Prime Minister’s Reception to Celebrate British Science

This event at No. 10 Downing Street was originally planned when the Rt Hon David Willetts MP was still Minister for Universities and Science, and so we had speeches not only from Mr Willetts, but from Greg Clarke, his successor, and the Prime Minister himself. They were all highly supportive of UK research and recognised the need for science funding (David Willetts, as ever, stressing that ‘science’ includes all research) to be maintained as far as possible even in a time of austerity. There were many prominent academics and technology entrepreneurs present, and I had the chance to fly the flag for Cardiff and Wales, assuring the PM personally of the Welsh sector’s commitment to research excellence. It’s worth remembering that whilst university education is devolved, the great majority of research funding remains a UK matter and so it’s important that we are represented and networked in these kinds of ways.