The British Science Association (BSA) welcomes the announcement of the new Government Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, as announced by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak yesterday (Tuesday 7 February). We are pleased to see that science has a seat at the Cabinet table, which sends a strong message for the UK’s priorities in science, innovation, and technology. However, science is not (and should not be) confined to one area of public life.

Urgent action is needed to address inequity science education, workplaces, cultural settings, and in communities. The BSA believes that the new Secretary of State should make efforts to join up science activity across Government Departments, and take steps to ensure science is relevant, representative, and connected to society.

We look forward to engaging with the new Department and hearing more details about their plans in the near future.

The BSA provide the secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Diversity & Inclusion in STEM. The Group have published two reports around the topic of inequity: one focusing on STEM education and the about the STEM workforce.

Find out more about the APPG's work

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