Difference between revisions of "Sense about Science"

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'''[http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk Sense about Science]''' describes it its role as being to "encourage a rational, evidence-based approach to scientific and technological developments".  According to the Daily Telegraph, it is "a group that studies public attitudes to risk" (see [[Risk management]]). [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fconnected%2F2003%2F05%2F29%2Fecfluor28.xml]
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{{lmgroup}}
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'''Sense about Science''' is a "charitable trust, founded in 2002, to promote an evidence-based approach to scientific issues in the public domain. The trust works with organisations, experts and opinion formers to encourage this approach, particularly in areas of controversy".
  
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It has a very close relationship with the [[Royal Society]].  For example, it has set up a [[Working party on peer review]] which meets at the RS, and is chaired by a member of the RS.  The working party also includes members of the [[Insitute of Ideas]]. [http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2003Q1/gm.html]
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==Activities==
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The trust describes its objectives as follows [http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/AboutUs.htm]:
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#To advance the education of the public in any branch of scientific research (including social science) and to disseminate useful information about such research.
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#To promote (for the benefit of the community) the understanding of, and to stimulate interest in, the creation, presentation and use of scientific research.
  
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It has helped publicised a variety of pro-GM stories in the media, including the [[Broom's Barn]] trials.  It co-ordinated an open letter from UK scientists to the Prime Minister, following a series of largely unfavorable GM articles in the media [http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=1689].
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It has a very close relationship with the [[Royal Society]].  For example, it has set up a [[Working party on peer review]] which meets at the RS, and is chaired by a member of the RS.  The working party also includes members of the [[Institute of Ideas]]. [https://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2003Q1/gm.html]
  
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Related, via [[Global Futures]] and common personnel, to the [[Institute of Ideas]] and the [[LM group]]. Additionally, the domain name senseaboutscience.org.uk was registered by [[Rob Lyons]], who is also web master for [[Spiked online]].
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In October 2003, a series of largely unfavorable GM articles in the media followed the results of Farm Scale Evaluations of three GM crops. The group co-ordinated a letter to the ''Times'' written by [[Derek Burke]] of its Advisory Council and signed by 113 other scientists, complaining that the government had had remained silent instead of making the case for genetic engineering. "Genetic engineering of plants has been reduced to a matter of consumer preference; the public has been misinformed; and the efforts of scientists to communicate about genetic engineering have been misused," they complained. [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,1075117,00.html] [http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,1075102,00.html].  
  
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==Staff==
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Tony Blair subsequently told the Commons that he had not ruled out the commercialisation of GM crops in Britain [http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/vo031110/text/31110w04.htm#31110w04.html_sbhd1]. The group has also planted a variety of pro-GM stories in the media, including the [[Broom's Barn]] trials.
  
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The trust shared the same phone number as [[Global Futures]] [http://www.monbiot.com/archives/2003/12/09/invasion-of-the-entryists/], and is related through this organisation and common personnel, to the libertarian [[Institute of Ideas]] and the [[LM group]].  The domain name senseaboutscience.org.uk was registered by [[Rob Lyons]], the web master of right wing e-zine [[Spiked Online]], edited by the prominent LM partisan [[Mick Hume]].
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==Personnel==
 
*Director [[Tracey Brown]]
 
*Director [[Tracey Brown]]
 
*Assistant [[Ellen Raphael]]
 
*Assistant [[Ellen Raphael]]
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Both are former employees of [[Regester Larkin]], a [[Risk management]] PR company.
 
Both are former employees of [[Regester Larkin]], a [[Risk management]] PR company.
  
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==Funding==
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==Constitution==
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===Charity Commission registration===
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Sense about Science was registered as charity number 1101114 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 December 2003. The legal objects, which describe what the charity has been set up to achieve, are registered with the Commission as follows:
  
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*Halifax
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:<em>1: To advice the education of the public in any branch of scientific research (including social science) and in particular by the dissemination of such research and useful information about such research. 2: To promote (for the benefit of the community) the knowledge and understanding of the public of, and to stimulate the interest of the public in, the creation, presentation and use of scientific research.</em> [http://www.charity-commission.gov.uk/registeredcharities/showcharity.asp?regno=1101114&submit=Run+Search]
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*Unilever
 
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*GlaxoSmithKline
 
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*[[Social Issues Research Centre]]
 
  
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Has funded lots of anti-GM research such as a survey on the cost of vandalism to sugar beet trials at [[Broom's Barn]] GM research centre.
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===Board of Trustees===
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*Lord [[Dick Taverne]] QC (Chair
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*Professor Dame [[Bridget Ogilvie]] FMedSci FRS (Vice-Chair)
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*Professor [[Janet Bainbridge]] OBE
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*Dr [[Shereen El Feki]]
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*Dr [[Michael Fitzpatrick]]
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*Ms [[Diana Garnham]]
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*Professor Sir [[Brian Heap]] CBE FRS
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*Professor [[Chris Leaver]] CBE FRS
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*Sir [[John Maddox]] FRS
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*Dr [[Peter Marsh]]
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*Dr [[Mark Matfield]]
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*Baroness [[Onora O'Neill]] of Bengarve
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*Dr [[Christie Peacock]]
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*Lord [[Henry Plumb]] of Coleshill DL
  
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==Trustees==
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===Advisory council===
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*[[Lord Taverne]]
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*Professor [[John Adams (UCL)]], University College London
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*[[Michael Fitzpatrick]]
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*Mr [[Richard Ayre]], Journalist
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*Mr [[Peter Bell]], Former controller of policy, BBC News
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*Professor Sir [[Colin Berry]] FMedSci
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*Professor [[Colin Blakemore]] FMedSci FRS, Medical Research Council
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*Professor Sir [[Robert Boyd]] FMedSci
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*Professor [[Derek Burke]] CBE
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*Professor [[Peter Campbell]]
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*Professor Sir [[David Carter]] FMedSci, The British Medical Association
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*Professor [[John Coggins]], Biochemical Society
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*Professor [[Phil Dale]], John Innes Research Centre
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*Professor [[Adrian Dixon]] FMedSci, Royal College of Radiologists
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*Dr [[Simon Festing]], Association of Medical Research Charities
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*Dr [[Ron Fraser]], Society for General Microbiology
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*Dr [[Nicola Gray]], Royal Pharmaceutical Society
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*Lord [[Julian Hunt]] of Chesterton FRS
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*Lord [[Charles Jenkin]] of Roding
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*Professor [[Trevor Jones]] CBE, The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
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*Professor Sir [[Peter Lachmann]] FRS FMedSci, Cambridge Centre for Veterinary Science
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*Dr [[Stephen Ladyman]] MP
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*Ms [[Prue Leith]] OBE
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*Dr [[Robin Lovell-Badge]] FRS, National Institute for Medical Research
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*Professor [[Julian Ma]], St George's Hospital Medical School
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*Professor [[Alan Malcolm]], Institute of Biology
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*Professor [[Vivian Moses]], King's College London
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*Professor Sir [[Keith Peters]] FRS PMedSci, The Academy of Medical Sciences
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*Dr [[Matt Ridley]] FMedSci
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*Professor [[Anthony Trewavas]] FRS, University of Edinburgh
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*Lord [[Leslie Turnberg]] of Cheadle FMedSci
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*Dr [[Roger Turner]]
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*Professor [[Michael Wilson]], Horticultural Research International
  
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==Advisory council==
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==Funding==
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*Dame [[Bridget Ogilvy]]
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Sense about Science publishes a donor llist online [http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/index.php/site/other/130/]. Financial contributions, for both core and project-related costs, have been received from:
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*Sir [[Peter Lachmann]]
 
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==Funders==
 
 
*Association of the British Pharmaceutial Industry (ABPI)
 
*Association of the British Pharmaceutial Industry (ABPI)
 
*Amersham plc
 
*Amersham plc
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*BBSRC
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*Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
 
*The Biochemical Society
 
*The Biochemical Society
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*BP plc
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*Blackwells publishing
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*British Petroleum plc
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*Mr J. Browning
 
*Mr D. Brydon
 
*Mr D. Brydon
 
*Prof A. Dixon
 
*Prof A. Dixon
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*Dixons Group plc
 
*The Society for Endocrinology
 
*The Society for Endocrinology
 
*The Society for General Microbiology
 
*The Society for General Microbiology
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*GlaxoSmithKline
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*[[GlaxoSmithKline]]
 
*Halifax Bank of Scotland
 
*Halifax Bank of Scotland
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*ISAAA
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*Health and Science Communication Trust
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*International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
 
*John Innes Centre
 
*John Innes Centre
 
*The John Innes Trust
 
*The John Innes Trust
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*Mr M. Livermore
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*Mr. J. Moynihan
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*Mr [[M. Livermore]]
 
*Oxford GlycoSciences plc
 
*Oxford GlycoSciences plc
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*[[Pfizer]] plc
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*Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
 
*Blackwells Publishing
 
*Blackwells Publishing
 
*Dr M. Ridley
 
*Dr M. Ridley
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*Social Issues Research Centre
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*[[Social Issues Research Centre]]
 
*Unilever plc.
 
*Unilever plc.
  
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Help with equipment and facilities has been received from:
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*AXA Investment Management
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*Horticultural Research International
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*The Natural History Museum
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*[[Lord Stevenson of Coddenham]]
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*[[WPP]] plc
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Has funded pro--GM research such as a survey on the cost of vandalism to sugar beet trials at [[Broom's Barn]] GM research centre.
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==Contact details==
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60 Cambridge Street<br>
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London<br>
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SW1V 4QQ
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Tel: +44 (0)1795 591975<br>
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Fax: +44 (0)20 7592 9684<br>
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Web: http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/<br>
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Email: enquiries AT senseaboutscience.org
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==Articles and resources==
  
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==External links ==
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===Related SourceWatch articles===
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*[[Colipa]]
  
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*David Derbyshire, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fconnected%2F2003%2F05%2F29%2Fecfluor28.xml Fluoride, fluoride everywhere...]", ''Daily Telegraph'', 29 May 2003
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===References===
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<references/>
  
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*Andy Rowell and Bob Burton, "[http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2003Q1/gm.html Rising Rhetoric on Genetically Modified Crops]", ''PR Watch'', Volume 10 No 1, First quarter 2003.
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===External resources===
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* Spinwatch profile of [http://www.spinwatch.org/modules.php?name=Encyclopedia&op=content&tid=261 Sense About Science]
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* [http://www.sciencecouncil.org The Science Council]
  
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===External articles===
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*George Monbiot, "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1102753,00.html Invasion of the Entryists: How did a cultish political network become the public face of the scientific establishment?]", ''The Guardian'', December 9, 2003
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*David Derbyshire, "[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/connected/main.jhtml?xml=%2Fconnected%2F2003%2F05%2F29%2Fecfluor28.xml Fluoride, fluoride everywhere...]", ''Daily Telegraph'', 29 May 2003
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*Andy Rowell and Bob Burton, "[https://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2003Q1/gm.html Rising Rhetoric on Genetically Modified Crops]", ''PR Watch'', Volume 10 No 1, First quarter 2003.
 
*[http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=1689 Sense about Science - GM Watch profile], November 7, 2003
 
*[http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=1689 Sense about Science - GM Watch profile], November 7, 2003
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*Andy Rowell, [http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html The alliance of science], ''The Guardian'', March 26, 2003
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*"[http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=41 The Royal Society: best of British science or corporate rentboy?]", ''GMWatch'' Newsletter Number 6, 8 February 2003
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*Sense about Science, [http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/Donors.htm List of donors], accessed 9 September 2004
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*Robin McKie, "[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,1692191,00.html Trust chemicals, beware of nature:] From make-up to medicine, scientists warn that people are wrong to think natural must be best", 'The Observer'', January 22, 2006.
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*Andy Rowell, "[http://www.lobbywatch.org/p1temp.asp?pid=91&page=1 LobbyWatch: SMC complaint]", April 2007. (This is an edited version of a submission made by Andy Rowell to the board of the Science Media Centre).
  
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*Andy Rowell, [http://society.guardian.co.uk/societyguardian/story/0,7843,921537,00.html The alliance of science], ''The Guardian'', March 26, 2003
 
  
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*"[http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=41 THE ROYAL SOCIETY: BEST OF BRITISH SCIENCE OR CORPORATE RENTBOY?]", ''GMWatch'' Newsletter Number 6, 8 February 2003
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[[Category:LM group]][[Category:United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 21:05, 11 October 2017

This article is part of or related
to the LM group series:

Sense about Science is a "charitable trust, founded in 2002, to promote an evidence-based approach to scientific issues in the public domain. The trust works with organisations, experts and opinion formers to encourage this approach, particularly in areas of controversy".

Activities

The trust describes its objectives as follows [1]:

  1. To advance the education of the public in any branch of scientific research (including social science) and to disseminate useful information about such research.
  2. To promote (for the benefit of the community) the understanding of, and to stimulate interest in, the creation, presentation and use of scientific research.

It has a very close relationship with the Royal Society. For example, it has set up a Working party on peer review which meets at the RS, and is chaired by a member of the RS. The working party also includes members of the Institute of Ideas. [2]

In October 2003, a series of largely unfavorable GM articles in the media followed the results of Farm Scale Evaluations of three GM crops. The group co-ordinated a letter to the Times written by Derek Burke of its Advisory Council and signed by 113 other scientists, complaining that the government had had remained silent instead of making the case for genetic engineering. "Genetic engineering of plants has been reduced to a matter of consumer preference; the public has been misinformed; and the efforts of scientists to communicate about genetic engineering have been misused," they complained. [3] [4].

Tony Blair subsequently told the Commons that he had not ruled out the commercialisation of GM crops in Britain [5]. The group has also planted a variety of pro-GM stories in the media, including the Broom's Barn trials.

The trust shared the same phone number as Global Futures [6], and is related through this organisation and common personnel, to the libertarian Institute of Ideas and the LM group. The domain name senseaboutscience.org.uk was registered by Rob Lyons, the web master of right wing e-zine Spiked Online, edited by the prominent LM partisan Mick Hume.

Personnel

Both are former employees of Regester Larkin, a Risk management PR company.

Constitution

Charity Commission registration

Sense about Science was registered as charity number 1101114 with the Charity Commission for England and Wales on 9 December 2003. The legal objects, which describe what the charity has been set up to achieve, are registered with the Commission as follows:

1: To advice the education of the public in any branch of scientific research (including social science) and in particular by the dissemination of such research and useful information about such research. 2: To promote (for the benefit of the community) the knowledge and understanding of the public of, and to stimulate the interest of the public in, the creation, presentation and use of scientific research. [7]

Board of Trustees

Advisory council

Funding

Sense about Science publishes a donor llist online [8]. Financial contributions, for both core and project-related costs, have been received from:

  • Association of the British Pharmaceutial Industry (ABPI)
  • Amersham plc
  • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
  • The Biochemical Society
  • Blackwells publishing
  • British Petroleum plc
  • Mr J. Browning
  • Mr D. Brydon
  • Prof A. Dixon
  • Dixons Group plc
  • The Society for Endocrinology
  • The Society for General Microbiology
  • GlaxoSmithKline
  • Halifax Bank of Scotland
  • Health and Science Communication Trust
  • International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
  • John Innes Centre
  • The John Innes Trust
  • Mr. J. Moynihan
  • Mr M. Livermore
  • Oxford GlycoSciences plc
  • Pfizer plc
  • Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain
  • Blackwells Publishing
  • Dr M. Ridley
  • Social Issues Research Centre
  • Unilever plc.

Help with equipment and facilities has been received from:

Has funded pro--GM research such as a survey on the cost of vandalism to sugar beet trials at Broom's Barn GM research centre.

Contact details

60 Cambridge Street
London
SW1V 4QQ

Tel: +44 (0)1795 591975
Fax: +44 (0)20 7592 9684
Web: http://www.senseaboutscience.org.uk/
Email: enquiries AT senseaboutscience.org

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

References


External resources

External articles

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