Dr Evan Harris MPShadow minister for science

Measures to boost skills, science and infrastructure have been outlined today by the chancellor George Osborne.

Prime minister Boris Johnson is to establish and chair a new National Science and Technology Council, aiming to accelerate science and research in the UK.

The government today published its funding plans for science and research from 2011/12 to 2014/15, with £4.6bn per annum ring-fenced during the period of the spending review.

Three projects are to receive £290m in UK government funding in a drive for innovation, growth and job creation in the UK’s high performing science sector.

Durham University spin-out Durham Graphene Science is preparing to produce graphene on a large scale after winning a sizeable investment from Northstar Ventures.

Timandra Harkness’s engineering-based comedy show is offering a unique perspective on human evolution. Stuart Nathan reports