 |
 |
Dear members of Crisis Forum I should like to add my small voice to that of Steve Wright - I wonder if a rather more relevant topic might bring the attention of those going to Crisis Forum to just where the crises today actually reside? Is not climate change and its impact a crisis deserving the attention of us in the science and engineering community? It's surely not in the minutae of angels on a pin's head and the talk of the last several postings on science education surely, but in thinking about what science should be directed at? Perhaps the little item below might trigger some interesting observations? This week saw the launch of the Ministry of Defence's Defence Technology Strategy (DTS) which was set in train by the Defence Industrial Strategy of 2005. The DTS was launched by the Minister for Defence Procurement, Lord Drayson, and sadly continues the tradition of basing the national security agenda of the UK on high technology weapons systems and their support platforms. The DTS comprises 192 pages of managementspeak and glossy pictures which sets the scene for some new 'initiatives' including more military sector involvement with universities, more military-based training of science and technology students including a doctoral research scheme to be run in partnership with the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory and military corporations with 'interested' universities - to start in summer 2007 and the MoD working with the Royal Society to offer doctoral support for those keen to pursue military research, the scheme to be in train by the winter of 2006. All in all the DTS drives military R&D evermore into the universities, with a nod to civilian utility and technology transfer somewhere down the line. This without a second glance at understanding conflict, climate change or biodiversity loss or reducing the global reliance upon weapons of mass destruction. The military corporations voice is heard throughout the majority of the 192 pages. Let's use crisis forum to look at places like this to make a difference? The DTS is available on the web at the following address. http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/CorporatePublications/ScienceandTechnologyPublications/SITDocuments/DefenceTechnologyStrategy2006.htm All the best Chris Langley