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The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) today welcomed the publication of the report from the Science and Trust Expert Group.

Science and Innovation Minister Lord Drayson said:

“The recent focus on climate change research has highlighted the importance of public confidence in science. This report comes at a crucial time when we need a culture of healthy and informed scepticism - the public needs to be able to consider issues which affect their lives based on the evidence. For that we need a public that is scientifically literate and a science community that acts appropriately and engages in public debate effectively.

“We’ve strengthened the system of scientific advice within Government. Now we must raise awareness of our ethical and regulatory frameworks to ensure scientists, whether from government, industry, or academia act appropriately.

“I’m grateful to the group for producing this thoughtful report, and we will now consider their recommendations.”

Notes for editors

1. The Science and Trust Expert Group report can be downloaded at http://interactive.bis.gov.uk/scienceandsociety/site/trust/

2. Five independent expert groups were created in May 2009 by Lord Drayson, Science and Innovation Minister. These groups aimed to engage the science community, media, public, business and policy makers to help change cultural attitudes to science in the UK.

3. The Science and Trust Expert Group – co-chaired by Dr Aileen Allsop (Vice President for Science Policy, Research and Design, AstraZeneca) and Dr Tony Whitehead (Joint Head of Science in Government, Government Office for Science) – aimed to develop an Action Plan to:

develop new mechanisms to increase public trust in science and engineering review the impact of the existing ethical code of practice and whether it meets the needs of science and society; improve partnership working, facilitating the movement of knowledge and people across the different sectors in order to maximise the benefits and impacts of science and society activities pursue a more coherent evaluation model of the impacts of science and society initiatives

4. For more information, please contact Rachel Clarke, BIS press office, 18002 020 7215 5945, Rachel.clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk

Department for Business, Innovation & Skills

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) is building a dynamic and competitive UK economy by: creating the conditions for business success; promoting innovation, enterprise and science; and giving everyone the skills and opportunities to succeed. To achieve this it will foster world-class universities and promote an open global economy. BIS - Investing in our future.

Contacts:

BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Rachel Clarke
Phone: 18220 020 7215 5945 - text direct phone
Mobile: This is a text direct phone- please dial in fill
Rachel.Clarke@bis.gsi.gov.uk