The BES and Biochemical Society have together prepared a response to the UK Government Office for Science consultation on ‘Guidelines on Scientific Analysis in Policy-Making’. Following on from the dismissal of Prof. David Nutt as Chairman of the Government’s Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs in 2009, the BES and Biochemical Society believe that guidelines on how scientific advice should be used, and principles on the treatment of independent scientific advice by ministers and civil-servants are more important than ever.

Key points from the response are:

– The Guidelines should be far more positive about the potential of learned societies to offer networks of expertise and advice to policy-makers. Learned societies such as the BES and Biochemical Society can help to facilitate dialogue between policy-makers and academics.
- Whilst the National Academies, such as the Royal Society, undoubtedly provide a useful source of advice to government, individual learned societies are the experts in their specific areas, and are often able to draw upon a broader constituency. Consulting more widely than the National Academies can play an important role in ensuring an adequate and representative research base.
- The involvement of lay members in science advisory structures as a matter of course could prove useful in identifying issues which may be of broad public concern at an earlier stage and would add value to the output of advisory bodies.
- Government could better draw upon established sources of expert advice by ensuring that in the first instance, further departments have their own Science Advisory Councils and Scientific Advisory Committees; as a priority the Department of Health and Department of Energy and Climate Change.
- Government at the highest level should adopt an explicit framework for the use of public dialogue to inform science and technology related policies.
- The Government should withhold advice provided or the evidence base for a policy only in exceptional circumstances.
- A scientifically-literate civil-service, and a civil-service which includes scientifically trained individuals, is also vital to ensure that policy questions are designed in a way which can be answered by scientists.

All consultation responses and briefing papers produced by the BES can be found on our website, under ‘Our Position’.

The RSPB has this morning challenged the proposed development of a barrage across the Severn Estuary, citing evidence from a study by the Dutch Government of a similar development at the Oosterschelde estuary in the Netherlands. The study of the barrier at the Oosterschelde estuary, erected in the 1980s, concludes that flood risk was exacerbated behind the barrier, causing damage to wildlife, fishing, tourism and shipping.

Dr Mark Avery, Director of Conservation at the RSPB, appeared on this morning’s BBC Radio 4 ‘Today’ programme, interviewed alongside an engineering expert from the University of Cardiff. Dr Avery stressed the RSPB’s support for proposals to tap into the renewable energy potential of the Severn river but urged the UK Government to consider alternatives to a barrage. The Cardiff University academic in response cited a study which showed that the ecosystems around the Dutch barrage had shown ‘resilience’ to the effects of the barrier however, indicating the the impact on wildlife had not been as negative as portrayed by the Government in the Netherlands. In challenging this, Dr Avery urged the UK Government to look at the study from the Netherlands carefully and to learn from experience in other areas before making a decision on whether to proceed with a Severn barrage.

More details: South Wales Argus, 9 February 2010

India’s Prime Minister has today announced that India will boost its contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The Indian Network for Climate Change Assessment (INCCA) will provide research findings to the IPCC by November 2010, informing its next Assessment Report, due in 2014. The involvement of INCCA will represent the first time that Indian scientists have contributed to the IPCC at an institutional level.

The focus of INCCA’s work will be on measuring, modelling and monitoring to assess the impact of climate change on ecosystems, biodiversity, health and agriculture, amongst other key sectors.

Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh commented that this development would bring science “back into the mainstream” of the Department’s work and decision-making.

SciDev.Net, 8 February, India boosts climate data contribution to IPCC, T. V. Padma

Defra has launched a new Evidence and Investment Strategy: 2010 – 2013, building on its previous strategy, which ran from 2005 – 2008. The purpose of the Strategy is to prioritise and manage Defra’s investment in evidence to 2013, focusing on three major areas: climate change, securing a sustainable food supply and protecting ecosystems.

Commenting on the launch of the strategy, Professor Bob Watson, Chief Scientific Advisor at Defra, said “it is absolutely essential that all the policies that we formulate are based on sound evidence…there has never been a time when there was a greater need for good quality evidence to contribute to policy-making and sound decisions”. An interview with Professor Watson is available as a video on the Defra website.

At present Defra spends approximately £240 million per annum on evidence to underpin policy formulation. In commenting on the launch of the Strategy Prof. Watson emphasises the importance of a ‘joined up’ Defra to make sure that this money is well spent and appropriately focused. Those working in the areas of food security, climate change and ecosystem services need to work together. These issues are also not simply domestic concerns, hence Defra must work with the Department for International Development. Finally, Defra must work closely with the Research Councils on delivering on these priorities.

The Strategy emphasises the importance of Defra possessing an adequate skills base to deal with the results of research and commission and procure good quality evidence. In his interview, Prof. Watson emphasises the importance of Defra staff becoming “intelligent customers of evidence”. Following the launch of the Strategy, an implementation plan is to be drawn up to make sure that the key points of the Strategy are translated into practice and that the Strategy’s concerns become embedded in the culture of the Department.

According to a report published on 4th February by the Centre for Hydrology and Ecology and Pond Conservation, 80% of ponds in England and Wales are in a ‘poor’ or ‘very poor’ condition, thus failing to provide vital habitat for aquatic plants and animals. These findings are particularly worrying given that reports by the Environment Agency last autumn showed that 75% of UK rivers will fail to meet new European biological standards. Although large numbers of new ponds are created each year in the UK, many of these ponds are located in agricultural areas and suffer from pollution by nutrient run-off. This eventually results in overgrowth of vegetation and stagnant water. In contrast, the report found that ponds close to rivers, streams and other wetlands are in much better condition. These results highlight the importance of developing future ponds in areas that are protected from pollution, in order to protect Britain’s future freshwater biodiversity.

Pond Conservation Press Release: First national survey shows Britain’s wildlife ponds are in a ‘terrible state’

Executive Director of the Ecological Continuity Trust
(18 month contract initially)
London
Salary £40k – £50k

Announcing a major new executive position in UK ecology:

Ecological Continuity Trust (ECT) was established as a UK-registered charity in 2008 to address vital ecological issues of today and the future by supporting long-term, experimental field studies. An important aspect of this is to raise awareness of the importance of long-term scientific research as a critical component of the protection and enhancement of healthy ecosystems.

ECT’s board has developed the charity from the concept stage to a point where it can begin operations. A challenging new opportunity has arisen for an entrepreneurial Executive Director to build on these foundations and fulfil ECT’s vision through leading the charity during this exciting and formative first phase.

Using your energies and leadership skills, you will focus on raising the profile of long-term studies in ecology significantly in the public and policy environments. Building on the Board’s dialogues with potential partner organisations, you will build the resources to support existing and create new sites for long-term ecological experimentation and monitoring, initially in the UK. Proactive in your approach, you will build a network of ecologists and other academics that will contribute to the fulfilment of ECT’s objectives.

We are looking for a resourceful and self-motivated individual with all-round skills, determination and an ability to communicate clearly, both within the ecology community and in the public and policy environments. With a passion for delivering on the goals of the charity, you will need to demonstrate an understanding of the fundamental objectives of the ECT. A formal academic background in ecology is not mandatory: ECT welcomes applications from candidates with a proven leadership record in other fields, alongside an evident personal interest and commitment to the science of ecology and conservation.

With a fundraising background and experience of developing and working in partnerships with other organisations, you will have previously run programmes or campaigns that have educational, awareness raising and influencing objectives.

Closing date: Sunday 21st February

For further details and to apply Click here

Natural England and the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) published their joint report on environmental state of Green Belt land in England and the benefits it provides for people and wildlife on 28th January.

Green belts are areas of wild or agricultural land surrounding urban areas, where development is prevented in order to stop urban sprawl into the countryside and retain open spaces for the population. England has 14 green belt areas, covering 13% of the country and providing important cultural services such as recreational space for the 30 million or so people that live near these areas. They also contain a third of England’s local nature reserves, and support more than 260,000 hectares of high quality agricultural land.

The report is positive about the contribution that green belt land has made towards improving the state of the countryside and well-being of the population, however, warns of challenges facing it with increasing pressure from development and the growing population. It urges

- better and more coordinated land management of these areas

- more investment to improve its resources (for recreation, production and nature conservation)

- better connectivity of green belt areas to help cope with climate change and improve recreational networks.

Download ‘Green Belts: a Greener Future’.