The Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) is a non-profit organisation that is the UK's leading independent advocate for science and engineering. It focuses on arguing for more research funding, promoting a high-tech and knowledge-based economy, highlighting the need for top-quality science and maths education at all levels, and scrutinising the mechanisms by which government uses science and evidence.
History
The Campaign for Science and Engineering was founded as Save British Science (SBS) in January 1986. The organisation started out when 1,500 scientists banded together to pay for an advert in The Times.[1] It called on the Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher to 'Save British Science'. The organisation changed its name to the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE) in 2005.
CaSE employs a team of staff who are led by the executive director.[3] It also has a board of directors who meet several times each year to discuss CaSE's strategy and set its campaigning priorities, as well as being responsible for governance and financial management of the organisation. Dr Robert Sorrell is the current chair of the board.
Activity
CaSE focuses its activity in five priority areas; People and Skills,[4] Investment,[5] Political Engagement,[6] Public Opinion,[7] and Research System[8] delivering independent analysis and recommendations for action in reports in these areas. Following the 2016 Brexit referendum, it has been a strong voice in the areas of immigration, collaboration and regulation which are of particular concern to the science and engineering sector.[9]
In 2010, CaSE played a key role in the Science is Vital[10] campaign, which lobbied against cuts to the UK science budget in the Comprehensive Spending Review of October that year. The science budget was frozen in the final review.[11] In 2017 CaSE called for increase in R&D investment[12] and the government subsequently committed to increasing spending to 2.4% of GDP by 2027. Other successes include lobbying for amendments to the HE and Research Bill in 2016.
CaSE holds regular meetings with representatives from its member organisations to inform its work, alongside sustained political engagement. This include meeting directly with MPs and Peers, submitting evidence to Select Committee Inquiries[13] and being invited to speak at conference and panel events.
CaSE also holds an annual lecture[14] which is given by prominent scientific or political figures including Jo Johnson, then Universities and Science Minister, in 2016, Professor Ellen Stofan, then NASA Chief Scientist in 2014, Professor Anne Glover CBE, then EU Chief Scientific Advisor in 2013, and Sir Patrick Vallance, then UK Government Chief Scientific Advisor in 2019.
