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REINVIGORATED VISION NEEDED FOR SCIENCE'S INTERFACE WITH SOCIETY - PEARSON

The need to drive up the supply of highly trained scientists and engineers; the central importance of the science and society agenda; and how the scientific and research community can best help to respond to the major challenges over the next decade and beyond are the key themes in a speech Minister for Science and Innovation, Ian Pearson, will deliver to members of the scientific community today.

Delivering the inaugural Sir Gareth Roberts Science Lecture at the Science Council, Mr Pearson will today launch a debate on a new vision for science and society in the UK and stress his desire that the debate will lead to greater co-ordination in this area - leading to a society that is excited by science and many more young people taking up careers in the crucial fields of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Mr Pearson will say:

Science and innovation are vital to increasing our competitiveness, improving our economy and our quality of life. For the first time, the creation of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills brings together innovation policy with responsibilities for skills, higher and further education.

The new Department is uniquely placed to increase the scientific literacy of the public as a whole. We are reaffirming our commitment to communicating the excitement of science; to engaging with the public on scientific issues; to boosting the numbers of students and graduates and to encourage diversity within the scientific community.

Britain needs to generate many more highly trained scientists and researchers if we are to meet the challenges of global competition. We need a revitalised vision if we are to best respond to today's environment where science and innovation is evolving rapidly, with scientists and researchers working on cross-cutting disciplines.

I want this new debate to forge a new consensus around science and society and to establish goals for the future. I am keen that as a Department we look to innovate in the way we make policy, opening up the process to the views of the public and our stakeholders.

Notes to Editors

  1. The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS) brings together functions from the former Department of Trade and Industry, including responsibilities for science and innovation, with further and higher education and skills previously part of the Department for Education and Skills. For more information, visit http://www.dius.gov.uk/policy/science.html
  2. The Science Council was established by Royal Charter in 2003 with the objects to advance science and its applications for public benefit.
  3. It is a membership organisation for learned and professional bodies across science and its applications and works with them to represent this sector to government and others.
  4. The Science Council promotes the profession of scientist through the Chartered Scientist designation and the development of codes of practice; it promotes awareness of the contribution of professional scientists to science and society and advances science education and increased understanding of the benefits of science.
  5. Sir Gareth Roberts, who died earlier this year, was the founding President of the Science Council. Sir Gareth appreciated that the increasing interdependence of the physical and life sciences with mathematics and engineering called for a broader group of disciplines to come together to advance the role of science and scientists in building the future. His commitment to creating a forum to enable this to happen led to the formation of the Science Council.
  6. For more information, visit http://www.sciencecouncil.co.uk/

For more information contact Lisa Browne, Science Desk, DIUS Press Office
020 3300 8881 - lisa.browne@dius.gsi.gov.uk