Scientists, academics and industrialists are gathering at Warwick School on Monday (January 29) to debate the future of science in the UK. BBC science correspondent David Gregory will chair the panel which will include Professor Sir Howard Dalton, a Fellow of the Royal Society and chief scientific adviser for DEFRA, Dr Nick Winterbottom, chief executive of Millennium Point and Think Tank, and Patrick Dunne, group communications director at 3i. The event is being staged in association with Warwick School, the University of Warwick and Advantage West Midlands.

Dr Mo Afzal, who is head of science at Warwick School and also a research chemist at the University of Warwick, said his department was working closely with the University of Warwick to make science more exciting by involving pupils in scientific research. For example, researching the ageing process, asthma-relieving drugs, cancer, and synthesising drugs which may treat cardiovascular ailments such as angina.

Research work at Warwick School is given great importance and the science department shares its resources and its expertise hosting 40 students from other schools in the West Midlands every Thursday. When Warwick opens its new £6 million science facility later this year, it will be one of the only schools in the UK to have its own research laboratory.

Anyone wishing to attend the debate should contact Dr Roberta Warman at the University of Warwick on 024 7652 3709

For further information please contact:

Peter Dunn, Press and Media Relations Manager,
University of Warwick Tel: 024 76 523708
or 07767 655860 email: p.j.dunn@warwick.ac.uk

PR7 PJD 24th January 2007