IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2017
IUCN has published the 2017 World Heritage Outlook 2, examining status of the natural UNESCO World Heritage Sites since the first Outlook in 2014. Overall, there is no improvement but there has been change in status (positive or negative) for 26 of 241 sites. Threats are increasing to World Heritage Sites, with climate change the fastest growing and invasive species, climate change and tourism the largest current threats. Planned infrastructure development pressure is increasing. Improved outlooks for 14 sites are described as a result of sustained action on nature conservation.
Interactive map is at http://www.worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ and the full report at https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2017-053.pdf
UK Science Policy: guide to the Government Office for Science
The UK National Audit Office has published a Short Guide to the Government Office for Science.
UK Science Policy: NAO report on Cross-government funding of research and development
The UK National Audit Office has published a report on cross-government funding of research and development. This can be seen in the context of UK plans on Brexit and the need for UK Research and Innovation to develop leadership and strategic capabilities for the UK science base for the future. The findings are summarised as:
“Some areas of research have well-established arrangements to support coordination and collaboration between public-sector funders. But some newer areas, including important emerging technologies and areas of national importance, need more effective leadership.As a proportion of GDP the UK spends less on research and development than many comparable nations. Government needs a coherent view of the UK’s research strengths relative to other nations and analysis of funding in key areas of research, so that it can prioritise areas where activity is lagging behind and ensure the UK is investing in the right areas.”
In addtion to the Report, there are more detailed documents on methodology and key sectors that receive funding from multiple sources in government:
- Research and Development Evaluative Framework
- Research and development case study Climate research
- Research and development case study Energy research
- Research and development case study Human health research
- Research and development case study Robotics and autonomous systems research
- Research and development case study Advanced materials research
- Research and development case study Animal and plant health research
Museum policy: Spectrum 5.0
Spectrum 5.0 has been issued in September 2017 as the most recent update on the collections documentation standard, used by UK museums and collections management systems and software. This is one of the foundations of museum accreditation used by the Arts Council, which is currently conducting a review of accreditation to be completed in 2018.
UK Science and Brexit
Brexit has loomed large in UK science policy discussions from early 2016. Recent thinking and views in March 2017 are reflected in:
- An Editorial from James Wilsdon in Science magazine (DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2673). James is now Professor of Research Policy at the Unviersity of Sheffield.
- An adjournment debate in the UK House of Lords, introduced by the Earl of Selborne, focused on the second of two reports in 2016 from the HoL Select Committee on Science and Technology. The first in April 2016 was EU Membership and UK Science. The second, published in December 2016, was A Time for Boldness: EU Membership and UK Science after the Referendum
Welcome to Science, Biodiversity and Museums
This site covers a wide range of issues relating to biodiversity, museums and science. It's selective and although it's a blog it is more alert than comment. John Jackson from the Natural History Museum in London maintains the site, primarily to alert colleagues and collaborators to new developments - you can use the contact link on the top right of this page. It is not an official organisational site.