National Campaign Demonstrating How Scientists are Solving Some of the Biggest Challenges Facing Society

A national campaign to demonstrate how UK scientists and engineers are solving some of the biggest challenges facing society is launched today at the Cheltenham Science Festival by Britain's largest funding body for science, the EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council).

The 'IMPACT!' campaign will reach out to new audiences to communicate the impact that research has on the economy, quality of life, culture and knowledge, public policy and much more.

EPSRC Chief Executive Dave Delpy said:

"Science and engineering research is the key to our prosperity, one of the driving forces of our economy, and it creates thousands of jobs that keep Britain at the leading edge.

This campaign shows what science is doing for us now and how is it going to result in a better future for us all with new technologies to stimulate economic growth, improve our quality of life and help us to meet the challenges of the 21st century".

Examples of science and engineering that is transforming the world include:

• The £2 light bulb that lasts 60 years. Installed in every home and office could cut the proportion of UK electricity used for lights from 20 per cent to 5 per cent.
• Downloadable software for your mobile phone could help doctors monitor asthma, diabetes, and other chronic conditions remotely.
• The world's first fully sustainable racing car, which is paving the way for 'green motorsport' and showcasing cutting-edge materials technologies.
• Cutting edge spectroscopy technology helping conservationists preserve our heritage buildings and pinpoint many of the problems facing irreplaceable collections and artefacts.
• Sheets of carbon just a single atom thick that could herald a new generation of electronics. The new material could be used to make next generation transistors that are a fraction of the size of current devices to miniaturise microelectronics.

Working with partners including NESTA and the Royal College of Art, the EPSRC IMPACT! Campaign will highlight more than 30 science and engineering projects that are transforming our experience of the world through a series of events, special projects, activities and publications including a monthly e-newsletter will be issued with the latest impact case studies linked to topical issues.

Launch events at the Cheltenham Science Festival include:

• An interactive science discovery zone for all ages to explore the different types of impact that science has on aspects of our everyday lives from medicine to music and design, people and skills, and creating business and jobs.
• The IMPACT! Debate. Engineering and science have a huge impact on the economy. Ideas drive innovation, helping to create companies and jobs. So should the Government be investing heavily in science, technology and engineering when pressure is on to cut budgets? Science Minister Paul Drayson joins young technology entrepreneurs to discuss how science can help build a better future for Britain.

The EPSRC is the UK's largest science research funding council with an annual budget of £850m. It currently has over 5,800 funded research projects in progress totalling £3.4bn - the majority based at UK universities.

To sign up to receive the IMPACT! e-newsletter please email [email protected]