New European Research Head

The Europe Union's new commissioner for research and innovation will be Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, according to ScienceInsider. Geoghegan-Quinn has no science or science policy background, but Frank Gannon, who is the director-general of Science Foundation Ireland and a former European Molecular Biology Organization chief, says that doesn't mean she won't do well. "I think she will bring a lot of qualities to the job," he says. According to the Irish Times, Taoiseach Brian Cowen says that he is "delighted to announce today that we have secured the hugely important research and innovation portfolio, which resonates very strongly with our own Smart Economy agenda."