What’s New

 

22 November 2007

CST has published a report "Strategic Decision Making for Technology Policy Making" (353kb). The press release announcing publication of the report can be found here.

 

9 October 2007

CST published "Pathways to the future: the early careers of researchers in the UK" (286kb). The report makes recommendations on how the management of researchers at the start of their careers could be improved in order to make a research career a more attractive option. The press release announcing the launch of the report can be found here.

 

2 July 2007

CST Co-Chairs, Sir David King and Professor Janet Finch, appeared before the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee regarding "Improving Research Conduct and Preventing Scientific Fraud". A transcript of the hearing can be found here.

 

17 May 2007

Government wrote to CST in response to CST's Review "Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: A Review of Government's Progress on its Policy Commitments."

 

Government's response welcomed CST's Review and acknowledged the need for greater championship of some of the issues surrounding nanotechnologies. In the response Malcolm Wicks, Minister for Science and Innovation, agreed to be a champion for nanotechnologies across Government and announced that he was establishing a ministerial working group to bring together those ministers with responsibility for the research base, innovation, health and safety and the environment.

 

CST welcomes Government's response.

 

27 March 2007

CST published "Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: A Review of Government's Progress on its Policy Commitments" (327kb) which reviews progress on actions set out in the Government's response (2005) to the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering report "Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies: Opportunities and Uncertainties" (2004).

 

The Review concluded that whilst the Government had made good progress in many areas - including standards and metrology, international engagement and minimising workplace and public exposure - it had not provided sufficient support for research into the toxicology and health and environmental effects of nanomaterials.

 

The Council also issued a press release announcing the publication and published the evidence (5245kb) it had collected over the course of the review as an annex to the report.

 

9 March 2007

CST wrote to the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to express their concern following the announcement that the science budget had been reduced by £98 millions.

 

A copy of the letter can be found here.

2 March 2007
The Prime Minister today announced the appointment of 3 new members to the Council for Science and Technology. These new members will join the 13 members who were re-appointed by the the Prime Minister today. The Prime Minister also appointed existing CST member Professor Janet Finch as the new independent co-chair. A press release announced these developments.

CST also published its annual report for 2005/06.

12 December 2006
CST published a report Health Impacts - A Strategy Across Government (192kb pdf file). CST believes that improving the health of the whole population, whilst reducing health inequalities for those with the poorest health, should be an objective for the whole of Government. The press release issued in conjunction with the publication of the report can be found here.

15 November 2006
CST has published the following responses to consultation exercises over the previous few months. Full copies of the CST responses on Cooksey, Research Assessment Exercise and Revising the Regulatory Impact Assessment can be found below:

27 October 2006
CST is seeking to appoint up to three new members and a new co-chair who will replace a number of existing members who are stepping down in early 2007. The advertisement for the positions can be found here. Further information on the posts along with an application pack can be found here. Closing date for applications is Friday 24th November.

06 July 2006
CST Nanotechnology subgroup issued a call for evidence on Thursday 6th July.  A press release was issued in conjunction with the call for evidence.

27 June 2006
CST met the Prime Minister. Four key areas were discussed: (i) Energy, (ii) Innovation, (iii) the links between Pharmaceutical/biotechnology and the NHS and (iv) Health Impacts. A report on health impacts will be published in the autumn.

11 May 2006
The first meeting of the CST Nanotechnology subgroup was held on 11 May.  The subgroup was formed to review the Government's progress on taking forward actions set out in its response to the Royal Society/Royal Academy of Engineering report 'Nanoscience and nanotechnologies: opportunities and uncertainties', and assessing the implications of any new developments. Further information on the work of the subgroup can be found here.

6 January 2006
CST publishes its conclusions to the consultation it carried out on behalf of the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser on whether there is a useful role for a universal ethical code for scientists. The consultation letter and code can be downloaded as a .doc file (162kb) or .pdf file (142kb).

21 November 2005
CST published a report Better use of personal information: opportunities and risks that sets out the opportunities offered by better use of personal data and the risks that must be addressed if these benefits are to be secured. A press release was issued in conjunction with the launch of the report.

8 November 2005
CST met the Prime Minister. The key areas discussed were: energy policy, drawing on the messages in CST's report on An electricity supply for the UK; government's use of personal information, as will be discussed in CST's forthcoming report; public engagement and dialogue, drawing on the messages in CST's report Policy through dialogue; and innovation policy, focussing on the role of government procurement in enabling SME growth, and innovation in the services sector. CST's next meeting with the Prime Minister will focus on the science base and wealth creation.

21 September 2005
The Government's response to CST's report Policy through Dialogue was published and welcomed by CST.

20 July 2005
CST published its first annual report since since its relaunch by the Prime Minister in March 2004. The report covers the period March 2004 - June 2005.

31 May 2005
CST published a report An electricity supply strategy for the UK that recommends immediate investment in low-carbon, large-scale sources of electricity – from tidal to nuclear to clean coal. The report was welcomed by Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

18 May 2005
CST wrote to Alan Johnson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, recommending that government take more account of possible qualitative and quantitative uses of real options analysis tools in making investment decisions for science and innovation.

9 May 2005
CST is seeking views on whether there is a useful role for a universal ethical code for scientists. For further information, please see the letter from Keith Peters, co-chair of CST (download as .doc file (162kb) or .pdf file (142kb)).

17 March 2005
CST published a report Policy through dialogue that encourages government to do more to engage the public in the development of science and technology based policies, or risk jeopardising the economic and social gains expected from the ten year investment framework for science and innovation. The report was welcomed by the Science Minister Lord Sainsbury.

16 March 2004
The CST members elected Sir Keith Peters as their independent co-chair. Sir Keith will chair those meetings where CST is discussing and developing its advice to government. Sir David King, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, will chair those meetings where CST is reporting its advice to government.

8 March 2004
The Prime Minister announced the appointment of 16 members to the CST.
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12 August 2003
Lord Sainsbury launched an appointments round for membership of the CST.
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22 July 2003
Lord Sainsbury announced the outcome of the government's review of CST.
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