Arkwright's Mill in Cromford, Derbyshire, is the cradle of the factory system in Britain and arguably the birthplace of the industrial revolution in Europe.
Sir Richard Arkwright, a barber and wig maker by training, left Lancashire in 1770 to set up in the Peak District because he wanted to develop his invention, the water frame, away from prying eyes. The foundations of the barracks where he kept a small militia to keep Luddites at bay can still be seen at the centre of his glowering five-storey mills.
Unfortunately modern-day Luddites lurk everywhere in Britain where the science community struggles to be heard by an establishment that inclines, through its own education, towards the arts and humanities.
Britain's Royal Society recently warned that impending cuts to university research departments could irreversibly damage British science. Cuts of 20 per cent to the £8 billion (Dh45.32bn) funding regime would mean "game over", the Royal Society said. The UK has a success story to tell in science and real achievements on which to build. The country's science base is the most productive among the world's leading economies and its quality is second only to the US.
Science has been an important factor in productivity growth and has underpinned the UK's economic prosperity over the past two decades. Some of the world's major innovations were created in the UK, including the World Wide Web. Apple's iPod was the creation of a British-educated designer.
Groundbreaking research, backed by public funding, in nano technology, lasers, stem cells and nuclear fission continues here and the technologies that will be needed to fight climate change - carbon capture and storage, photovoltaics and fuel cells - could easily come from a British lab or from a British-based company.
Yet, even after recent investment, UK public science spending remains relatively low by international standards. While most major economies have responded to the global recession by boosting their investments in science, Britain is heading down a different track.
Perhaps the government believes industry can pay for science directly. After all, the UK's private sector invests £16bn in research and development each year, double the amount the government puts in.
But much of the private-sector money is invested in research and development in Britain because of, not instead of, the publicly funded research base.
In an age of globalisation, investment will be made only in those countries where the intellectual, financial and fiscal environment is attractive.
In the short term, funding cuts will mean research graduates will lose their positions. The depth and quality of research will suffer. Longer term, the perception that science is in decline will put youngsters off entering that field or others such as science, engineering, technology and mathematics. The most talented individuals will probably head for other countries, notably the US, which has long been a haven for British-born talent.
According to the Institute of Physics, the UK produces only 2,500 physics graduates a year. Slashing funding for science cannot help but damage efforts to persuade bright children that there are more exciting things to do than sit on a trading desk each day, no matter how tempting the bonus.
If the politicians are serious about rebalancing the UK's economy away from financial services and towards high-tech engineering and manufacturing, the research departments of our leading universities must be protected from the worst-case budget cuts of up to a third.
The Canadian experience in implementing severe public spending cuts from 1994 to 1999 is frequently cited as a reference point for the UK's dilemma. But in Canada it was recognised that publicly funded science was necessary to stimulate growth. Science investments were squeezed less than other areas of public spending and were reinvested in more quickly, once finances improved, to the extent that the Canadian Foundation for Innovation was set up in 1997 and 2,000 new research chairs were created in 1999.
Entrepreneurs such as Arkwright hid their inventions from the state for as long as they dared. Now scientists depend on the state, if not directly, through the environment public funding can create. The risk of slash and burn is that the green shoots would also be snuffed out.
business@thenational.ae
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
'Laal Kaptaan'
Director: Navdeep Singh
Stars: Saif Ali Khan, Manav Vij, Deepak Dobriyal, Zoya Hussain
Rating: 2/5
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
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Game Changer
Director: Shankar
Stars: Ram Charan, Kiara Advani, Anjali, S J Suryah, Jayaram
Rating: 2/5
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
THE SPECS
Engine: 3-litre V6
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 424hp
Torque: 580 Nm
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Fire and Fury
By Michael Wolff,
Henry Holt
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
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The specs: 2018 BMW R nineT Scrambler
Price, base / as tested Dh57,000
Engine 1,170cc air/oil-cooled flat twin four-stroke engine
Transmission Six-speed gearbox
Power 110hp) @ 7,750rpm
Torque 116Nm @ 6,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined 5.3L / 100km
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
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More coverage from the Future Forum
THE SPECS
Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine
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SPECS
Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
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States of Passion by Nihad Sirees,
Pushkin Press
The specs: Lamborghini Aventador SVJ
Price, base: Dh1,731,672
Engine: 6.5-litre V12
Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 770hp @ 8,500rpm
Torque: 720Nm @ 6,750rpm
Fuel economy: 19.6L / 100km
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
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SPECS
Mini John Cooper Works Clubman and Mini John Cooper Works Countryman
Engine: two-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 306hp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: JCW Clubman, Dh220,500; JCW Countryman, Dh225,500
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The specs: 2019 Chevrolet Bolt EV
Price, base: Dh138,000 (estimate)
Engine: 60kWh battery
Transmission: Single-speed Electronic Precision Shift
Power: 204hp
Torque: 360Nm
Range: 520km (claimed)
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Total funding: Self funded
The finalists
Player of the Century, 2001-2020: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), Ronaldinho
Coach of the Century, 2001-2020: Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Jose Mourinho (Tottenham Hotspur), Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid), Sir Alex Ferguson
Club of the Century, 2001-2020: Al Ahly (Egypt), Bayern Munich (Germany), Barcelona (Spain), Real Madrid (Spain)
Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich)
Club of the Year: Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Real Madrid
Coach of the Year: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta), Hans-Dieter Flick (Bayern Munich), Jurgen Klopp (Liverpool)
Agent of the Century, 2001-2020: Giovanni Branchini, Jorge Mendes, Mino Raiola
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
FIXTURES
Nov 04-05: v Western Australia XI, Perth
Nov 08-11: v Cricket Australia XI, Adelaide
Nov 15-18 v Cricket Australia XI, Townsville (d/n)
Nov 23-27: 1ST TEST v AUSTRALIA, Brisbane
Dec 02-06: 2ND TEST v AUSTRALIA, Adelaide (d/n)
Dec 09-10: v Cricket Australia XI, Perth
Dec 14-18: 3RD TEST v AUSTRALIA, Perth
Dec 26-30 4TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Melbourne
Jan 04-08: 5TH TEST v AUSTRALIA, Sydney
Note: d/n = day/night
