Meeting Pepper the robot

I enjoyed the chance to visit the Robots exhibition at the Science Museum in London, as part of an event to launch the Science and Technology Committee's new Science Communication and Engagement report.

Pepper is a companion robot with the ability to perceive human emotions and adapt his mood to people he engages with.

Built by Japanese-owned SoftBank Robotics, Pepper is being used for customer relations in over 140 SoftBank Mobile stores in Japan, with other stores set to follow.

I was so impressed with the exhibition and how the Science Museum is helping to inform the public perception of robots. I especially hope that young people with a passion for science and technology see how robotics can be incredibly exciting and also useful: we should see more and more robots like Pepper in our daily lives in future, with what was once science fiction becoming reality in shops, businesses, and homes.

Find out more about the Robots exhibition at the Science Museum here.

Reaction to triggering of Article 50

Yesterday was a momentous day in the history of our country, with the Prime Minister giving EU Council President Donald Tusk formal notification of our decision to leave the European Union.

Following a well-informed and hard-fought referendum, the British public voted to leave the EU in larger numbers than we have seen in any recent General Election.

I am pleased that this decision has been respected and it is now crucial that the Government focuses its efforts on obtaining the best possible deal in the exit negotiations.

By no means will it be an easy process, however I am confident that both sides will want a mutual agreement and for the UK to leave on good terms.

In my role as Chair of Parliament's cross-party Science and Technology Committee, I have already called upon the Government to prioritise the interests of science, particularly around the future of EU nationals in the UK.

I hope that both sides will be able to provide assurances to all our citizens--both EU nations in the UK and UK nationals residing in other EU countries.

I am confident this is achievable and I look forward to contributing to the ongoing debate on our relationship with the EU in Parliament.

Science priorities for Brexit

Ahead of the Prime Minister triggering Article 50 and beginning our country's formal exit from the European Union, I launched the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee's 'Science priorities for Brexit' pamphlet which was informed by advice and evidence from the research and innovation community.

I believe that the strength of UK research and innovation can be maintained and grown with the right mix of skilled people, investment, networks and collaboration, and regulation and trade.

The pamphlet details our Committee's position on these various issues and includes immediate actions that are required, what the priorities for the Brexit negotiation should be, and also UK domestic policy requirements.

Read the full version of my statement on the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee website here.

Supporting female engineers on International Women's Day

This International Women's Day I'm supporting The Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) #9percentisnotenough campaign to boost the number of female engineers.

Through its Young Woman Engineer of the Year aware, the IET is highlighting the work of young female engineers and encouraging more girls to engaging in the crucial STEM subjects.

Find out more about the campaign here.

Welcoming focus on science in the Industrial Strategy

I spoke in the House of Commons expressing my support for the importance being placed on science investment and skills development in the Government's new industrial strategy 'green paper.'

I asked the Secretary of State for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to seize the moment and make the case across Government for increasing spending on science and technology to 3% of GDP. Many of our competitor nations across the world have made a similar commitment and Parliament's cross-party Science and Technology Committee, which I chair, has called for this to happen in our country.

I also urged the Minister to publish the Government's digital strategy, which again forms an important part of the new industrial strategy.

Watch a recording of my exchange with the Minister below:

Visiting Oxford Brookes University's Cognitive Robotics Laboratory

I was delighted to be invited to visit Oxford Brookes University in my capacity as chair of Parliament's cross-party Science and Technology Committee.

Oxford Brookes is a world-leader in robotics research and I enjoyed learning more about the work that takes place in its Cognitive Robotics Laboratory.

I also had the chance to see the Formula 1 collection at the university, which is situated right at the heart of the UK motorsport valley.

Read more about my visit here.

My response to the Autumn Statement

Today I welcomed the Chancellor's Autumn Statement and particularly his commitment to spend an additional £2 billion a year on Research and Development (R&D).

This extra funding will go a long way towards ensuring that our country continues to grow as a hub for science, technology and innovation.

To realise our potential and deliver on our ambitions we must also ensure that Britain remains a great place for the best talent in these fields to locate itself.

On the whole I was pleased that the Autumn Statement provides a stable economic platform for the years ahead, setting out how the Government will support the economy as Britain leaves the EU and begins a new chapter in our country's history.

You can watch a recording of my exchange with the Chancellor via Parliamentlive.tv below: