Cornish scientist welcomed to Westminster in Royal Society scheme

3.00.00pm GMT Mon 10th Dec 2007

Julia has spent a week being shadowed by University of Exeter at Tremough Research Fellow Dr Jonathan Blount, as part of the Royal Society's MP-Scientist Pairing Scheme.

Dr Blount, a Royal Society Research Fellow at the Centre for Ecology and Conservation at Exeter University's Tremough campus, Penryn, spent a week in Westminster attending seminars on the workings of Parliament, going to Select Committee hearings and shadowing Julia, accompanying her to meetings and watching her speaking in the House of Commons chamber.

Established in 2001 as part of the Science in Society programme, the Royal Society scheme aims to build bridges between some of the best research workers in the country and members of the UK parliament. To date over 80 scientists and MPs have taken part.

Dr Blount will soon be joining Julia for a day in her Falmouth and Camborne constituency and Julia will also pay a reciprocal visit to the University of Exeter's research facilities at Tremough, where Dr Blount is based, to find out more about his work in Cornwall.

Commenting, Falmouth and Camborne MP Julia Goldsworthy said:

"This scheme provides a unique opportunity for MPs to work closely with some of the top research scientists in the country, and to forge invaluable relationships with the scientific community. With a top class research faculty in my constituency, it's the best way to find out first hand about the important work they are doing.

"Scientific research plays such a key role in so many areas of policy and it is very important that MPs have a good grasp of topical research so that our discussion and decision-making is informed and effective. I very much look forward to visiting Dr Blount's research facilities at Tremough early next year.

Royal Society Research Fellow Dr Jonathan Blount added:

"Many of the major challenges facing society have political and scientific dimensions, climate change being an obvious example, so there's never been a more important time for scientists and politicians to work together.

"My week at Westminster was a great thrill and went some way to demystify the workings of Parliament. I'm now looking forward to hosting Julia at Tremough, where she'll see at first hand the work we're doing researching ecological processes and training the next generation of conservation biologists.