It started with a tweet. When Lord Drayson was confirmed as Minister for Science and Defence Procurement in June, scientists immediately voiced their concerns via the social-networking website, Twitter.

"Anyone else worried that science and defence are now inextricably politically linked, with Lord Drayson doing both jobs?" wrote "Skyponderer", aka Colin Stuart, a freelance astronomer at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. Lord Drayson, at the time competing in the Le Mans' 24-hour motor-racing event, responded to the posting and a lively debate ensued.

Some tweeters had ethical concerns about the link between science and defence, while others thought science had not been given a high enough priority in the Cabinet.

After Times ÖйúAƬ's intervention, the debate took the form of head-to-head opinion pieces by Lord Drayson and Mr Stuart in the magazine.

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After Mr Stuart's piece, the minister used Twitter to ask: what next? He suggested a live debate, and Times ÖйúAƬ was happy to oblige. "Blue skies ahead: the prospects for UK science" will see Lord Drayson and a panel of up-and-coming researchers and science communicators discuss the issues under the chairmanship of Brian Cox, particle physicist at the University of Manchester.

Tickets are free but limited in number, although the event will be streamed live online on our website, www.timeshighereducation.co.uk. Times ÖйúAƬ will also report the event live on Twitter, hash-tag #sciblue (@timeshighered).

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phil.baty@tsleducation.com

• The event will take place on 30 November at the Wellcome Collection in London. See