Author Archives: Science Media Centre
the state of the climate
The 2009 State of the Climate report was published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Wednesday 28 July. As part of this report, climate scientists at the Met Office Hadley Centre compiled data from multiple independent analyses directly related to surface temperature. The scientists came to the SMC to discuss trends revealed by the data. read more
animals scientific procedures inspectorate: annual report and statistical report
In what is now an annual event, the SMC invited the Home Office to announce the numbers of animals used in research in 2009 and to publish their inspection report, while leading scientists who use animals in their research reacted to the figures and put them into the context of scientific developments. read more
is anyone normal? mental health and diagnosis
A new edition of the diagnostic ‘bible’ for mental health medicine is a highly anticipated event, but with the latest draft guidelines expanded to now include temper tantrums among toddlers and heartache over a lost spouse, some experts are asking whether anyone can now be classified as normal. The authors of a special issue of the Journal of Mental Health came to the SMC to discuss these concerns. read more
the media on UEA: guilty as charged?
At the press briefing in the SMC for the third and final inquiry into the UEA emails, Sir Muir Russell, Chair of the review, … read more
expert encounter with the head of NICE
With the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) currently the subject of much media interest, the SMC invited its Chief Executive, Andrew Dillon, to answer journalists’ questions and explain what NICE really do, and why they do it. read more
expert reaction to two papers on ‘epigenetic memory’ in induced pluripotent and embryonic stem cells, as published in Nature & Nature Biotechnology
Two new research papers show that induced pluripotent stem cells, which are equivalent to embryonic stem cells and can be obtained from adult tissues, can retain some of the characteristics of the cells from which they were formed. read more
smart meters and smart grids
In this background briefing, UK experts on engineering, security, data protection and consumer engagement discussed smart meters and grids as a means of managing supply and demand of electricity in the UK, in the context of government plans to “establish a smart grid and roll out smart meters.” read more
David Willetts’ first major speech on science
Ahead of his first major speech as Science Minister, given at the Royal Institution, David Willetts gave a short briefing to UK national science journalists to summarise his views on directions for UK science. read more
expert encounter: Prof David Warburton
California-based international stem cell and regenerative medicine expert Professor David Warburton talked about the landscape of stem cell research funding in California and the rest of the US, his previous breakthroughs in stem cell research and his current work. read more
independent climate change e-mails review: publication of final report
The Independent Climate Change E-mails Review (ICCER), chaired by Sir Muir Russell, presented its final report into the emails hacked from computers at the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit last December. read more
Nature paper on Norfolk fossils
The SMC hosted this Nature press briefing on the discovery of new fossil evidence regarding early humans settling in Norfolk. read more
experts react to publication of the Muir Russell report into UEA emails
Experts responded to the publication of the long-awaited final report of the third inquiry into the emails stolen from the University of East Anglia’s Climate Research Unit at the end of last year. read more
geological disposal of radioactive waste
In their new report, Geological Disposal: Steps towards implementation, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) presented early plans for development of a deep geological storage facility for nuclear waste, subject to selection of a suitable site. read more
IPCC response to Dutch Environment Agency review of IPCC AR4
Earlier this year, the Dutch Environment Agency (PBL) was asked to look into the IPCC’s Fourth Assessment Report on human influences on climate change, following the identification of an incorrect figure for the proportion of the Netherlands that is below sea level. At this briefing the IPCC authors involved responded to the PBL findings. read more
expert reaction to the independent review into the response to the 2009 swine flu pandemic
An independent review lead by Dame Deirdre Hine looked into the UK government’s response to the 2009 influenza pandemic. read more
are embargo breaks bad for science?
The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE)’s very public ticking off of Jonathan Leake for breaking an embargo has prompted … read more
Forum of European Neuroscience societies pre-conference briefing
The SMC ran this briefing in advance of this year’s Forum of European Neuroscience, featuring several top scientists talking about their latest research which will be reported at the conference. Topics included what yeast and mice can tell us about the human brain, identifying brain activity markers for mental health disorders, and using robots to understand human interactions. read more
Huntington’s disease – hidden no more
Huntington’s Disease (HD) is an incurable hereditary disorder of the central nervous system which affects muscle co-ordination and cognitive functions. Every child of someone with HD has a 50% chance of inheriting the disease; this level of genetic certainty medical science a chance of finding the key to unlocking the door for a whole range of more common neuro-degenerative diseases such as Alzheimers and Parkinsons. The SMC ran this background briefing to coincide with a new study in the Lancet revealing unexpected new figures on the prevalence of the disease, the launch of an All Party Parliamentary Group on Huntington’s Disease. read more
experts react to the publication of new ARRIVE guidelines for reporting animal research
New guidelines for the scientific reporting of research involving animals have been published by the National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs). read more
the truth about about oil spills
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has huge environmental, political and financial implications. For the 8 weeks since the start of the leak scientists have been striving to assess its size, nature and toxicity in order to work out just how much damage is being done. Various methods have been suggested to not only stem but also clean up the spill, each with huge consequences of its own. The SMC gathered experts in various aspects of this subject to brief journalists on the background to the spill, its size, its impact and what can be done to prevent similar accidents in the future. read more