Challenges facing scientific community in the 21st century

Embracing revolutionary new techniques and answering questions about research funding are just two of the challenges facing the scientific community in the 21^st century.

Meanwhile, the coalition Government has described the big questions in science, technology and policy as being at the heart of the UK’s growth, prosperity and wellbeing.

On the day Parliament dissolves ahead of the General Election, the Government’s chief adviser on science and technology, Sir Mark Walport, will talk about these challenges at Brunel University London.

Sir Mark’s day job is to navigate complex, ethical, emotive and, for some, hugely personal decisions. On the eve of his second anniversary in the role and as attention shifts to the manifestos and spending plans of the three main political parties, science is once again in the spotlight.

In his time as the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser and his 10 years at the helm of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Mark has influenced key debates, from genomics to farming, climate change to the Internet of things. Common across all is a theme of balancing risk against innovation, science with values.

The event will be held from 6pm to 7.45pm on Monday 30 March at the auditorium of Brunel University London’s Eastern Gateway Building. Doors will open from 5.30pm and a cash bar will be available before and after the lecture.