- Policy ×
-
Microbe Talk - Conversations on Collaboration: Sir Paul Nurse on collaborative working and Horizon Europe
October 20, 2023
In this episode of Microbe Talk, our Policy and Engagement Officer Katie chats to Sir Paul Nurse, Director of the Francis Crick Institute and former President of the Royal Society. He was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of protein molecules that control the division of cells in the cell cycle and has since received over 70 honorary degrees. In this episode, Katie and Paul talk about the importance of collaboration and co-working in science, and discuss the UK’s recent re-association with Horizon Europe, the EU funding programme for research and innovation.
-
Opinion: The Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill
May 2, 2023
The new Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Bill has now become law, which will enable the development and marketing of genome-edited organisms in England. But what does this mean for microbiology? In this blog, Professor Peter Lund shares his thoughts.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Working with government during a public health crisis
June 11, 2020
During the COVID-19 pandemic, politicians are looking to experts from the scientific community to inform the government’s response to control the spread of the virus. Microbiologists have contributed to the management of many public health emergencies and we are reflecting on how members of our community have used their expertise to help manage these events. In this blog, past President of the Microbiology Society Professor Sir T. Hugh Pennington discusses his experience as Chairman of a number of Public Enquiries into outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157 in the UK.
-
Microbe Talk: a sustainable future in soil health
May 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 to address some of the world’s biggest challenges. This episode, Hannah speaks with Dr Ellie Harrison, Research Fellow at the University of Sheffield and Luke Hillary, PhD student at Bangor University to find out about how their research into soil health contribute to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs).