Articles and Speeches

Speech to Royal Society of Chemistry
Wednesday, 10^th March 2009. 
 

As Conservative shadow minister for science and innovation I’m excited, delighted and thrilled to be here.

So I want to say ‘many thanks’ to the organisers and issue a particular thank you to Stephen Benn for his enthusiastic lobbying!

But above all, my thanks goes to you - the up-and-coming young scientists of the future - because from the moment I arrived I’ve been inspired by what you’ve done.

Now you’re no doubt well aware that politicians can talk far too much, so I want to offer some assurance:  This will not be a long speech.

I want to make three points.

First, science equals success.

Before entering politics I was running Information and Technology based companies.

So I know all too well how important science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills are to business and the economy.

If you have a science qualification, then you are more likely to succeed in your career.

50% of all large company chairman and chief executives hold a science degree.

And when it comes to fast growth technology businesses the figure’s even higher.

Just take a look at Apple, Microsoft, the Pharmaceutical firms and the growing array of green energy firms.

We’re faced with enormous challenges today.

Energy shortages, climate change and transport to name only a few....

We will only succeed in meeting these challenges if we discover, develop and deploy appropriate science-solutions.

And be in no doubt that, science not only underpins economic success, it also underpins most of the major social advances we’ve made over the last several hundred years.

For example, the discovery that Cholera was a water-borne disease in the 1800s enabled people to live closer together in cities.

Which brings me speedily to my second point: 

From Newton’s law of gravity to Stephenson’s rocket; from the theory of evolution to the mapping of the human genome, scientific advances made here in the UK continue to underpin the progress and prosperity of mankind.

Science doesn’t just capture the imagination: it sets the boundaries of human endeavour.

That’s always been the case, from turn of the first wheel to the launch of the Apollo space programme.

And some scientific research can raise ethical issues: Stem cell research, nuclear physics and animal testing for example.

In fact, I think it was Ibsen who joked that scientists should abandon animal testing – and experiment on politicians instead.

He had a point, most politicians make curious specimens.

But, personally, I’d rather wear the lab coat than face the scalpel.  So I’ll be careful with my words today.

So science can raise moral concerns, but we must remember that science and the scientific traditions reach way back into our religious past.

Monks pursued methodical research for centuries – Mendel discovered the basis of genetic inheritance working patiently on peas in the abbey garden - and the Arabic and Islamic traditions are well known.

So it must be our hope that this rich history and tradition of science lives on in the next generation.

And looking round this room, I am hugely optimistic for the future of British science.

So my third and final point is about the future.

Young scientists, you are the future!

This event, and the whole of National Science and Engineering week, helps us to transmit that message to the rest of society.

In the future, as in the past, science & engineering will continue to define the boundaries of the possible.

And this is something that David Cameron takes to heart, when one of his early actions as leader was to form a task force to look into STEM.

Today we are in the depths of recession.

 And some scientists are concerned that emphasis may be shifting from ‘basic blue skies’ research to a more business-driven approach.

We will of course have to strike a balance.  But the reality is that the economic role of science is far too big to simply ignore.

Our research labs are firmly attached to the wider economy.

And looking to the future beyond the current recession, we need to move from an economy based on housing, borrowing and financial services, to one that’s more balanced, more innovative and more competitive.

And it’s our scientists and science labs that will generate the valuable discoveries that will deliver the changes we need.

We must harness the power of science and engineering to create the new jobs for the future of our country.

We need a ready supply of highly-qualified graduates if we are to compete as a creative, hi-tech, knowledge-driven economy.

So many of you are the lucky ones.

You have chosen science A Levels and science degrees.

But we have a long way to go to spread that message more widely.

Because a decision to drop science at 16 can have repercussions later life:  at A Level, at university, and in the graduate job market.

So in closing, I think we’ve got to raise the profile of science in public life.

I care passionately about this and that’s why we’re currently piloting ‘science literacy’ lessons for new Conservative MPs

And my hope is that it’ll spread to all incoming MPs and senior policy-makers because the scientific approach is non-partisan and essential to sound policy making.

So what can I say?  National Science and Engineering week is great!

It has taken place every year since 1994, and it focuses our attention on the benefits that science and a career in science can bring.

 And as I look around this room I am pretty sure I’m looking at the next Darwin, the next Brunnel and the next Bill Gates in the making.

 Many of you in this room will go on to do great things in science and engineering and it makes me smile.

 Because I am hugely optimistic for you.

 You are the next generation of British science.

 And I thank you. Thank you.