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Glasgow=20 University's Dr Christian Korff joins local MP for a week in = Westminster

Ann in=20 Parliament - Visi= ts=20 and Events

Sunday, 17 January 2010 = 15:36

The Royal Society MP-Researcher Pairing Scheme

3D"Ann

Glasgow North MP, Ann McKechin was shadowed by an = academic from Glasgow Uni for a week at Westminster as part = of the=20 Royal Society's MP-Researcher pairing scheme. =

Glasgow University's Dr Christian Korff from the Maths = department=20 was chosen to take part in the initiative, which is designed = to pair=20 parliamentarians with some of the UK=E2=80=99s leading = researchers.

The local MP and Dr Korff, a Royal Society Research = Fellow at=20 Glasgow, worked closely together over the week, helping = build up the=20 beneficial relationship between the 559-year-old West End=20 institution and politicians at Westminster.

The scheme is designed to increase dialogue between = active=20 researchers in Higher Education Institutions and = policy-makers.

The Royal Society is the national academy for science in = the UK=20 and the research fellows who are funded are expected to be = future=20 leaders in their field.

Dr Korff outlined the aims of the scheme: =

"The Royal Society believes that it=E2=80=99s important = that the public=20 understands how science policy is made and want to = establish=20 discussion between us researchers and MPs who, for = example, sit on=20 the science and technology committees in Westminster. =
"Getting=20 in contact with politicians is very useful for us as a = university=20 because it allows us to influence policy issues which = directly=20 affect us.=E2=80=9D

On a recent visit to the Maths department, Ann McKechin = MP met=20 with academics who were discussing current proposals for the = Research Excellence Framework and how they might affect = research=20 funding in the mathematical sciences.

During Ms McKechin=E2=80=99s visit, Dr Korff, alongside = colleagues Dr=20 Christina Cobbold and Dr Alastair Craw, gave a short = overview of=20 some of the research carried out at the Mathematics = Department.

Ann said:

"It=20 was excellent to see the work of the Maths department here = at=20 Glasgow University and I'm delighted to take part in the = pairing=20 scheme. Glasgow University is at the heart of our = community=20 and at the front of cutting edge research. Research = and=20 development done here often generates amazing advances in=20 technology and medicine.

"The Maths department's work produces practical=20 results which end up affecting all our lives.

"The team gave an excellent demonstration of the = close=20 link between pure and applied mathematics and the = subject=E2=80=99s role=20 in developing the technologies of tomorrow, such as = quantum=20 computers, face recognition and measuring bio-diversity.=20

"The University and the Royal Society are = working to=20 communicate the importance of this work to the local = community and=20 the wider public. Giving researchers access to the policy = makers=20 helps scientists demonstrate and legislators understand = the=20 priorities for science policy."

The presentations also included information about = outreach=20 activities such as the department=E2=80=99s Ambassador = Scheme, which is=20 being led by Dr Craw.

The Ambassador Scheme sends fourth year undergraduates = into local=20 schools to endorse maths as a subject. The Ambassador Scheme = hopes=20 to increase the profile of maths in schools by introducing = pupils to=20 parts of the subject that they would not otherwise = encounter. Dr=20 Korff and Ann McKechin believe that engaging more people = with maths=20 at a grass roots level is imperative when trying to = influence=20 educational policy.

Dr Korff added:

"If there=E2=80=99s one thing I=E2=80=99ve learnt from = this project it=E2=80=99s that=20 the most effective way of doing that is through getting = involved=20 at a local level
"If people start getting interested in = the way=20 maths is taught in schools and at universities, they start = writing=20 letters to their local MPs which can cause political=20 pressure."

=20

Labour Member of Parliament serving Glasgow North

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The Royal Society MP-Researcher Pairing Scheme