The month ahead in science

The global fight against biodiversity loss will get a boost with the creation of a UN panel. Environment ministers meeting in Nairobi from 21st February are expected to endorse the nascent Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Modelled on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a key catalyst for collective action on global warming, IPBES aims to do the same for species and habitat preservation: gathering experts to produce reports that compel politicians to universally binding action.

The American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting, opening in Washington DC on 17th February, should set the agenda for months to come. Scientists often unveil major developments here, and John Holdren, President Obama’s science adviser, is among the speakers on this year’s theme: science without borders.

Would Darwin get a job in science today? And why don’t we have polymaths anymore? Such questions will be pondered by science historian Joe Cain and biologist Anjali Goswami at UCL on 1st February, who will discuss whether science thrives better under the direction of rich gentleman naturalists like Darwin, or within the confines of research council criteria.

The NHS launches its annual report on obesity, physical activity and diet on 24th February. Is the austerity drive stretching to our dinner plates? Given the statistics are released at 9.30am, many of us may be too busy munching our morning fry-ups to find out.