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This special interest group has a long record of interest in areas of public concern which involve research in science and technology.
The group meets three times a year,
usually in London. In November 2007 Bronwen Jones from DEFRA spoke
about the global food train.
In June 2007 Laura Russell and Lucy McKenzie
had spoken about the science of climate change and
carbon reduction. This was followed up in the February 2008
meeting, held in Darlington, where Professor Paul Younger
spoke about the role of various technologies in combating climate
change. [MORE]
Members give regular reports to the group on various topics of interest to the committee, such as food, agriculture and farming, the environment, parliamentary matters, the media coverage of science topics, and transport. The group has responded to various
consultation documents
in the past year.
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DEFRA:
Draft Pesticide Residue Minimisation Guides for 5 Crops
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DEFRA:
Proposals for managing the co-existence of GM,
conventional and organic crops.
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Nuffield Council on Bioethics:
Public health:
ethical issues
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Nuffield Council on Bioethics:
Forensic use of bio-information:
ethical issues.
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DEFRA:
Delivering Good Animal Welfare
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DEFRA:
Water Efficiency in New Buildings
[With the Housing Committee]
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IAASTD:
Meeting the World’s Future Agricultural Needs. NCW
reviewed a small section of the
draft document
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OST: Update on Code of
Practice for Scientific Advisory Committees
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FSA: Questionnaire on National
Provisions in the UK Food Labelling Regulations 1996, as amended
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NICE: Response to the NICE appraisal
consultation document on age-related macular degeneration
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The group has instigated two major projects. The first was the publication, launch and distribution of 'Deserving of Answers'. This publication contained over 200 questions submitted by members and others and the FSA, DEFRA, and other organisations provided answers to many of the questions. The second project was the organisation, with the Northern Region of the RSA, of a one-day conference 'The Future of Food'
in Darlington
at which the speakers were Lord Haskins of Skidby, Chairman of the
Rural Delivery Revue; Michael Hart, Chairman of the Small Family environmental farmer; Professor Janet Bainbridge, Chief Executive EPICC; Deirdre Hutton, Chairman of NCC; and Prudence Leith, Chairman of the RSA 'Focus on Food' campaign.
At the 2007 annual NCW Conference a
resolution was put forward by the group on the importance of
anecdotal evidence, scientific uncertainties and the law.
Committees and forums on which members of the group sit, or
which they attend, are:
● Advisory
Committee on Novel Foods
and Processes
● Pesticide
Residues Committee
● Food
Standards Agency
● Family Farmers Association
● Institute of Ideas
● Engineering
Groups (nuclear energy,
mobile phones etc)
● Royal Academy of
Engineering
● PAWS
- Public Awareness of Science
and Engineering
● Biological and Biotechnological
Scientific Research Council (BBSRC)
● Foodaware
● Sustain
● DEFRA
Consumer Groups
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