June 28, 2007

scientists and engineers react to Brown’s cabinet shake-up

The cabinet shake-up saw the administration of science moving from within the Department of Trade and Industry to the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Dr David Brown, IChemE Chief Executive, said:

“It’s great to see a redoubled comittment to science and innovation from Gordon Brown along with a clear pledge to making the most of the UK’s terrific university base; and I look forward to hearing early reports that his words will be backed up by action in the form of extra funding for science and engineering programmes.

“But at DIUS it’s in the wrong place! Innovation and science should be located in the same ministry as enterprise and skills (DBERR) – the two things are quite inseparable. I fear we will continue to be held back by the traditional inter-departmental boundaries.”

Prof Colin Blakemore, Chief Executive, Medical Research Council, said:

“It makes sense to put science and higher education together. Some people might be concerned that ‘innovation’ but not ‘science’ is in the new department’s name, but I am confident that Gordon Brown will maintain Britain’s commitment to world class basic research.”

Philip Greenish, Chief Executive of The Royal Academy of Engineering, said:

“The Prime Minister is right to focus on innovation and skills in a new Department. Government’s vision of the UK as a ‘knowledge economy’ is under threat – there is already a shortage of high quality graduate engineers. Between 1994 and 2004 annual entries to UK university engineering courses remained static at about 24,500 even though total university admissions went up by 40 per cent.

“However, the new Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills must maintain the crucial link between innovation and industry, which is vital for healthy technology transfer and business development.

“And it is imperative that the new Department for Children, Schools and Families works closely with DIUS to ensure that children, right from primary school, see engineering and science as the key 21st century career choices. At a time when engineers are more in demand than ever to solve the twin challenges of energy sufficiency and climate change, we cannot allow our engineering expertise to stagnate while our competitors forge ahead.”

Peter Cotgreave, director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said:

“It is good to see a department in cabinet with innovation at its heart but in order to be successful the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills will have to have strong links with Department of Children, Schools and Families to ensure that young people are choosing to study science and engineering at a higher level. To satisfy the scientific community and ensure innovative science is developed to its full potential it will need strong links with the new Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform. Until these questions are addressed it is difficult to say if science is any better off.”

Ruth Spellman, chief executive of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said:

“We welcome the announcement of the new department (DIUS) and we hope that the work we (the IMechE) have been doing with the DTI to raise the profile of science and engineering will be continued and expanded. In particular we support the ambition of the DIUS ‘to be one of the best places in the world for science, research and innovation’ and the IMechE looks forward to building new links with the Department for Children, Schools and Families to stimulate interest in engineering and to launch the new Engineering Diploma.

“We want to increase the involvement of the engineering bodies addressing the challenges of energy, environment, education and transport policies.”