The Campaign for Science and Engineering in the UK, formerly known as Save British Science, celebrated its 25th anniversary last night at a reception in London (full disclosure: Nature sponsored the event).

The campaign was launched on 13 January 1986 with an advertisment in The Times paid for by 1,500 scientists, who were concerned over funding cuts for university science. In 2005, after years of steadily growing science budgets, the organisation changed its name to the Campaign for Science and Engineering in the UK (CaSE). It seemed British science had been saved.

But the campaign is not about to give up – particularly in today’s climate of budget cuts. Science minister David Willetts, who spoke at the event, had to endure some personal lobbying, and pointed comments about government cuts to university funding – not to mention praise for Tony Blair. But thankfully, the joke that CaSE might revert to its old name was only made once.

Denis Noble, one of the original organisers of the Times advert, reflected on how campaigning had changed in the past quarter century. In December 1985, Noble spent six weeks sitting by his telephone, calling friends and friends of friends to round up the 1,500 contributors. But last autumn it took the Science is Vital campaign, supported by CaSE, just a few weeks to gather 35,000 signatures for its online petition.

Imran Khan, director of CaSE, set out the group’s priorities for the next year, which include making science and engineering an issue in the elections for the UK’s devolved governments, and ensuring that the UK remains a welcoming place for the best students and scientists from around the world.

Images: CaSE director Imran Khan/CaSE, original Times advertisement/CaSE