SEB Bulletin January 2006 - In this issue
The future is here! - I write this in December as if it were already January. The future of science, science education, Science & Society and the planet itself are just a few examples of major issues which will be of great pertinence to our SEB membership. But what can we do to influence this future and to shape it as a biological learned society? We can act in a number of ways including trying to influence policy, through communication and by actual technological developments and breakthroughs via the rich innovative research practised by our member biologists. The latter, however, as we know from the experience of the reaction to GM technology, is not always the answer, and strategies to influence policy and public opinion are also key to making future technologies possible. The UK government is already preparing itself for the future in order to counter potential negative public reaction to nanotechnology and a possible return to the use of nuclear power. But how does the SEB intend to tackle future issues? Where does its voice and its innovative science lie?
In this issue we launch a new section series entitled Future Perspectives, the aim of which is to showcase new technologies for the future. In this issue, we highlight the innovative research of Professor Jim Barber, and his group at Imperial, in relation to climate change: the potential for harnessing water-splitting energy produced by plants as a new alternative energy source. This series, which will highlight the excellent work of research biologists, will serve to promote the new technologies and innovative thinking of our membership with an emphasis on their potential future benefit to society. If you would like to contribute to this series please contact me.
In his president's letter, Roger Leigh, has highlighted the relatively new Biosciences Federation (BSF) which, established in 2002, aims to promote biology on behalf of UK learned societies and organisations. As a member of this overarching body, the SEB benefits from having its voice heard along with those of other scientific stakeholders making it louder and more noticeable. Acting coherently in this way, some of the major issues facing the future of biology (and much of science) are being communicated (and heard) at the highest levels of government and across society. Recent responses made by the BSF on behalf of its affiliated societies include: Building on Success; Science Policy Priorities 2005 - 2009; Enthusing the next generation. See www.bsf.ac.uk for the full reports.
The latter report on enthusing the next generation was timely as its launch coincided with the BSF's Education Colloquium 2005 'Student Employability - whose job is it anyway?'. This event aimed to tackle the problems which biology currently faces with respect to its role as a subject in schools, in universities and as a foundation for a future career. Since many school students see the sciences as 'hard' and those who reach undergraduate level are attracted to the more 'sexy' subjects of sports and forensic science, what does the future hold for biological research and how can we encourage more students to engage in the subject? A further more prominent document will be written and submitted early in 2006 to highlight these issues more widely.
The SEB is continuing with its dedicated training bursary for a postgraduate or early-career post-doc to work within its External Affairs office to provide a prominent press service to its membership and delegates during the SEB Conference in Canterbury. Previous winners of this bursary have gone into rewarding careers within the field of science communication and have won competitions and prizes for their expert science writing skills. If you are interested and have some experience put in an application. If you can't afford the time off and still want to enhance your science writing skills you could offer your services to the SEB Bulletin as Laura Blackburn has done this issue sees her third Teaching & Learning article for the SEB this month on the topic of 'Nitric oxide effects in plants'.
Finally, looking at the near future, don't forget to register for the SEB Annual Main Meeting in April. We look forward to seeing you in Canterbury!
Sarah Blackford
Editor