Despite the vital role science and technology play in underpinning economic success, protecting public health and delivering wider benefits to society, science for the national good is struggling to survive following a barrage of cuts, it warns.
Prospect General Secretary Paul Noon said: "Science for the public good is mostly hidden from the public eye. It is carried out in research institutes involved in long-term projects, and the impact often isn’t clear to those outside the scientific community until the expertise is needed to defend against a major crisis.
"These skills cannot be turned off and on at will. The lack of effective central oversight and the chopping and changing of research policies according to the fashion of the moment have put this valuable legacy at risk.
"There have been many warm words about the importance of science and technology for national economic growth. But in reality the government’s approach is nothing short of schizophrenic. On one hand it heralds massive boosts in science spending while at the same time it is axing world-class scientific facilities. At present no one in government can honestly answer the question "Who is looking after British science?"
It is a question the union will be asking when it launches a Charter for Public Science at the TUC Congress in Brighton on Monday 11 September. From 2pm onwards, senior figures in the union movement, including TUC Deputy General Secretary Frances O'Grady, will visit the media centre at the Brighton venue to add their signatures and support.
Later in the day Prospect will invite MPs, science employers and other key stakeholders to add their backing to the campaign at a fringe meeting at 5.30pm in Meeting Room 6 entitled: "Who’s looking after British science?".
The Charter for Public Science calls for a joined-up approach to science policy-making and designated ministerial responsibility and authority for:
- a halt to ‘cost-driven’ lab closures and privatisation
- an end to the culture of continuous review and reorganisation
- adequate funds to invest in long-term research and infrastructure
- action by scientists and government to promote better public understanding of scientific issues
- a strategy to maintain and enhance the science skills base
- open decision making
- decent pay and careers for staff.
"But, as the Charter points out, science for the national good is at risk from funding cuts, fragmentation and privatisation. Prospect is absolutely right to call for a new, co-ordinated approach with proper investment for the long term and decent pay and careers for staff."