Opportunity: The Prime Minister's Council for Science and Technolgy - Independent Members (closing date 28 February 2010)

The Council for Science and Technology (CST) is the Government's top-level advisory body on science and technology and reports directly to the Prime Minister.

 

This vacancy is for membership of the CST which meets four times a year - March, June, September and December.

 

The Council is looking to renew its membership from January 2011. We are looking for up to 10 new members from:

1. business - large and small; manufacturing. services and financial sectors.
2. academia - in particular physicial scientists (including information and communications technology), social scientists and an economists, and if possible a vice-chancellor
3. a science and society background
4. an education background

To apply or see further details, visit the Cabinet Office website.

Society of Biology; Industry Survey - what do employers want from bioscience degree graduates?

The Society of Biology is in the process of developing a pilot programme of Accredited UK Bioscience Degrees to help both employers and students identify bioscience degrees which provide graduates with the higher levels of skills needed to progress into scientific and research roles in industry and academia. The Society of Biology are adamant that industry and employer perspectives are considered as they develop our Accreditation design and have recently launched an Industry Survey on Accredited Degrees.

Society of Biology - Biology Degree Accreditation

The Society of Biology is currently developing criteria to accredit biological science degrees that will enable business to select those graduates with high quality practical skills more easily. The Society is aiming to pilot an accreditation process in 2010-2011 and will announce its accreditation criteria later this year. The Society is currently seeking the views of businesses on accreditation via a brief online survey.

Please take a moment to complete the Industry Survey on Accredited Degrees; it is an opportunity for your business’ needs to shape an Accreditation Programme which aims to help employers identify those bioscience graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed for employment in today’s bioscience-related industries.

Take part in the Industry Survey on Accredited Degrees before the end of December 2010.

Policy: Public consultation events on the Advanced Level Diploma in Science, c/d 4 May 2010

From SEMTA: The Diploma in Science is an exciting new qualification aimed at 14-19 year olds. The Foundation and Higher levels will launch in September 2011 and the Advanced level in September 2012. It will provide students with a combination of essential science knowledge and skills that employers and education look for.

A 12 week public consultation is due to take place on the Advanced Level Diploma in Science Line of Learning Statement (the Vision) and, Line of Learning Criteria (knowledge, skills and understanding). The consultation period will run between 9^th February and 4^th May 2010. Participants will be able to either attend a regional focus group or to complete an online survey.

The regional focus groups run from 24 February to 22 April, and representatives from awarding bodies, colleges, schools, universities, employers and other organisations interested in shaping the new Diploma in Science are invited to participate in the consultation.

Details of the focus groups, and how to apply are on the Diploma in Science website.

Opportunity: The Shell and Institute of Physics Award for the Very Early Career Woman Physicist of the Year, cd 26 February 2010

From the Institute of Physics: Applications are now being accepted for the Very Early Career Award 2010, the closing date for applications is 26 February 2010. For more information about the 2010 award and how to apply please download the poster and application form.

The Women in Physics Group annually invite applications from women at the start of their careers in physics who have made a substantial contribution to the subject and may also have undertaken activities to support and encourage others in the field. The prize is awarded annually to a woman who is within three years of completing her undergraduate degree in physics and who is either working as a physicist or is engaged in postgraduate study.

The winner will receive £1,000 donated by Shell and an award certificate at a major Institute of Physics Women in Physics event. As well as providing recognition of the winner's work through the prize money, the award will also provide valuable networking opportunities. Applicants therefore must be working in the UK or Ireland.

The Very Early Career Woman Physicist of the Year Award seeks to recognise the work done by physicists who are embarking on a career in physics and to promote the career opportunities open to people with physics qualifications.

Policy Input: Royal Society policy study: The Fruits of Curiosity: science, innovation and future sources of wealth, c/d 11 Sep 2009

The Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of science, has opened a major policy study, The Fruits of Curiosity: science, innovation and future sources of wealth, that will review the landscape for UK science and innovation policy and explore its direction over the next 10-20 years. They are requesting views on some important questions, to ensure that their recommendations take account of the UK R&D community.

The study will measure the different forms of value created by science, engineering and medicine for the UK’s economy and society and will consider the role that science will play in equipping Britain to meet future economic, social and environmental challenges.

The Royal Society believes that it is timely to review these issues ahead of the forthcoming General Election and Spending Round, and to seek to influence debates about what lies beyond the current 10-Year Investment Framework for Science and Innovation.

The Royal Society believes that if the study is to realise its full potential, it is vital that they draw on insights, expertise and experience from a variety of settings, and have asked the R&D Society to encourage our members and contacts to submit their views.

The Society has listed a number of questions they would like answered in a Call for Evidence (PDF). In your submission, you may answer as many or as few of the questions listed in the call for evidence as you feel able to. Key questions of relevance to R&D Society members and contacts include:

• 1. What role should curiosity-driven research play in the UK science base in the next 15-25 years?
• 2. Which elements of policy for science and innovation over the past 10 years have been successful and should be maintained? Where is there room for improvement?
• 9. How can we make research careers – within academia or industry – a more attractive option for young people, both within the UK system and from abroad?
• 11. Does the standard career-track model need to be re-evaluated? Should we take more account of the movement of skilled individuals between academia, industry and business?
• 12. How can we strengthen science and innovation in all parts of the private sector in the UK, and further improve the exchange of knowledge and expertise between the public and private sectors?
• 13. How can we improve the scale and contribution of private sector R&D?
• 14. What initiatives (e.g. tax credits) have been successful or not with regards to supporting innovative businesses in the UK? How can the UK better support business?
• 17. What role should public sector R&D outside the ring-fenced science budget (e.g. departmental spending, government procurement and national laboratories) play in supporting the UK science base?

Submissions (ie, your answers to any of the above questions), can be made by email to: fruitsofcuriosity@royalsociety.org preferably by 11 September 2009. In your submission, you should state if you do not want your name or your submission to be made public, and give a contact name and telephone number.

Opportunity: Royal Society Hauksbee Awards, c/d 29 May 2009

The Royal Society is delighted to invite nominations for the Hauksbee Awards; a new set of awards developed to recognise the unsung heroes of science, as part of the Royal Society’s 350th anniversary celebrations.

These awards have been created to recognise and reward individuals who excel in their roles supporting UK science. The awards are open to any individual working to support science research or education (eg laboratory technicians) in categories including universities, industry and the public sector.

Nominations are invited from senior colleagues and consist of a completed nomination form and a recent CV of the nominee. The winners will receive a Royal Society engraved bronze medal and a £500 gift, presented at an award ceremony in February 2010.

More information about the awards, including the nomination form and selection criteria can be found at royalsociety.org/hauksbee. The deadline for nominations is Friday 29 May 2009.