Category Archives: Uncategorized
Can GM Technology Feed the World?
An interesting piece in the New York Times (October 26th) explores whether ‘biotech foods can explore the world’. Six experts, from economics, agriculture and policy, deliver their views on whether GM provides an answer to projected food shortages. The United … Continue reading
Academics and Government at Odds Over Plans for REF
The head of the Russell Group of universities, Professor Michael Arthur, has argued that 90% of funding to be allocated in the Research Excellence Framework should be concentrated in 25 – 30 institutions. Commenting at a Times Higher Education conference … Continue reading
‘Milking’ Algae to Provide Biofuels
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have proposed that diatoms, a type of algae, could be used as a biofuel. Diatoms contain oil droplets within their cells and the researchers estimate that one hectare of diatom cultivation could … Continue reading
Society of Biology Formed
Today the Institute of Biology and Biosciences Federation officially merged to become one organisation, the Society of Biology. The formation of the SOB marks an exciting day for the biosciences, with a single, representative umbrella organisation speaking with a unified … Continue reading
Electric Cages Offer Small Hope to Coral Reefs
A report on the Guardian website (Sunday, 16 August), suggests that electrified steel cages have had a dramatic effect on coral-reef building off the island of Vabbinfaru, Maldives. However, the researchers involved recognise that this is a local, small-scale solution … Continue reading
Coral Reefs Facing Severe Threat from Ocean Acidification
The Policy Team last night attended a lecture at the Royal Society delivered by J.E.N. ‘Charlie’ Veron, a world-leading expert on corals. Charlie has spent much of his career studying corals at the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of … Continue reading
Government Refuses to Budge on Highly Protected Marine Conservation Zones
The UK Marine Bill continued its passage through Parliament yesterday with the first debates on clauses in the Bill taking place in the House of Commons Committee stage. The Bill entered the Committee Stage on 29 June with a first … Continue reading
Harlequin Set to Wreak Havoc over Warm Summer
A team of scientists has warned that there will only be “one winner, 1000 losers” as the Harlequin ladybird continues its spread through the UK. Introduced to Holland to control aphid numbers there, the ladybird spread to the UK in … Continue reading
Reducing Agriculture’s Ecological Footprint
A new study published in Food Policy and reported in this week’s EU science policy digest; ‘Science for Environment Policy’, suggests that subsidies from Governments could play a key role in helping to reduce the ‘ecological footprint’ of food production. … Continue reading
Future Directions for EU Environmental Policy
The BES this afternoon attended the Annual Lunch Reception of the All Party Parliamentary Environment Group at the Houses of Parliament. The purpose of the reception was to facilitate networking between the disparate members of the group: from Learned Societies … Continue reading