SUMMARY OF CST MEETING ON 21/22 SEPTEMBER 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, Andrew Gould, Professor Wendy Hall, Dr Hermann Hauser, Dr Dieter Helm, Professor Alan Hughes, Dr Sue Ion, Rob Margetts, Sir Paul Nurse, Professor Michael Sterling, Professor Kathy Sykes, Dr Mark Walport.
2. Also in attendance for parts of the meeting were: Phil Willis MP, Chair of the House of Commons S&T Committee; John Holman, Director of the National Science Learning Centre; Alice Onion, Principal Manager for Science and Maths at the Qualification and Curriculum Authority; Julie Bramman, Head of Curriculum, Specialism and Collaboration at DfES, Diane Beddoes and Robin Clarke, Office for Public Management; Jeremy Clayton, Director, Transdepartmental Science and Technology, OST/DTI; Judy Britton, Director, Science in Government, OST/DTI.
Conclusions
CST agreed to write to the following:
- DfES Secretary of State welcoming the progress in establishing the Science Learning Centres but raising concerns about whether the current funding model offers the centres a sustainable long-term future.
- The Chancellor endorsing David Connell’s report Exploiting the UK’s science and technology base: how to fill the gaping hole in UK government policy.
- Sir David King and the Chief Scientific Advisers Committee looking forward to hearing further detail on government’s plans for developing “Grand Challenges” but highlighting concerns that some of the ambition expressed through earlier proposals is at risk of being lost.
Ongoing work includes:
- Personal Datasets: exploring the benefits and practical issues arising from the wider use of personal information in electronic databases. CST discussed focus groups findings, which tested the ideas discussed in the report with members of the public. The report is being redrafted to take account of the findings and the intention is to publish before the end of the year.
- Public Health: exploring how potential health impacts are assessed and used in policy making across government.
- Innovation: considering how maximum value creation can be obtained from R&D inputs, with a particular focus on: innovation in the services sector; and corporate venturing.
- The research endeavour: the UK currently sits at the forefront of the international research endeavour, generating new knowledge and bringing benefits to society through contributing to economic growth and quality of life. If we are to maintain our position as world leaders, as a place where ground-breaking ideas across the blue skies – applied spectrum flourish, we need to be alert to the potential challenges of the future. CST is holding a workshop on 4th November to help define where it could most usefully focus its efforts.
Other items discussed included:
- Priorities for CST’s meeting with the Prime Minister in November, which were agreed to be energy, wealth creation, use of personal data and public engagement.
- CST welcomed the government’s positive response to their report Policy through dialogue.
- CST are considering a possible future strand of work on active ageing.
- CST discussed their work with Phil Willis MP, Chair of the House of Commons S&T Committee.