The survey found that, while the world's young people have a broadly positive view of the UK, they are more likely to respect our country for its reliability, orderliness and stability than to be excited by it as an exemplar of modernity and innovation. The UK is rated well for innovation in SET, but behind the USA, Japan and Germany. What is holding our reputation back is not so much the quality of our research, but our perceived lack of interest in translating it into commercial applications.
Cloning is a case in point.
It's a very visible British achievement, tremendous science, but it also seems rather removed from everyday life. The way forward for UK SET appears to be showing how the excellence of our fundamental research converts into everyday uses and means better products and a higher quality of life for the world's young people. The UK scores less well for creativity and innovation in the arts. The data show that young people essentially conceive 'the arts' as popular music and film. Some, especially in Europe, show an awareness of how artistically creative and innovative the UK can be, but the image of the UK as traditional and conservative is so strong that they tend to dismiss these flashes of innovation as departures from the norm rather than the norm itself.