AbstractThe 14th annual Magnus Pyke-Science Policy Foundation Lecture given by the Earl of Bessborough, at RTZ house, St James's Square, London on Tuesday, 31 October 1978.Lord Bessborough was designated a Member of the European Parliament in December 1972, appointed a Deputy Leader of the Conservative Parliament, and elected its first British Vice-President. He has been especially active in the Budgets, Energy and Research Committees as rapporteur on a wide range of European cooperative projects in energy, aerospace, shipbuilding, coal promotion and data processing. He was, also, Chairman of the Committee concerned with problems arising from the dual mandate, and Deputy Chairman of that which drew up a preliminary draft statute for directly elected Members. He is a former Minister for Science and Technology, an Officer of the Order of St. John and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. He has travelled widely round the world on Government and Parliamentary business. He is a member of the Advisory Council of the Science Policy Foundation.The Foundation Silver Medal was presented to Lord Ashby, FRS, former chairman of the Foundation by Sir Hermann Bondi, FRS, President of the Foundation, at the Annual Lecture.