Relations between scientists and policy makers must improve, a report commissioned by the British government has warned.
The report is one of a series on the future of the nation’s higher education system, including making research careers more attractive and the use of science in policy making. These reports were commissioned by the government from university and research leaders and will feed into a framework document setting out how the UK plans to develop its HE system over the next 10-15 years, which the government plans to launch next year.
The report on evidence based policymaking by Janet Finch, co-chair of the government’s top level advisory body the Council for Science and Technology, says, “A less than professional working relationship” exists between scientists and policymakers. She says “a degree of mistrust” exists which is inhibiting greater engagement.
She recommends the academic community better reward and respect policy engagement work carried out by academics. Finch told the Times Higher Education, that there was “considerable enthusiasm” on the part of both academia and the government to develop better working relationships. But adds some academics were seen by policymakers as being “too slow” and “not really undertaking” the task that official set.
Another of the reports called for a coherent government policy to improve research careers. The report, written by Nigel Thrift, vice-chancellor of the University of Warwick, also warns that the “brain drain” of the nation’s best minds continues to be a “clear and present danger”.
A third report on intellectual property proposes that all UK universities should be required to report annually their success and failure in exploiting IP and set out how they intend to maximise the economic and social impact of their research.
The report by Paul Wellings, vice chancellor of Lancaster University, says some university’s exploitation polices “may need reinforcing if the UK is to remain competitive and increase returns from investment in public research.”