Professor Jim Feast, RSC President, discusses the main messages the RSC aims to get across to policy-makers

In October I chaired the latest RSC policy seminar on the issues surrounding the funding of science and technology. To get even closer to key policy makers, the seminar, Funding science, who pays? who gains? took place in the House of Commons.

The seminar focused on the rationale for publicly funding science, the industrial return on research and development and how to create the right environment for knowledge transfer. Additionally it looked at how we can ensure that the science we fund is in line with the greater aims and aspirations of society.

Some key messages were given by Professor Ben Martin, from the Science and Technology Research Unit at the University of Sussex. He said that public funding for science is of great value, but cautioned against attempts to measure quantitatively the financial return on public science funding. Whilst economic benefits are undoubtable, the returns are often very long term and the criteria needed to measure outcomes so complex that most mechanisms devised are simplistic and inaccurate.

In contrast to the desire from some parts of Government to quantify financially the value of publicly funded science, Dr Jack Stilgoe from the independent think-tank DEMOS called for the concept of a 'public value of science' to be considered in discussion of what kind of science should be funded. Here the contribution that science and technology makes is judged for more than just what it can contribute to the economy, but for what it can contribute in a social and ethical context.

The chemical sciences have much to offer to both our economy and our wider understanding of the value of science. In economic terms, chemistry is crucial to UK Plc. The technologies and products that underpin most industries do, and will continue to use chemistry. The base chemicals industry alone employs over 400,000 people and represents approximately £42 billion worth of UK-manufactured products. On top of this there is the plastics and polymers sector, as well as specialised chemicals for the pharmaceutical and personal care, and food and drink industries. Public funding to train chemists, support research and promote innovation and knowledge transfer is crucial if this major economic success is to continue.   

"the chemical sciences have much to offer to both our economy and our wider understanding of the value of science"

But in addition, a strong science base will be just as important for addressing those issues where the value is not primarily financial. The chemical sciences, along with other science and engineering disciplines can address many of the problems that we are faced with today. Chemistry contributes to our understanding of climate change, one of our major challenges; and chemists are centrally placed to deliver sustainable energy solutions. From photovoltaic's to carbon capture, the expertise of chemists will make a difference.

The importance of adequately funding chemistry is one of the main messages we would like to get across to policy makers through our policy seminars. We hope to continue to do this in 2007 and to facilitate discussions on such fundamental issues as how and why science should be funded in the UK.

Professor Jim Feast, RSC President