RSC Policy Bulletin

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  What does the RSC do for us?
   
• What is it doing to protect chemistry in the UK and help it flourish and grow?
   
• What is it doing to communicate the importance of chemistry to policy makers and politicians?     

These are just some of the questions that RSC staff and committee members are constantly asked.

To try and provide answers, we have produced this bulletin outlining the many activities and policy initiatives the RSC is involved in.

Issue 12

June 2009

Professor Lesley Yellowlees, outgoing Chair of the RSC Science Policy Board introduces this issue of the Policy Bulletin looking back over the changes and achievements that have occurred over the last four years. Highlights for the RSC have included major policy reports on critical issues such as food, water and energy. The RSC has also focused on the projects looking at the issues associated with the funding of chemistry and the economic impact of fundamental chemistry research, and on equality and diversity within science departments.   

This issue also includes a discussion on the new government Science and Society strategy; an article highlighting the effects of the recent RAE on UK chemistry departments; details of how UK chemistry will succeed in mastering bologna in the European Higher Education Area; articles looking at the climate change bill in Scotland, whether plants can be used to make useful products as an alternative to fossil fuels and how Science should be at the heart of government policy making.

Hard copies of the Policy Bulletin can be provided upon request by contacting Sarah Dickinson.