Engineering: turning ideas into reality - Innovation, Universities, Science and Skills Committee Contents

Annex 2—Case study terms of reference

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Nuclear engineering

The terms of reference for the Nuclear Engineering case study are as follows:

—  the UK's engineering capacity to build a new generation of nuclear power stations and carry out planned decommissioning of existing nuclear power stations;

—  the value in training a new generation of nuclear engineers versus bringing expertise in from elsewhere;

—  the role that engineers will play in shaping the UK's nuclear future and whether nuclear power proves to be economically viable; and

—  the overlap between nuclear engineers in the power sector and the military.

Plastic electronics engineering

The terms of reference for the Plastic Electronics Engineering case study are as follows:

—  the current and future roles of engineers in the field of plastic electronics;

—  the potential for plastic electronics in the UK/global economy;

—  how universities, industry, venture capital and Government are involved in the development of the UK plastic electronics sector; and

—  whether the UK engineering and manufacturing sector are set up to handle growth in this area or other areas like it.

Geo-engineering

The terms of reference for the Geo-engineering case study are as follows:

—  the current and potential roles of engineering and engineers in geo-engineering solutions to climate change;

—  national and international research activity, and research funding, related to geo-engineering, and the relationship between, and interface with, this field and research conducted to reduce greenhouse gas emissions;

—  the provision of university courses and other forms of training relevant to geo-engineering in the UK;

—  the status of geo-engineering technologies in government, industry and academia;

—  geo-engineering and engaging young people in the engineering profession; and

—  the role of engineers in informing policy-makers and the public regarding the potential costs, benefits and research status of different geo-engineering schemes.

Engineering in Government

The terms of reference for the Engineering in Government case study are as follows:

—  the role and effectiveness of the Government Office for Science and the Chief Scientific Advisers in providing engineering advice across Government and communicating issues relating to engineering in Government to the public;

—  the use of engineering advice in Government policy making and project delivery, including examples of policy decisions or project delivery that have been or will be taken with or without engineering advice;

—  how Government identifies the need for engineering advice and how Government sources engineering advice;

—  the status of engineering and engineers within the civil service, including assessments of the effectiveness of the science and engineering fast streams, and the role and career prospects of specialist engineers in the civil service;

—  the role and effectiveness of professional engineers and the engineering community in promoting engineering and providing engineering advice to Government and the civil service; and

—  international examples of how engineers and engineering advice are imbedded in Government.

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Prepared 27 March 2009