Theme : science
- Walmart superstore??? Say it isn't so Also, while I was ogling eco-adhesive, I was ignoring the digital TV displays. This is ok, because the displays themselves weren't that exciting. But for some kind of journalistic integrity (though I'm not one) I should probably mention that yes, digital TV is a big deal for this area (something like 30% of China's total traditional TV exports are made here, and what if we all start watching TV on our mobile phones instead?)But what I'm really excited about is that I had an evening out of the... from : mollywebb 14th October 2005
- Highrises and hi-tech: Shenzhen is booming Yesterday was my first full day in Shenzhen, and I spent the morning in an event organised by the UKTI on commercialisation of nanotechnology. Speakers included Julie Deacon who works for the MNT network (funded by the DTI), Raymond Oliver of Cenamps, and 2 speakers from Guangdong Province (where Shenzhen is located) on the nanotechnology development priorities for this region. I spoke on nanotech and public engagement. The audience of about 40 or 50 included scientists and policy-makers from... from : mollywebb 13th October 2005
- The low tech way to the China High Tech Fair As Atlas of ideas was launching in London, I was making my way to Shenzhen for the China High Tech Fair to start our southern China scoping work. I had only moments in the Shanghai airport with it's soaring terminal ceiling before I raced onto my connecting flight to Shenzhen. I was very happy to see Nigel Birch, the science and technology officer for the FCO, his wife Rosa, and Adee, who has been organising all the meetings and logistics. We didn't waste any time. Our first stop was one of... from : mollywebb 13th October 2005
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Research Fortnight go two more rounds with Demos
‘Time to disengage’
Research Fortnight, Editorial, 14 September 2005
There is a slightly Soviet feel about last week’s pamphlet from the Demos think-tank, its latest attempt to push ‘engagement’ further and faster.
from : jameswilsdon 6th October 2005 - Small talk I've just written a piece on open science, as part of OpenDemocracy's current series on accountability. from : jameswilsdon 28th September 2005
- Precautionary tales Demos associate James Harkin had a interesting thing in Saturday's Guardian. He sketches the idea of the precautionary principle, "better safe than sorry" at its dullest, and stretches it to the war in Iraq. Big Don's "unknown unknowns", a phrase he borrowed from environmental and science policy, were used to justify action when inaction might have had serious consequences, had the US's worst suspicions been confirmed.In science, the precautionary principle is a useful way of justifying... from : jackstilgoe 25th September 2005
- Demos in 'Stalinist' slur: a response to Research Fortnight ?Time to disengage?Research Fortnight, Editorial, 14 September 2005There is a slightly Soviet feel about last week?s pamphlet from the Demos think-tank, its latest attempt to push ?engagement? further and faster.The idea that the research councils should hire social scientists to work alongside research groups and help them with engagement is no doubt well meaning. But in what way would putting a few social scientists in positions of such leverage enhance democracy? There is something of the... from : jameswilsdon 23rd September 2005
- Debating the public value of science Richard Jones, a nanoscientist at Sheffield University and author of Soft Machines, has blogged his thoughts on our new Public Value of Science pamphlet. from : paulmiller 12th September 2005
- Designs on Nature - FT review Designs on Nature: Science and Democracy in Europe and the United States by Sheila Jasanoff (Princeton University Press, ?22.95, 374 pages)Science and politics have an uneasy relationship at the best of times. Negotiations between them often take place out of view ? in the corridors of Whitehall or the dry workings of expert committees. Now and then, particular developments spark controversy or become condensation points for a wider set of public concerns.Since the 1980s, information... from : jameswilsdon 10th September 2005
- How to write your own obituary It wasn't clear to me why she was at festival. Was she getting tip offs from someone? Or perhaps she possesses a Miss Marple-like gift for being in the right place at the right time (or the wrong place at the wrong time, depending on your point of view). Spooky.She was kind enough to let me in on a few trade secrets. Apparently, obituaries can be written 'in advance' for two main reasons - one is achievement and the other is what the obituarist politely refers to as 'longevity'. And... from : samhintonsmith 7th September 2005