Debate challenges basis of the research industry

According to Research Live, “despite a good-natured debate in Westminster, the stakes are high for future of the research sector”. The motion for the debate, organised by the MRS in partnership with The Debating Group, was that “We no longer need to speak directly to people to understand them”.

On 27 January, this contentious idea was fought out under the chairmanship of MRS president Baroness Deborah Mattinson at Portcullis House, where it was proposed by Ben Warner and Kyri Bagdades and opposed by Sir John Curtice and Bridget Williams.

The motion was ultimately defeated by a clear majority. A full report on this “adversarial [but] entirely civilised and good natured” debate can be found on the Research Live site.