SEB Bulletin July 2007
Voice of the Future 2007
Voice of the Future 2007 - who's listening?
Royal Society of Chemistry - Voice of the Future 2007 with the Select Committee for Science and Technology Portcullis House, Westminster.
Back Row (from Left to Right) Mr. James Cottam (Oxford University), Mr. Ramin Lolachi (Oxford University), Dr. Evan Harris MP, Mr. Phil Willis (MP and Chair of Select Committee), Dr. Richard Pike (RSC Chief Executive) , Miss Anne Osterrieder (Oxford Brookes University), Dr. Imogen Sparkes (Oxford Brookes University), Dr. Brian Iddon MP, Dr. Stephen Benn (Parliamentary Advisor to the RSC)
Front Row (from Left to Right) Mr. Leigh Fletcher (Oxford University), Mr. Richard Branch (Oxford University), Dr. Carly Howett (Oxford University), Mr. Hugh Mortimer (Oxford University)
“Voice of the Future 2007” (VOF) was organised by the Royal Society of Chemistry in order to enable dialogue between more than 200 young scientists, from A-level science students to postdocs and engineers, and members of parliament.
The event took place on the 13th March 2007 in Portcullis House in London, a relatively new and heavily secured part of the House of Commons. The main focuses of the event were an hour-long session with the Science Minister, Malcolm Wicks MP, followed by nearly two hours of questions answered by members of the Science & Technology Select Committee. Also we had arranged beforehand to meet our local MPs Andrew Smith (Oxford East) and Dr Evan Harris (Oxford West and Abingdon and member of the select committee) which gave us the opportunity to address some issues face to face.
The Committee selected questions submitted by the audience during lunch and did their best to answer them - although in our opinion they seemingly hand-picked those which were relatively easy for them to discuss such as climate change and sustainable energy and scientific strategies to tackle them, nanotechnology, or if and how creationism should be taught in schools (as belief).
Malcolm Wicks began by emphasising the importance of science and that Britain nowadays would be a “knowledge economy” rather than a manufacturing economy. This is a recurring theme we also heard Tony Blair talk of in his recent appearance in Oxford. All too easily it was suggested that scientists should develop their ideas into industrial / commercial applications perhaps even before setting foot in the lab. Any scientist worth their salt knows that ideas and hypothesis need to be first tested in the lab before even thinking and planning about downstream applications - great ideas are flawed in the initial stages, but that's why science is fun and challenging. It also implies that fundamental science without direct commercialisation is less worthy of funding. Were Watson and Crick thinking about this when they discovered the structure of DNA? If ministers see science as a logical calculated paper exercise without flaws that takes five minutes to carry out then we are doomed. Real science is not like popular TV shows such as C.S.I. (where DNA sequencing takes the time it takes to press print). If it were, then we would all have finished our PhDs in two weeks and have at least one Nobel prize before the age of 30! Funnily enough, the perception of science and scientists in the public and the role of the media in supporting or distorting this picture were discussed at VOF.
Malcolm Wicks also enthused about making science relevant to the younger generation by engaging current scientists in school outreach programmes. In the audience members of the Youth Parliament requested that the science curriculum in schools be updated and made more accessible, exciting and relevant to pupils. Current policies however are not tackling fundamental issues at the grass root level. How can disillusioned postdocs encourage the next generation if they feel unworthy and lack enthusiasm? Yes, people enter science because they are passionate about the subject, however in reality short term contracts, extremely competitive funding, no security and feeling like there is no united voice for postdocs, does tend to wear down even the more passionate scientist. Perhaps, the government would like us to go into schools and paint this 'rosey' picture of science?
VOF, is anyone listening? Yes, but is anyone acting on it? If you feel strongly about these issues we would urge you to contact and lobby your local MP (http://www.parliament.uk/directories/hciolists/alms.cfm).
Imogen Sparkes, Anne Osterrieder
Oxford-Brookes University