WCSJ 2009 wound up with a final plenary discussion led by Pallab Ghosh, BBC science correspondent and president of the World Federation of Science Journalists, and three prominent figures in science policy development. John Beddington, Chief Scientific Advisor (CSA) to the UK government, Patrick Cunningham, CSA to the Irish government and Tidu Maini, Executive Chairman of Qatar Science & Technology Park, who each gave an overview of their roles in science policy and advice to government in their respective countries. Beddington explained that government-funded science was feeling the pinch of financial constraints with the Ministry of Defence being one of the hardest hit. Cunningham highlighted that science in government was as much to do with convenience as progress. Maini described his country’s strong vision for the future of science and the growing US investments aimed at supporting science and technology universities.  

Becky McCall