SEB Bulletin January 2007
Biosciences Federation news update
The BSF has grown in strength during last year. This is because we have made two important appointments to help with the policy work. First, we have recruited Dr Caroline Wallace. She will have particular responsibility for our Animal Science Group and European Liaison Group. Caroline has a PhD in molecular biology and has worked with us for the last two years in a contract/consultancy role. The second appointee is Dr Richard Bateman. He has resigned from a senior position at The Natural History Museum to become our Head of Policy in a part time capacity. With his background in systematics and plant science he will increase the width of our “in house” skill base. These important appointments have become possible because of increased membership and, importantly, a substantial voluntary increase in the subscription paid by several Member Organisations. As a consequence of these appointments we will be even more effective than hitherto in reacting to Government and other enquiries and initiatives. More significantly, we will be able to be more proactive. That is, we can start to identify initiatives as they are born and influence their gestation, and also give birth to some ourselves. In this context, the BSF will look to you, the Member Organisation and the individual, to help with horizon scanning and the identification of areas where we should take the lead.
By the time you read this we will have submitted our views about new RAE metrics to the Department for Education and Skills. The BSF strongly holds the view that a metrics-only approach to the RAE after 2008 is wholly undesirable. The Federation takes the view that metrics should be there to guide and inform panels but we cannot imagine a suitable series of stand alone algorithms for dealing with all the complexities and different emphases across the biosciences. We also hold the view that metrics should not only be about inputs (for example, grant income) but also about outputs (for example, citations). However the key element is that metrics are assessed by people and not software.
How do we undertake these policy reviews? From this summer we have developed a closer relationship with your Society in order that we might work together more effectively on key policy issues for the biosciences. As an issue comes to the fore, we write to all Member Organisations and ask them if they want to nominate someone to be a member of an ad hoc task force to work on our response. Therefore if this sort of work interests you at all - and you have something to say (!) - you should let the Society know.
And finally, are you a postdoc or graduate student looking for a job? If you are, you should find a new page on our web site helpful. This page provides links with very many of the sites that you might want to look at for job advertisements. If you think that there are important links missing please inform Dr Emma Southern (http://esouthern.bsf@physoc.org/).
Richard Dyer
CEO, Biosciences Federation