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| Become scientists, PM urges young | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Britain must "stand up for science" by encouraging youngsters to aspire to become scientists, Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to say later. | Britain must "stand up for science" by encouraging youngsters to aspire to become scientists, Prime Minister Tony Blair is expected to say later. |
| He will stress the importance of Britain's knowledge-based economy and say that, to keep it competitive, more scientific pioneering is needed. | He will stress the importance of Britain's knowledge-based economy and say that, to keep it competitive, more scientific pioneering is needed. |
| Mr Blair says funding for research has increased since Labour came to power. | Mr Blair says funding for research has increased since Labour came to power. |
| But critics point out that, in that time, there has been a sharp drop in physics and chemistry student numbers. | But critics point out that, in that time, there has been a sharp drop in physics and chemistry student numbers. |
| In the latest of a series of speeches setting out what he sees as the key challenges facing Britain in the decades ahead, Mr Blair will focus on the central role of science in delivering prosperity for the future. | In the latest of a series of speeches setting out what he sees as the key challenges facing Britain in the decades ahead, Mr Blair will focus on the central role of science in delivering prosperity for the future. |
| Our future lies in a knowledge economy, that's the way we will win Tony Blair href="/1/hi/sci/tech/6112410.stm" class="">'The brilliant light of science' | |
| He will also say that he has always stood up for and defended scientists and that he will continue to do so. | He will also say that he has always stood up for and defended scientists and that he will continue to do so. |
| On Thursday, Mr Blair visited the Diamond synchrotron "super microscope" - which uses super-bright X-rays to probe the structure of matter - and Britain's fist vegetable vehicle oil producer, both in Oxfordshire. | On Thursday, Mr Blair visited the Diamond synchrotron "super microscope" - which uses super-bright X-rays to probe the structure of matter - and Britain's fist vegetable vehicle oil producer, both in Oxfordshire. |
| He described both as science projects helping to boost the UK economy. | He described both as science projects helping to boost the UK economy. |
| "Our future lies in a knowledge economy; that's the way we will win," he said during the trip. | |
| Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris praised the government's research spending, which, he said, had more than doubled in real terms since Labour came to power. | Liberal Democrat science spokesman Evan Harris praised the government's research spending, which, he said, had more than doubled in real terms since Labour came to power. |
| "But an A-grade on funding has been thrown away by the prime minister by the squeeze on university science departments, causing several to close," Mr Harris added. | "But an A-grade on funding has been thrown away by the prime minister by the squeeze on university science departments, causing several to close," Mr Harris added. |
| "A crisis in science teacher recruitment has led to a dearth of good applicants taking hard science at A-level and at university, reinforcing the shortage of good graduates to teach in schools." | "A crisis in science teacher recruitment has led to a dearth of good applicants taking hard science at A-level and at university, reinforcing the shortage of good graduates to teach in schools." |