I worked at the Guardian for many years, initially as a science correspondent, then as assistant national news editor, with a special responsibility for science, environment and technology.
In the 1960s UNESCO, as the UN agency with responsibility for science, developed a new programme dealing with human-biosphere interactions — the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme.
It also takes exception to what it calls the administration's plans to "shift a greater responsibility" for science, technology, engineering, and math education to the Department of Education, arguing that NSF's "world-class" expertise in those areas should not be ignored.
The peers want the civil servant with responsibility for science spending, Sir John O'Reilly, to bring together the research funders, industry and other key organisations that make large investments in laboratories and equipment, such as the Wellcome Trust, and work out what the national priorities should be and then to draw up a coherent strategy.
Most countries have a ministry with responsibility for science.
"We take funding from corporations, from the Department of Defense, from many, many sources, but ultimately the responsibility for the science belongs to the faculty member who did the science," said Robert C. Dynes, president of the University of California system.
In the past, responsibility for monitoring science in government fell to a dedicated Science and Technology Select Committee, first established in 1966.
This isn't just an issue for scientists; the BSA believes that society as a whole should be able to bear some responsibility for how science is used.
Mr. Levy declined to comment yesterday, but a spokeswoman said that Mr. Wechsler had been relieved of all supervising responsibility for Bronx Science because the chancellor was making an effort to be more responsive to the wishes of parents and faculty.
Postdocs had responsibility for the science portions of the event and were assisted by CCR staff members, who handled the logistics.
