Academic leaders are expressing alarm over comments made by Chris McDonald, the science minister, regarding his focus on the sciences in his position. At a recent conference, McDonald stated he would “unashamedly” advocate for science, which raised concerns about the perceived neglect of arts and humanities in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade (Bist).
McDonald acknowledged the importance of arts and humanities but emphasized his role as the science minister, indicating that he would prioritize science advocacy. This sparked criticism, particularly from figures like James Wilsdon, who highlighted the need for the science minister to engage with the entire UK research system, rather than favoring one field.
Others, such as Hetan Shah and Margot Finn, underscored the integral relationship between the arts, humanities, and sciences, urging McDonald to recognize his responsibility for all research disciplines. They argued that the arts and humanities are vital to understanding scientific contexts and should not be viewed as secondary.
Brigitte Nerlich reinforced this sentiment, asserting that the interconnectedness of disciplines is critical and that a narrow focus on science could lead to gaps in understanding the social and cultural dimensions of research.
Concerns about McDonald’s grasp of his role underscore the expectation that he should quickly clarify his remit to maintain credibility among UK academics, especially given the substantial number working in non-scientific fields. Bist has not yet commented on the situation.
