Would you stand up for British science?

Thirty years ago, a full page advert paid for by 1500 scientists appeared in The Times calling on the public to ‘Ask your Member of Parliament to help save British science before it is too late’.

It led to the formation of the pressure group Save British Science, since renamed the Campaign for Science and Engineering.

This uprising of British scientists was prompted by a dire situation in UK research. A copy of the advert hangs in our office. Its text conveys the mood of the time: ‘science in crisis’, ‘scientists emigrate’, ‘whole areas of research in jeopardy’ amid a background of declining government investment in science. In a time of swingeing cuts across government, these scientists felt they needed a voice to stand up for science in Parliament, which is what CaSE has provided ever since.

Does science still need to be saved?

In some ways, UK science and engineering are now in rude health; a spacewalking British astronaut, another Nobel prize in chemistry, scientists on primetime TV. But the parallels with 1986 are stark. Budgets are being heavily hit and government investment in science continues to fall behind competitor nations, even 30 years on. There is a ‘brain block’, as opposed to a ‘brain drain’, as science students turn away from the UK believing they are not welcome. CaSE’s work is therefore more important than ever.

Commenting on the anniversary, Professor Denis Noble, one of the original founders, said: “It would have been impossible for those of us who founded the organisation in 1986 to foresee such a strong case being made for science and engineering nearly 30 years later.”

It is interesting to me that the advert of 30 years ago appealed to the public to make a stand for British science. Those of us in the science policy business hammer home to politicians and officials that science is one of the UK’s great strengths and will reap rewards if supported with some investment. I wonder if the public would agree and would stand up for British science and engineering today?

In 30 years time, we can expect science and engineering to be integral to shaping what life is like across the world. Will the UK be a creator of new knowledge and solutions to the world’s problems or a follower waiting for other countries lead the way? The answer lies not just with scientists and parliamentarians, but with us all. We can certainly ask our MPs to save British science, but we can also champion science ourselves. An encouraging word to a child, a question asking for evidence, a choice of study or career, a celebration of success.

Could you stand up for British science?

Author: Dr Sarah Main is a director at Campaign for Science and Engineering.