29/6/05 Science in Wales
CaSE today joined with other scientific societies in highlighting some of the issues facing science in Wales. At a meeting in the Cardiff Millennium Centre, six leading scientific groups, including CaSE, brought together scientists and engineers from Wales with members of the Welsh Assembly. The First Secretary, Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM, spoke, stressing the importance of science and engineering to the Welsh economy. "We must now capitalise on the links we have made today," said Dr Hefin Jones, of CaSE's Exexcutive Committee.

29/6/06 Executive Committee meeting at Tavistock Square

28/06/06 Funding for university science
CaSE today called on the Higher Education Funding Council to use a new report to correct flaws in university financing. "HEFCE is saying that it will not 'intervene' to save science departments," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE, "but it has already interevened by changing the funding mechanisms, disadvantaging science and engineering. It should be big enough to admit its mistake and put it right as soon as possible.

press release

27/06/06 Engineering companies
CaSE today met with the Chief Executive and senior representatives of Rolls Royce to discuss engineering business. "Engineering is a hugely important part of the economy," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE, "and it is important for us to stay up-to-date with what is happening in engineering industry".

24/06/06 Investment in science
CaSE today condemned rumours that the Government is planning to backtrack on commitments to scientific investment. Responding to a story in today's Times Higher Education Supplement that ‘a senior source with close links to the Treasury’ was saying that the Government was planning ‘a considerable reduction in investment’ in British science, the Chairman of CaSE, Professor Richard Joyner said: "If this were true, it would be a disaster".

15/06/06 Science in Further Education
There is urgent need to reform the funding and organisation of science and engineering in further eduation, CaSE argues today. Publishing the results of an Opinion Forum with Lecturers in Further Education colleges, CaSE highlighted problems with league tables, funding mechanisms and the assessment of coursework.

opinion forum

06/06/05 Government control of research priorities
For science to thrive, Whitehall must loosen its grip on the science base, says CaSE today. Writing in Science and Public Affairs, CaSE points out that the increasing ring-fencing of money, and central dictation of research questions is unlikely to produce a stronger or more useful science base. "We must not lose the features -like the freedom of researchers to determine the direction of research - that made the UK's research base one of the best in the world in the first place," said Dr Peter Cotgreave, Director of CaSE

02/06/05 Financing the universities
Funding university science is one of the biggest challenges facing the new Governmentm, argues CaSE today. In an article in Laboratory News, CaSE points out that there is unlikely to be enough public money to fund the Government's ambitions for teaching and research, and there is a cap on fees, which means that the students themselves will not be expected to make a greater contribution. "Squaring this circle will be a big challenge for science in the coming years," says the article.