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Improving innovation in the water industry: 21st century challenges and opportunities (2009)
How academia and government can work together (2008)
Strategic Decision Making for
Technology Policy (2007)
Pathways to the future: the
early careers of researcher in the UK (2007)
Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies:
A Review of Government's Progress on its Policy
Commitments (2007)
Health
Impacts - A Strategy Across Government (2006)
Innovation
and Wealth Creation - Services Sector and Public Procurement (2006)
Universal
ethical code for scientists (2006)
Better use
of personal information: opportunities and risks (2005)
An
electricity supply strategy for the UK (2005)
Policy
through dialogue (2005)
Ten-year
investment framework for science and innovation (2004)
Knowledge
intensive services and the science base (2003)
Imagination
and understanding: the arts and humanities in relation to science and
technology (2001)
Quinquennial
review of the research councils (2001)
Technology
Matters: the exploitation of science and technology by UK business (2000)
A national infrastructure for the 21st century
Background
In June 2009 CST published A national infrastructure for the 21st century. This report is sponsored by the Economic Secretary to the Treasury; Ian Pearson MP. CST examined the core sectors of national infrastructure, (energy, water, transport and communications) and made recommendations to Government on specific, high level interventions needed to ensure a modern, integrated and resilient national infrastructure.
Downloads
A national infrastructure for the 21st century: report (June 2009)
Download pdf (1.91 MB)A national infrastructure for the 21st century: executive summary (June 2009)
Improving innovation in the water industry: 21st century challenges and
opportunities (2009)
Background
In March 2009 CST published Improving innovation in the water industry: 21st century challenges and opportunities. This report is sponsored by the DEFRA Minister for the Natural and Marine Environment, Wildlife and Rural Affairs; Huw Irranca-Davies MP. CST investigated the need for the water industry to invest in new technologies and innovative solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
Downloads
Improving innovation in the
water industry: 21st century challenges and opportunities: report (March 2009)
Download.pdf (2.59 MB)
How academia and
government can work together (2008)
Background
In November 2008 CST published How academia and government can work together. CST found that there is a great deal of good will between academics and policy makers. It recognised that much had already been achieved through the Government investing in a world-class science base, appointing Chief Scientific Advisors in Government departments and clearly committing to evidence based policy.
However, the report identified four areas for improvement:
- The working relationships between academics and policy-makers need to be more professional.
- There is some ignorance on both sides of what good engagement can deliver, and both sides can fail to value the relationship.
- Both sides needing to better appreciate the constraints that each is operating under - and not just time pressures, though these can be important. They need to keep open dialogue going throughout and mutual trust is crucial.
- Both sides needing to recognise ways to value the relationship based on beneficial outcomes. Creative solutions are needed from both sides.
Downloads
How academia and government
can work together: report (November 2008)
Download.pdf (573kb)
Strategic Decision Making
for Technology Policy (2007)
Background
In November 2007 CST
published Strategic Decision Making for Technology Policy. Six new key
technologies have been highlighted as central to the future
Downloads
Strategic Decision Making
for Technology Policy: report (November 2007)
Download.pdf (353kb)
Pathways to the Future:
the early careers of researchers in the
UK (2007)
Background
In October 2007 CST
published Pathways to the Future: the early careers of researchers in the
-
funding of more research
fellowships will give researchers greater independence at an earlier stage
than at present, so they may take on greater responsibility for projects
and staff.
-
assessment by funders and
universities of barriers to the exchange of researchers between academia,
industry and the public sector.
-
the establishment of a
national framework for research careers which would show how a career can
progress in academia, and how it also prepares people for transitions to
jobs in other sectors
Downloads
Pathways to the Future:
the early careers of researchers in the
Download .pdf (287kb)
Nanoscience and
Nanotechnologies: A Review of Government's Progress on its Policy Commitments
(2007)
Background
In March 2007 CST
published Nanoscience and Nanotechnologies:
A
Review of Government's Progress on its Policy Commitments 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.
Downloads
Nanoscience and
Nanotechnologies: A Review of Government's
Progress on its Policy Commitments: report (March 2007)
Download .pdf (327KB)
Health Impacts - A Strategy
Across Government (2006)
Background
In December 2006 CST
published a report that stated that improving the health of the whole
population, whilst reducing health inequalities especially for those with the
poorest health, should be an overall objective for the whole of Government.
Acknowledging that the Government is already committed to health improvement as
a key priority, the report sets out recommendations on how to ensure that all
Government departments reflect health issues when developing and delivering
their policies. Our main recommendations are:
-
more resource should be
devoted to ensuring that national data on the health of the population is
more comprehensive and robust so that it provides the strong evidence base
necessary for good policy-making across Government.
-
delivering health
improvements cannot be achieved if it is seen as the business of the
Department of Health alone. A joint approach is needed between different
Government departments is needed. The first step should be for priority
Government departments to work with the Department of Health on the
evidence base required to provide the best available evidence about health
impacts, relevant to that Department's policy areas. Mechanisms for
joining up databases across Government - set out in an earlier CST report
on Personal Information - will be crucial
-
Improved training is needed
for Government policy-makers, across all departments, in the wider
determinants of health and the use of evidence to assess them.
Downloads
Health Impacts - A
Strategy Across Government: report (December 2006)
Download .pdf (192KB)
Innovation
and Wealth Creation - Services Sector and Public Procurement (2006)
Background
In September 2006 CST wrote to the
Chancellor making recommendations regarding the services sector and public
procurement. The letter sets out the challenge for Government to understand
service company needs, and to foster innovation by finding ways to connect them
to the research base. The Council also described how Government can better meet
its own objectives and stimulate innovation in business, particular smaller
businesses, through better use of public procurement.
Downloads
Innovation and Wealth
Creation: letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (September 2006)
Download .doc (242KB)
Universal ethical code
for scientists (2006)
Background
During the latter half of
2004, Sir David King, the Government's Chief Scientific Adviser, convened a
small working group to help him consider the issues around developing a
universal ethical code of conduct for scientists. Rigour, respect and
responsibility: a universal ethical code for scientists was the product of
the group's work. Sir David King asked the Council for Science and Technology
(CST), to look at how the code could be disseminated more widely and how, in
practice, it could have a useful role.
In May 2005, CST wrote out
widely across universities, professional bodies, research funders, industry
bodies, schools and colleges and trade unions seeking feedback on the proposed
code. Responses were requested by the 1 November. A total of sixty-seven responses
were received. Two main roles were identified:
-
educating and training new
scientists.
-
informing and supporting
the development of more specific codes.
Downloads
The consultation letter
and code.
Download.pdf (142KB)
Download.doc (162KB)
Conclusions from the
consultation.
Download.doc
(27KB)
Summary of the responses.
Download.doc
(71KB)
List of organisations that
responded.
Download.doc
(22KB)
Better use of personal
information: opportunities and risks (2005)
Background
In November 2005, CST
published a report that describes how the use of personal data by government
offers enormous benefits, with the potential to create more efficient and accessible
public services, but that risks must be addressed in order to secure these
benefits. Key recommendations included:
-
extensive public engagement
with the public and civil society groups
-
regulatory and governance
frameworks to minimise the risks
-
research into privacy
enhancing technologies
-
the creation of federated
databases rather than a single database.
Downloads
Better use of personal
information: opportunities and risks: report (November 2005)
Download .pdf (476KB)
Download .doc (321KB)
Research into the use of
personal datasets held by public sector bodies. October 2005. Report produced
by OPM for CST.
Download .pdf (1.02MB)
An electricity supply
strategy for the
UK
(2005)
Background
In May 2005, CST published
a report that recommends:
-
immediate investment in
large scale, low-carbon, energy generation facilities to meet the Government’s
carbon dioxide reduction targets
-
keeping the nuclear option
open and placing more emphasis on carbon sequestration and tidal power
-
government investment in
R&D should be aimed at new and renewable fuel sources, energy
management, storage and improving the supply and training of skilled
workers in the
-
development of the
transmission network, its protection mechanisms and metering systems to
facilitate distributed and diverse generators, ranging from commercial to
domestic units;and to address the regulatory issues arising from this form
of generation.
Downloads
An electricity supply
strategy for the
Download .pdf (176KB)
Download .doc (186KB)
Policy through dialogue
(2005)
Background
In March 2005, CST
published a report that encouraged 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 government responded to
CST's recommendations in September 2005.
Downloads
Policy through dialogue:
informing policies based on science and technology: report (March 2005)
Download .pdf (259KB)
Download .doc (139KB)
The subgroup commissioned
two reports to support their work:
-
Talking policy: four case
studies examining public dialogue in science and technology policy. 2005.
RAND Europe. Available from the
RAND Europe website.
-
Public dialogue and policy
development: case studies. 2004. Momenta.
Download .doc (215KB)
Government response
(September 2005)
Download .pdf (259KB)
Ten-year investment
framework for science and innovation (2004)
Background
In March 2004, the
government published a consultation:
science
and innovation: working towards a ten-year investment framework. The CST
wrote to the Chancellor setting out some broad comments on the emerging
framework and asking how CST could assist Government with reviewing progress on
implementing the framework. The Government published its
science
and innovation investment framework 2004-2014 in July 2004 and, in
November, the CST wrote to the three lead departments (DTI, DfES and the
Treasury) welcoming the government’s clear recognition of the strategic
importance of science and technology to our society, and flagging up a number
of areas that the CST sees as key issues for government and for the science
base.
Downloads
Input to the consultation
on the science and innovation investment framework (April 2004)
Download .pdf
(115KB)
Download .doc
(151KB)
Comments on the science
and innovation investment framework 2004-2014 (November 2004)
Download .pdf (163KB)
Download .doc (66KB)
Knowledge intensive
services and the science base
Background
In October 2003, CST
published a report that explored the links between the knowledge-intensive
service industries and the science base. To inform their report, CST members
considered a background paper prepared by the secretariat, and commissioned a
study from the
Downloads
Knowledge intensive
services and the science base: report (October 2003)
Download .pdf
(136KB)
Download
.doc (64KB)
Science base - services
links: background paper (November 2001)
Download
.pdf (152KB)
Download .doc
(1.2MB)
Knowing How, Knowing Whom:
A Study of the Links between the Knowledge Intensive Services Sector and The
Science Base (July 2003)
Download .pdf
(532KB)
Download
.doc (660KB)
Knowing How, Knowing Whom:
Annexes
Download
.pdf (172KB)
Download
.doc (964KB)
Imagination and
understanding: the arts and humanities in relation to science and technology.
Background
In July 2001, CST
published a report that questioned the divisions between the arts and the
sciences, and considered how they could be reduced. The government responded in
November 2001.
Downloads
Imagination
and understanding: report (July 2001)
Download
.pdf (260KB)
Download
.doc (172KB)
Government response
(November 2001)
Download
.pdf (295KB)
Quinquennial review of
the research councils
Background
The government conducted a
quinquennial
review of the grant awarding research councils during 2001. The CST
responded to both the first stage and the second stage of the review. Council
members also undertook a study visit to
Downloads
Response to stage 1 of the quinquennial review (November 2000)
Download .pdf (44KB)
Download .doc (44KB)
Response to stage 2 of the
quinquennial review (June 2001)
Download .pdf (232KB)
Download .doc (84KB)
Report of visit to
Download .pdf (40KB)
Download .doc (76KB)
Science teachers:
supporting and developing the profession of science teaching in primary and
secondary schools
Background
In February 2000, CST
published a report that considered what policy developments could help science
teachers in primary and secondary schools develop and improve their
professional practice.
To inform their report,
CST commissioned a study from Kings College London into the views and needs of
science teachers in primary and secondary schools, which was undertaken in
June/July 1999.
The government provided an
initial response to the report in November 2000.
Downloads
Background study (January
2000)
Download .pdf (216KB)
Download .doc
(500KB)
Science teachers: full
report (February 2000)
Download .pdf (including annexes)
(236KB)
Download .doc
(324KB)
Download
.doc annexes (296KB)
Government response
(November 2000)
Download .pdf
(60KB)
Download .doc
(80KB)
Technology Matters: the
exploitation of science and technology by
UK business
Background
In February 2000, the CST
published a report that considered what the government should do to increase
the capacity of
The government responded
to the Council's report in March 2001.
Downloads
Technology matters: report
(February 2000)
Download .pdf (including
annexes) (172KB)
Download .doc
(212KB)
Download
.doc annexes (256KB)
Government response (March
2001)
Download .pdf
(44KB)
Download
.doc (68KB)
Science and technology
activity across government
Background
In September 1998, the
government invited CST to undertake a review of departments' use of science and
technology, and to consider what lessons may be drawn for government science
and technology policy as a whole.
The Council's report was
published in July 1999. The government made an initial response to the report
in September 1999. This was followed by an implementation plan in July 2000
that set out how CST's recommendations were to be taken forward.
Following the 2000
spending review, CST was asked to review emerging departmental strategies on
science and innovation. Their report was published in March 2001.
Downloads
Science and technology
across government: report (July 1999)
Download .pdf
(56KB)
Download .doc (100KB)
Government response
(September 1999)
Download .pdf
(12KB)
Download .doc
(36KB)
Government implementation
plan (July 2000)
Download .pdf
(120KB)
Download .doc
(132KB)
Review of departmental
science and innovation strategies (March 2001)
Download .pdf
(16KB)
Download
.doc (32KB)