Senior scientists criticize
Assembly Government's science policy
For Immediate Release
A group of senior Welsh scientists has accused the Assembly Government
of a striking lack of commitment to Wales's scientific development.
In a response to its recent science policy consultation paper they
argue it has confused economic and science policy and is really more
about the former. They also call for the appointment of a Chief Scientific
Adviser to the First Minister.
In an article in the latest issue of agenda, the journal
of the Institute of Welsh Affairs, the distinguished scientist Professor
Sir John Cadogan argues that the outcome of the Assembly Government’s
consultation paper A Science Policy for Wales? is “disturbing
and ominous for anyone who really understands and cares about the
role of Science and Technology in creating wealth, without which there
can be no social services and concomitant advances in health, the
environment, feeding the world and in energy”.
The Assembly Government’s paper focuses on three main strands
for development of a future science policy for Wales. These are defined
as: health developments, including public health, low-carbon energy
systems and opportunities for sustained economic and social renewal.
This, Sir John argues, fails to take into account key science and
engineering disciplines.
Commenting on what he sees as a narrowly focused, economics-driven
policy, Sir John says, “science policy must be about how to
create a truly world class science and engineering base.” Without
this, plans for Wales’s future will be nothing more than “a
meaningless and unrealisable wish list”. It is logical that
to achieve real progress in health and energy matters, contributions
from many other scientific and engineering disciplines must also be
considered at policy-making level.
Sir John, former head of the UK Science Research Councils and former
Professor of Chemistry at St Andrews and Edinburgh Universities, addresses
what he sees as a worrying scientific and engineering climate in Wales.
Highlighting the funding deficit for research institutions in Wales
compared to England and Scotland, he argues that “there are
too few pinnacles of excellence”.
The Higher Education Funding Council for Wales’s paper on the
funding gap, published in November 2005, found that “there is
a funding gap between England and Wales, with the Welsh sector receiving
proportionately a significantly lower amount of grant in aid”.
Sir John argues that this is a situation that must be reversed by
a “significant and sustained uplift in Assembly funding”
so that Welsh universities can continue to attract, and keep, world
class scientists.
It is not only research institutions that are in need of an overhaul.
The article notes that “the scientific culture vital for a forward
looking country is absent from the Assembly Government”. Sir
John laments the Assembly’s failure to appoint a Minister for
Science and says it is crucial for science to be properly represented.
Looking to successful examples from Scotland and Ireland, Sir John
says that First Minister Rhodri Morgan, who is currently responsible
for science within the Cabinet, must be “properly supported
by a Chief Scientific Adviser” in order to improve Wales’s
standing as a centre for science and engineering activity.
Sir John’s response to the Assembly Government’s paper
has been endorsed by some of Wales’s best-known scientists,
including Professor Dame Jean Thomas, Professor Sir Gareth Roberts
and Professor Robin Williams.
For further information please contact IWA Director John Osmond
on 029 2066 0865 or e-mail johnosmond@iwa.org.uk
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