The Science Media Centre is not restricted to reacting to the headlines, and has helped scientists to more proactively set the agenda by bringing new science or evidence to journalists. This comes from our regular briefings, which take a variety of forms and cover a wide range of topics. Many are background briefings introducing journalists to the best experts and science on controversial issues like nuclear waste, nanotechnology, emerging diseases, or animal research, for example. They may also be news briefings where the SMC works with scientists to give the national media a new story on developments within science, whether it’s a report on climate change, a paper on stem cells being published in a leading journal, or science funding cuts in the latest budget. In addition, the SMC encourages leading experts to ‘speak out’ to the media about developments they believe may pose a threat to scientific research – not something science has been renowned for.
As lockdown is relaxed and shops, schools etc start to reopen, the potential for transmission of the virus increases. Scientists … read more
Testing has been at the heart of the national strategy to tackle Covid-19. But after 2 months do any of … read more
The ONS published the latest data from their COVID-19 Infection Survey this afternoon at 2pm. Journalists joined this online briefing … read more
The SMC was asked to run a briefing for science, health and tech journalists about the NHS Test and Trace … read more
DELVE, the data analytics group convened by the Royal Society publishes a report on the evidence on how TTI might … read more
As has happened for the last few weeks, we had three experts who had kindly offered to look through the … read more
Children and young people appear to be less likely to catch SARS-CoV-19 than adults according to new research, but evidence … read more
A range of potential treatments have been suggested for COVID-19, but nobody knows whether any of them will be more … read more
As has happened for the last few weeks, we had three statisticians who kindly offered to look through the ONS … read more
‘Following the science’ has become a mantra for Government ministers and officials. Is it: a reassurance to the public that … read more
Current evidence suggests that most children who have a COVID-19 infection are asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms. However, recently … read more
Once again, David, Carl and Jason kindly offered to analyse the newly released ONS stats on COVID-19 deaths from the … read more
What risk factors are associated with dying from COVID-19? We’ve heard about certain underlying conditions and comorbidities that seem to … read more
Over the last few weeks, there have been numerous announcements about research into COVID-19: drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and beyond. But … read more
As countries in Europe pass the peak of the first wave of infections and cautiously begin to reopen aspects of … read more
Back by popular demand, we hosted three experts who looked through the new batch of ONS stats on numbers of … read more
How best can we protect the most vulnerable and reduce the chance of a second wave of COVID-19 if lockdown … read more
The SMC was asked to run a briefing for science, health and tech journalists about the new NHSX app being … read more
Last night, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the US issued a statement claiming that hospitalised patients with advanced … read more
What kind of people end up most severely ill with COVID-19? We have already heard about sex differences, age effects … read more
