the-BA : March 2007

Ethics, economics and science policy-making

During March’s National Science and Engineering Week, the government’s Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir David King, will promote a new code of ethics for scientists. Such codes are admirable, but it has been argued that they do not necessarily help professional scientific organisations tackle specific questions. In this issue of SPA, two psychologists debate the value of the code painstakingly drawn up by the British Psychological Society (BPS) when it comes to a matter which horrifies all: the role of psychologists in torture.

Nimisha Patel insists that the code is inadequate and that the BPS should be more active on the subject, raising awareness within the psychological community about the legal obligations of psychologists. Richard Kwiatkowski defends the code, asserting that the BPS is a learned society rather than a pressure group.

The SPATalk returns to the crucial subject of recruiting young people to science. Will the new GCSE science course, Twenty First Century Science, lead more young people to study advanced science and mathematics? Andrew Hunt argues that it will, while David Perks dismisses it as only being fit for the pub.

In the wake of the Stern report on the economics of climate change, Kevin Anderson is disheartened by what he calls the ‘sterile economic framing of the public debate’ on the issue. He sees it as a sad indictment of society’s privileging of economics over science. The scale of climate change, he says, means that measures to control our CO2 emissions cannot be evaluated with an accountant’s mentality; and if we are prepared to respond genuinely to the scale of the challenge, we must rescue science from its relegation to a subset of contemporary market economics.

Science in policy-making crops up in many guises in this issue.

Tracey Brown asks what government consultations are for. She thinks of them as a sort of group hug, whose vagueness provides good cover for whatever the consulting body decides to do. The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority’s current consultation over hybrid embryos is a case in point; it also figures in the Shorts. In the controversial case of whether to cull badgers or not, the Independent Scientific Group on Cattle TB lays out the science that mitigates against culling; however, the government has yet to respond to this advice, and there is no guarantee it ever will.

Continuing the theme, David Fisk ruminates on the science and politics of the health effects of pesticide spraying. Jack Stilgoe introduces sciencehorizons, an initiative which aims to encourage citizens to have an input in shaping future technologies. And the Exchange hears three views on the current state of expert advice to government. Alan Irwin thinks it has just begun to improve; Bill Stow explains how it works at Defra; and Sue Mayer argues that things will only change when citizens agitate for it.

Wendy Barnaby, Editor

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	March 2007

	Science and ethics: the case of psychology

	SPATalk

	Climate change in a myopic world

	Hybrid embryos in existential limbo

	Millenium Assessment opportunities remain under-exploited

	To cull or not to cull

	The science and politics of pesticide sprays

	The new way of making science policy

	Scientists should speak out about animal research

	Not only men in white coats

	No 'supernaturalism' at the Festival of Science

	Intelligent design

	Jacuzzis and global ecological resources

	'But we did consult...'

	Things look up for science

	The Prime Minister on science

	Space Tourism

	Getting to grips with violence

	Future access to digital materials

	Jolly good fellows

	Engineering sporting performance

	Heritage science

	Minorities in science

	People should determine the future

	News in brief