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Reports on Great Britain's 1993 white paper `Realizing Our Potential.' Research reforms proposed in the white paper; Threat on the medical Research Council's institutes; Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's funding of basic research; Privatization of public research laboratories.

Talks about the criticism by the House of Commons on Britain's White Paper on science and technology. Failure to switch from military to civilian research; White Paper's alleged shortcomings; Reply to criticisms; Concern of the Royal Institute of Chemistry and the Institution of Chemical Engineers on biological organic chemistry; Setting up of Britain's new Council for Science and Technology.

Discusses reaction to the British government's White Paper (policy statement) on the organization of science and technology, `Realising our Potential,' published last week in London, England. The lack of radical change; Additional information. INSETS: Waldegrave gets help, by D.D.;A global search, by D.D..

The article discusses postage stamps that have been issued by Britain’s Royal Mail throughout the years and examines the latest set, which commemorates the founding of the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew, England. This set belongs to the Action for Species series, which depicts threatened species in Great Britain. Other sets of stamps have featured evolutionary theorist Charles Darwin and England’s Queen Elizabeth II.

The article discusses the study carried out by researcher Sanjev Gupta and his colleagues of the Imperial College London concerning on how Great Britain became an island. It states that Gupta's team has utilized the map of the English Channel to gather relevant data. It was found that islands existed on the valley's bed rock floor where the channel is divided into two that resulted to the formation of land in between. Also, the occurrence of flood contributed to the existence of lakes.

The article reports on the request of government for public comment on the benefits and culling badgers to control tuberculosis infection among cattle in Great Britain. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has campaigned to protect the badgers in response to the open consultation.

Focuses on the work of Alison Smith, a plant scientist at the University of Cambridge in Great Britain, in exploring the idea that seaweed make Vitamin B12. Collaboration made with her constant collaborator Martin Warren to initiate the experiment; Inquiry made on the genomic sequences of the three types of algae; Examination on the mechanism by which the algae get the vitamin from the bacteria and also what the bacteria get from the transaction.

The article reports on a surge in withdrawn scientific papers from scholarly literature and on the system for handling such post-publication retractions in Great Britain. It states that retraction notices are increasing to more than 400 notices even though the number of papers published has increased by only 44% since 2001. It cites the British Committee on Publication Ethics' (COPE) survey on editors' attitudes toward retraction which showed inconsistencies in policies and practices.

The author reflects on the two reports which highlight aspects of the global trends concerning open access to research results. He discusses an analysis of openness in scientific data published by the Royal Society and the Finch report by the British government after Janet Finch, chairman of the committee who delivered it. He adds that authors are required to pay article publishing charges (APCs) to publish their research papers in journals.

Provides facts on various issues related to science in Great Britain. Enlargement of a British-owned island in the South Atlantic due to volcanic eruption; Creation of a paper plane that could travel farther than 30 meters by students at the University of Leeds; Citation of a study indicating the potential for spending time with dolphins to help dispel depression.

The author discusses aspects of maximizing the use of public research in Great Britain. He states that the most significant policy moves in open access in 2012 came from Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Wellcome Trust. He mentions that from April 2013, papers arising from RCUK funding must be made free to access.

The author discusses the rise of regional research collaboration which is changing the balance of science worldwide. The author states that collaboration is a good practice, in which knowledge is better transferred and co-authored writings are cited more frequently. The author also mentions co-authorship as a valid alternative for collaboration that reflects tangible engagement between countries such as Germany and Great Britain as well as China and the U.S.

The author reflects on the decision of the government of Great Britain in dealing the issues concerning the removal of badgers of the British farmers. He states that the mishandling of the issue by chief scientific adviser David King is an example to governments of how not to deal with such advice. Meanwhile, he suggests that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs should be responsible for that matter.

The article focuses on the controversy faced by climate scientist Phil Jones after he received electronic mail messages regarding his discovery of a mysterious drop of sea surface temperature in the North Atlantic Sea. It states that Jones was accused of scientific misconduct for allegedly attempting to put up an autocratic government by propagating false hysteria regarding global warming. It adds that Great Britain's parliament also did investigations on him, and declared that he was innocent.

The article offers news briefs related to policy, business, people and research as of August 9, 2012. An analysis by Brazil's National Institute for Research revealed a 20% decline in deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. 23andMe Inc. seeks U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its genetic testing related to health. Radio astronomer and physicists Bernard Lovell who established the Jodrell Bank Observatory at the University of Manchester in England died on August 6, 2012.

The author discusses the initiative of research leaders to address research misconduct. The author says that research integrity has been put in the spotlight worldwide. He states that two studies by InterAcademy Council and the U.S. National Academy of Sciences will be released in 2013 to reflect on the shift of the attitudes by scientists. He adds universities in Great Britain has a voluntary concordat which obliges them to conduct investigation on misconduct allegations.

A letter to the editor is presented concerning the gold route to open-access research papers in Great Britain.

The article focuses on the innovation policy of Great Britain as a way of meeting its objective in expanding business expenditure on research and development by 2014. It is the goal of every government to increase research, development, and innovation in the private sector. The country's innovation policy falls under the remit of the Department of Trade and Industry. It has housed small initiatives and programmes aimed at fostering industrial innovation.

Discusses how the global consolidation of chemical companies has caused a decline in industrial research and development. Decrease in funding and jobs in research and development in the chemical industry in the United Kingdom; Reduction of the number of laboratories in the United Kingdom which has also occurred.

Comments on the reorganization of Britain's research enterprise. William Waldegrave, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in charge of the newly established Office of Science and Technology (OST) within the Cabinet Office; White Paper (policy document) on the organization of British science; Advisory Council on Science and Technology; Dominance of defense-related research; The 1993-94 science budget; Waldegrave's invitation of advice; Research council expenditure on postgraduate training.

The article reports that the summary termination of David Nutt as chairman of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs by Secretary Alan Johnson in Great Britain reflects the inability of British politicians to meet an intelligent debate. The termination resulted from the article written by Nutt on disproportionate report of media on the deaths caused by various drugs which influence the perception of the public. It adds the resignation of two members of Nutt's committee to oppose the act.

The article discusses why experts are still needed in various research fields and why metric-based research assessment can be suspicious. The focus of the article is the Great Britain Research Excellence Framework (REF) which will replace the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). Topics include how the proposed REF will operate, such as its reliance on metrics to assess research quality, and why publication citations are a poor measure of research quality.

The article discusses developments in open-access research in Great Britain. Topics mentioned include the open-access publishing of research articles by publicly funded scientists, collaboration between publishers, funders, and researchers on the costs and challenges of open-access publishing, and key barriers to open-access research such as open-access licenses and use of single digital identifier.

Comments on the unprecedented and often controversial stream of suggestions from the scientific community stimulated by the British government's request for input into its promised White Paper on science. Proposed `privatization' of government-funded research; Office of Science and Technology (OST); Replies to the call for suggestions on what should be included in a White Paper on the organization of science; Details.

The article discusses the plans of the British government to invest 600 million pounds to science projects in recognition of the country's need to develop a more high-tech economy to promote sustainable growth.

The article reports that in 2012, the European Commission (EC) joined Great Britain's plan to subject its taxpayer-funded research to open-access starting April 2013. It states that the EC launched a similar suggestion to open up the work financed by its Horizon 2020 research programme. EC vice-president Neelie Kroes says that they lead by example, making European Union (EU)-funded research accessible to all.

The article presents an interview with science-based radio broadcaster Christopher Smith in Great Britain. Smith recalled the challenges he faced during the launch of his career. He explained that the title of his show "Naked Scientist," was influenced by his thesis work. Furthermore, Smith learned broadcasting with a broadcaster in Australia. However, time management was said to be crucial for Smith since he is also a clinical lecturer in virology at the University of Cambridge. He claimed that humor has made his shows popular.

This article focuses on the dance performance "Constant Speed," by Rambert Dance Co. The Great Britain-based Institute of Physics had commissioned a ballet to celebrate the World Year of Physics 2005, or "Einstein Year." Constant Speed is inspired by physicist Albert Einstein's 1905 publications; the World Year of Physics celebrates their centenary. From the patent office in Bern, Switzerland, Einstein dashed off five papers, all of them seminal work, on three themes: brownian motion, the photoelectric effect and the special theory of relativity. Choreographer Mark Baldwin, the artistic director of the Rambert, developed "Constant Speed" through conversations with Ray Rivers, professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College London. Although he claims to be ignorant of physics, Baldwin was struck by a similarity of language--space, time, energy, between physics and dance.

Reports that editors at "The Lancet" launched a pre-emptive media strike on February 18, 2004 after learning that "The Sunday Times" was investigating undeclared conflicts of interest in a 1998 paper linking autism with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Decision of the medical journal to declare that the autism was flawed and should have not been published in its original form; Public controversy triggered by the paper over the safety of the MMR vaccine; Failure of lead author Andrew Wakefield to disclose the existence of the legal-aid study.

Discusses the creation of two overarching bodies by the British government to monitor developments in human genetics and the use of genetically modified (GM) food. The government's resistance to having non-scientists on technical advisory committees; News leak about editorial changes made by the government about a GM food safety report; Response of environmental groups to the changes in the report; Need to improve public relations regarding GM foods.

Reports on a paper from the British Department of Education calling for closer collaboration between British universities. The desire to create world-class research centers; The results of a review of the financing of universities; Reactions to the paper.

Describes the British government's white paper on environmental policy, titled `This Common Inheritance.' Environmental pressure groups claim the paper has few new initiatives; Environment Secretary, Chris Patten, suggests more radical action in the future.

The article discusses a move by Great Britain government funding agencies requiring grant applicants to show how they calculated the number of animals needed to make the results of an experiment statistically robust. Topics discussed include the responsibility of journals to ensure that the research published is reported in sufficient detail and the importance of ensuring that the power of an animal experiment suits its purpose for funders and researchers to contribute.

The article reports on the science funding in Great Britain. This paper gives observation on the changing landscapes in the funding that the government provides. Research councils may be pressured to deliver results as the government now seeks for results to the long and heavily invested science researches. Scientists had enjoyed tremendous funding in the past decade and the government wants to see results as indicated by the council documents implying economic competitiveness and social impacts.

The article offers several research related news briefs in Great Britain. Philippe Brunet from the University of Bristol, discourses that water can travel uphill through a certain vibration amplitude and frequency and this might be used to transport liquids in microfluidic networks. A luminous supernova was discovered in March 2005 and was about twice as bright as the previous bar-setter which was discovered by Robert Quimby, the leader of the Texas Supernova Search.

The article discusses the carbon competition proposal of the British government. The proposal aims to demonstrate projects in carbon capture and storage which will begin in November 2007. Carbon Capture and Storage Association chief executive Jeff Chapman stated that the project is the only one that is close to being operational on a commercial scale. Advocates suggested that the government must focus on the continuous operation of the project to guarantee ongoing flow of investment.

Presents a research conducted by Paul Irwing and Richard Lynn showing an average IQ advantage of males among university students in Great Britain. Controversy over gender politics and the shortfalls of IQ test; Investigation of sex differences in intelligence tests; Demonstration of the theory underlying female inferiority.

Calls on universities in Great Britain to support researchers determined to stand up for animal research in the face of terrorism. Campaign of violence and vandalism that forced the University of Cambridge to cancel plans for a primate research laboratory; Arson attacks and death threats experienced by owners of Darley Oaks farm in the Midlands who have been breeding guinea pigs for medical research for more than a decade.

Features scientists selected as winners of Nature/UK National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts awards in Great Britain. Tom Kibble, senior research fellow and emeritus professor of theoretical physics at Imperial College; Innes Cuthill, professor of behavioral ecology at the University of Bristol; Achievements of the winners in field of science.

The article discusses the significance of four year doctorate programme in universities of Europe , Great Britain and United States. In the united Kingdom, the trend is up from three years to three and a half or four. With financial commitments from the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the Wellcome Trust, the number of four-year programmes is rising. Ironically, the new European ideas are modelled on the US system, where four or five-year programmes often stretch much longer. According to a professor, students need to consider where their aspirations lie. If academia is not the ultimate objective, doing a doctorate should not be given.

The contribution of rare and low-frequency variants to human traits is largely unexplored. Here we describe insights from sequencing whole genomes (low read depth, 7×) or exomes (high read depth, 80×) of nearly 10,000 individuals from population-based and disease collections. In extensively phenotyped cohorts we characterize over 24 million novel sequence variants, generate a highly accurate imputation reference panel and identify novel alleles associated with levels of triglycerides (APOB), adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLR and RGAG1) from single-marker and rare variant aggregation tests. We describe population structure and functional annotation of rare and low-frequency variants, use the data to estimate the benefits of sequencing for association studies, and summarize lessons from disease-specific collections. Finally, we make available an extensive resource, including individual-level genetic and phenotypic data and web-based tools to facilitate the exploration of association results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports that the government of Great Britain has pledged to put the commercialization of scientific knowledge at the heart of its industrial policy. Controversy about implementing the series of initiatives; Financing of the initiatives according to the government's white paper; Encouragement of academics to work with industry; Views of Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Trade and Industry; Emphasis on science to create wealth. INSETS: Making a case in the corridors of power;Foresight initiative goes for competitiveness.

States that last week's government White Paper on British research policy has the air of finality proper in a policy statement. Assertion that there are several passages which deny the Haldane principle; Other criticisms of the document; Additional information.

Opinion. Comments on a White Paper on science which is due to be released by the British government, and offers some criteria be which its recommendations should be judged. Role of William Waldegrave, the minister in the British Cabinet responsible for science; Focus on the organization of research; Possible future of the Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST); The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC); More.

Discusses the national strategy for science and technology the British government is promising in its forthcoming White Paper. Sir Mark Richmond, chairman of the Science and Engineering Research Council; William Waldegrave, the cabinet minister responsible for science; Two large areas of concern still remaining; Advisory Council on Science and Technology (ACOST); Council for the Advancement of Scientific Knowledge (CASK); More.

Informs that British universities faced a funding shortfall of $700 million for research between 1994-1995 and 1995-1996. Source for the information.

The article discusses the study conducted by professor Zsofia Kote-Jarai of the Institute for Cancer Research in Sutton, Great Britain and states that researchers have found the reason of missing heritability which is the mismatch between genetic disease risk and common genetic variants.

Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most complex, persistent and controversial problems facing the British cattle industry, costing the country an estimated £100 million per year. The low sensitivity of the standard diagnostic test leads to considerable ambiguity in determining the main transmission routes of infection, which exacerbates the continuing scientific debate. In turn this uncertainty fuels the fierce public and political disputes on the necessity of controlling badgers to limit the spread of infection. Here we present a dynamic stochastic spatial model for bovine TB in Great Britain that combines within-farm and between-farm transmission. At the farm scale the model incorporates stochastic transmission of infection, maintenance of infection in the environment and a testing protocol that mimics historical government policy. Between-farm transmission has a short-range environmental component and is explicitly driven by movements of individual cattle between farms, as recorded in the Cattle Tracing System. The resultant model replicates the observed annual increase of infection over time as well as the spread of infection into new areas. Given that our model is mechanistic, it can ascribe transmission pathways to each new case; the majority of newly detected cases involve several transmission routes with moving infected cattle, reinfection from an environmental reservoir and poor sensitivity of the diagnostic test all having substantive roles. This underpins our findings on the implications of control measures. Very few of the control options tested have the potential to reverse the observed annual increase, with only intensive strategies such as whole-herd culling or additional national testing proving highly effective, whereas controls focused on a single transmission route are unlikely to be highly effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article regarding the nuclear-waste disposal site in Great Britain.

The author discusses the engagement of the British government in science and engineering. The author states that scientific advisers in the country have played their duties successfullt but failed to broader their task. He mentions that the position of scientific advisers are meant to address competitiveness by connecting the divide between engineers and scientist and not to set up secure science budgets.