Member Article

North East Science and Tech Agenda Under The Microscope

Tyne Tees Television’s regional political programme Around The House is back tonight with a special report on Science and Technology in the region. The new series, which starts tonight at 11.30pm, sees reporter Helen Ford meeting some of those leading the way in the bid to boost science skills. This includes interviews with award-winning science teacher Richard Spencer from Bede College in Billingham; Leanne Hart, from AMEC in Darlington, who’s just been named as the chemical industry’s Young Ambassador; leading bacteriologist Professor Jeff Errington, whose return to his native North East after twenty five years at Oxford University was hailed as the science equivalent of Shearer coming home, and Sage Chief Executive Paul Walker, head of the Science City Leadership Group.

Joining Gerry Foley for a studio discussion is Phil Willis MP (Lib Dem, Harrogate & Knaresborough), who currently chairs the Commons’ Science and Technology Select Committee, and Ashok Kumar MP (Lab, Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland) who was a research scientist before becoming a Member of Parliament. The burgeoning science and technology agenda in the North East looks set to gather momentum over the coming months, especially as Newcastle has earned prestigious Science City status, qualifying it for extra Government support to build on its existing strengths in science and technology research and development. Around the House is at 11.30pm tonight on Tyne Tees television.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .