The public is going to have to work harder at understanding developments in science, according to Princess Anne, who, as president of the British Association, was a keynote speaker at a session entitled "Shaping the Future Together".
The princess yesterday touched on a range of controversial issues, including cloning, genetically-modified foods and the use of laboratory animals. She was critical of some media coverage, which had served to confuse rather than inform the public.
She said that the public was going to have to work slightly harder to come to grips with developments in science. The forthcoming UK parliamentary debate on cloning would make things difficult for the politicians, she said, but it was for the individual to make up his/her own mind.
"As it stands, I don't think the science is well enough established." It also raised the question: "Is what is possible also necessary?"