Public's expectation of science unrealistic
The British public holds unrealistic and simplified expectations of science, a survey out today shows. The Mori poll for the new Science Media Centre at the Royal Institution says 71 per cent of the public look to scientists to give an agreed view about science issues and 61 per cent expect science to provide 100 per cent guarantees about the safety of medicines.
Two regulatory bodies for health professions
Two new regulatory councils for the health professions came into being yesterday. Jonathan Asbridge, deputy chief executive at St Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital has been appointed president of the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Norma Brook, a self-employed consultant-physiotherapist, president of the Health Professions Council.
Trials of vaccine to combat crack habit underway
Trials of the first vaccine designed to combat cocaine addiction are making encouraging progress. Biotech company Xenova, based in Slough, Berkshire, is conducting early phase studies of the drug in the United States. Thomas Kosten, a Yale University professor, is heading the clinical investigation.
First private Saudi university announced
Saudi Arabia announced this week that it is to open its first private university in September 2003 for graduate students and 2004 for undergraduates. Saudi professors who will teach at the Dar Alfaisal University in Riyadh will be trained by the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
Canadian students suspected of cheating
Thirty-one engineering students at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, are under investigation over allegations that they cheated in an ethics exam.