Sir Mark Walport – Science and business: preparing for the future

Synopsis

• The UK is facing unprecedented global and societal challenges.  The clean growth agenda, for example, is bringing about a shift in the way businesses operate.

• Scientific and technological advancements are required to deliver solutions to this and other challenges

• How can UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) support business collaborations to meet the challenges?

This is a critical time for the future of the UK as we consider our changing place in a changing world. We are facing an unprecedented set of global and societal challenges.

During this Public Evening Lecture, Sir Mark will consider these changes, such as demographic shifts which indicate that the global population will reach 10 billion by 2050. He will discuss the implications this has for the demands that we make on natural resources and the pollution we produce.  

Navigating these challenges will bring into sharp focus the opportunities afforded by the extraordinary feats of science and innovation.

Sir Mark will use the lecture to discuss how working beyond traditional boundaries, and with a closer collaborative relationship between researchers and businesses is now essential. His lecture will also consider how UK Research and Innovation can catalyse collaboration, rise to the challenges of our time and deliver on its vision of ‘knowledge and impact.’

Speakers

Sir Mark Walport FRS FMedSci

Sir Mark is Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, which brings together the seven Research Councils, Innovate UK and Research England. UKRI became an official public body on 1 April 2018 and operates across the whole of the UK with a combined budget of more than £7 billion.

He has been a champion for science, engineering and technology in his role as Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Head of the Government Office for Science and Co-Chair of the Prime Minister’s Council for Science and Technology.

As former Director of the Wellcome Trust, Sir Mark has experience running a large scale research organisation and global charitable foundation. A distinguished scientist in his own right, Sir Mark was also Professor of Medicine and Head of the Division of Medicine at Imperial College London.

Previous career highlights for Sir Mark include being a member of the advisory board of Infrastructure UK and a non-executive member of the Office for Strategic Coordination of Health Research. Before becoming GCSA, he conducted independent reviews for the UK Government on the use and sharing of personal information in the public and private sectors: ‘Data Sharing Review’ (2009); and secondary education: ‘Science and Mathematics: Secondary Education for the 21st Century’ (2010).

He received a knighthood in the 2009 New Year Honours List for services to medical research and was elected as Fellow of The Royal Society in 2011.

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Programme

This lecture follows Leaders of the future: a formula for success. Registration for this event is free of charge. Please visit the event page for more information.

Venue and Contact

Fees

Booking Process/Deadlines

Booking terms and conditions

CPD Info

SCI Members attending this meeting are able to claim CPD points.

Additional Info

Exhibition and Sponsorship

An exhibition will take place alongside the conference for companies and related organisations who may wish to exhibit. Please email conferences@soci.org for further information and prices. Spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.