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A big thank you to the Guardian, Stephen Curry and the team at the Guardian's Occam’s Corner blog for hosting the upcoming online chat on Monday – I look forward to taking part and discussing our latest consultation on science capital funding. I know David Willetts, the Minister for Science is also looking forward to it, and we’ve been reading the posts already published this week with interest.
It is not often you get a chance to decide how to spend £6bn on research, and we very much hope that as many people as possible – from academia, business, the third sectors and the general public – will respond to our consultation. For example, we’re particularly interested in hearing from businesses how we can increase collaboration and sharing facilities and equipment.
Our aim is simple: to ensure that the UK is the best place in the world to do science and research. That will require sustained investment, and we now have the chance to do just that. Succeeding in our aim will yield economic, social and health benefits for the UK and will enable us to play a stronger role internationally. The consultation asks a number of questions on these issues, and I’d encourage everyone to have a look, and give us the benefit of their experience and views.
We launched the consultation in April, and my team has been working hard to discuss the issues face to face, but it’s great that we are now able to engage with many of you online as well. I look forward to your comments, suggestions and questions, and hope that as many of you will respond to the consultation as possible before it closes on 4 July.
The live Q&A led by the science minister David Willetts (full discussion panel below) is open to all and will take place in the comments section below the launch article, 12–2 pm on Monday 16 June. Please create a Guardian comment account to join in.
Panel
David Willetts* is minister for universities and science in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS)
Jeremy Clayton is Director of Research Base, Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). @jeremyofclapham
Jenny Rohn is a research associate in the Faculty of Medical Sciences at UCL, chair of Science is Vital and a novellist. @jenny_rohn
Stephen Curry is professor of structural biology at Imperial College. He is also vice-chair of Science is Vital and a director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering. @Stephen Curry
James Wilsdon is professor of science and democracy in the Science Policy Research Unit at Sussex University & Chair of the Campaign for Social Science. @jameswilsdon
Helen Czerski is a physicist and broadcaster; she is a Research Fellow in the department of mechanical engineering at UCL. @helenczerski
Kieron Flanagan is a lecturer in science and technology policy at the University of Manchester. @kieronflanagan
Clare Viney is Executive Director Communications, Policy and Campaigns at the Royal Society of Chemistry. @clare_viney
James Sumner is a lecturer in History of Technology at the University of Manchester. @JamesBSumner
*David Willetts will present for first half-hour but BIS will be represented for the full session by Jeremy Clayton
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