Date posted:
Tue 10 November 2020
Forresters is celebrating World Science Day as it helps clients to push ahead with innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The leading firm of patent and trade mark attorneys has seen an increase in innovation during the lockdown as new companies are created and others diversify in response to the crisis. Today (November 10th) World Science Day for Peace and Development will highlight the critical role of science in addressing global challenges.
Alex Beattie, partner at Forresters, said they are proud to be working with scientists that are creating ground-breaking technologies to help in the fight against Covid-19. He is part of the technology and engineering practice group at Forresters, which assists clients in bringing new technology to patients and other types of consumers.
“World Science Day is a chance for us focus on the cutting-edge work being done by our scientists, that is helping to make a difference to millions of people around the world,” said Alex. “Since March around 60% of the enquiries we’ve had are from people that have created something that is related to Covid-19. Every day we are seeing how our scientists are taking us a step forward in our battle with the pandemic.
“It’s also a chance to reflect on how science and research has made many aspects of our response to the virus possible. If the pandemic had struck only one generation ago, it would not have been possible for nearly so many people to work from home effectively, or to communicate with colleagues and loved ones face-to-face other than through videoconferencing services like Zoom. While the emergence of Covid-19 has made life hard for many, without recent advancements the situation would have been far worse.”
Just this week science has dominated the news after it was revealed that the UK may have access to a Covid-19 vaccine later this year. Several vaccines are in clinical trials, the first of which to be reported has been tested on more than 43,500 people across six countries, with initial results showing it to be 90% effective in inducing immunity to coronavirus.
Alex stated: “The fastest that a vaccine had ever been produced before is four years, for the vaccine against mumps. Thanks to improved technology and global collaboration, we seem to be set to produce a vaccine against Covid-19 in one year. A successful vaccine would be a huge step in a return to normality, boosting economies around the world and saving many thousands of lives. It is fantastic to see how science is moving us forward at a rapid rate in the fight against Covid-19.”
He added: “Of course, Covid-19 is not the only virus that affects humans, and Forresters are proud to assist our clients seek protection for vaccines against a wide range of diseases, including influenza, rotavirus and HIV.”
Celebrated every November 10th, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the important role that science plays in our society. It also looks at the need to engage the public in debates on emerging scientific issues and the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.