Lancaster University

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Richard’s Royal Society success

10/13/2004 14:44:08

Physics Research Fellow Dr Richard Haley has won a place on a Royal Society scheme that pairs scientists with MPs. He will team up with Hilton Dawson, Labour MP for Lancaster and Wyre.

Dr Haley will spend a week at the House of Commons from October 25 to October 28 to get a ‘behind the scenes’ insight into how science policy is formed and an understanding of the working life of an MP. Mr Dawson will then visit the University for a day.

“I am very excited about it,” said Dr Haley, a Royal Society University Research Fellow and a member of the Ultralow Temperature Group in the Physics Department. “I am very interested to find out what happens in Westminster – I’d like to know where our money comes from and who decides where it goes, how those decisions are made and how policy is developed and influenced.

“I have already met Hilton Dawson – he loves science and spent a long time talking to me about our research and how much he was looking forward to taking part in the scheme.”

The MP-Science Pairing Scheme was launched in 2001 by the Royal Society – the UK national academy of science - with the aim of building bridges between some of the best research workers in the country and members of the UK Parliament. Over 40 pairs of scientists and MPs have taken part in the scheme already.

During his week in Westminster Dr Haley will shadow Hilton Dawson and attend seminars and meetings, including the Parliamentary Science and Technology Committee. He also hopes to spend a day with the MP in his local constituency office before Mr Dawson visits the University for the day to find out more about Dr Haley’s work and his department.

It’s the second time Hilton Dawson has taken part in the scheme – two years ago he teamed up with a member of staff from the Biological Sciences Department.

Dr Haley recently received a commendation prize at Science in September – a showcase of the best scientific research in the UK, held at the House of Commons and organised by SET (Science, Engineering and Technology) for Britain.