Cardiff Knowledge Hub Newsletter#
Spring 2017#
Update on the European Scientific Advice Mechanism (SAM)#
As reported in our last newsletter, the first SAM topic to be coordinated by the SAPEA (Science Advice for Policy by European Academies) Consortium will be led by Academia Europaea, with responsibility for delivery of the work given to the Cardiff Hub. Food from the Oceans
is addressing the key question of how more food and biomass can be obtained from the oceans in a way that does not deprive future generations of their benefits.
Professor Ole Petersen represents the SAPEA Consortium on the Steering Group for the project, with Louise Edwards, Hub Manager, as Chair of the SAPEA Staff Team.
Two international working groups are now in place, one covering the natural sciences and the other the social sciences/humanities. The first meeting ran successfully on 4th May, in Brussels. Cardiff University Library, which is recognised widely for its expertise in the systematic review method, is conducting the literature search.
In another area of the SAPEA project, Professor Ole Petersen accepted an invitation to join an expert working group, which will establish procedures for assuring the quality of scientific advice. Professor Petersen attended the first physical meeting of the group in Paris in April. Louise Edwards, who also attended the meeting, will be the first to apply the procedures for the Food from the Oceans topic, which will produce an evidence review report by late summer.
Annual report 2016#
The Hub’s Annual Report for 2016 has been published and is available via the following link.
Hub Steering Group Member elected to the Royal Society#
Professor Yves Barde, from Cardiff University’s School of Biosciences, has been elected as Fellow of the Royal Society. His election was welcomed by Professor Ole Petersen at a reception held at the University.
Professor Barde is a member of the Cardiff Hub Steering Group, as well as a Member of Academia Europaea. Further information on Professor Barde is available via his Royal Society profile.
Recent Events#
Brexit: the scientific impact, 8th May
The Royal Institution held a summit for scientists, policymakers and other key stakeholders to consider the impact of the Brexit vote on science and innovation. The event, Brexit: the scientific impact, was jointly supported by Academia Europaea, EuroScience and the Royal Institution. Academia Europaea was represented by Professor Ole Petersen, in his capacity as Vice-President.
The whole of the debate was live-streamed and can be viewed via the following link
. Professor Petersen was quoted extensively in an article in Science Business, following the event.
Neuroplasticity Symposium, 27th-28th April
The Cardiff Hub supported a successful conference on Neuroplasticity, which took place at Cardiff University on 27th and 28th April. The symposium reviewed the evidence that synaptic dysfunction is a primary causal factor in most if not all neuropsychiatric disorders. A key part of the programme was discussion around the talks and in breakout groups, which should foster future collaborations. Further information is available
.
Research evaluation, 5th April
The third in the Cardiff Hub’s series of lunchtime debates on science and research cast the spotlight on the evaluation of research quality. Read our summary report.
Forthcoming Events#
Interdisciplinary research is the topic of our next Lunchtime Debate, taking place on 9th June. We have a distinguished panel of speakers, including Dr Steven Hill, Head of Research Policy and Health Policy at HEFCE, and Dr Ian Viney, Director of Strategic Evaluation and Impact, Medical Research Council.
The event is open to all (no registration required). See full details.
Download the Newsletter
.
