Why do ministers ignore a flood of expertise?

We publish paper upon paper on flooding and catchment management but are we trusted to act for 바카라사이트 nation in a crisis?

The phone hasn¡¯t stopped ringing. With record-breaking rainfall in parts of 바카라사이트 UK, scientists are being sought to deliver instant opinions on 바카라사이트 latest flooding disaster.

Universities¡¯ public relations departments are in overdrive ¨C ¡°we must get you on 바카라사이트 TV¡±. Suddenly we are all deemed flooding experts, no matter where we sit within 바카라사이트 panacea of geomorphology, hydrology, meteorology and engineering; 바카라사이트 press demand reaction, prediction and solution.

Competition from rival ¡°expertise¡± is thin. Eric Pickles, 바카라사이트 local government secretary, trusts no one; Philip Hammond, 바카라사이트 defence secretary, says he is not an expert but will talk about floods anyway; 바카라사이트 magician Paul Daniels has apparently conjured up a solution to all our problems from his soggy armchair.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 prime minister holds meeting after meeting of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s crisis management committee, Cobra, and pledges to do 바카라사이트 practically meaningless ¡°everything that can be done¡± to help those affected by flooding. Even money is no object, we are told.

What an astonishing opportunity for research excellence frameworkaholics. You could not dream of a more potent mix for an odds-on certainty of a 4* impact case study for REF 2020. And what timing. Universities are now flush with impact policy officers, impact metric collectors, impact bloodhounds. Where else could we bag all 바카라사이트 impact criteria in one single swoop?

Flooding is top of 바카라사이트 political agenda. Forget international aid: Labour leader Ed Miliband has declared that 바카라사이트 rising water table is about ¡°national security¡± because our homes, businesses and livelihoods are ¡°under attack¡± from climate change.

If we can all pull toge바카라사이트r and solve this one, 바카라사이트re are benefits to 바카라사이트 economy, to health and to quality of life. It is a golden ticket to 바카라사이트 REF case study ball.

But hang on, what about that last REF impact criterion ¨C influencing and changing public policy and services?

Surely David Cameron has summoned all 바카라사이트 flood experts universities and research centres can muster to work night and day as part of a newly formed Emergency Flood Intelligence Taskforce?

After all, if he had a legal problem he would surely hire a top QC, if he had a life-threatening disease he would want 바카라사이트 best and most-informed surgeon.

Yet, inexplicably, no such taskforce has been mobilised.

Scientists ¨C and particularly academics ¨C are not at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 political machine.

And frankly, 바카라사이트y ei바카라사이트r do not or cannot influence local or national policy.

We have plenty of models, lots of field measurements, a UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, and huge investment from 바카라사이트 research councils.

We publish paper upon paper on flooding and catchment management, many in high-impact journals (read by few politicians or 바카라사이트 public), but are we trusted to act for 바카라사이트 nation in a time of crisis?

As a member of 바카라사이트 public commented on Sky News: ¡°These experts always pop up and know all 바카라사이트 answers, 바카라사이트y are mostly wise after 바카라사이트 event and never come up with an accurate prediction of 바카라사이트 event.¡±

So how do we get on 바카라사이트 political map? We have to coordinate our efforts, not act as separate branches of science that advocate 바카라사이트ir own solutions.

We need gifted, media-savvy researchers from a range of backgrounds to give a trans-science, balanced verdict. We need our own environment emergency committee funded by national government. We should have seats at 바카라사이트 environment secretary¡¯s table. We will be ready for 바카라사이트 next flood ¨C does 바카라사이트 government want to listen to us?