for science in a general election that saw many of its previous champions either retire or lose their seats. The Liberal Democrat is one of only two members of this Parliament with a science doctorate (the other is Therese Coffey, the Conservative member for Suffolk Coastal, who has a chemistry PhD) and the only one to have worked as a researcher. 

Farmers face losing thousands of pounds in public subsidies for protecting Britain's wildlife

Cuts to a scheme which rewards farmers who encourage biodiversity are being proposed by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which is expected to have to slash up to 40 per cent from its budget by 2014. A senior Government source said that the Higher Level Stewardship (HLS) subsidy, which is paid to thousands of farmers, faced being scaled back. It is claimed about 3,500 more farms were due to sign up to the scheme in the next 12 months but many of those agreements may now be unlikely to go ahead.

Wildlife groups have reacted with growing concern to the proposed cuts. Mark Avery, the director of conservation at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), said: "We are very worried Defra will be clobbered higher than other Government departments. This is a Government that promised to be the greenest ever but if they cut these grants to farms, wildlife will suffer."

Last night Richard Benyon, the Defra minister in charge of the natural environment, said his department had made its submissions to the Treasury but that no firm decisions had yet been taken on what would be axed or cut back. He said: "Reversing the decline in biodiversity and playing our part in ensuring this is the greenest government ever are top priorities for Defra."

Defra has one of the smallest departmental budgets – about £3 billion a year – and campaigners claim that as a result there is little of the wastage that might exist in larger departments. 

Defra ministers endorse campaign to protect farmland biodiversity

Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, Jim Paice, has announced that the Campaign for the Farmed Environment, an industry-led initiative which encourages farmers to voluntarily nurture wildlife on their land, is making progress and will continue, but farmers can still do more to ensure it continues to be successful.  

Fighting the food crisis

As wheat prices reach a 22 month high following severe drought in Russia, Katherine Sierra, vice-president for sustainable development at the World Bank warns of huge funding gaps affecting the world's ability to address food insecurity. 

US judge revokes approval of genetically modified beets

Sweets fans take note: the fate of the US sugar supply is now uncertain. A federal judge has revoked the approval of genetically modified sugar beets -– the source of half of the United States’ sugar.

After this year’s harvest, farmers will not be able to grow the crop until the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) completes an environmental impact assessment. The USDA approved the beets, which carry an herbicide-resistance gene, five years ago. In September 2009, Judge Jeffrey White of the Northern District of California determined that the USDA had not adequately considered the crop’s potential effects on the environment. Judge White then followed through last Friday with a ban on the crop pending the new environmental impact statement, a move reminiscent of a Supreme Court decision regarding genetically modified alfalfa earlier this year. 

Can yellow and blue really make green?

The new politics must deliver cross-party consensus and leadership for a low-carbon society, says Nick Reeves, executive director of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management.

The new politics must sweep aside old thinking and create a new economic model honed on the principle of nature, nurture and replenishment. It cannot, and must not, be a choice between the environment and the economy. 

New guidelines for genetic tests are welcome but insufficient

A common framework of principles for direct-to-consumer genetic testing, published on Aug 4 by the UK's Human Genetics Commission (HGC), is a commendably clear and detailed guideline about what constitutes good practice for commercial genetic testing. The guidelines cover the full range of genetic tests currently available—from diagnosis to ancestry tests—and set out minimum standards for consent, data protection, marketing, scientific rigour, and interpretation. Less clear, however, is what practical value the guidelines will have in the context of an international industry that crosses regulatory jurisdictions. 

India denounces report on politically incorrect superbug

The Indian government is up in arms about a Lancet Infectious Diseases paper that traces the movements of an insensitively named superbug.

The “New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) positive Enterobacteriaceae” comprise a new breed of multidrug-resistant bacterium. Germs carrying the NDM-1 gene fend off almost every known antibiotic, including the carbapenem family of drugs reserved as a last resort. Of the 29 UK patients found with NDM-1 germs, 17 had recently travelled to India or Pakistan, and several had been hospitalized while undergoing elective surgery.

For the Indian government, the statements about medical tourism added insult to the injury already created by naming the NDM-1 enzyme after the country’s capital city. "After seeing the research paper I strongly refute that hospitals in India are the source of the strain and strongly condemn naming the bacteria after New Delhi," said Director General of Health Services RK Srivastav. Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad noted that several study authors had pharmaceutical ties, while politician S. S. Ahluwalia called the report a "sinister design" of foreign multinational companies to undermine India's burgeoning medical tourism industry. 

Government summary and response to the consultation on Marine Licensing Enforcement

The Government has published a summary and response to the public consultation on the enforcement of the new marine licensing system to be introduced in spring 2011 under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The consultation closed on 1st June and sought views on secondary legislation to introduce:

•  a system of civil monetary penalties to address licensing offences proportionately
• a mechanism enabling appeals against statutory notices. 

Fighting the efficiency fallacies

Which is the more effective way to reduce your household's carbon footprint – turn off lights and appliances when you are not using them, or switch to more energy efficient devices?

Environmental experts say the latter will have a far greater impact on the greenhouse gas emissions that your home is responsible for, but research published this week suggests few of us realise it. 

Call to involve disabled people in HEFCE policy making

HEFCE invites disabled people and those in higher education who support them to become involved in HEFCE policy making over the next 12 months. Anyone wishing to do so is invited to express their interest by 24 September 2010. This would be a one-year commitment requiring little to no travel. 

New members appointed to Science & Innovation Strategy Board

NERC is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Terry Burke, Professor Stephen de Mora, Dr Catherine Duigan, Professor Paul Rodhouse and Dr James Wharfe to the Science & Innovation Strategy Board. 

A new form of protest?

The blogosphere is debating a new form of protest against the NHS funding of homeopathy. Responding to the recent controversy surrounding the story of how NHS Tayside is laying off 500 staff but advertising for a £68,000 p.a. homeopath to work 8 hours a week, science blogger David Briggs sparked the idea of professional scientists applying for the job as a form of casual protest. Unable to resist a passing bandwagon, Dr Dean Burnett applied and posted part of his application on line.
For more debate on homeopathy, read the Society of Biology blog.

Member Organisation Events

See the full listings on our webpage and contact us if you would like to highlight an event on this page.

Policy Lunchbox

Wednesday 1 September - Sense about Science

Current role: Leonor (Science and Policy Manager) and Sile (Public Liaison)
Talk title: Libel Law Reform Campaign - Update

Date and time: 12:30 - 14:00
Location: Charles Darwin House, London

Wednesday 6 October - Foresight

Speaker: Martin Glasspool (Foresight Central Team Leader, Government Office of Science)

Talk title: Horizon scanning and the work of Foresight

Time and place: 12:30 - 14:00 Charles Darwin House, London

Register here.

 

Events

GM insects

An open meeting to be held by the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment (ACRE) will take the form of an evidence-gathering workshop on GM insects. This will take place on Thursday 14th October 2010 from 9.30am – 1.00pm at Mary Sumner House, 24 Tufton St, London SW1P 3RB (the Mothers Union HQ). 3 expert speakers lined up will cover GM insects under development, risk assessment issues and a case study on potential releases for malaria control. If you are interested in attending please contact the ACRE secretariat at acre.secretariat@defra.gsi.gov.uk or 020 7238 2051. Registration closes on 14 September.

Whether or not you are able to attend in person, you are welcome to submit to the ACRE secretariat mailbox evidence or questions you wish the committee and experts to consider at the meeting. We have allowed plenty of opportunities for questions and discussion on the day. 

Communicate

3-4 November, Bristol.

Communicate is the annual conference for environmental communicators.
The theme for 2010 is "Connecting with Nature". Speakers include:
* David Attenborough, Broadcaster and Presenter
* Richard Benyon, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Natural Environment and Fisheries
* Fiona Reynolds, Director General, National Trust
* Martin Spray, Chief Executive, Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust
* Dan Epstein, Head of Sustainability, London 2012 Olympic Authority
* Ed Gillespie, Director, Futerra
* Simon Stuart, Head of IUCN Biodiversity Assessment Unit
* Lee Durrell, Honorary Director of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust
* Ken Banks, Founder of kiwanja.net
* And a range of other experts, speakers and chairs.

Open consultations

See http://www.societyofbiology.org/policy/consultations

Listing and marketing of conservation and amateur varieties of vegetables

Food and Environment Research Agency

Fera is inviting your views on the implementation of Commission Directive 2009/145/EC on conservation and amateur varieties of vegetables and its impact on unlisted vegetable varieties. The overall aim of the Directive is to promote the sustainable use of plant genetic resources, that is traditionally grown varieties and landraces and varieties of ‘no intrinsic value for crop production but developed for growing under particular conditions’. In practice, this means encouraging the marketing of conservation (or heritage) varieties and of varieties intended specifically for amateur gardeners. It aims to do this through simpler requirements, giving a cheaper and quicker route to National Listing and minimising seed production costs.

Closing date: 29 October 2010

 

11 August 2010 

Funding Science and Engineering – the CSR and beyond

Imran Khan is the Director of CaSE. In this blog he sets out current dangers to science and engineering, the process of the funding decisions, how the sector needs to respond, and challenges on the horizon.

Everyone in the sector recognises that regardless of how you prioritise – the science base and exploitation, pure versus applied, education against industry, or one –ology against another – that the interconnectedness and interdependency of all disciplines means that in order to defend any one field right now we need to make the economic case for the sector as a whole. The decisions about to be made in the next few months could radically alter the science and engineering landscape for decades. It’s vital that the sector does all it can now to influence them for the better. 

New rules to hand over powers to individuals and companies by cutting red tape and bureaucracy

The Business Secretary, Vince Cable, has announced a comprehensive package of measures to support the Government’s drive to tackle unnecessary government interference and red tape.

The measures will help transform the relationship between people and government by changing how regulations are drawn up, introduced and implemented. 

Piece by Piece

The current and previous Secretaries of State for the environment have contributed articles to a new initiative of the Guardian: Piece by Piece.

“A showcase for local campaigns fighting for the UK's natural habitats. The Guardian's piece by piece project will bring together groups working to save biodiversity from ill-conceived development “

Read the items by Caroline Spelman and Hilary Benn. 

UK businesses must plan for climate change says Environment Secretary

UK businesses need to be ready to face the risks and benefit from the opportunities that climate change could bring, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said.

A new survey of UK businesses and other organisations carried out for Defra by Ipsos MORI has found that while many businesses have been affected by the type of weather that climate change may bring, preparations for the impacts of climate change are not well advanced. Three quarters of the businesses surveyed were concerned about the effects of climate change on the UK and one in three (31%) had been significantly affected in the last three years by extreme weather such as flooding and drought. However, less than a quarter (23%) had actually started to do something about the risks and opportunities that climate change poses.

Speaking at the Met Office Hadley Centre, in Exeter, the UKs foremost climate change research centre, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said: “A warmer climate will bring both opportunities and challenges for businesses of all sizes. I want to ensure that UK businesses are well placed to take advantage of the new opportunities that arise as well as ensuring they are ready for the difficulties that higher temperatures and more adverse weather could mean for their staff and working practices.”

National Park Authorities

Minister for Environment Roseanna Cunningham has announced the appointment of new members to Scotland's National Parks. Five members have been appointed to both the boards of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs and Cairngorms National Park Authorities. These appointments will take effect from October 2, 2010.

Guidance published on wind energy development in Northern Ireland's landscapes

New Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG), to guide developers on the siting and design of wind energy development in Northern Ireland’s landscapes, has been published.

The SPG provides broad, strategic guidance in relation to the visual and landscape impacts of wind energy development. It includes general guidance on siting and design and advice on the landscape assessment of proposed developments. It is expected to speed up the planning process by ensuring appropriate and consistent consideration of landscape issues.

Minister Poots provided assurances that the guidance will not give undue weight to landscape over other issues. He said: “Planning Policy Statement 18 makes it clear that the wider environmental, economic and social benefits of all proposals for renewable energy projects will be given significant weight in determining whether planning permission should be granted. Therefore I am confident that planning decisions will take account of all the relevant factors.”

Agriculture Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Group hold inaugural meeting

A GHG Stakeholder Group has met to discuss how best to reduce greenhouse gases in the agriculture sector while remaining competitive in the market place.

The group is tasked with working to develop a strategy and action plan for the reduction of greenhouse gases in the agri-food sector. This will contribute to reduction targets at European and national levels and respond to customer requirements. A key focus of the group will be on methane and nitrous oxide emission levels and on how current levels can be reduced while production expands to meet rising food demand.

Top of the agenda at the meeting was the need to agree high level themes for a strategic approach. These included optimising manure, fertilizer and livestock management; renewable energy use on-farm; and sequestration (locking in) of emissions in soil, grass, peatland and woodland. A range of potential mitigation measures and practical steps, underpinned by scientific research, will be developed by the Group and brought together in an action plan to support delivery of an emissions reduction strategy.

Biodiversity and business. Pavan Sukhdev on the green economy

The head of the UN Environmental Programme's Green Economy Initiative on how to assign an economic value to nature.

Adapting to Climate Change

Defra has published its formal response to the Environment Audit Committee’s (EAC) report Adapting to Climate Change. The EAC report is a welcome endorsement of the need for further action to meet the challenge of climate change and drive up resilience to current and future risks. Defra agrees with the EAC’s central diagnosis – that adaptation is a crucial area and one that must now become a higher priority. The EAC has also acknowledged that Government has made good progress in laying the foundations for action on adaptation. The Government is already starting to engage local authorities and other interested parties on the nature and focus of specialist adaptation advice required for the future, and will continue to do so as a priority.

New £50 million cancer fund already intellectually bankrupt

Addressing an audience in 415 BC, Euphemus of Athens proclaimed that “for a man who is a tyrant or for a city that has an empire, nothing is irrational that is advantageous”. The UK Government's announcement of a £50 million fund for unapproved cancer drugs—a very modern triumph of political expediency over rationality—shows that Euphemus's line of reasoning is still a popular one with some politicians.

The fund will enable a doctor whose patient has had funding for a drug declined because it is not approved by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) to appeal to their regional Strategic Health Authority (SHA) panel. These panels will have the power to overrule NICE, and draw on their share of the £50 million to fund the patient's drugs.

Remarkably, health ministers claimed that the fund would not undermine NICE. But, let us be clear: it not only undermines NICE, it undermines the entire concept of a rational and evidence-based approach to the allocation of finite health-care resources.

Health Secretary chairs alcohol summit

A minimum price for alcohol will be confirmed before the next stage of the Alcohol (Scotland) Bill, it was announced ahead of a cross-party meeting addressing ways of tackling Scotland's unhealthy relationship with alcohol. The Scottish Government favours minimum pricing as the most effective way of tackling the cost of alcohol misuse.

Speaking following the meeting, Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said: "We agreed that action on price was an essential part of tackling Scotland's alcohol misuse problems. The Scottish Government has proposed minimum pricing as the most effective way of doing this. However, following today's meeting we will consider any workable alternatives, and as a result have asked the opposition parties to submit further details on what they have proposed today.” 

DSM-5: diagnosis of mental disorders

In the Journal of Mental Health this month, the diagnosis of mental disorders is discussed with focus on the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), which is undergoing draft revisions and is scheduled to be published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in May, 2013. Proposed changes to DSM-5 include the addition of autism spectrum disorders, revision to binge-eating disorder, and deletion of some types of schizophrenia. A concern is that inclusion of more mental disorders in DSM-5 might be of greater benefit to drug companies than to the patients and their families. The APA is being open and welcoming feedback for the fifth edition of DSM from mental health professionals and researchers, and from individuals with mental illnesses and their families. This opportunity should not be missed by anyone who might be able to provide input into DSM-5, thereby making a positive difference to people with or at risk of a mental disorder.

GM plants 'established in the wild'

Researchers in the US have found new evidence that genetically modified crop plants can survive and thrive in the wild, possibly for decades. A University of Arkansas team surveyed countryside in North Dakota for canola. Transgenes were present in 80% of the wild canola plants they found.

Houses may replace Europe's largest collection of crops

New private homes could replace Europe's largest collection of fruits and berries, if a Russian court rules the land could be sold to property developers. The Pavlovsk experimental station near the Russian city of St Petersburg is the biggest European field seed bank and one of the largest in the world. Thousands of varieties of plants and crops there are found nowhere else.

Recently, the Global Crop Diversity Trust appealed to the Russian authorities to save the collection, which many scientists call an irreplaceable biological heritage.

Agricultural scientist Nikolai Vavilov built the seed bank - thought to be one of the oldest in the world - in 1926, to preserve biodiversity and enable the breeding of new crop varieties.

"The collection is a source of genes to develop many new varieties of fruits and berries, and it is also a huge cultural heritage," Sergey Alexanian, head of the Department of International Relations at the Vavilov Institute, told BBC News. He said the Pavlovsk collection holds about 320,000 samples of fruits and berries - 100 varieties each of gooseberries, raspberries and cherries, and more than 1,000 varieties of strawberries. About 90% of the varieties of crops there are unique, he added.

Concern over Iceland and Faroe Islands mackerel quota action

UK Fisheries Minister, Richard Benyon, has  expressed his concern at the decision of the Governments of Iceland and the Faroe Islands to award arbitrary fishing quota for Mackerel.

Lord Davies of Abersoch to report on how Government can remove obstacles to women making it to the board 

Government announces new aspiration, by the end of the Parliament at least half of all new appointees being made to the boards of public bodies will be women

Business Minister Edward Davey and Lynne Featherstone, Minister for Equalities, have  announced that Lord Davies of Abersoch will develop a business strategy to increase the number of women on the boards of listed companies in the UK.

Business Minister Edward Davey said: “Diversity on boards is a very important issue and something that the Coalition Government is very committed to. This is why the Government wants to lead by example on this issue, announcing today its aim to place women in at least half of all open board level roles by the end of the Parliament.”

The Coalition Government wants to lead by example, and tackle the gender imbalance of the boards of public sector organisations. These organisations include Quangos, Executive Agencies, NHS bodies, as well as government departments. In March 2009, there were over 12,000 men and women serving on the boards of around 1,100 public bodies. The Coalition Government is setting itself the aspiration that by the end of the Parliament at least half of all new appointees being made to the boards of public bodies will be women. These appointments will continue to be made on merit, and the Government will step up its efforts to attract qualified women to public positions and ensure that working practices and conditions are family-friendly.

Widening Public Involvement in Dialogue

Mass engagement – the why and how of undertaking larger scale engagement projects which use ‘upscaled’ dialogue techniques. This research explores issues involved in widening the involvement of the public in dialogue activities and provides guidance to policy makers on when it is appropriate to involve larger numbers of the public in dialogue exercises - for the purposes of this project, large-scale is defined as in excess of 100 people.

Opportunity for NERC policy placement fellowship in Defra

Over the forthcoming year, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) wishes to strategically review its portfolio of recent and current research on the impacts of air pollution on ecosystems. This is in order to ensure future evidence needs for policy development are met. Defra is looking for a scientist with the appropriate expertise to lead this review as a temporary fellowship. Closing date: 31 August 2010.

International Year of Biodiversity Photography Competition

The UN has designated 2010 the 'International Year of Biodiversity’. To celebrate, the Society of Biology has organised an exciting photography competition. Entrants are asked to capture images that celebrate, explore, comment on or reveal aspects of biodiversity from around the world.
The competition is free, open to all and includes £2,000 worth of prizes! So get snapping, but before you do visit the website to review the competition rules.

Science Communication Awards

Nominations are requested for the Science Communication Awards 2010, which recognise bioscience researchers from UK universities and institutes who make an outstanding and consistent contribution to communicating science to the public. Visit our website for full details.

Member Organisation Events

See the full listings on our webpage and contact us if you would like to highlight an event on this page.

Policy Lunchbox events

Wednesday 1 September - Sense about Science

Current role: Leonor (Science and Policy Manager) and Sile (Public Liaison)
Talk title: Libel Law Reform Campaign - Update

Date and time: 12:30 - 14:00
Location: Charles Darwin House, London

Events

Women Mean Business - UKRC National Conference 2010

12 October, 2010, London

The UKRC's Women Mean Business conference is the outstanding event this year for all organisations and individuals that share our commitment to building gender equality in science, engineering and technology. In a time of recession and recovery, innovation, enterprise and talent are key - and gender equality matters all the more. Join us to celebrate and emphasise the contribution of women as scientists, engineers, technologists and more. Women Mean Business brings together dynamic keynote speakers who are leaders in their fields, including Professor Lord Robert Winston, Aleks Krotoski and Julie Meyer.

Be part of a unique networking opportunity with 400 delegates from a wide range of sectors and specialisms. Book at: www.theukrc.org

 

Open consultations

See http://www.societyofbiology.org/policy/consultations

Opinions on improving regulation wanted

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

The new Task Force on Farming Regulation are calling for opinions and ideas on ways to improve approaches to regulation as part of a wide ranging consultation. The Task Force has been challenged to find ways of reducing the bureaucratic burdens that English farmers and food producers face.

Closing date: 31 October 2010 

 

4 August 2010

Committee contribute to 2010 spending review

The Science and Technology Committee have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer making a contribution to the Government's deliberations on the 2010 Spending Review.

BIS responds to Science and Technology Select Committees’ reports

The Government has published two command papers setting out its response to reports published during the previous Parliament by the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee on Impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research and the Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on Setting priorities for publicly funded research.

Minister for Universities and Science David Willetts said: “The Government welcomes the Select Committees’ wide ranging enquiries which are a valuable contribution to the public debate on this issue. Science is vital to our future as a nation in a global knowledge economy. We expect to have a stable framework for the science and research budget, after the Government's Spending Review is completed. I am committed to supporting the science community and encouraging scientific understanding more widely so we can tackle society’s major challenges.

“The Government has noted the concerns highlighted by the Committees and others about the Research Excellence Framework, and work has begun on a method of assessing the impact of research across all disciplines. As I announced earlier this month, there will be a one-year delay to the implementation of the REF so we can see whether a robust impact assessment methodology can be developed.” 

'Choice' fetish spawns mind-meltingly stupid homeopathy policy

The UK government's rejection of a damning Commons report on homeopathy leaves Martin Robbins baffled and depressed. 

Vince Cable appoints new Chief Executive for the Medical Research Council and reappoints the Chair

Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Vince Cable announced the appointment of Sir John Savill as Chief Executive and Deputy Chair of the Medical Research Council (MRC).

Announcing the appointment the Secretary of State said: “I am pleased to welcome Sir John Savill as the new Chief Executive of the Medical Research Council. He has an excellent background as a clinician scientist and is highly regarded in the research and clinical academic communities. With his extensive experience in leadership roles he will be a great asset to the Council.” The appointment is for three years. Sir John Savill will take up post on 1 October 2010 as successor to Sir Leszek Borysiewicz.

Vince Cable also announced the reappointment of Sir John Chisholm as Chair of the MRC. 

Ministers to review curb on doctors hours

Ministers are to review European rules that restrict the number of hours doctors can work. Surgeons have long challenged the 48-hour limit on their working week saying it puts patients' lives at risk. About 80% of 980 NHS surgeons and surgical trainees surveyed said care had worsened since the European Working Time Directive started last August.

A Department of Health spokesman said the way the directive was being applied was "clearly unsatisfactory". 

'DIY genetics tests' guidelines published

Experts concerned about the availability of DIY genetic tests have launched guidelines for the industry. A growing number of private companies offer direct-to-consumer tests that estimate a person's risk of diseases such as cancer, based on their genes.

The Human Genetics Commission is concerned people are buying kits online without counselling or enough information to interpret the results. This can leave some falsely reassured or unduly worried, it says. The HGC says tests for serious hereditary diseases - like Huntington's and breast cancer - should only be provided with the offer of counselling both before and after testing. 

UK aid to combat malaria

The Government is set to put the fight against malaria at the forefront of aid efforts in Africa, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell announced.

A comprehensive ‘malaria business plan’ will set out how the UK will support the drastic reduction in the number of people who die from the killer disease each year and outline action to sustain those gains, now and in the future.

Evidence from across Africa also shows that whilst many of those with malaria do not get effective drugs, a large proportion of anti-malarial treatments are given to people who do not actually have malaria.

In addition to increasing the availability and use of bed-nets and effective antimalarial drugs, the Government will help improve the diagnosis of malaria and ensure that the most effective interventions reach the most vulnerable people.

The UK will also support measures to reduce the spread of resistance to drugs and to the insecticides used to make bed-nets effective.

Launching a public consultation that will gather evidence from UK and international experts for the malaria business plan, Chancellor, George Osborne MP said: "With over 2,000 preventable deaths a day from malaria, most of them children, I am determined that the fight against malaria is at the forefront of the Government’s development agenda. 

UK and India seeking cooperation on science and technology

The UK and India are planning wide-ranging agreements in science and technology to cement bilateral cooperation in medicine, R&D, ICT, energy and education to the benefit of both counties. The plans were unveiled in the southern Indian cities of Bangalore and Chennai.

Prime Minister David Cameron is leading a major delegation to India of UK Government ministers, including Business Secretary Dr. Vince Cable and Universities and Science Minister David Willetts. The delegation also includes businesspeople, academics and cultural figures.

In a keynote speech in Bangalore at Infosys, India’s largest IT company, the Prime Minister discussed cooperation on science and technology. He said:

• UK and India research funders have committed up to £60 million worth of jointly-funded research into climate change, water and food security and disease prevention.

• And the Wellcome Trust has announced £45 million of research with the Indian Department of Biotechnology on affordable healthcare. 

Humanity needs to take 'giant leap'

Humanity needs a project with the vision and budget of the Apollo space programme if it is going to make the necessary giant leap towards sustainability, says Owen Gaffney. In this week's Green Room, he says researchers from all scientific disciplines are developing a project that may just fit the bill. 

Coalition ''must go further'' on climate change

The coalition government must take greater steps in addressing climate change, Conservative MP and Chair of the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee, Tim Yeo has warned. Western countries, including Britain, risk being left behind in the low carbon technology industry, he suggests, as countries such as China invest heavily in this field.
"Working towards a low carbon economy is not a "luxury"; it is essential to our future prosperity," he says. "If we fail to decarbonise our electricity industry, our transport system and our buildings we will fall behind our competitors abroad and pay a much heavier price financially in the future."
Although the Coalition Agreement contains a range of environmental pledges – from increasing the target for renewable energy to creating a green investment bank – Yeo argues in a new publication, Green Gold: The Case for Raising our Game on Climate Change, that the country must go much further and that David Cameron must lead the radical approach. 

How to feed a hungry world

Producing enough food for the world's population in 2050 will be easy. But doing it at an acceptable cost to the planet will depend on research into everything from high-tech seeds to low-tech farming practices. 

EFSA searching for scientific experts

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) has invited highly qualified scientists in a wide range of scientific fields and with expertise in carrying out scientific risk assessments, to apply to join two of its Scientific Panels. 

EFSA delivers new scientific opinion on assessing the possible allergenicity of GMOs

EFSA’s Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Panel has adopted a scientific opinion on strategies for assessing the risk of allergenicity of GM plants and microorganisms and derived food and feed. This opinion is part of EFSA’s ongoing effort to ensure that its risk assessment always reflects the latest scientific developments and addresses the widest range of potential concerns.

In its opinion, the Panel concludes that, as there is no single test to assess the allergenicity of a GM food or feed, a case-by-case evaluation based on a weight-of-evidence approach is the most appropriate way to do this.

In the opinion, the Panel describes how to analyse the sequence of the proteins in order to identify possible similarities with known allergens; how to test the potential of the proteins to bind with specific antibodies (suggesting they could trigger an allergic reaction); and how to assess the breakdown of the protein during digestion. In addition to assessing the new protein, the Panel recommends that for crops known to be allergenic, the whole GM plant is tested for allergenicity. 

Food justice: the report of the Food and Fairness Inquiry

The report, published by The Food Ethics Council, is the result of a year-long investigation into social justice in food and farming, undertaken by a committee of respected and influential figures from across the food sector.  

Big Society can help tackle Ragwort risk

Tackling Common Ragwort can be a practical example of the Big Society in action, Agriculture Minister Jim Paice said. With the Common Ragwort season in full bloom, Mr Paice is calling on landowners, local groups and nature-lovers to work together to help control the toxic weed.

The innocuous yellow flower makes an important contribution to wildlife and biodiversity, and eradication would have a detrimental effect on the environment, but it can have a devastating effect on horses and other animals such as cattle, sheep and donkeys.

Mr Paice said: “This little flower may look like a pretty yellow daisy but it spreads easily and can poison horses and other animals – so tackling this problem can be a practical example of the Big Society working together to be part of the solution to control the spread. 

Wild bird populations: farmland birds in England 2009

Key results

• The unsmoothed farmland bird population index for England, covering 19 species, decreased by 5 per cent between 2008 and 2009. The index is now at its lowest recorded value, at 53 per cent lower than its 1966 starting value. 
• Twelve species (almost two-thirds of those included in the index) declined between 2008 and 2009 - Kestrel, Lapwing, Grey Partridge, Skylark, Starling, Greenfinch, Tree Sparrow, Yellow Wagtail, Linnet, Wood Pigeon, Corn Bunting and Rook. This decline was significant for the first six species listed. For many species, the decline between 2008 and 2009 is a continuation of downward trends evident over at least the last four or five years.
• Seven species increased between 2008 and 2009 – Goldfinch, Jackdaw, Reed Bunting, Stock Dove, Turtle Dove, Whitethroat and Yellowhammer. Most of these, for example Goldfinch and Jackdaw, have shown long-term upward trends.

Bird populations are considered to be a good indicator of the broad state of wildlife because birds occupy a wide range of habitats, they tend to be near or at the top of food chains and there is considerable long-term data on changes in bird populations which helps with the interpretation of shorter term fluctuations. 

Gildernew discusses CAP reform with RSPB

Agriculture Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has met with a delegation from RSPB to discuss EU plans to reform the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

Speaking after the meeting the Minister said: “I welcomed the opportunity to meet with the RSPB and build on the very positive and productive relationship that already exists between DARD and the Society. This meeting has given me a better understanding of the RSPB’s position and concerns on the future reform of the CAP and there is a good deal of common ground in terms of our respective positions.”

In conclusion, she added: “My Department will undertake a full consultation with stakeholders after the EU Commission publishes its first Communication on the future of the CAP post 2013, which is expected towards the end of this year. In the meantime, I am happy to receive the views of all interested parties.” 

Measuring progress sustainable development indicators 2010

This report brings together an extensive range of economic, social and environmental indicators to provide a statistical overview of the country’s progress. The publication covers a wide range of topics of everyday concern such as health, housing, jobs, crime, education, and our environment, all of which may affect whether we can live more sustainably in the future. 

SPICe Briefing

Invasive Non-Native Species

Research briefings are written by research specialists in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (SPICe). SPICe research briefings are for use by MSPs in support of parliamentary business in the Committees and in the Chamber and are always impartial. 

Interview with James Wilsdon

James Wilsdon is the Director of the Science Policy Centre at the Royal Society; he coordinates the Society’s UK and international policy work. 

A review of public perceptions of ethical issues from the Sciencewise dialogues

Sciencewise-ERC has completed 13 public dialogues on controversial and emerging science and technology policy areas since 2005. The dialogues always focus in on social, ethical, risk or governance issues, but are there consistency messages in what the public have had to say about science? 

RCUK Large Facilities Roadmap 2010

Research Councils UK has released the Large Facilities Roadmap 2010. This roadmap is an overview of research facilities that are under construction or planned by RCUK and of other emerging facilities, in the UK and overseas, that are currently considered to be priorities for UK research. 

Member Organisation Events 

See the full listings on our webpage and contact us if you would like to highlight an event on this page.

Policy Lunchbox events

Wednesday 6 October - Foresight

Speaker: Martin Glasspool (Foresight Central Team Leader, Government Office of Science)

Talk title: Horizon scanning and the work of Foresight

Time and place: 12:30 - 14:00 Charles Darwin House, London

Tuesday 14 December - House of Commons Science and Technology Committee

Speaker: Andrew Miller MP (Chair, House of Commons Science and Technology Committee)

Talk title: Scrutinising science in Government

Time and place: 12:30 - 14:00 Charles Darwin House, London 

Ecosystem services and the delivery of health benefits

British Library, London, 28 September 2010, 10:30 am – 5:00 pm

The Natural Capital Initiative and the British Library are hosting a one day seminar to discuss how health considerations can be integrated into the ecosystem approach and into planning and development decisions more broadly.
Preliminary programme:
Prof Sir Kenneth Calman, Chancellor of the University of Glasgow
Prof Michael Depledge FSB, European Centre for Environment and Human Health,
Dr Jo Barton, University of Essex
Dr Linda Beale, Small Area Health Statistics Unit, Imperial College
Prof Hugh Montgomery FSB, Institute of Human Health and Performance, UCL
Dr Kate Jones, Zoological Society of London
Further speakers to be confirmed.

To register your interest in the event, please contact Dr Laura Bellingan policy@societyofbiology.org or Francesca Booker nciintern@societyofbiology.org giving your name, affiliation and area of interest.

Food Security & Safety Meeting

The SEB’s Education and Public Affairs Symposium is taking place in Lancaster from 13 – 15 September . This interdisciplinary Symposium is a unique opportunity for bioscientists, technologists, social scientists, specialists in ethics, economics and policy to come together to share their research information and expertise. Talks will be followed by periods of discussion with plenty of opportunity for delegates to network, identify potential inter- and cross-disciplinary collaborations and build on current knowledge.

Registration for the meeting will close on 27 August. 

 

Events

Parliament holds bill workshop on energy and green economy

Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament, 10 September 2010, 9.30am to 12.

The Houses of Parliament is to provide a free workshop for groups and organisations interested in issues relating to energy and the green economy, on how to engage with Parliament’s scrutiny of legislation.

The event is being run as part of Parliament’s efforts to encourage more groups to engage with legislative scrutiny. It has been organised by the Parliamentary Outreach team and will be strictly non-partisan.

The workshop will include information on:

• submitting evidence to a Public Bill Committee in the Commons
• engaging with members of the Lords as they consider a Bill
• accessing independent House of Commons Library research
• tracking the progress of a Bill online

Experts from the Houses of Parliament will be on hand to answer any questions on the parliamentary scrutiny of a Bill.
The workshop is free to attend and open to any individual or organisation with an interest in energy and the green economy.

Places are limited so please telephone or e-mail parliamentaryoutreach@parliament.uk to book in advance. 

Biodiversity Beyond 2010: Missed Targets, New Opportunities

IEEM Autumn Conference, 2-4 November 2010, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland

This conference aims to:

• investigate how biodiversity policies and legislation including the Common Agricultural Policy, Fisheries Policy and the Marine and Coastal Access Bill) are affecting and driving biodiversity conservation; 
• showcase biodiversity tools and methods available to ecologists; and
• review case studies of some of the more practical methods used in biodiversity projects.

The conference will consider future targets and approaches to biodiversity conservation.

 

Open consultations

See http://www.societyofbiology.org/policy/consultations

 Views sought on Commission's 'TSE Roadmap 2'

The Food Standards Agency, Defra and the Welsh Assembly Government are jointly inviting people to share their views on the European Commission's 'TSE Roadmap 2' and the accompanying Commission staff working document. Although the roadmap contains no specific proposals or timetable for change, it identifies areas where changes could be made to TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathy) measures in the future.

The responses to this informal consultation will help develop the UK’s policy on TSE control measures and will be used specifically to inform the response to a short questionnaire from the Presidency of the European Council.

The closing date to this informal consultation is 25 August 2010. 

Behaviour Change

House of Lords Science and Technology Committee

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee is to investigate the use of behaviour change interventions to achieve policy goals.

To meet many of the societal challenges we are currently facing – such as achieving an 80 per cent reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 or reducing the burden on the health service as a result of smoking, drinking or the rise in obesity – individual and collective behaviour will need to change significantly. Governments, therefore, are becoming increasingly interested in understanding how they can influence the way we behave using a range of different types of behaviour change policy interventions that rely on measures other than prohibition or the elimination of choice.

The Committee will conduct two case studies as part of the wider inquiry. The first case study will look at the use of behaviour change policy interventions to tackle obesity. The second will focus on community-based interventions and will be announced in October 2010. The Committee will hold public meetings from November 2010 and the Committee’s report will be published during the summer of 2011.

Closing date: 8 October 2010.