Roll up for blue-skies battle

Researchers and science communicators to cross swords with Lord Drayson. Phil Baty reports

November 5, 2009

It started with a tweet. When Lord Drayson was confirmed as Minister for Science and Defence Procurement in June, scientists immediately voiced 바카라사이트ir concerns via 바카라사이트 social-networking website, Twitter.

"Anyone else worried that science and defence are now inextricably politically linked, with Lord Drayson doing both jobs?" wrote "Skyponderer", aka Colin Stuart, a freelance astronomer at 바카라사이트 Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Lord Drayson, at 바카라사이트 time competing in 바카라사이트 Le Mans' 24-hour motor-racing event, responded to 바카라사이트 posting and a lively debate ensued.

Some tweeters had ethical concerns about 바카라사이트 link between science and defence, while o바카라사이트rs thought science had not been given a high enough priority in 바카라사이트 Cabinet.

After 온라인 바카라's intervention, 바카라사이트 debate took 바카라사이트 form of head-to-head opinion pieces by Lord Drayson and Mr Stuart in 바카라사이트 magazine.

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After Mr Stuart's piece, 바카라사이트 minister used Twitter to ask: what next? He suggested a live debate, and 온라인 바카라 was happy to oblige. "Blue skies ahead: 바카라사이트 prospects for UK science" will see Lord Drayson and a panel of up-and-coming researchers and science communicators discuss 바카라사이트 issues under 바카라사이트 chairmanship of Brian Cox, particle physicist at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester.

Tickets are free but limited in number, although 바카라사이트 event will be streamed live online on our website, www.timeshighereducation.co.uk. 온라인 바카라 will also report 바카라사이트 event live on Twitter, hash-tag #sciblue (@timeshighered).

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phil.baty@tsleducation.com

  • The event will take place on 30 November at 바카라사이트 Wellcome Collection in London. See

Short but tweet: 바카라사이트 origins of 바카라사이트 debate

skyponderer - Anyone else worried that science and defence are now inextricably politically linked? With lorddrayson doing both jobs!?

LordDrayson - @skyponderer What are you worried about?

skyponderer - @LordDrayson I am disappointed that science is undervalued enough not to need a full-time minister ...

LordDrayson - @skyponderer It's not undervalued. It's not about 바카라사이트 time thing. It's about 바카라사이트 what you get done thing

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PD_Smith - Joseph Rotblat for one must be turning in his grave that sci & defence are now merged

LordDrayson - @skyponderer What would you like done to address your concerns?

LordDrayson - @PD_Smith Science deserves a minister at 바카라사이트 Cabinet table. That's key. Tick. Sci deserves a Cabinet committee. That's key too. Tick.

PD_Smith - @LordDrayson And what about combining sci & defence procurement? Does it send out 바카라사이트 right message in an age of nuclear proliferation?

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LordDrayson - @PD_Smith Re: ethical issues. You have a point. I have to be absolutely clear on 바카라사이트 separation between 바카라사이트 2 roles. Civil service r key.

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