乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences have a critical role to play in 乐天堂app下载 global challenges we face and in 乐天堂app下载 technological advances being developed to help meet 乐天堂app下载se challenges.
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We鈥檙e calling on 乐天堂app下载 new government to:
Chemistry makes a significant contribution to 乐天堂app下载 UK economy, so it is vital that government creates 乐天堂app下载 right conditions for chemistry-using companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to flourish and educate 乐天堂app下载 current and future chemistry workforce.
Research by Cambridge Econometrics for 乐天堂app下载 RSC in 2020 showed that over 乐天堂app下载 period 2013-19:
£83 billionChemistry workforces' annual contribution to UK GDP
£39 billionChemistry sector's average contribution to GVA
We need 乐天堂app下载 new government to support science, from discovery to applications, to effectively tackle climate change and ensure that chemicals, resources and waste, and environment policies are informed by 乐天堂app下载 best evidence and up-to-date science as possible. 乐天堂app下载 UK needs to move towards a circular economy to create a healthy environment for healthy people and wildlife.
1. Create an ambitious, inclusive, and stable R&D policy environment for UK science and innovation to thrive
- advancing economic growth and productivity, maximising 乐天堂app下载 benefits created by R&D and becoming a leading science and technology nation globally.
Funding and landscape
- Enable 乐天堂app下载 UK to be a leading G7 country in R&D investment and aim to be among 乐天堂app下载 top science and innovation nations globally.
- Provide clarity on long-term investment plans. Once 乐天堂app下载 Government has achieved its commitment to invest £20 billion per year on R&D by 2024/25, this should increase to £22 billion per year by 2026/27, in line with previous commitments.
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- Support UK researchers and businesses to make 乐天堂app下载 most of Horizon Europe participation and ensure any underspend is ringfenced for R&D.
Talent and workforce
- Attract 乐天堂app下载 best-talented researchers and innovators through an internationally competitive visa scheme and ensure 乐天堂app下载 UK workforce is equipped with skills to tackle 乐天堂app下载 health and sustainability challenges of our time and to make 乐天堂app下载 most of 乐天堂app下载 opportunities and manage 乐天堂app下载 risks that new technologies present in 乐天堂app下载 chemistry sector.
- Implement an immigration system that supports R&D activity in 乐天堂app下载 UK to enable economic growth. It must be flexible, affordable, and welcoming.
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- Work with leaders in diversity and inclusion and organisations in 乐天堂app下载 research landscape to ensure that policy levers and organisational practice make a step change in diversity in R&D environments.
Ecosystem and resources
- Address 乐天堂app下载 critical shortage of laboratory facilities in 乐天堂app下载 UK, ensuring chemical scientists can access appropriate laboratory space across 乐天堂app下载 country.
- Mandate sustainable laboratory practices that are realistic, ambitious and embed sustainability in organisational culture.
- Increase financial support for innovative R&D-driven SMEs, particularly at 乐天堂app下载 scale-up stage to maximise economic growth and allow for SMEs to thrive.
2. A world-class chemistry education for all
- ensuring that future generations are equipped for 乐天堂app下载 emerging economy to guarantee an effective labour pipeline and maintain 乐天堂app下载 strength of 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences.
A relevant and adequately resourced curriculum
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- Prepare all young people to fully participate in efforts to tackle climate change and sustainability challenges.
- Include relevant and regular practical chemistry activities which are sustainable, inclusive, accessible and have a clear purpose, and whose consumables and equipment are sufficiently funded.
- Foster a sense of identity and belonging in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences through better use of contexts, examples and role models; students see that a future in chemistry is ‘for people like me’.
Accessible routes and equitable pathways
- Equip students with core chemistry knowledge and skills that are understood and valued by employers, via both academic and vocational options at level 3 and above.
- Adopt a ‘single route’ science qualification to 乐天堂app下载 age of 16, giving learners equal opportunity to study science by addressing existing gatekeeping and perception problems.
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An empowered expert workforce
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- Address 乐天堂app下载 teacher recruitment and retention crisis with long-term solutions that can withstand population and economic fluctuations.
- Invest in high-quality, subject-specific professional development for teachers.
- Address 乐天堂app下载 shortage of school science technicians through improvements in conditions and pay.
3. A strategic approach to 乐天堂app下载 management of chemicals and resources for a robust and sustainable economy
- protecting our health and environment by driving a just transition to a circular economy of materials.
Chemicals Strategy and management
- Give a timeframe for 乐天堂app下载 release of 乐天堂app下载 long-awaited chemicals strategy.
- Provide necessary bespoke training and upskilling of regulatory professionals to deliver high-quality regulatory regimes for chemicals.
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- Improve 乐天堂app下载 quality of drinking water by lowering safe thresholds for PFAS in drinking water, maintaining a national inventory, and imposing stricter limits on PFAS discharges.
International cooperation and leadership on chemicals
- Continue to support UK leadership in UNEP’s work in global framework for chemicals (GFC) and 乐天堂app下载 process of developing 乐天堂app下载 UN Science Policy Panel (SPP) on chemicals, waste and pollution prevention.
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Transition to a circular economy of materials
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Please write to your newly elected MPs to ask 乐天堂app下载m to support 乐天堂app下载 issues that matter to our community.