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Reflections on ‘Impact 2030’, Ireland’s new Research and Innovation Strategy
August 15, 2022
On 18 May 2022, the Irish Department for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) published ‘Impact 2030’, its new Research and Innovation (R&I) Strategy. Here, our Policy and Engagement Officer Katie O’Connor reflects on ‘Impact 2030’ and the future of Irish R&I.
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Science and the Senedd 2022
August 10, 2022
On 17 May 2022, the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) held their annual event 'Science and the Senedd' that works to connect Welsh decision makers with the scientific community. Here, Microbiology Society Champion Issy Centeleghe from Cardiff University reflects on her experience representing the Society at this event.
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Reflections on the UKRI five-year strategy
May 24, 2022
On 14 March 2022, the Department of Business, Energy and Infrastructure (BEIS) published its internal allocations for how it will spend its first multi-year research and development (R&D) budget since 2015. Three days later, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) released their five-year strategy for 2022 to 2027. Here, our recent Policy and Engagement Intern Jess Lloyd reflects on the research and innovation landscape in the UK and how the UKRI strategy will shape it in the next five years.
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Foreign aid cuts: now is not the time to step back
May 17, 2021
The UK is facing severe financial pressures because of COVID-19 and its impact on the economy. As a result, the UK government has decided to reduce the funds available for Official Development Assistance (ODA), which includes research projects funded via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) from the ODA budget. In this blog, Eva Scholtus discusses the impact of these cuts.
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‘A Sustainable Future’ online focus groups
February 11, 2021
In June and July 2020, as part of the ‘A Sustainable Future’ project, the Policy team ran a series of online focus groups to explore the challenges and opportunities for microbiology in the fields of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), the circular economy and soil health. Over the course of three weeks, the online focus groups collectively brought together 105 people including microbiologists, non-microbiology researchers, industry and policy representatives, who discussed what more could be done if there were fewer barriers, and the interventions needed to achieve a sustainable future. Here, early-career researchers Laura and Quentin discuss their experience of the focus groups.
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Why is soil microbiology important?
August 28, 2020
As part of our ‘A Sustainable Future’ policy project, we spoke to Professor Matthew Goddard from the University of Lincoln about his research into the soil microbiome. In this video he tells us more about the importance soil microbes in agriculture, the impact of chemical fungicides and why microbes are vital for more sustainable food production, and thus achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
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The Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum
July 20, 2020
On the 23 June, Hannah Norman, Policy Officer at the Microbiology Society, virtually attended the Westminster Food and Nutrition Forum. This event involved a discussion from policy makers and stakeholders on the future of UK agricultural policy. Here, Hannah discusses the experience.
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A sustainable future and antimicrobial resistance
June 22, 2020
As part of our 'A Sustainable Future' policy project, the Microbiology Society's policy team have produced three special episodes of Microbe Talk to explore the role of microbiology in addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges. In this episode, Emily speaks with Professor Laura Piddock from the University of Birmingham, who is currently on secondment as the Director of Scientific Affairs, Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership. In the second half of the episode, Emily speaks with Dr Anne Leonard, research fellow at the University of Exeter. Listen to the episode to find out how research into antimicrobial resistance fits into the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).
