The 2012 Sir Peter Kent Lecture, the Society's annual flagship
lecture on science policy matters, was given by Andrew Miller MP, Chair
of the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee at the Geological Society on 15 March. Mr
Miller explored how key decisions are made in Parliament, drawing on his
experience of events where Geological Society members have been among
key experts called upon to give evidence – including the 2010 volcanic
ash cloud, the 2011 Japanese tsunami, and shale gas.
Speaker
Andrew Miller was educated in Malta, Hampshire and at the London
School of Economics, and holds a Diploma in Industrial Relations. His
began his career as a geology technician at Portsmouth Polytechnic,
where he developed an XRF and XRD laboratory. He then moved into
industrial relations and was an official for the MSF Union, representing
scientists and engineers. He was elected to Parliament in 1992 where as
Labour Member of Parliament for Ellesmere Port and Neston, Mr Miller
represents almost 70,000 electors.