Getting science on the political agenda

With the general election approaching on 12 December, our director of Science & Communities, Jo Reynolds, explains that we want to help make sure that all the parties and candidates have the best information on how to support the chemical sciences.

We have given a briefing to the main political parties on 12 ideas to boost UK science and innovation, and you can read and share this briefing.

If you will be contacting or meeting your local parliamentary candidates, or attending any candidate hustings, you may want to raise some of these issues with them.

Here are some ready-made talking points:

Six questions to ask your parliamentary candidates

  • Ask about funding: Investment in research, development and science is vital for new discoveries, our prosperity and well-being. Will you support making sure the UK becomes and stays one of the top 3 investors in research and development as a % of GDP and continued UK participation in EU Research and Innovation programmes?
  • Ask about mobility of scientists: Will you support changes to make it much easier for talented scientists from around the world to visit the UK for scientific purposes and to work here, including radically cutting visa costs?
  • Ask about tackling waste: Given the context of widespread concerns about waste, do you agree that scientific research will be an essential part of long-term solutions to address waste, and will you support government collaborating with academia/researchers and industry to explore scientific solutions, as well as introducing science-informed policies to tackle plastic, electronic and other waste?
  • Ask about technical education: How would you address the skills gap in lab technicians in the sciences? Uptake of apprenticeships, HNCs and HNDs in laboratory science and applied chemistry is very low compared to other subject areas; what would you put in place to increase the number of apprentices and students taking these routes?
  • Ask about teacher supply: Shortages of specialist chemistry teachers is a major issue affecting whether all learners have access to an excellent chemistry education. In 2017 just over 10% of chemistry teachers in state-funded schools left the profession for reasons other than retirement. What policies would you support to improve retention of chemistry teachers and make the profession more attractive?
  • Ask about chemistry careers: Many young people taking A-level chemistry do not feel well-informed about the jobs that the subject can offer them. Science organisations are doing what they can to promote the wide range of options that chemistry can offer to influence the world in a meaningful and important way. What government policies would you support to ensure all young people gain an understanding of career options in the chemical sciences, enabling them to make informed choices?

More information on policy and campaigning

Read our 12-point General Election Manifesto Briefing.

You can also find more information on our policy and campaigning work here.

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