EURO MP LINKS WITH TOP NORTH EAST SCIENTIST
July 24, 2006 12:00 AM
Fiona Hall MEP with Dr Melissa Bateson in her constituency office, Durham
neFiona Hall, Member of the European Parliament for the North East, and Dr Melissa Bateson of Newcastle University have been taking part in a shadowing scheme aiming to bridge politics and science.
Dr Bateson, a research fellow from the Royal Society who visited Brussels at the beginning of the month, said:
"I met officials from the European Commission, Council and Parliament and attended a training session on the EU institutions science and research policy in the EU.
"It's challenging to synthesise work that we do with political policy. But schemes like this help to forge links for future decisions.
Fiona spent time with Melissa learning about her research as part of a Newcastle University team based in the Henry Wellcome Building for Neuroecology. Melissa's research recently included a widely-publicised investigation into whether 'Big Brother' style pictures of eyes encouraged honesty.
Said Fiona:
"I was fascinated by the range of research going on, from studies on smell linked to drug abuse work to experiments on the skills required in driving, part of efforts to understand how elderly drivers might be supported.
"I welcome the shadowing scheme because scientists and policymakers don't necessarily always understand the constraints under which both communities are working.
"At a time when the next European framework programme for financing research is being discussed in the European Parliament it's really good to get in touch with some of the amazing work being carried out in the North East."
More information:
The Royal Society is an independent academy promoting the natural and applied sciences. Founded in 1660, the Society has three roles, as the UK academy of science, as a learned Society, and as a funding agency. It responds to individual demand with selection by merit, not by field. The Society's objectives are to:
· strengthen UK science by providing support to excellent individuals
· fund excellent research to push back the frontiers of knowledge
· attract and retain the best scientists
· ensure the UK engages with the best science around the world
· support science communication and education; and communicate and encourage dialogue with the public
· provide the best independent advice nationally and internationally
· promote scholarship and encourage research into the history of science.
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