RCUK welcomes Royal Society openness in science study

Research Councils UK (RCUK) welcomes the launch of the new Royal Society study on the use of scientific information. Science as a public enterprise: opening up scientific information will look at how scientific information can be best managed to improve the quality of research and build public trust.

As public bodies charged with investing tax payers money in science and research, the Research Councils take very seriously their responsibilities in making the outputs from this research publicly available – not just to other researchers, but also to potential users in business, Government and the public sector, and also to the public.

We are also committed to working with researchers to encourage them to engage the public with their work. Engaging the public with research helps empower people, broadens attitudes and ensures that the work of universities and research institutes is relevant to society and wider social concerns.

RCUK will submit evidence to the study and will look forward to the resulting report.

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Further information

Contact:
Jane Wakefield
RCUK Press and Communications Manager
Tel: 01793 444592

Notes to editors

1. Further information about the Royal Society’s Science as a public enterprise: opening up scientific information study can be found here.

2. Further information on the RCUK position on access to research outputs is available here.

3. Further information on the Concordat for Engaging the Public with research is available here.

4. Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the strategic partnership of the UK's seven Research Councils. We invest annually around £3 billion in research. Our focus is on excellence with impact. We nurture the highest quality research, as judged by international peer review providing the UK with a competitive advantage. Global research requires we sustain a diversity of funding approaches, fostering international collaborations, and providing access to the best facilities and infrastructure, and locating skilled researchers in stimulating environments. Our research achieves impact – the demonstrable contribution to society and the economy made by knowledge and skilled people. To deliver impact, researchers and businesses need to engage and collaborate with the public, business, government and charitable organisations. www.rcuk.ac.uk.

   The seven UK Research Councils are:

   • Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
   • Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
   • Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
   • Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
   • Medical Research Council (MRC);
   • Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
   • Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).