SUMMARY OF CST MEETING ON 20/21JUNE 2005
Attendees
1. The meeting was chaired in part by Sir Keith Peters and in part by Sir David King. The other members present were:
Professor Sir John Beringer; Professor Geoffrey Boulton; Professor Janet Finch; Professor Wendy Hall; Dr Hermann Hauser; Dr Dieter Helm; Professor Alan Hughes; Dr Sue Ion; Dr Rob Margetts: Sir Paul Nurse; Dr Raj Ragopal; Professor Michael Sterling; Professor Kathy Sykes; Dr Mark Walport
2. Also in attendance for parts of the meeting were: Sally Davies, Director of Research and Development, Department of Health; David Harper, Director of Health Protection, Department of Health; John Neilson, Director, Science and Engineering Base Group, OST; Jeremy Clayton, Director, Transdepartmental Science and Technology, OST; Ashley Ibbett, Deputy Director, EU R&D Policy, OST.
Conclusions
Two new priorities for CST’s work programme were agreed and subgroups established to take the work forward:
- Scientific input to Public Health: CST will look at the use of scientific evidence in policy making across government with a specific focus on evidence relating to health impacts. The work will be taken forward by a subgroup comprising: Professor Janet Finch (convenor), Sir Keith Peters, Dr Mark Walport, Sir John Beringer.
- The research endeavour: CST is stepping back to look broadly at what is needed to keep the UK at the forefront of international research, a place where new and exciting ideas across the blue skies – applied spectrum flourish. The sub-group will be taken forward by a subgroup: Professor Wendy Hall (convenor), Professor Geoffrey Boulton, Dr Sue Ion, Sir Paul Nurse, Professor Michael Sterling, Professor Kathy Sykes.
Ongoing work includes:
- Innovation: CST is exploring what actions could be taken to increase private sector R&D spend, focussing particularly on the services sector and corporate venturing.
- Personal data: A draft report on personal data, exploring the benefits and practical issues arising from the use of personal information in electronic databases, was discussed. It was agreed that the ideas presented in the report should be tested through a process of reconvened focus groups involving members of the public and the report redrafted to take account of the findings.
- A universal ethical code for scientists: CST has started to receive responses to its consultation letter asking whether there is a role for an ethical code for scientists.The closing date is 1st November 2005.
Other items discussed included:
- CST hosted a successful meeting of the Chairs and secretaries of its EU counterparts on 16/17 June in Cambridge.
- CST is to review the government’s action on its 2000 report on Science Teachers.
- The CST annual report for 2004/2005 will be published in July 2005.
