From Professor G. Buckton, FRPharmS, and others
SIR,—We have just witnessed the best science programme in the history
of the British Pharmaceutical Conference. The science content of the conference
was at a very low ebb five years ago and has been making leaps towards recovery
from Scarborough to Eastbourne and Cardiff. This year in Birmingham we had a
conference that will probably not be bettered anywhere during this millennium
year. We are most grateful for the endeavours of the Conference Science Chairman
(Professor Martyn Davies) for his enthusiasm and attention to detail that made
the event so successful. We now have a world-class event that is in keeping
with the standing of the United Kingdom as world leaders in pharmaceutical science.
Inevitably, many people from the scientific community have contributed to the
revival and they have been, or will be, acknowledged for their efforts elsewhere.
However, we would like to put on record that we owe much to the support of Mrs
Christine Glover (President of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society). Over the past
five years she has argued that science must return to the Conference and she
has regularly been a strong voice in support of the cause of science within
the profession.
Mrs Glover has been instrumental, although not alone, in encouraging changes
in attitudes within the Council. This has allowed the Pharmaceutical Sciences
Group to flourish and develop in such a way that it was possible to bring about
a merger with the UK Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists at the end of
last year. The merged body is known as the Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists
and it represents the interests of all who work in the pharmaceutical sciences.
Mrs Glover has done a great job in overseeing the entire profession and we applaud
her for this.
Graham Buckton (chairman),
Duncan Craig, John Clements,
Bill Dawson, Chris Doherty,
Tony Moffat, Colin Pouton,
Howard Stevens, Carol
Thomson, David Thurston
Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists