Proposed Merger Of British Antarctic Survey And National Oceanography Centre

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 76 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 2013-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 0215053281

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Proposed Merger of British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography Centre by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

In September 2012, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) announced a consultation process on proposals to merge the British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography Centre. It argued that there was a strong strategic case for the merger, arising from scientific synergies between the organisations, a drive to maximise the social and economic impact of scientific research output and a need to make the most cost effective use of marine and polar infrastructure. A number of serious concerns have been raised about the prospect of merging the British Antarctic Survey and National Oceanography Centre, and the way in which the consultation has been handled. It's important that these concerns are addressed by NERC before any further action is taken. NERC has not properly consulted on whether a merger is the best way to achieve its objectives and has not provided an adequate evidence base to support its case for a merger, with the absence of projected cost savings being particularly notable. In addition, NERC does not appear to have given adequate consideration to the British Antarctic Survey's geopolitical role when drafting its consultation proposals. Nor has it demonstrated an awareness of UK political commitments on protecting the environment, and polar regions in particular. NERC should consider whether its aims could be achieved by means other than a merger. Future consultations should be carried out with better engagement with scientists and other stakeholders

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 188 pages
File Size : 55,9 Mb
Release : 2013-04-11
Category : Science
ISBN : 0215056787

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Marine Science by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

Properly managed Marine Conservation Zones will protect marine life the UK's coastal waters and ensure the fishing industry has a sustainable long- term future. The Government is currently letting the project flounder while sensitive environments are further degraded and the industry is subjected to further uncertainty. It has been over three years since the Marine and Coastal Access Act was passed, with cross-party consensus that Marine Conservation Zones were necessary and has widespread public support. Despite this, the designation process has been repeatedly delayed and Marine Conservation Zones have become increasingly controversial. 127 Marine Conservation Zones have been proposed, but Defra has consulted on only 31 of these, without setting out the zone selection process, when these would be implemented or exactly how they would be managed. The Committee welcomes the publication of the Marine Science Strategy and establishment of the Marine Science Coordination Committee. However, it notes concerns about the effectiveness of these measures and highlights the risk that changes to funding mechanisms could undermine support for long-term strategic marine science. It is also recognised that the Natural Environment Research Council is currently operating with inadequate resources, but it should consider the impact that restructuring its research funding has had on its support for strategic marine science. The Committee recommended there should be a duty on commercial operations to share the data they collect. It is concerning that funding for important long-term monitoring programmes remains opportunistic and piecemeal. Developments in technologies such as autonomous underwater vehicles could dramatically alter the way in which marine data is collected

Author : Adrian Howkins,Peder Roberts
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 976 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2023-05-11
Category : History
ISBN : 9781108627955

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The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions by Adrian Howkins,Peder Roberts Pdf

The Cambridge History of the Polar Regions is a landmark collection drawing together the history of the Arctic and Antarctica from the earliest times to the present. Structured as a series of thematic chapters, an international team of scholars offer a range of perspectives from environmental history, the history of science and exploration, cultural history, and the more traditional approaches of political, social, economic, and imperial history. The volume considers the centrality of Indigenous experience and the urgent need to build action in the present on a thorough understanding of the past. Using historical research based on methods ranging from archives and print culture to archaeology and oral histories, these essays provide fresh analyses of the discovery of Antarctica, the disappearance of Sir John Franklin, the fate of the Norse colony in Greenland, the origins of the Antarctic Treaty, and much more. This is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of our planet.

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 52 pages
File Size : 44,6 Mb
Release : 2014-05-04
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780215071842

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HC 703 - Government Horizon Scanning by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller Pdf

The Government launched its new horizon scanning programme last July, stating that 'in a tight economic climate, it is more important than ever to have the best possible understanding of the world around us, and how that world is changing'. However, as it stands, the new programme is little more than an echo chamber for Government views. The new bodies that have been created consist entirely of Civil Servants, effectively excluding the vast pool of expertise that exists outside of government. The new programme does not even have a dedicated web presence to keep interested parties informed. The programme's failings are partially attributed to a lack of ministerial oversight. The Government also needs to recognise the potential role to be played in the new programme by the Government Office for Science (GO-Science), specifically the Foresight Unit. The relative lack of impact that the Foresight Unit has historically had on policy is largely a result of its non-central location in government. GO-Science is located in the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). In contrast, the new horizon scanning programme is located in the Cabinet Office. In choosing to situate the new horizon scanning programme in the Cabinet Office, the Government has recognised the importance of location and has thereby acknowledged the strength of this argument. GO-Science should be relocated from BIS to the Cabinet Office, where it can play a more central role in the new programme and more effectively fulfill its role of ensuring that the best scientific evidence is utilised across government

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 242 pages
File Size : 50,8 Mb
Release : 2014-04-02
Category : Science
ISBN : 9780215070623

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Communicating Climate Science - HC 254 by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Andrew Miller Pdf

The Government is failing to clearly and effectively communicate climate science to the public. There is little evidence of co-ordination amongst Government, government agencies and public bodies on communicating climate science, despite various policies at national and regional level to mitigate and adapt to climate change. The mandate to act on climate can only be maintained if the electorate are convinced that the Government is acting on the basis of strong scientific evidence. Ministers therefore need to do more to demonstrate that is the case and consistently reflect the Government approach in all their communications, especially with the media. The report also criticises the BBC for its reporting on the issue. It points out that BBC News teams continue to make mistakes in their coverage of climate science by giving opinions and scientific fact the same weight. The BBC is called to develop clear editorial guidelines for all commentators and presenters on the facts of climate that should be used to challenge statements, from either side of the climate policy debate, that stray too far from the scientific facts. It is important that climate science is presented separately from any subsequent policy response. Government should work with the learned societies and national academies to develop a source of information on climate science that is discrete from policy delivery, comprehensible to the general public and responsive to both current developments and uncertainties in the science

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 53 pages
File Size : 51,6 Mb
Release : 2015-03-07
Category : Biometric identification
ISBN : 9780215083845

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HC 734 - Current and Future Uses of Biometric Data and Technologies by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

In its broadest sense, biometrics is the measurement and analysis of a biological characteristic (fingerprints, iris patterns, retinas, face or hand geometry) or a behavioural characteristic (voice, gait or signature). Biometric technologies use these characteristics to identify individuals automatically. Unlike identity documents or passwords, biometrics cannot be lost or forgotten since they are a part of the user and are always present at the time of identification. They are also difficult, though not impossible, to forge or share. Three future trends in the application of biometrics were identified during the inquiry: (i) the growth of unsupervised biometric systems, accessed via mobile devices, which verify identity; (ii) the proliferation of "second-generation" biometric technologies that can authenticate individuals covertly; (iii) and the linking of biometric data with other types of 'big data' as part of efforts to profile individuals. Each of these trends introduces risks and benefits to individuals, to the state and to society as a whole. They also raise important ethical and legal questions relating to privacy and autonomy. The Committee are not convinced that the Government has addressed these questions, nor are they satisfied that it has looked ahead and considered how the risks and benefits of biometrics will be managed and communicated to the public.

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 142 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 2013-02-08
Category : Education
ISBN : 0215053419

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Educating Tomorrow's Engineers by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

In the UK we teach young people to become computer users and consumers rather than programmers and software engineers. This is creating a chronic skills gap in ICT. We need around 82,000 engineers and technicians just to deal with retirements up to 2016 and 830,000 SET professionals by 2020. On the plus side, the Government's proposal to include computer science as a fourth science option to count towards the EBac is welcomed. The Committee also welcomes the EBac's focus on attainment of mathematics and science GCSEs but is concerned that subjects such as Design and Technology (D&T) might be marginalised. A Technical Baccalaureate (TechBac) is being designed but if it is to be a success, schools should be incentivised to focus on the TechBac by making it equivalent to the EBac. Reforms to vocational education following the Wolf Review meant that Level 2 of the Engineering Diploma, a qualification highly regarded, would count as equivalent to one GCSE despite requiring curriculum time and effort equivalent to several GCSEs. The Engineering Diploma, however, is currently being redesigned as four separate qualifications. The Committee also expressed concerns over the Department for Education's (DfE) lack of clarity on its research budget, and use of evidence in decision-making. The DfE needs to place greater focus on gathering evidence before changes to qualifications are made, and must leave sufficient time for evidence to be gathered on the effectiveness of policies before introducing further change. The possibility of gathering evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCTs) should be seriously considered

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 55,6 Mb
Release : 2013-09-17
Category : Medical
ISBN : 0215062329

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House of Commons - Science and Technology Committee: Clinical Trials - HC 104 by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

Many of the trials taking place today are unregistered and unpublished, meaning that the information that they generate remains invisible to both the scientific community and the public. This undermines public trust, slowing the pace of medical advancement and potentially putting patients at risk. All trials conducted on NHS treatments-and all other trials receiving public funding-should be prospectively registered and their results published in a scientific journal. While the focus should be on implementing this change for future trials, the Government must also do what it can to ensure that historic trials are registered and published, particularly where they have been publically funded. The Government should also take steps to facilitate greater sharing of the raw data generated during a trial in a responsible and controlled way, with the knowledge and consent of patients. The report also draws attention to the recent fall in the number of trials taking place in the UK. It finds that the need for multiple governance approvals from participating NHS organisations remained the biggest barrier to setting up a UK trial, but that lack of public awareness was also a key issue. Recruiting participants can also be a challenge. The report calls on the Government to take its recommendations into account in ongoing discussions regarding the revision of European clinical trials legislation and in its response to the European Medicines Agency's consultation on the release of clinical trial data, which closes at the end of this month

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 350 pages
File Size : 51,5 Mb
Release : 2013-09-13
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 0215062272

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House of Commons: Sessional Returns - HC 1 by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons Pdf

On cover and title page: House, committees of the whole House, general committees and select committees. On title page: Returns to orders of the House of Commons dated 14 May 2013 (the Chairman of Ways and Means)

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 73 pages
File Size : 54,5 Mb
Release : 2015-03-18
Category : Legislative bodies
ISBN : 9780215084224

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HC 758 - Legacy-Parliament 2010-15 by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology,Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

Author : Klaus Dodds,Alan D. Hemmings,Peder Roberts
Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
Page : 640 pages
File Size : 44,9 Mb
Release : 2017-01-27
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9781784717681

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Handbook on the Politics of Antarctica by Klaus Dodds,Alan D. Hemmings,Peder Roberts Pdf

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean are hotspots for contemporary endeavours to oversee 'the last frontier' of the Earth. The Handbook on the Politics of Antarctica offers a wide-ranging and comprehensive overview of the governance, geopolitics, international law, cultural studies and history of the region. Four thematic sections take readers from the earliest human encounters to contemporary resource exploitation and climate change. Written by leading experts, the Handbook brings together the very best interdisciplinary social science and humanities scholarship on the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 122 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2013-10-28
Category : Science
ISBN : 0215063244

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House of Commons - Science and Technology Committee: Work of the European and UK Space Agencies - HC 253 by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

The Committee heard much positive feedback about the work of the UK Space Agency since its creation in 2011. The UK's space sector is one of our economy's fastest growing sectors, with an average growth rate of almost 7.5%, and it has ambitions to increase its annual turnover to £40 billion by 2030. The report welcomes recent increases in the UK's commitments to the European Space Agency, but urged the UK Space Agency to strengthen UK influence within the European Space Agency by providing support for UK candidates applying for future director-level positions within the Agency. There are a number of exciting developments happening in the UK space sector, including the expansion of the European Space Agency's operations at Harwell, the establishment of the Satellite Applications Catapult and Major Tim Peake's upcoming mission to the International Space Station. With continued cross-party support, we hope to see this sector expand in line with its ambitions and continue to attract jobs and businesses to the UK

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 284 pages
File Size : 45,7 Mb
Release : 2013-03-13
Category : Science
ISBN : 0215055160

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Bridging the Valley of Death by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee Pdf

There exists the concept of a valley of death that prevents the progress of science from the laboratory bench to the point where it provides the basis of a commercially successful business or product. The future success of the UK economy has been linked to the success of translating a world class science base to generate new businesses with the consequent generation of UK jobs and wealth. A troubling feature of technology companies in the UK is how many are acquired by foreign owners where the subsequent jobs and wealth are generated outside the UK. It is key that the Government ensure that sufficient capital is available and recommended that the proposed bank for business, possibly in partnership with the Business Growth Fund, be used to promote a bond market for medium sized businesses, thus providing growing small businesses with an additional source of funding. It is also recommended that the Government investigate the potential to require funds to have a proportion of European SME equities. There needs to be a mechanism to support SME's who do disproportionately badly from the current R&D tax credit scheme. The Technology Strategy Board is becoming the focus for government innovation policy and Government should consider how they can resource the TSB to provide local level advice to technology businesses. The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) and the SMART Award scheme would appear to be successful initiatives but lack sufficient funds to meet the demand from companies

Author : Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 518 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2012
Category : Great Britain
ISBN : UIUC:30112108532521

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Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). by Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons Pdf

Author : Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology
Publisher : The Stationery Office
Page : 156 pages
File Size : 41,8 Mb
Release : 2007-10-18
Category : Nature
ISBN : 0215036522

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Investigating the oceans by Great Britain: Parliament: House of Commons: Science and Technology Committee,Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology Pdf

Ocean processes are fundamental to climate and weather patterns across the world; they provide minerals, foods and chemicals as well as being major energy resources, both hydrocarbons and renewables. Oceans also provide services in the form of transport, trade, communications and recreation; as well as services through the maintenance of biological and landscape diversity, the importance of which may only be fully appreciated by future generations. For all these reasons, the Committee's report finds that, despite the impressive research efforts of UK institutions and individual scientists, oceans need to be monitored and studied more thoroughly than has been the case up to now with better co-ordination of activities and increased overall levels of funding. The Committee's central recommendation is that there should be a new marine science agency, replacing the current inter-agency co-ordinating committee, with a remit to co-ordinate marine science throughout the UK, promoting marine science education in schools, universities and to the wider public. Overall responsibility for the UK's marine science strategy should be invested in a designated minister within Defra. The new agency should undertake a strategy to tackle skills shortages in marine science and technology, engaging with industry and facilitating UK involvement in international organisations, as well as co-ordinating ocean monitoring and observations. Another key task will be to ensure the balance of research effort between the different strands within marine science and between the crucial polar regions, with a greater focus in the Arctic, albeit not at the expense of the work conducted by the British Antarctic Survey. Concerns are raised over the research vessel capacity available to UK scientists provided by NERC, especially for coastal research, and with regards to the adequacy of Defra's plans to establish marine protected areas under the forthcoming marine bill.