Germany's Angela Merkel receives top British science award - Summary

London - German Chancellor Angela Merkel Thursday received a top science award for her role in promoting "science-based policy making" on international issues such as climate change.

Merkel, 55, who was a physicist before she became a politician, was awarded the King Charles II Medal by the Royal Society, Britain's renowned science academy, during a visit to London.

She had earlier held talks on world politics, finance and the economy with Prime Minister Gordon Brown at Chequers, the country seat of British prime ministers in Buckinghamshire, north-west of London.

The meeting came just days before Brown was expected to call a general election likely to be held on May 6.

Brown said the prestigious award given to Merkel showed the esteem in which she was held in Britain and around the world.

Martin Rees, the President of the Royal Society, said that Merkel was being recognized for her "extraordinary contributions to the promotion of science and science in society" on the European and world stage, and in encouraging science based policy-making over issues such as climate change.

"As a professional scientist herself, Chancellor Merkel has an added insight into the benefits that science and science based decision-making have for the economy and the lives of people," said Rees.

Merkel is the third recipient of the prestigious medal following Emperor Akihito of Japan in 1998 and President APJ Abdul Kalam of India in 2007.

Brown said he and Merkel had discussed European affairs, world trade issues and financial reform as well as the situations in the Middle East and Iran.

Last week, Merkel openly criticized Brown for Britain's reluctance to agree to tougher European rules on the regulation of speculative hedge funds.

But Thursday, Merkel said Britain and Germany could make an "important contribution" within Europe by tackling unresolved issues "together."

Source: Earth Times.
Link: http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/316781,germanys-angela-merkel-receives-top-british-science-award--summary.html.