Subscribe now

Log in

Your login is case sensitive

I have forgotten my password


The S Word: The policy and politics of science

It is time to geek the vote

Nick Dusic is the Director of the Campaign for Science & Engineering (CaSE). CaSE runs The Science Vote blog.

There has been a huge push to put "the s word" - science - at the heart of political debate in the run-up to the UK general election.

Coordinated effort by science and engineering organizations has raised the public profile of science in Westminster. The challenge between now and the election is to show that there is a science vote right across the country.

We don't just want to improve the policies for science, mathematics and engineering, but also to ensure that the voters engage with them, because we believe these subjects will underpin a vibrant economy. Last week saw a blitz of activity with the CaSE letter to the party leaders published in The Times, the launch of the Royal Society's Scientific Century report and the third Science Policy Debate.

In addition there have been weighty reports by the Council for Science and Technology for Gordon Brown on science funding, and by James Dyson on high-tech exports for David Cameron.

Unfortunately, there is no report coming for Nick Clegg to help refresh the science policy of his party, the Liberal Democrats.

As important and welcome as all these reports and debates are, they are happening in Westminster. Politicians are about to go out to the country. Now science policy debates have to follow.

The science vote could have massive political impact.

There are over 3 million graduates in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in the workforce. But there is wider support from people who are interested in or depend upon advances in science and engineering.

As the polls narrow, the science vote could help determine the outcome of the election.

That is why co-ordinated action in Westminster, needs to be complemented by grassroots action. As more voters engage with science and engineering issues, politicians will be more responsive.

You can help raise the political profile of the science vote by asking your parliamentary candidates where they stand on issues that concern you; either through writing to them, asking them when they knock on your door, or taking part in a local hustings.

CaSE has identified prospective parliamentary candidates with a background or demonstrated interest in science and engineering. We are asking them to write for us on our blog, The Science Vote.

If you don't think there is a strong enough candidate in your constituency, you could either run as an independent or start planning to get selected as your party's candidate next time.

The House of Commons needs people with different backgrounds and experiences, including people who have worked in science as a researcher, teacher or entrepreneur.

There are also new ways to put science on the election agenda. Twitter has become an active forum for debating policy, with people using the hashtag #scivote.

Paul Drayson (@lorddrayson), the science minister, is working hard to woo scientists on twitter by asking them to provide input into the Labour science manifesto. He even started the hashtag #scientists4labour.

Adam Afriyie (@adamafriyie), the Tory spokesman, should start using his Twitter account again, and the Lib Dem spokesman Evan Harris should join. Otherwise they will lose out to Drayson when it comes to Twitter campaigning.

The science vote does have impact. Over the weekend, hard evidence came when the business secretary, Peter Mandelson, made a strong election commitment that science funding would be protected under Labour if they form the next government.

CaSE is looking for commitments from all parties across research, education, innovation, and evidence-based policy making between now and polling day.

Help make science and engineering an election issue, so that all politicians take this engine of change and economic growth seriously before the election. It is time to geek the vote!

Facebook iconDigg iconDelicious iconStumbleUpon iconTwitter iconTechnorati iconReddit iconAddThis icon
Subscribe to New Scientist Magazine


It would be extremely naive to think science spending is going to be protected whoever forms a government. Anyway there are far more implications than science spending and this is an R&D chemist speaking. This is the most pivotal election for a generation.
If we don't get the Tories back in to fix Labour's mess (look at history repeating itself) then the markets will kick Britain's proverbial ar** and then you *can* forget about science spending.


With a two party system and the vast majority of votes from educated technical/scientific people already going to the democrats is there a point in this? The republicans will not be swinging far enough to even be neutral when it comes to science issues (In texas they recently passed something weakening education particularly in the sciences, treating climate change denialists on the same level as the science). Therefore the democrats don't need to fight for our votes. So we aren't a swing group that can go either way.

I do however think that organizing events to increase awareness could help. Fighting to strengthen education. Perhaps organizing protests or counter-protests on specific issues would be helpful. And of course writing to and in any way we can, show the politicians in power that it is important to us.


Britain, as a world leader, should be funding the sciences to ensure that in 50 years time it will still be on the cutting edge of technology as it has been since the industrial revolution. If Britain falls behind in science, it will fall behind in the world.


Errm Angelo........This article is about the forthcoming election in the UK/Great Britain (Hint: i.e. not in the USA!). Surely the words 'Tory', 'Labour' and the names of various UK politicians should give that away - or perhaps you didn't read it before commenting! Not everything is about the US you know.


Dr Evan Harris MP, the Liberal Democrat Science Spokesperson, has joined twitter as @DrEvanHarris. The twitter campaign for the #scivote is on!

Twitter Follow us
Twitter updates


Your login is case sensitive

I have forgotten my password


© Copyright Reed Business Information Ltd.