Government's Chief Scientific Advisor gives evidence on priorities for scientific research
22 July 2014
Lords Science and Technology Committee investigates ahead of forthcoming UK Science and Innovation Strategy
Background
Professor Sir Mark Walport, the Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor, will on Tuesday 22 July give evidence to the Lords Science and Technology Committee on the future research priorities for the UK.
The Government are set to publish their Science and Innovation Strategy for the UK in the autumn which will set out the future shape and scale of the UK's science and innovation system. The Lords Committee, which is holding its final evidence session of its short inquiry, will ask Sir Mark Walport about the key challenges that the UK needs to address to maintain its global leadership position. He will also be asked about how research priorities should be set and who should set them.
Questions
Questions witnesses may be asked include:
- What are the key challenges that the Government’s Science and Innovation Strategy must tackle?
- What are the UK’s main priorities for scientific research?
- Should we prioritise according to direct benefit to society?
- Should we prioritise according to economic benefits to UK plc?
- Should we aim for excellence in a few areas, rather than competence across them all?
- Who should decide where we as a country should focus our research – the researchers or the funders?
- Where does the research strategy leave the overall science budget?
Witnesses
Tuesday 22 July, Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster
At 10.40am
- Professor Duncan Wingham, CEO, Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) – representing the Research Councils;
- Professor Luke Georghiou, Vice-President for Research and Innovation, University of Manchester; and
- Dr Jane Osbourn, Site Leader for MedImmune in Cambridge and VP Research, AstraZeneca
At 11.40am
- Professor Sir Mark Walport, Government’s Chief Scientific Advisor