Support public science: Prospect briefings and other initiatives

Prospect's 'charter for public science'

Public science in Britain needs:

• recognition of the crucial role played by science for the public good
• a clear strategic vision for UK science
• a Cabinet minister with authority and accountability for public sector science and a similar ministerial role in the devolved administrations
• a halt to 'cost-driven' lab closures and privatisation
• adequate funds to invest in long-term research and infrastructure
• a stable work environment, ending the culture of continuous review and reorganisation
• decent pay and careers for staff
• action by scientists and government to promote better public understanding of scientific issues
• open decision making.

You can download our charter leaflet in PDF format.

Prospect science briefings

In March 2007 we produced three science briefings covering:

• changes in eligibility for research council funding
• the trend of moving public sector research establishments to universities
• the impacts of funding cuts on research councils and the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

We also produced a map showing public sector labs and sites, and the various threats they face to their future.

In 2006 we produced three briefings about public science.

The first - Who's looking after British Science? - shows where the axe is falling and where it is set to strike in the coming months. And in eight case studies, individuals speak out about the impact on their work and personal lives.

The briefing addresses four key questions:

• Why do we need publicly funded science?
• Is the government investing enough?
• Why can't it all be done by universities?
• Who is looking after the nation's science?

In June 2006 we launched a similar briefing - Who's looking after Scottish science? - which focuses on Scotland's public sector science base.

In September 2006, our third briefing looked at science carried out by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Today there is no effective central oversight for the health of the nation's science base. Policy management and decision-making have been fragmented and lack strategic coherence. At present nobody in Government can honestly answer the question "Who's looking after public science?"

The state of science 2006

In 2006 we surveyed almost 1,000 of our science and technology members, to find out what they think of their industry, their jobs and their future. Read the summary of our findings about the state of science 2006.