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Parliamentary Links Day

Links Day is the largest science event on the annual Parliamentary events calendar, and is organised by the Royal Society of Biology on behalf of the science and technology community. The event has a different theme each year and brings together scientists, learned societies and Members of Parliament.

The event is funded by the RSB Parliamentary Steering Group, which is comprised: Anatomical Society, Applied Microbiology International, Association of Applied Biologists, Biochemical Society, British Ecological Society, British Pharmacological Society, British Society for Immunology, Council for the Mathematical Sciences, Genetics Society, Geological Society, Institute of Physics, Nutrition Society, Royal Society of Chemistry, Society for Experimental Biology, Society for Radiological Protection.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 25 June 2024

The theme for this year's event was due to be Science and the next Parliament but the event was postponed due to the UK General Election. We’ll be back with Parliamentary Links Day in June 2025 – details to follow.

The RSB Parliamentary Steering Group will be holding a reception in Parliament in early December 2024, as a key opportunity to meet and engage with the new Parliament.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 20 June 2023

The theme for this year's event was Science and Economic Development.

Links Day took place in the Attlee Suite of Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament.

The event will see Members of Parliament and Government address the topic and answer questions from the audience of representatives from across the science, technology and engineering community.

You can read the RSB news story and find out about the speakers and supporters in the delegate pack.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 28 June 2022

The theme for last year's event was Science and International Collaboration.

Links Day returned to an in-person format in 2022, taking place in the Attlee Suite, Portcullis House, Houses of Parliament.

Links Day featured contributions from many distinguished speakers from Parliament, Government and the science community. Download a final programme and watch the event on the RSB YouTube channel.

You can read the RSB news story, a SCI news story, and see coverage from the event on twitter.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 22 June 2021

The theme for the 2021 event was Science and Climate Change. The event took place virtually and was chaired by Stephen Metcalfe MP, chair of the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee.

The event was opened by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon Dame Eleanor Laing MP, with keynote addresses from the COP26 President-Designate, Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP, the Shadow Minister of Science, Research and Digital, Chi Onwurah MP, the Chair of the Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, and Government Chief Scientific Adviser, Sir Patrick Vallance. Katherine Fletcher MP, the Private Parliamentary Secretary for the COP26 President Designate, took questions from the audience on behalf of Alok Sharma.

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The international panel discussion brought together Professor Sir Adrian Smith (top left), president of the Royal Society, Monica Dean (top right), senior expert advisor supporting the special presidential envoy for climate from the US State Department, and Sunan Jiang (bottom left), minister counsellor for science and technology affairs at the Chinese Embassy in the UK.

Full details are in our news story with social media highlights on our Twitter Moments. A full recording of the event is also available on our YouTube channel.

Read event coverage from the Royal Society, SCI and The Nutrition Society.

Further resources

The following non-exhaustive list offers further resources relating to the topic of this event:

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 14 July 2020

This year's theme was Public Trust in Science. Regrettably technical difficulties with the broadcast meant registrants could not watch the discussions live, but questions were relayed to the speakers and a selection of videos from the event are available on the RSB’s YouTube channel.

Sir Patrick Vallance, Government Chief Scientific Adviser, discusses the Government's response to the pandemic, why masks have become mandatory and more.

Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee, delivers his keynote address on the importance of scientific input in policymaking and how this has been crucial for addressing the pandemic.

Read more in our news story.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 25 June 2019

The theme for this year's event was Science and the New Frontiers. The event was opened by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP (left), with keynote addresses from the Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy Chi Onwurah MP (middle left), the Rt Hon Sir Norman Lamb MP chair of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee (middle right) and Chris Skidmore MP Minister of State for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation (right).

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The two panel sessions were chaired by Stephen Metcalfe MP and Carol Monaghan MP, both members of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.

Full details are in our news story and blog post, with social media see highlights on our Twitter Moments. You can download the audio from the day.

Read event coverage from the British Society for Immunology, The Nutrition Society, SCI, IChemE, King's College London and Arthur Edward.

Parliamentary Links Day, Tuesday 26 June 2018

The theme for 2018 was Science and the Industrial Strategy. The event was opened for the 10th year by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP (far left) with introductions from the Shadow Minister for Industrial Strategy Chi Onwurah MP (left) and Government Chief Scientific Advisor Dr Patrick Vallance (centre).

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There were also keynote speeches from Rebecca Endean, UKRI (right), Rt Hon Claire Perry MP, Minister for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (far right) and Rt Hon Norman Lamb MP, House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee Chair.

The two panel sessions chaired by BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh, dealt with The Mission and The Target, of the Industrial Strategy. Stephen Metcalfe MP, immediate past chair, of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee closed proceedings.

Full details are in our news story, with social media see highlights on our Twitter Moments. Read event coverage from the British Society for Immunology, The Physiological Society, IChemE and Institute of Physics.

Parliamentary Links Day, 27 June 2017

Our 2017 theme was 'UK Science and Global Opportunities?'. The event was opened by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP with introductions from the Minister for Universities, Science, Research and Innovation Jo Johnson MP and Chair Designate of UKRI Sir John Kingman.

The two panel sessions chaired by BBC science correspondent Pallab Ghosh, dealt with Science and Europe and Science and the World. Stephen Metcalfe MP, immediate past chair, of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee closed proceedings.

The event was followed by a networking reception and a lunch at the House of Lords, with a keynote address from Professor Alex Halliday FRS, vice president of the Royal Society.

Full details are in our news story. Listen to it again on SoundCloud and see photos on Facebook.

Parliamentary Links Day, 28 June 2016

Our 2016 theme was 'Science After the Referendum: What Next?'. The event was opened by the Speaker of the House of Commons, Rt Hon John Bercow MP with introductions from the Minister for Universities and Science Jo Johnson MP and Chair of the House of Commons Science & Technology Select Committee Nicola Blackwood MP. 

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The two panel sessions dealt with Science and Europe and Science and the World. Lord O’Neill, Commercial Secretary to HM Treasury, and Sir Venki Ramakrishnan, President of the Royal Society, closed proceedings.

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Full details are in our news story with photos on Facebook. Watch videos footage on our blog and see media coverage on the BBC, Times Higher Education, Buzzfeed, Daily Express.

Parliamentary Links Day, 23 June 2015

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Science and the New Parliament was the theme of Parliamentary Links Day 2015. Speakers explored the value of science nationally and internationally. Read our news story.

 

 

 

Parliamentary Links Day, 24 June 2014

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Science and Public Trust was the theme of Parliamentary Links Day 2014. This year speakers explored the importance of effectively engaging UK citizens with science and policy. Further details about the event are on our news story.

 

Parliamentary Links Day 2013

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The 2013 Parliamentary Links Day focused on the theme of Diversity in Science, Technology Engineering and Maths, and explored the under-representation of women, people with disabilities and minority ethnic groups at various stages of the STEM pipeline. Read our news story.

 

 

 

 

Parliamentary Links Day 2012

LINKS 2012

The Society of Biology organised Parliamentary Links Day 2012 on behalf of the scientific community to strengthen dialogue with Parliament, and to provide MPs with a more rounded understanding of the scientific issues we face. The topical theme was 'Science and Sport'.