https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.94.8

Engaging with Parliamentarians

The Policy Committee is delighted to announce the launch of a new flagship ‘Engaging with Parliamentarians’ programme. The programme will offer Members the opportunity to gain knowledge of the policy making process and training on how to best engage with MPs and policy makers. It aims to enable Members to impact on the UK policy environment and also to help advance The Society’s key policy messages.

If you would like to further information on the programme or would like to apply please see www.physoc.org/engaging-parliamentarians or contact Ed Hayes on policy@physoc.org

Freedom of Information Act: Our lobbying activity

The Society, working alongside the Wellcome Trust, lobbied MPs over a proposed amendment to the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act. The intention of the proposed changes was to introduce greater clarity that pre-publication research was exempt from FOI requests.

However, the wording of the proposed bill left open the possibility that intellectual property conceived in the pre-experimental, planning phase of a research programme (including grant and/or license applications, etc.) would not be covered by this research exemption.

At the time of writing it remains unclear if our joint efforts will be successful. The Shadow Minister for Business Innovation and Skills, Iain Wright MP, raised our concerns at the parliamentary Public Bill committee stage. However, the amendments that we called for have yet to be adopted, with the minister David Willetts continuing to deflect concerns. We expect further debate over the suggested amendments to take place at the next parliamentary stage, and will continue to monitor developments.

Women in Physiology reception

The Society hosted a vibrant reception at Hodgkin Huxley House to celebrate the women featured in the Women in Physiology booklet that was launched at IUPS. It also fired the starting gun ahead of 2015, when The Society will celebrate the centenary of the admission of female members. The key note address was delivered by Dame Julia Higgins, patron of Athena Swan and WISE, who provided attendees with a background of her involvement in women in STEM. The Society also welcomed Athena Swan, the Daphne Jackson Trust and Science Grrl as exhibitors at the event.

The Society is also pleased to announce that videos from the IUPS Women in Science sessions are now available online at www.physoc.org/gallery/media/women-science-iups-2013

Our leading policy maker scientist

Policy Committee member Max Headley was named as one of the 10 leading policy maker scientists in a recently published list of leading scientists published by the Science Council. He was recognised for his work on in vivo policy. Others also on the list included the Chief Medical Officer, Dame Sally Davies, and the Government Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Mark Walport.

Max said, “The Science Council’s selection came as a total surprise – and I was more than a little taken aback at being cast alongside such eminent policy makers. It is of course hugely rewarding to see that my input into this area has been appreciated on a broad front, but it’s clearly also the case that the sector’s input to national policies has been based on far more than my own contribution. Many colleagues right across the life science sector have contributed much, and I hope that the sector recognises the teamwork that has made for the successes achieved.”

If you are interested in these or any other policy related issues please contact us at policy@physoc.org