Roland Jackson, chief executive of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, suggests that "the public's views are based on a deeper set of values" ("Research: society has right to say 'no'", November 16).
How does he know these are "deeper"? Does he have any scientific evidence for this? Did he not just mean "different", but thought that somehow "deeper" might add greater profundity and meaning to the public's views?
With such representatives speaking up for science in society, science is poorly served indeed. No wonder the Science Minister also finds that the public "won't always agree with you". Maybe, in his search for consensus, he hasn't really tried to win any argument?
Bill Durodie , Senior lecturer in risk and corporate security, Cranfield University.