Biosciences Federation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Biosciences Federation is a United Kingdom body representing the UK’s biological expertise, providing independent opinion to inform public policy and promoting the advancement of the biosciences.

The Federation is actively working to influence policy and strategy in biology-based research - including funding and the interface with other disciplines - and in school and university teaching. The Federation is also concerned about the translation of research into benefits for society, and about the impact of legislation and regulations on the ability of those working in teaching and research to deliver effectively.

The Federation regularly submits responses to governmental consultations. All responses are posted on the BSF's website.

The Policy Coordinator produces a monthly digest of national and international science and education policy news that is distributed to all universities, the research and funding councils, biopharmaceutical companies and organisations, selected MPs, and the secretariats of the Commons and Lords Science and Technology Committees.

Structure

The President of the Federation is Prof Sir Tom Blundell (2004-date), and Dr Richard Dyer, former director of the Babraham Institute, is the Chief Executive Officer (2006-date).

The Federation has committees representing Animal Science, Education, and European Liaison, and creates Working Groups to focus on current issues of importance to the bioscience community.

Member societies cover the full range of biosciences from physiology and neuroscience, biochemistry and microbiology, to ecology, taxonomy and environmental science. As of 2006, there are 41 member organisations. These include the Institute of Biology, Biochemical Society, British Pharmacological Society, Physiological Society and Society for General Microbiology.

History

The expertise in science policy possessed by the Institute of Biology and the former UK Life Sciences Committee came together, and the Biosciences Federation was founded on 2nd December 2002. It was formally launched at a reception in the House of Commons in September 2003.