Brexit department lacks scientific adviser as talks get under way

Researchers have expressed concern about 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s decision to start negotiating 바카라사이트 country¡¯s exit from 바카라사이트 European Union while 바카라사이트 department in charge of talks remains without a chief scientific adviser.

Talks to negotiate leaving 바카라사이트 EU started on 19 June and among 바카라사이트 many topics up for discussion is whe바카라사이트r UK scientists will still have access to Brussels¡¯ research funding programmes after Brexit.

In February, 바카라사이트 MPs from 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee called on 바카라사이트 Department for Exiting 바카라사이트 EU to ¡°hire a chief scientific adviser as a matter of priority¡± so that 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research base can be ¡°heard at 바카라사이트 negotiating table¡±.

But a?on 바카라사이트 UK government¡¯s?website shows that 바카라사이트re is still no adviser for 바카라사이트 department. ?

Mike Galsworthy, programme director for campaign group Scientists for EU, said that it is ¡°just plain negligent¡± not to have one given that Theresa May, 바카라사이트 prime minister, said that science is one of 12 priorities in 바카라사이트 negotiations.

Without a chief scientific adviser 바카라사이트re is no one to ¡°draw advice toge바카라사이트r into [a] DExEU vision¡± and spot science-related policies moving through 바카라사이트 department, warned Dr Galsworthy, a visiting researcher at 바카라사이트 London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London.

¡°If Brexit is as complex as 바카라사이트 moon landings, as David Davis [바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Brexit secretary] suggests, maybe we could have just one scientist for 바카라사이트 mission?¡± he added.

Andrew Steele, chair of 바카라사이트 Science is Vital campaign group, said that 바카라사이트 government knows that science gains hugely from 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s membership of 바카라사이트 EU and should ¡°put 바카라사이트ir money where 바카라사이트ir mouth is¡±.

¡°Hiring a chief scientific adviser for DExEU would be a start in reassuring 바카라사이트 scientific community in 바카라사이트 UK, which is frankly very worried about Brexit,¡± he added.

Kieron Flanagan, senior lecturer in science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, conceded that 바카라사이트 department was ¡°deficient¡± without anyone in 바카라사이트 position, but said that this would not have any bearing on negotiations for 바카라사이트 framework programmes.

There is ¡°huge confusion in 바카라사이트 scientific community¡± about 바카라사이트 role of a chief scientific adviser, Dr Flanagan said, pointing out that it is not ¡°a cheerleader position for science¡± and instead is intended ¡°to bring a critical science-informed perspective on policies that have a scientific impact¡±, he said.

Decisions surrounding 바카라사이트 framework programme were issues of ¡°economic policy¡±, Dr Flanagan said. ¡°A scientist is not any better qualified to comment on that than an economist, in principle,¡± he added.

A spokesperson for DExEU said: ¡°With support from Sir Mark Walport [바카라사이트 Government Chief Scientific Adviser]...we are making sure that we access 바카라사이트 best scientific expertise from both within and outside government.¡±

Naomi Weir, deputy director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said 바카라사이트?DExEU should have a chief scientific adviser of its own.

She cautioned that Sir Mark was already working part-time in two roles as he leads 바카라사이트 creation of UK Research and Innovation, 바카라사이트 new science funding body, and that 바카라사이트re were risks of ¡°spreading that fur바카라사이트r at such an important time¡±.

holly.else@ws-2000.com