FST BLOG
We welcome blogs on issues across Science, Technology, Research and Innovation, and on the activities of the Foundation. To publish a blog on this site, please email Gavin Costigan (gavin.costigan@foundation.org.uk).
Note: The Foundation for Science and Technology is strictly neutral. Any views expressed in these blogs are those of the authors and not of the Foundation.
Nurse Review of RDI landscape 2023 – a medical research charity sector view
- 26 May, 2023
- Business, Education, General, Technology
- Mehwaesh Islam and Catriona Manville
The AMRC is a membership organisation representing over 150 charities of various sizes who all fund research; from household names such as Cancer Research UK, Wellcome and British Heart Foundation to smaller charities who invest in specific areas of unmet need. AMRC members are a significant funder of medical research in the UK, spending £15 billion over the past decade. In this blog, we provide our reflections on the recommendations made in the Nurse review of the research landscape and the difference they can make to medical research which we hope will ultimately lead to patient benefit.
Read MoreBig Data, Greener Cities
- 26 April, 2023
- Environment
- Molly Rains
Molly Rains, MSc Science Communication student at Imperial College London, spoke with London’s environmental record-keepers about how cities can grow greener – and fairer – when urban planning is informed by data.
Read MoreThe Environmental Impact of Food Packaging: Analysing Eco, Compostable, and Biodegradable Materials
- 18 April, 2023
- Environment, Technology
- Lucy Jones
Consumers increasingly demand sustainable packaging. A report published at the beginning of this year revealed that the percentage of customers demanding sustainable packaging has risen to 81%, sending a very clear message to businesses that sustainable options are the way forward. Food packaging is a significant contributor to the world’s growing waste problem, which is why many businesses are exploring environmentally-friendly options such as stand up pouches made from a range of eco, compostable and biodegradable materials. But what differentiates these three sustainable options? In this article, we explore the differences between eco, compostable and biodegradable materials.
Read MoreWhat is the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Lithium-ion Battery Manufacturing During the Transition to NetZero?
- 7 March, 2023
- Environment, Technology
- Mona Faraji Niri
The transition to NetZero is a hot topic, expected to happen in the UK some time before 2050. Mona Faraji Niri discusses the potential of using artificial intelligence to accelerate this transition by facilitating lithium-ion battery manufacturing.
Read MoreUniversity Technical Colleges – Educating today’s young people for tomorrow's careers
- 30 January, 2023
- Education, Technology
- Simon Connell
In this blog, Simon Connell, Chief Executive of Baker Dearing Educational Trust, presents University Technical Colleges and their growing place in education.
Read MoreUnlocking Hardtech
- 24 January, 2023
- Dr Amy Nommeots Nomm, Early Stage Deeptech Investor, Octopus Ventures
in this blog, Dr Amy Nommeots-Nomm from Octopus Ventures discusses the challenges of unlocking innovation finance to deliver on the potential of Hardtech.
Read MoreLack of Representation of Black and Ethnic Minorites in the Commercial Science Industry
- 15 December, 2022
- Business, Education, General, Technology
- Daniel Similaki
The social enterprise African-Caribbean Commercial Science Network (ACCSN) seeks to raise the profile of black and ethnic minorities in commercial science by supporting the development of aspiring and current professionals in the industry while providing a space through which they can thrive together. It achieves this by focussing its work upon 5 target points discussed in this blog.
Read MoreHow do you fix a leaky pipeline? Improving conditions for Black researchers
- 5 December, 2022
- Education, General, Technology
- Dr Faith Uwadiae
Science and technology are suffering from a huge problem. One that it is starting to acknowledge but has not really comprehended the scale of the issue and the pace of change required to fix it. The UK government has a grand plan to strengthen the UK’s position as a global science and technology superpower, but for who? Dr Faith Uwadiae discusses science and technology for black researchers.
Read MoreWhy we must change perceptions of engineering: the case for National Engineering Day
- 2 November, 2022
- Education, Technology
- Jo Trigg
In 2022, 'National Engineering Day' is held on the 2nd November as a celebration for the impact of engineering and engineers. In this blog, Joe Trigg (Director of Communications and Engagement at the Royal Academy of Engineering) discusses the significance of day, the importance of engineering globally and the limitations faced by the field.
Read MoreCOP 27: A Preview
- 24 October, 2022
- Environment
- Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Policy & Translation, Grantham Institute for Climate Change, Imperial College
In this blog, Alyssa Gilbert, Director of Policy & Translation at the Grantham Institute, Imperial College, previews the COP27 climate change meeting, which is being held in Sharm El Sheikh in November 2022, and the possibility of progress in climate finance, adaptation and loss & damage.
Read More