Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Interview with the Vice-Chancellor
    • Country Highlight: The Netherlands
    • If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …
    • Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever
    • All About … Period Poverty
    • My Veggie Journey: How not being strictly Vegetarian is OK
    • Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month
    • Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021
    Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Flickr
    Seren
    • News & Politics
      1. Local News
      2. UK News
      3. Uni News
      4. World News
      5. Politics
      6. Comment
      7. Business
      Featured

      SABB Election: The Full Result Breakdown

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Interview with the Vice-Chancellor

      May 23, 2022

      Retro? Chip shortage may bring vintage tech to your car.

      May 6, 2021

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021
    • Arts & Culture
      1. Books
      2. Games
      3. Film
      4. Music
      5. TV
      6. Creative Corner
      Featured

      Bangor alumni podcast earns Hollywood cameo & BBC features

      By Amelia SmithMarch 7, 20210
      Recent

      Jane Austen in Lockdown: How her six novels are more relevant than ever

      July 7, 2021

      Watch with Pride: Your Top TV Picks this Pride Month

      May 17, 2021

      Globe Trotting on Screen: Your Guide to Summer 2021

      May 16, 2021
    • Lifestyle
      1. Fashion
      2. Food and Drink
      3. Social
      4. Health and Beauty
      5. Travel
      Featured

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      By Emily ShoultsMay 6, 20220
      Recent

      Country Highlight: The Netherlands

      May 6, 2022

      If You’re Moving Back Home After Uni …

      August 3, 2021

      All About … Period Poverty

      May 17, 2021
    • Discovery
      1. Science
      2. Environment
      3. History
      4. International
      Featured

      Brewing up a Storm: The History of Guinness

      By Emily ReadMarch 20, 20210
      Recent

      Manizha – the artist causing a stir as the Russian representative for Eurovision 2021:

      May 6, 2021

      Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

      May 6, 2021

      The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

      April 29, 2021
    • Sport
      1. Varsity 2019
      2. Varsity 2018
      3. Varsity 2017
      4. Varsity 2016
      5. Varsity 2015
      6. Varsity 2014
      7. Varsity 2013
        • Varsity 2013 Results
        • Varsity 2013 – In tweets
      Featured

      Bangor Muddogs’ American Football: a young woman finding her place

      By Jade HillMarch 23, 20210
      Recent

      The 48-hour rise and fall of the European Super League

      April 27, 2021

      The European Super League is announced

      April 19, 2021

      Formula 1’s ‘Drive to Survive S3’ is released

      April 7, 2021
    • Students’ Union
      1. Union News
      2. Societies
      3. Volunteering
      4. Clubs
      Featured

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      By Caroline CartmillMarch 17, 20210
      Recent

      Bangor University Feminist Society

      March 30, 2021

      INTERVIEW: Be Period Positive

      March 17, 2021

      LGBT History Month in Bangor

      March 4, 2021
    • Issues
      • Current Issue
      • This year’s issues
      • Last year’s issues
      • Seren Archive
      • Seren Teams
    Seren
    Home»Discovery»Science»What Would a Brexit Mean for UK Science?
    Science

    What Would a Brexit Mean for UK Science?

    Jack GreenhalghBy Jack GreenhalghFebruary 17, 2016No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    365
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    In the Conservative’s 2015 manifesto, it was stated that a referendum on Britain’s EU membership would be held sometime before 2017. With this referendum looming it’s important to take note of the world leading scientific research being produced in the UK thanks to EU research monies, especially in Wales.

    On the ninth of February 2014, Switzerland held a referendum. The proposal “against mass immigration” planned to limit immigration by implementing quotas and allocating jobs preferentially to Swiss nationals over foreigners. Heavily supported by the Swiss People’s Party, the proposal would send Switzerland back to the days before its freedom-of-movement agreements with the EU. A backing of the proposal with 50.3% against 49.7%, a <1% difference worth the equivalent of just 19,526 people, caused an €80bn science deal, called Horizon 2020, with the country to fall through. Although not an EU member, Switzerland would have to contribute financially to the program therefore allowing its university scientists and small innovative businesses to compete for pooled research and innovation funds in exactly the same way EU state members do.

    One of those state members, the UK, has won £5bn in research funds in the last 5 years. The UK is currently entitled to win 20% of European Research Council grants and lead 20% of healthcare research projects in spite of only making up 12% of the EU populace. In fact we receive more research funds from the EU than any other country. We are also heavily influencing EU policy. Dr. Mike Galsworthy, program director of Scientists for EU, explains why being part of the EU is essential to remaining world leaders in healthcare research:

    “One major strand of scientific research is in health of course and issues within health, such as rare diseases, where you just can’t study effectively within one country, we’ve got examples of lots of different areas within health where the common approach really helps us be world leading and crack those issues that are very important to scientific research and ultimately people’s lives.”

    On the 9th November, the Economy and Science Minister Edwina Hart announced at Swansea University that more than sixty science research fellowships will benefit from a £39m fund to expand Wales’ world-class scientific research capacity as part of the two-phase Sêr Cymru program. The first phase, launched in September this year, saw a £17m joint Welsh Government and European grant that enabled 90 new research fellows from across Europe to work with researchers in Wales. This hopes to attract and develop the next generation of talented researchers in Welsh universities.

    Academics have responded to the possibility of leaving the EU, suggesting that it would weaken university research and funding in the UK. “Brexit would mean disaster for top-rank science funding and weaken my current research, possibly fatally. Another concern would be the uncertainty around recruiting European researchers and staff.” explains Prof. Malcolm Levitt who works with MRI scanners at the University of Southampton.

    If Britain does leave the EU, our EU science participation terms will come down to negotiations. We would not be getting such a good deal as we do now. Scientists’ key contribution to the UK economy, national research and innovation must be part of the informed debate.

    15% of scientists in the UK are EU nationals and as previously outlined they play a vital role in our research ecosystem, Dr. Mike Galsworthy again, “A lot of them don’t like the xenophobic tone at the moment and have said quite openly that they’re already looking at other options should we vote for a brexit.”

    European Research Council Swansea University UK Wales
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Jack Greenhalgh

    Science Editor 2015/16

    Related Posts

    Japan plan to release radioactive water into the ocean

    May 6, 2021

    The link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and blood clots

    April 29, 2021

    How 3D printing can revolutionise medicine

    April 15, 2021

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    MORE INFORMATION
    • ABOUT
    • ADVERTISE
    • CONTACT US
    • GET INVOLVED
    • MEMBERS
    Links
    • Bangor University Bangor University
    • Google+ Google+
    • Undeb Bangor Undeb Bangor
    About

    Seren is Bangor University Students’ Union’s English Language Newspaper

    We have editorial independence from both Bangor University and Bangor Students’ Union. Seren is written by students for students and we’d love you to get involved!

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.