Dec. 14, 2025 \/Mpelembe Media\/ \u2014 The\u00a0 FST journal, Volume 24, Number 2, published by the\u00a0Foundation for Science and Technology in December 2025\u00a0 focuses on several critical topics in\u00a0science and technology policy\u00a0within the UK and globally. Key themes include an\u00a0event report on R&D collaboration in Africa, emphasizing shared growth and mutual benefit, and an\u00a0in-depth conversation with Dame Ottoline Leyser, the recently retired Chief Executive of UKRI, discussing the future and function of UK research councils and funding.
\nAdditionally, the journal features discussions on\u00a0decarbonising the built environment\u00a0by focusing on the role of people in successful retrofit schemes and the\u00a0future of exascale computing\u00a0in the UK, linking it to the accelerating paradigms of AI and quantum technologies. Finally, a guest editorial from\u00a0Jim Skea of the IPCC\u00a0outlines the work of the panel in providing scientific counsel for climate action.<\/p>\n
The complex nature of societal challenges like decarbonisation and health crises demands interdisciplinary approaches because these issues cannot be addressed solely through one field of expertise.<\/p>\n
Essential interdisciplinary approaches highlighted in the sources include:<\/p>\n
Socio-Technical Integration: Decarbonising the built environment, for example, is primarily defined as a socio-technical challenge, with people at the centre. Addressing this requires combining social science and engineering to understand both the technical steps and human factors like who pays, how delivery occurs, and how people are persuaded to allow access to their homes for work.<\/p>\n
Systems Thinking and Layering: Effective solutions require integrating previously compartmentalised professions, such as those involved in ventilation, fire design, and structural integrity, to establish a system of integration. A better approach involves layering systems over one another, addressing not just physical systems but also social factors like crime, poverty, wellbeing, and health, in a way that fosters development without conflict.<\/p>\n
Whole Energy Systems Approach: Delivering a clean, resilient energy future, such as achieving net zero, requires adopting a whole systems approach. This involves collaboration across the research and innovation (R&I) ecosystem, specifically engaging academia, industry, and government to align public investments with national priorities.<\/p>\n
Governance as a Socio-Technical System: In large-scale, high-integrity projects like fusion energy, success relies on governance being structured as a socio-technical system built for scale, learning, and credibility. This orchestration extends across disciplines, requiring collaboration between scientists, engineers, project managers, and policy specialists. The governance framework is intended to create the architecture that enables agility without compromising integrity.<\/p>\n
Policy-Informed Research and Collaboration: Tackling global challenges such as climate change, food security, and health crises requires leveraging research, innovation, and cross-border partnerships. In the context of life sciences, discussions bring together expert panels from government, industry, and academia to discuss UK strengths, weaknesses, and challenges.<\/p>\n
Medical Research and Biotech Partnerships: Addressing the disproportionate share of the global disease burden, particularly infectious diseases, requires collaboration that combines the UK’s deep expertise in medical research and biotech to co-create solutions.<\/p>\n
Integrating Research with Policy: Institutions focusing on interdisciplinary, mission-driven challenges ensure that PhD students understand the policy implications of their research projects and know how to work with policy colleagues. The Foundation for Science and Technology itself facilitates debate between parliament, Whitehall Departments, the Devolved Administrations, and the business and research communities on issues with a science, engineering, or medical element.<\/p>\n
In general, the sources emphasize that the power of individual disciplines is massively amplified if they can easily work together. Successful research and innovation bodies, like UKRI, rely on mechanisms that allow for collaboration between strong disciplinary anchors and sector-focused councils (such as Innovate UK and Research England) to weave together the full necessary “tapestry” of expertise.<\/p>\n
The Foundation for Science and Technology is chaired by The Rt Hon the Lord Willetts FRS. It is also noted that Mr Costigan, who has served as Chief Executive for seven years, will be moving on, remaining in the role until March 2026, with interviews for his successor currently underway