鈥淭he science of climate change is the Moon landing of our day,鈥� British Prime Minister Tony Blair told the UK in a speech on the importance of science to the nation, on Friday.
Describing himself as 鈥渂orn-again鈥� and 鈥渆vangelical鈥� on the subject, he urged more young people to become scientists for their and the country鈥檚 future prosperity. A career in science does not mean a life spent in the lab, he reassured would-be scientists, stressing the 鈥渆xciting鈥� business opportunities involved. 鈥淚f you want to change the world, become a scientist,鈥� he said.
Improving the commercial application of science formed the main thrust of his lecture, delivered at the University of Oxford. Since the first world war, despite coming second only to the US in virtually every field of research, Britain has not reaped the economic benefits of its scientific achievements, he said. 鈥淥ur challenge is to couple scientific and economic purpose,鈥� he urged.
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鈥淪cience will be as important to our future as security,鈥� he predicted, adding that scientists should be as celebrated and famous as sport stars, actors, or business entrepreneurs.
Involving the public
Blair stressed the importance of 鈥渢aking on and defeating the vestiges of anti-science鈥�, by which he meant those opposed to genetically modified foods, nuclear fuels, stem cell research, animal testing and so on.
鈥淕overnment must show leadership and courage in standing up for science and rejecting an irrational public debate around it,鈥� he said, citing the stand made against animal rights鈥� extremists.
On the nuclear power debate, he said: 鈥淭here is no way, frankly, that we can guarantee energy security or cleaner power without it.鈥�
Honest risks
The reason that the UK public was largely against GM foods, he said, was because they had been engaged late in the debate. Stem cell research had gained public support because the public had been included in the debate much earlier on, he explained.
Following his argument, government and scientists need to ensure they engage with the public at a very early stage, and be 鈥渉onest about risks鈥�, he said.
鈥淲e need scientists willing and able to explain, to reason, to give the scientific facts not by arrogant assertion but by patience and also accurately reflecting where science is fact and where it is still conjecture,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he anti-science brigade threatens our progress and our prosperity. We need political and science leadership that stands up to them.鈥�
Long way to go
The UK鈥檚 scientific community broadly welcomed Blair鈥檚 speech. 鈥淚t is wonderful to have leadership from the top recognising the importance of science and research for every person in this country,鈥� responded Chris Higgins, Director of the UK鈥檚 Medical Research Council.
However, there was criticism over the general quality and availability of science teaching in UK schools. 鈥淭he Prime Minister is entitled to take credit for investing heavily in UK science; however there is still a long way to go for science in schools, said Peter Cotgreave, Director of The Campaign for Science and Engineering.
鈥淚 am not sure if the measures he has mentioned in his speech have yet done enough to solve the problem that one-quarter of UK schools have no physics teacher,鈥� he added.