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Oct 2012
Sep 2012
- 18 Sep 12
Astronomy Advisory Panel public meeting at UCL (pm) - for details see
pdf
- 17 Sep 12
Astronomy Forum pdf. Open Access ppt, Future of UKIRT pdf, STFC Update ppt, UKSA update ppt
- 14 Sep 12Written answers to recent UK Space Agency spending by
David Willetts MP including expenditure on ExoMars (€ 165M).
- 14 Sep 12
Developing
the Roadmap for Solar System Science announcement from Solar System Advisory Panel
- 10 Sep 12
Solar System Advisory Panel Town Meeting
from 10:30am - for details see pdf
- 5 Sep 12 Astronomy Advisory Panel questionnaire deadline
Aug 2012
Jul 2012
- 31 Jul 12
News from Science Board from July 2012. Prof Matt
Griffin to chair Science Board from next meeting (completion
of Prof Tony Ryan's tenure)
- 25 Jul 12
STFC Annual Report 2011-12 - pdf. 5% cut in astronomy research grants budget from
£40.77m (2011) to £38.83m (2012), while particle physics
budget increases by 4% from £38.03m (2011) to £39.73m (2012).
Major reduction in astronomy grant budget with respect to 2010-11 Annual
Report (£56.12m in 2011) due to transfer of space science grants
to UKSA.
- 23 Jul 12
STFC Advisory Panel membership details announced,
incl. chairs of Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Astrophysics Adv. Panels,
Phil Burrows (PPAP), Martin Freer (NPAP) and Jim Hinton (PAAP)
- 19 Jul 12
Annual Report 2011-12 from UK Space Agency
Jun 2012
- 28 Jun 12
Prof Paul O'Brien (Astronomy Adv. Panel) and Prof Monica Grady (Solar System
Adv. Panel)
announced as chairs of Advisory Panels to STFC's Science Board. Full
membership details to be announced shortly, with first meetings expected
in July.
- 28 Jun 12
STFC have release a full ranked list of individual projects from the 2011
Astronomy Grants Panel round. Recommendations (whether funded or not)
from 2012 AGP round anticipated in October.
- 3 Jun 12 It's not all black, but it is blue for astronomers
news item from Times Higher Ed on closure of UKIRT and JCMT
May 2012
- 31 May 12
STFC announce outcome of the
review of future of UK island sites, Isaac Newton Group (ING),
responsible for INT, WHT, extended to Mar 2015+. Joint Astronomy
Centre (JAC), responsible for JCMT and UKIRT, extended to Sep 2014 and
Sep 2013 resp. after which support will be withdrawn.
- 31 May 12 Response from Royal Astronomical Society,
comment from Institute of Physics,
statement from
UKIRT Board and UK astronomers lament telescope phase-outs from
Nature Blogs
- 30 May 12 Space science rides out the storm item on UK Space Agency from Research
Fortnight incl. Ken Pounds: "For universities, it has not been a positive move in the sense that
we have two hurdles to overcome to carry out a successful space mission. We've got to get
support from the UKSA to build something and then from the STFC to actually operate it. That's not
optimal, I think"
- 30 May 12 After the storm interview with Prof Tony Barrett about Science for the Future
campaign and EPSRC policy in Research Fortnight
- 17 May 12
Fundamental elements opinion piece from Prof Keith Mason in Times Higher Ed
- 17 May 12
Let's keep
UK science world leading response from EPSRC Council to Roberts et al. letter to Telegraph.
- 16 May 12
Happy Birthday, RCUK news item and Question
time editorial from Research Fortnight on Triennial Review of Research Councils in 2012-13
- 15 May 12 Science funding review letter to The Telegraph
from Roberts et al. (9 Nobel laureates) in support of new Science for the Future campaign,
protesting against EPSRC Shaping Capability policy, reported in Nobel prize winners accuse science council of 'misusing
pubic funds' from The Telegraph, and Researchers protest over 'death of British science' from BBC Science News. See also Working together to keep UK science world leading statement from EPSRC, and CaSE calls for focus on research funding from
CaSE.
Apr 2012
- 7 Apr 12
STFC prepares for early spending review interview with Prof John Womersley in
Research Fortnight incl. We need to be aware of the possibly accelerating timetable for
the spending review. That has not been officially announced yet, but I've told the science
board and our own executive board to plan on that basis.. We had thought that we had a couple
of years before we would need to apply the results of this review - it may now
be that we need to be presenting our case for the next spending round about one year from
now.
- 4 Apr 12
Programmatic Review 2012-2013 from STFC
Mar 2012
- 29 Mar 12
National Astronomy Meeting STFC Community Session. Presentation
from CEO Prof John Womersley incl.
- Senior STFC Management Search for permament Executive
Director of Programmes to succeed acting director Janet Seed
- Advisory Panels Appointment process underway in appointing
members to astronomy and solar system Advisory Panels, to provide input
to 2013 Programmatic Review
- AGP 2012 Astronomy Grants Panel round under review. 24
proposals incl. 2 consortia and 2 requests for bridging funding.
- ETCC Review of PhD studentship quota allocations
algorithm underway. 13 Rutherford Fellowships offered to candidates.
- Research Councils Next Gov't Spending Review may be
brought forward to 2013. Also, 'Triennial Review of RCUK' may take place
in Spring 2013.
- 28 Mar 12 Shaping capability: EPSRC's research portfolio from
EPSRC, and Research council sacrifices basic research on the altar of
commerce view from Prof Michael Duff in Guardian Science Blog
Feb 2012
- 27 Feb 12 A new senior management structure for STFC
- 27 Feb 12 Deadline for nominations to STFC's cttes incl.
Science Board (4 vacancies), Astronomy and Space Science Advisory Panels
(6-8 vacancies for each).
- 23 Feb 12 a href="http://bit.ly/A4CKVy" target="_top">Written evidence
for House of Lords Science and Technology ctte inquiry into "Higher
Education in STEM subjects" including RAS and IOP submissions.
- 22 Feb 12 a href="http://www.stfc.ac.uk/About%20STFC/38497.aspx"
target="_top">News from Science Board from 9-11 Feb 12 meeting.
- 20 Feb 12
Bibliometric evaluation and international benckmarking of
the UK's physics research (pdf) report from IOP, incl UK physics research surpases the US in average quality
ranking news item.
- 18 Feb 12 STFC PhD studentship allocations for 2012 and 2013 released. 220
studentships per annum. 2011/12 census statistics for
astronomy/astrophysics: 603 supervisors (602 in 2010/11) and 364 postdocs
incl. UKSA funded (408 in 2010/11).
- 3 Feb 12 Formal announcement of terms of reference for Science Board sub-group considering future UK role
in ING and JAC.
Jan 2012
Dec 2011
- 19 Dec 11 Astronomy Forum at RAS. Agenda items: (i) Update on political activity;
(ii) STFC Consolidated Grants (pdf, Prof Andy Lawrence, AGP Chair); (iii)
STFC Forward Plans and CSR 2014 Preparation (pdf, Prof John Womersley, STFC CEO and Dr Colin Vincent,
STFC); (iv) HEFCE: Future of
Strategically Important and Vulnerable subjects framework (ppt, Chris Millward, HEFCE)
- 15 Dec 11 EPSRC heads see no contradiction in peer review policy,
but critics remain puzzled from Times Higher Ed
- 12 Dec 11 Call for nominations to STFC's Astronomy Grants Panel.
Nominations from candidates from obserational and theoretical astronomy,
solar, planetary studies and instrumentation/technology/data management.
1 page nominations to Kim Burchell, deadline 3 Jan 2012.
- 08 Dec 11 Astronomy Grants Panel 2011 report by Chairman to
Community. 77 PDRA awards (227 requested).
- 08 Dec 11 News from Science Board from 10-11 Nov 11
meeting.
- 02 Dec 11 Advisory Board structure consultation
from STFC. 7 Advisory Panels to report to Science Board: Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Astrophysics,
Astronomy, Solar System Science, Physical Sciences and Engineering, Life
Sciences and Soft Materials. Details in Advisory Board Report (pdf).
- 01 Dec 11 Fanfare for the common front feature on new STFC Chief Executive Prof John Womersley in Times Higher Ed
Nov 2011
Oct 2011
Sep 2011
- 26 Sep 11 Vagueness reigns as UK science agency defends cuts
report on 26 Sep 2011 EPSRC Physical Sciences Town Meeting from
Nature News - see Bourne chart `Quality vs Importance' for Physical Sciences
(obtained under FoI)
- 22 Sep 11 Letter (pdf) to EPSRC's Chief
Executive from Presidents of Royal Society, IoP, CMS, RAEng, RSC and IET requesting a
pause in their controversial 'Shaping Capability' strategy.
- 20 Sep 11 Letter (pdf) to Prime Minister from senior
mathematicians
protesting against new EPSRC fellowship rules. See UK mathematicians protest fellowship cuts from
Nature News blog and Mathematicians warn of damage to UK from maths funding
cuts from The Guardian
- 14 Sep 11 Evidence Session for Science and Technology Committee
Spending Round 2010 inquiry, with Prof David Delpy (EPSRC), Prof
Keith Mason (STFC), Prof Rick Rylance (AHRC), Prof Sir John Savill (MRC),
Dr Steven Wilson (NERC), plus David Willetts - watch via Parliament tv or read transcript. The 2010 Spending Review
RCUK Allocation Letters
from BIS to Research Council CEO's have now been released.
- 13 Sep 11 Astronomy Forum at RAS - Minutes now available pdf. Agenda items include updates on political
engagement, JWST, UKSA (pdf from Chris Castelli) and STFC (pdf from Prof John
Womersley), including new advisory panels and quotas for Rutherford
Fellowships (pdf from Prof John Peacock).
- 9 Sep 11 Deadline for RAS Fellowships 2012 applications is 1 Nov 2011.
- 9 Sep 11 Final Report of the RAS "Demographics and Research
Interests of the UK Astronomy and Geophysics Communities 2010" survey.
- 7 Sep 11 'We should have avoided the word "consultation"' news
item in Research Fortnight quoting EPSRC Chief Exec David Delpy
- 2 Sep 11 Arrangements for sharing responsibility for the
space science programme between the STFC (early R&D, studentships,
fellowships, scientific exploitation( and the UK Space Agency (ESA
subscriptions, Mission specific instruments, PLS, Aurora)
Aug 2011
Jul 2011
Jun 2011
May 2011
- 24 May 11 Update on STFC's e-Val system: "
We will be conducting a review and lessons learned exercise with the goal
of making modifications to the system to take
account of this year's experience."
- 20 May 11 Technology staff at risk as STFC cuts `up to' 170 jobs
from Research Fortnight Today (requires subscription) including
" Areas lined up by the STFC for cuts include senior management
positions in the particle physics department, some posts in accelerator
R&D, administrative personnel and technological support."
- 19 May 11 STFC chief criticised on space-saving cuts from Times
Higher Ed
- 18 May 11 MPs back plea for access to northern skies from
Research Fortnight (requires
subscription)
- 18 May 11 STFC proposes concentrated funding based on PhD completion
times from Research
Fortnight (requries subscription)
- 17 May 11 National Audit Office investigating shared services
centre from Research Fortnight Today - see details from NAO
- 17 May 11 Transcript of today's Liaison Ctte evidence session with
Rt Hon David Cameron MP, including Q23-27 from Science and Technology
Ctte chair Andrew Miller MP
- 13 May 11 Astronomy and Particle Physics report from
Commons Science and Technology Ctte (pdf version). See also Ctte press release, STFC response to Science and Technology Committee report on
Astronomy and Particle Physics from STFC,
UK astronomy will be hit hard by budget cuts: RAS President
backs Select Committee report from RAS and "Banker's bonus" to save particle physics and astronomy
from IOP Blog
- 13 May 11 Physics cuts will damage UK competitiveness, MPs warn
from BBC Science News, MPs criticise severe cuts to astronomy and particle physics
funding from The Guardian, UK Parliament panel slams physics, astronomy cuts from
Science Insider
- 13 May 11 Supplementary written evidence from Insitute of Physics, STFC, Prof George Efstathiou, Prof John Peacock, Prof Phil Allport and PPARC Council minutes from 5 Dec 2001 referred to
during oral sessions.
- 12 May 11 Written evidence for Spending Review 2010 inquiry by
Commons Science and Technology Ctte including submissions from Institute of Physics, RAS and Royal Society
- 11 May 11 Joint Astronomy Centre funding extended to 2013
from STFC
- 11 May 11 Research cuts will force scientists to share laboratories,
top academics warn from The Guardian
- 11 May 11 Written Answer from David Willetts MP to Chi Onwurah MP
regarding high priority RCUK capital projects unfunded in the 2011 Budget,
reported in Big (facility) losers announced by UK government from
Nature newsblog
- 9 May 11 STFC Education, Training and Careers news from 31 Mar
2011 meeting
- 5 May 11 Astronomy and Particle Physics report from Science and
Technology Ctte to be published at 00:01 on 13 May 2011
Apr 2011
- 19 Apr 11 UK Space Agency Session at NAM 2011
- 18 Apr 11 STFC Community Session at NAM 2011. Main points from
presentation by STFC's Prof John Womersley:
- Circa 10 per cent reduction in staff at National Laboratories
during 2011/12
- STFC agreement with ESO over VISTA penalty "close to
finalised"
while planned provision for E-ELT "subject to approval by STFC
Council,
BIS, Treasury"
- Discussions underway with Netherlands/Spain over management/ownership
arrangements for ING. "Hoping for" on-going UK access to WHT.
Support for UKIRT/JCMT extended throgh 2013. "Good progress"
for SCUBA-2 (see SCUBA-2 News Blog)
- Key challenges in constrained funding environment: High Performance
Computing; New
Instruments; Increased cost of radio spectrum; ING/JAC future; Northern
Hemisphere access.
- Community concerns: Pressure on grants, consolidated grants,
PPAN/Advisory Panels; technology
development in universityies, e-VAL.
- 18 Apr 11 NAM 2011 Q+A discussion included: Concerns over
continued absence of
postdoctoral fellowships; How to ensure
equal
opportunities for bids to PDRAs over each of the three AGP consolidated
grant rounds; Outreach;
Concerns over "double jeopardy" and relationship between STFC
and UKSA; e-VAL; Mixed messages on
guidelines (standalone or multi-institute consortia) for consolidated
grants; Long term impact of capital cuts;
Deadline for applications to post of STFC CEO 28 Apr 11.
- 13 Apr 11 Mapping the Future report from IOP/RSC on physics
and chemistry PDRA Experiences
and Career Intentions - news item from Times Higher Ed
- 13 Apr 11 Tuition fees would have scared me off interview with Sir
Prof Peter Knight, IOP president elect in Research Fortnight and Learned societies break silence over tuition fees from
Research blogs including view
from RAS President Prof Roger Davies.
- 12 Apr 11 Clarification of issues relating to AGP consolidated
grants
- 7 Apr 11 STFC New Applicants Scheme, for newly appointed
academics between
consolidated grant reviews - pdf
- 7 Apr 11 Research Councils UK Delivery Plan Published - pdf
- 6 Apr 11 News from STFC's Science Board from 29 Mar 11
meeting.
- 5 Apr 11 STFC Council - new members appointed. Dame Julia
Goodfellow (V-C, University of Kent) and Mr Ian Taylor (former Minister
for Science and Technology) join Council, while Philip Greenish,
Dr Philip Kaziewicz and Prof Keith Burnett step down.
- 4 Apr 11 Composition of RAS Council for 2011/12 will be Prof
Roger
Davies (President), Prof David Southwood (President Elect),
Prof Michael Kendall (VP, G), Prof Farideh Honary (VP, G), Prof Ofer
Lahav (VP, A), Prof Clive Tadhunter (VP, A) with other posts to be
decided through ballot.
- 4 Apr 11 Prof Sir Peter Knight, STFC Council member, elected
as President of
Institute of Physics from October 2011 - see Peter Knight on `steep learning curve' as newly-elected IOP
president from Research Fortnight Today
- 4 Apr 11 Call for Nominations for members of UK Space Agency
Review Panel
to review UK involvement in new space projects. All members should have
space sector
expertise and, more specifically, experience of space hardware projects.
Deadline 11 Apr 11.
- 3 Apr 11 Deadline 28 Apr 11 for applications to Chief Executive with the Science and Technology
Facilities
Council. Advertisement in Sunday Times.
- 2 Apr 11 SKA announces Founding Board and selects Jodrell Bank
Observatory to host Project Office from SKA and Getting ready for the world's biggest ever telescope
from STFC. Prof John Womersley elected as chair of Founding
Board.
- 1 Apr 11 UK Space Agency Strategy for 2011-2015. Comments invited
on UKSA's draft strategy (deadline 8 Jul 2011).
Mar 2011
- 30 Mar 11 Elite Fellowships celebrate centenary of research paper that
underpins modern physics from STFC. Earnest Rutherford
Fellowship (ERF)
scheme to replace Advanced Fellowship (AF) scheme. Once full cohort of 60
ERFs
reached in 2016, a total of £3M per year will be available to
support their
research.
- 30 Mar 11 Japan `disaster' shows why it is wrong to cut nuclear
physics
opinion piece from Prof Paddy Regan in Research Fortnight (requires
subscription)
- 23 Mar 11 Letters to Science and Technology Committee from MRC and
BBSRC
which attribute delays in their annual accounts to Shared Services Centre.
- 23 Mar 11 Summary (pdf) of the Space Programme Advisory Committee
meeting from 8 March 2011
- 21 Mar 11 Efficiency 2011-15: Ensuring Excellence with Impact from
RCUK, details savings in response to Wakeham Review.
- 18 Mar 11 European Space Agency to go it alone on next generation
space mission from The Great Beyond (Nature blog) and European Space Missions to Go It Alone After NASA Yanks
Support from Science Insider
- 18 Mar 11 Further correspondence regarding the Shared Services
Centre from Prof David Delpy to Prof Geoff Hall (provided by Graham
Stringer MP)
- 16 Mar 11 Second evidence session for Science and
Technology Ctte inquiry into astronomy and particle physics
with Prof Phil Allport, Prof Mike Bode, Prof Rob Kennicutt, Prof
John Peacock, Prof Steve Rawlings, Prof Andrei Seryi at 9:15am, followed
by Prof Keith Mason (STFC CEO) and Sir Adrian Smith (BIS) at 10:15am -
watch via parliament tv or read transcript.
- 16 Mar 11 Physics careers survey cited in Science and Technology
session and From Higgs Hunters to Job Seekers item from Guardian
Science Blog
- 15 Mar 11 US physics feels the squeeze from Nature News
- UK Minister for Science announces £11 million
investment in new instruments at ISIS Neutron Source from BIS - listen
to speech from David Willetts and reaction from Prof Keith
Mason
- 14 Mar 11 Research Excellence Framework timetable
from HEFCE
- 14 Mar 11 Call for nominations to STFC's Science Board, Committees and
Peer Review Panels
from STFC. Deadline 18 Apr 2011
- 9 Mar 11
First evidence Session for Science and Technology Ctte inquiry
into astronomy and particle physics including
Prof Jim Al-Khalili, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Prof Dame Jocelyn
Bell-Burnell (IOP, President) and Prof Roger Davies (RAS, President) -
watch via parliament tv from 9:15am or read transcript
- 8 Mar 11 US Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2013-2022
from US National Research Council, Difficult decisions ahead on Mars from BBC Science
News, plus update from UK Space Agency's Science Programme Advisory
Ctte from UK Space Agency - read pdf summary from Feb 11 meeting from Prof
John Zarnecki (Chair SPAC)
- 7 Mar 11 Announcement of second evidence session for Science and
Technology Ctte inquiry into astronomy and particle physics on 16
Mar 11 with Prof Phil Allport, Prof Mike Bode, Prof Rob Kennicutt,
Prof
John Peacock, Prof Steve Rawlings, Prof Andrei Seryi at 9:15am, followed
by Prof Keith Mason (STFC CEO) and Sir Adrian Smith (BIS) at 10:15am.
- 4 Mar 11 Minutes from STFC Council updated to include
May 2010 - Jan 2011 meetings.
- 3 Mar 11 Written evidence to Science and Technology committee
inquiry into astronomy and particle physics - pdf includes submissions from
- Organisations: Government, STFC, Royal Astronomical Society and Institute of Physics
- Panels/Cttes: FUAP/NUAP, Chair and Vice-Chair of GBFR panel, Gemini UK NTAC and Chair UK ING TAG
- Research Communities: Senior figures within the UK experimental particle physics,
theoretical particle physics and astro-particle physics communities,
Heads of Nuclear Physics Research Groups
and MIST Council
- Research groups/departments: Science Faculty (Durham University), Astrophysics (University of Oxford), Physics and Astronomy (University of Manchester), Astrophysics Research Institute (Liverpool JMU)
- Individuals:
Prof Mike Barlow,
Prof Mike Bode,
Prof David Carter,
Prof Paul Crowther,
Prof Janet Drew,
Prof George Efstathiou,
Prof Gerry Gilmore,
Prof Stephen Hawking,
Prof Robert Kennicutt,
Prof Carole Mundell,
Prof John Peacock,
Prof Don Pollacco and
Prof Nial Tanvir
- 2 Mar 11 RCUK
Strategy
2011-14 (pdf) presentation from Dr Steven Hill (RCUK Strategy Unit) at
Policy Lunchbox (joint Biochemical Society and British Ecological
Society initiative).
- 1 Mar 11 AGP 2011 guidelines from STFC setting
out details of new consolidated grant system - read pdf
- 1 Mar 11 Weighting of research impact confirmed for 2014 REF from
HEFCE: Research Outputs 65 per cent; Impact 20 per cent;
Environment 15 per cent - see also RCUK welcomes announcement
of REF weighting of research impact from RCUK and Russell Group warns that REF impact weighting is still too
high from Russell Group
Feb 2011
- 28 Feb 11 Correspondence between Prof Geoff Hall (UK PI for CMS at
CERN) and Prof David Delpy (EPSRC Chief Executive) regarding Shared
Services Centre, provided to Commons Science and Technology Ctte by Graham
Stringer MP
- 28 Feb 11 Announcement of Evidence Session for Science and Technology Ctte inquiry
into astronomy and particle physics for 9 March 2011 including
Prof Jim Al-Khalili, Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, Prof Dame Jocelyn
Bell-Burnell (IOP, President) and Prof Roger Davies (RAS, President).
- 22 Feb 11 News from
STFC Council from Jan 2011 meeting.
- 22 Feb 11 STFC
public engagement meeting planned for 21 Jun 2011 at
University of Birmingham.
- 21 Feb 11 REF panel memberships announced. Panel B incl. physics (sub-panel 9)
- 21 Feb 11 Prof Marshall Stoneham from IOP
- 16 Feb 11 Deadline for written submissions to House of Commons
Science and
Technology Select Committee inquiry into astronomy and particle
physics
- 16 Feb 11 Scientists will have priority in queue for visas from
The Times (requires subscription)
- 14 Feb 11 Update to Science Programme Advisory Ctte (SPAC)
from UKSA
- 10 Feb 11 SCPP Presentation (pdf) from Prof John Womersley at
STFC Delivery Plan Town Meeting (hosted by IoP)
- 9 Feb 11 Announcement of allocation of 220 PhD studentship
awards for 2011
entry - see quota allocations broken down by institution (pdf), details of the
algorithm.
Reduced allocations with respect to 256 in 2008/09, and 235 in 2010
(2010 breakdown between subject areas here)
- 8 Feb 11 Memorandum (pdf) from RCUK in response to
post-oral evidence session querstions from House of Commons Science and
Technology Ctte, detailing
STFC's international subscriptions and astronomy spending for SR 2010.
- 7 Feb 11
Capital cuts could `erode' the UK's competitiveness (pdf) and
Brazil poised to join Europe's astronomy club (pdf) news items from
Feb 2011 Physics
World
- 4 Feb 11 STFC
e-Val system to collect data on impacts arising from STFC-funded
research.
- 3 Feb 11 AGP2010 Report
from Prof Andy Lawrence, AGP chair.
- 3 Feb 11 Council cuts present a significant `challenge' and When every little helps interview with Prof Alan Thorpe
(NERC Chief Exec and chair
of RCUK executive group) in Times Higher Ed
- 2 Feb 11 Swindon,
we have a problem news item about the new UK Space Agency from
Nature
- 2 Feb 11 Allocation of science and research funding audio from
presentation by Prof Sir Adrian Smith FRS (BIS, Director General,
Knowledge and Innovation) at Foundation for Science and Technology event
- 2 Feb 11 Fund the science that ends up in our pockets view from
CERN Director-General Rolf Heuer in The Times (requires
subscription)
Jan 2011
- 31 Jan 11 Chinese Astronomers Set Sights on Overseas Scopes from
Science Insider involving plans to purchase access to CFHT, Hale,
MMT and Magellan.
- 27 Jan 11 Inquiry into
UK cuts in science news item from BBC Science News
- 26 Jan 11 Astronomy Forum at RAS. Main agenda item is STFC
Delivery Plan - see
slides (pdf) from John Womersley and
Colin Vincent.
- VISTA penalty to comprise in-kind contributions (€ 12M) and
voluntary
reduction in UK usage of VLT (€ 6M, equivalent to 116 nights or
slightly
more than 96 nights awarded to UK each semester)
- AGP 2010: 18 from 98 Standard Grant applications approved (14 PDRA
awards) plus
42 PDRAs funded from 95 PDRAs requested via Rolling Grants. New baseline
of 56
PDRAs/year awards sharply down from previous AGP rounds (70 in 2009, 92 in
2008, 88
in 2007).
- Deadline for first AGP round of consolidated grants to be delayed to
1 May 2011, with detailed guidelines to be provided shortly.
- 26 Jan 11 Committee announce new inquiry into astronomy and particle
physics from House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee.
Written submissions invited no later than 16 Feb 2011
- 26 Jan 11 Committee announce Spending Review 2010 call for written
evidence from House of Commone Science and Technology Select
Committee. Written submissions invited no later than 27 Apr 2011
- 26 Jan 11 Brazil ignites telescope race from Nature on
next generation ground-based telescopes including E-ELT
- 20 Jan 11 News from Science Board from 13 Jan 11
meeting, including possible revisions to STFC scientific advisory
structure.
- 20 Jan 11 How the mighty have fallen: impact pilot's unexpected
results item on REF impact
pilot exercise in Times Higher Ed including quote from Liverpool
JMU's Prof Dave Carter - see HEFCE Addendum: Impact profiles awarded to pilot submissions
(pdf)
- 19 Jan 11 Evidence session on science budget settlement from House
of Commons Science and Technology committee
at 9:15am with Research Council Chief Executives: Prof Alan
Thorpe (RCUK Chair, NERC), Prof Keith Mason (STFC), Prof David
Delpy (EPSRC), Prof Rick Rylance (AHRC). Watch via Parliament TV, read transcript or reports Britain's budget woes continue from The Great
Beyond (Nature blog) and UK Scientists: Budget Threatens Facilities from
Science Insider
- 19 Jan 11 Science faces crisis if cuts not reversed interview with
Sir Paul Nurse and STFC: years of cuts view from Prof Ken Pounds
in Research
Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 13 Jan 11 EPSRC plans represent 'huge change' from Chemistry
World,
Tight, but not too austere and Grants: fewer, larger, for longer from Times Higher
Ed
- 12 Jan 11 University cuts show science is far from saved view from
Colin Macilwain in Nature
- 12 Jan 11 NERC settlement confirms uncertainties ahead for science and
engineering research view from David King in Research Fortnight's
Research Blogs
- 5 Jan 11 Career destination of PhD students questionnaire from
STFC
Dec 2010
- 30 Dec 10 Brazil to join ESO from ESO and Brazil cuts a deal to join European Astronomers from
Science Insider
- 23 Dec 10
`Learn to share more': Willetts predicts new collaborative age in wake of capital cuts report in
Times Higher Ed
- 23 Dec 10 Funding cuts: will industry make up the difference?
commentary from Lord Broers (chair, Diamond Light Source)
in Research Fortnight's Research blogs
- 23 Dec 10 Delivery Plan comment from Prof John Butterworth in
Life and Physics (Guardian science blog)
- 22 Dec 10 STFC budget allocation: response from the Royal
Astronomical Society including Prof Roger Davies: " We welcome
the continuation of ESO membership, the implementation of the Drayson
Review and the newly announced scheme for early career researchers is also
good news and allows researchers to continue to play a serious
international role. Nonetheless, British astronomy still faces a decline
in funding in the next few years, with much more limited opportunities for
the postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers that are the lifeblood of
research in the UK. The prospective removal of access to optical
telescopes in the northern hemisphere is also deeply worrying. We
therefore urge STFC and BIS, working with the astronomical community,
including the RAS, to find a solution to these pressing issues for our
research base."
- 22 Dec 10
ral question in House of Lords from Baroness Jones on
science funding cuts - watch from 11:20am via parliament tv or read Hansard transcript
- 22 Dec 10 In science there are no second prizes commentary from
Prof Ken Pounds on STFC's settlement in Research Fortnight's Research
blogs
-
21 Dec 10
STFC Annual Report 2009 - 2010
- read Annual Report and Accounts (pdf)
-
20 Dec 10 Funding announced for HEFCE, science and research for
2010 Science Budget allocations - see Ministerial statement/summary
of allocations (pdf), The allocation of science and research funding 2011/12 to
2014/15 (pdf) from BIS and Research Councils Budgets Announced from RCUK.
Final year resource (near-cash) allocations approx 3 per cent below
2010/11 baseline for all research councils, except for MRC (5 per cent
increase), STFC's international subscriptions (up 78 per cent), STFC's
cross-council facilities (up 33 per cent) and UKSA (up 9 per cent).
- 20 Dec 10 STFC Delivery Plan, EPSRC Delivery Plan and NERC Delivery Plan
- 20 Dec 10 STFC CSR statement. Total resource and capital
STFC allocation of £1.9bn for
2011/12 to 2014/15 (now excluding ESA subscriptions and space science
operations) including £377.5m resource (near cash) and
£91m capital for 2011/12 (see Appendices of
Delivery Plan):
- Major international subscriptions (CERN, ESO, ESRF, ILL) protected
against inflation via forward purchasing of currencies, with reduced
access to ESRF from 2011-2013 as previously announced.
- Operating costs of domestic facilities funded at a level agreed with
other Research Councils (Diamond fully funded, reduced operations for
ISIS, reduced operations at CLF - see page 10 of EPSRC Delivery Plan).
- Restructuring costs permit stable funding of (consolidated)
exploitation grants, PhD studentships (incl. Enhancement Programme for
up to 15 students/yr),
and
a revamped fellowships programme (up to 12/yr plus research bursaries
of £3m by 2016).
- Research and development includes E-ELT/SKA, but reduced
capital and operations budget (relevant for La Palma, Hawaii).
- 20 Dec 10 MPs to hold evidence session on science budget settlement
announcement of Commons Science and Technology committee evidence
session on 19 Jan 2011 with Research Council Chief Executives,
including Prof Alan Thorpe (RCUK Chair and NERC CEO)
- 20 Dec 10 Science budget allocation reports include: Researchers plan for deeper cuts to science budget
from BBC Science News, Capital spending on science cut by 40 per cent from
The Independent, UK science faces facilities freeze from Nature,
Details, Reaction of Tight UK Science Budget Emerge from
Science Insider, Capital spending on science cut by 41 per cent from
FT (requires subscription)
Science minister announces funding plans from The
Engineer, Knowledge transfer wins, capital budgets hit in science
budget allocations from Research blogs (Research Fortnight
blog) and UK science allocation: more gloom from The S Word
(New Scientist blog)
- 20 Dec 10 CaSE have issued a press release in response to the science budget
allocation and look at capital spending
- 20 Dec 10 Marshall Stoneham (Institute of Physics president) has
responded, and
I have added my own (brief) comment here
-
18 Dec 10 Visa quotas `will hit research backed by Cameron', says top
scientist interview with Sir Paul Nurse from The Times
(requires subscription)
-
16 Dec 10 STFC Chair of Council reappointed to the Council for Science
and Technology
-
15 Dec 10 Ivory Tower BBC Radio 4 programme, including David
Willetts MP, David Delpy and Philip Moriarty on impact agenda.
-
9 Dec 10
Wish granted: stifling demand brings result
and Concentrate...big six take larger income slice
from Times Higher Ed including Spreadsheet showing grant awards for institutions, broken down by Research Council
- 9 Dec 10 'We need impact and the time to deliver is right now'
from Times Higher Ed
- 9 Dec 10 An engineer of revival interview with shadow science
minister Chi Onwurah MP in Times Higher Ed
-
7 Dec 10 New
Concordat for Engaging the Public With Research from RCUK - pdf
- 6 Dec 10 Research quangos lead to mediocrity letter to The
Times (requires subscription) from Prof Donald Braben and 39 others
including 4 Nobel laureates. Letter is reproduced here
- 6 Dec 10 Question from Dr Julian Huppert MP to Damian Green MP on the
eligibility of doctoral graduates for Tier 1 immigration scheme
-
4 Dec 10 Science labs welcome easing of visa squeeze on top
academics from The Times (requires subscription)
-
3 Dec 10 Note to community about delays with the outcome of 2010 Astronomy Grant Round, and plans to implement new
consolidated grant scheme for
2011 Astronomy Grant Round.
- 3 Dec 10 Landing on Mars in 2016 report from BBC science
correspondent Jonathan Amos on ESA's ExoMars in Spaceman blog
-
2 Dec 10 Across the Universe leading article from The
Times (requires subscription)
- 2 Dec 10 Europe's X-ray Powerhouse Hit by Budget Cuts on
reduced UK and Italian contributions for ESRF in Science
- 2 Dec 10 Capital pains: axe to fall as BIS plans to share the
losses from Times Higher Ed
-
1 Dec 10 STFC Education, Training and Careers news including
plans for a pilot Studentship Enhancement Programme (STEP), involving up
to an additional year of funding for post-PhD support for the most
promising researchers.
Nov 2010
- 30 Nov 10 ESRF: UK subscription rate.
UK share of ESRF costs/beamtime reduced from 14 to 10 per cent for 2011-2013.
-
29 Nov 10
Demographics and Research Interests of the UK Astronomy and
Geophysics Communities from Royal Astronomical Society
- 29 Nov 10
REF impact meeting at Institute of Physics, including
chair of physics pilot exercise, Peter Saraga.
-
27 Nov 10 Profile of David
Willetts in Telegraph, including ".. he has become
something of a space [industry] buff..". David Willetts and
ESA's Director General to speak at ISIC
Information Day on 2 Dec 10 hosted at Harwell.
-
25 Nov 10
New model grants: fund the chosen few
from Times Higher Ed
- 25 Nov 10 Immigration policy 'will keep talented scientists out of
UK' from The Guardian and
Preliminary Reaction & Proposals (pdf) on
immigration cap from Campaign for Science and Engineering
- 24 Nov 10 Commons Science and Technology Ctte Spending Review evidence session with
David Willetts MP and Prof Adrian Smith at 09:15 - watch via
Parliament TV or read transcript
- 24 Nov 10 `Salami-sliced' budget is more palatable than abandoning entire research fields, Brian Cox argues report from Chatham House
science policy meeting in Times Higher Ed
- 24 Nov 10 News from Science Board - November 2010 from 18 Nov 2010 meeting.
- 24 Nov 10 Why placing an immigration cap on talent will be bad for UK
science from Imran Khan (CaSE) in Guardian Science blog
- 24 Nov 10 U.K. Opens New Visa Route for Foreign Scientists, But May
Still Curtail Their Number from Science
-
23 Nov 10
Statement from Theresa May MP to House of Commons on immigration (Home Office press release), including a suggestion that Research Councils may have a role in identifying eminent scientists suitable for Tier 1 visa entry.
- 22 Nov 10 UK science minister: next steps for science policy from
The S Word (New Scientist blog) reporting on Investing in
Science: Securing Future Prosperity meeting at Chatham House
- 19 Nov 10
The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of two Directors General at BIS including the appointment of Prof Adrian Smith to the new post
of Director General, Knowledge and Innovation, reported in Peer relief: merged BIS post goes to Adrian Smith in wake of
scientists' protest to Downing St from Times Higher Ed
- 18 Nov 10 The new rules of the game on REF impact pilot studies in
Times Higher Ed
- 18 Nov 10 Scientists wanted editorial from Nature
- 18 Nov 10 Lords write to PM about merger of BIS Director General of
Science and Research role from House of Lords Science and Technology
Committee - Letter from Lord Krebs to Prime Minister (pdf)
- 18 Nov 10 Interchange on UK science policy between Andrew Miller MP and PM
David Cameron at Commons Liaison Committee - watch via parliament tv (Question 44, from 14:46:14) - read transcript, plus questions from Andrew Miller MP and Chi Onwurah MP
to David Willetts MP regarding the abolition of the Director General for
Science and Research post in BIS.
-
17 Nov 10
UK science will be judged on impact from Nature
- 17 Nov 10
UK research spending decisions set for a shake-up from
Andrea Marchesetti (CaSE) in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 17 Nov 10
No more 'business as usual' view from Lord (Phil)
Willis, Scientific standing, once lost, is hard to regain
view from
Prof Martin Rees, and The coalition's approach to science threatens growth
view
from Chi Onwurah MP in Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 17 Nov 10
Commons Science and Technology Ctte will hold an evidence
session on the 'Spending Review 2010'
with David Willetts MP and Adrian Smith on 24 Nov 10 at 09:15.
- 16 Nov 10 Top government science and research post axed in civil
service reshuffle from Exquisite Life (Research
Fortnight blog) and `Stupid, ignorant, foolish': peers express dismay at potential loss of scientific expertise in merged BIS post from Times Higher Ed
- 16 Nov 10
Lords Science and Technology Select Committee session on
the `implications of the CSR on scientific research' with
Prof Sir John Beddington, Prof Adrian Smith and Prof David Delpy
- watch via Parliament TV
-
15 Nov 10 Letter from Council for Science and Technology (Prof Sir
John Beddington and Prof Dame Janet Finch) to Prof Adrian Smith about
science budget allocations.
-
12 Nov 10 Funding councils will only lead the way to lowlands of
mediocrity commentary from Donald Braben in The Times (requires
subscription)
- 11 Nov 10 Grant Funding Mechanism Review Report from STFC (read pdf), recommending existing standard and rolling grants
are replaced by a single consolidated grant scheme containing core
(0+1+1+1 yr) and non-core (0.5+1+1+0.5 yr) staff post funding
- Pilot paves the way for impact as a key element in
UK's new research assessment framework from HEFCE (read REF impact pilot exercise), Annexes A-E incl. Annex B: panel membership),
Annexes F-J incl Annex G: Physics panel), and
Research impact rating to stay from Chemistry
World, REF impact will be lighter but also more widespread
from Times Higher Ed and Experts will assess UK research `impact' to award
funding from Nature News
-
10 Nov 10 Debate on Science Research in Westminster Hall (2:30pm)
brought by Nicola Blackwood MP (Oxford West and Abingdon, Con) - read Hansard transcript
- 10 Nov 10 Two New STFC Council members sought from 2011.
Applications
sought from (a) Academics or senior industrialists with a background in
life
sciences; (b) experts in "national government, Whitehall; and
parliamentary processes"
- 10 Nov 10 Migration cap costs Britain the services of 233 top
brains
from The Times (requires subscription)
-
9 Nov 10 Minutes (pdf) from 6 Oct Astronomy Forum
- 8 Nov 10
Government to rethink immigration cap on scientists from
The Times (requires subscription)
-
6 Nov 10 Nobel prizewinner Venki Ramakrishnan warns on risks of
immigration cap from The Times (requires subscription)
-
5 Nov 10
Lifebelt for UK science editorial from Prof Martin Rees in Science
- 5 Nov 10 Science
dons jump ship over cutbacks item about Prof Brian Foster in
Cherwell (Oxford University student newspaper)
-
4 Nov 10 Freeze won't stop bleeding from Times Higher Ed
- 4 Nov 10 Announcement of Lords Science and Technology Select
Committee meeting on the Implication of the CSR on Scientific Research with
Prof Sir John Beddington, Prof Adrian Smith and Prof David Delpy on 16 Nov
- 3 Nov 10 CaSE News(pdf) quarterly from Campaign for Science and
Engineering.
- 3 Nov 10 Susan Watts BBC Newsnight report on science & the immigration
cap, plus Jeremy Paxman
interviewing Damien Green MP - watch via iPlayer
- 3 Nov 10 Statement on higher education funding and student
finance from David Willetts MP, plus transcript of Commons debate from Hansard.
-
1 Nov 10 News from STFC Council from Oct 2010, including Summary Report from Working Group involved with
devising requirements for next Chief Executive.
Oct 2010
- 31 Oct 10
Science and technology feature on BBC Politics Show, including
interviews with David Willetts MP, Gareth Thomas MP and Prof Carl Murray -
watch on iPlayer (31-44 min)
- 28 Oct 10 The appliance of science lobbying from Times Higher
Ed
- 28 Oct 10 UK research spend: cuts could reach 17 per cent from
LSE's Bob Ward in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 28 Oct 10 Haldane Principal written
ministerial statement from David Willetts MP.
- 27 Oct 10 UK scientists celebrate budget reprieve including
" [STFC] has been told to prepare for its capital funding to fall by
a third... That could jeopardize Britain's participation in organizations
such as ESO" from Nature
- 27 Oct 10 Spending review leaves research in the lurch from
former Chief Scientific Advisor Sir David King on UK science budget in
Nature
- 27 Oct 10 Willetts hopes to reach immigration deal soon report
from Research Fortnight Today on Science Question time at Royal
Institution, including "Philip Greenish (RAEng CEO) indicated that
the organisation has not backed down from its controversial stance on
funding for fundamental research."
- 26 Oct 10 Comprehensive Spending Review Commons BIS
Committee session with Vince Cable MP and David Willetts MP at 11:30am -
read transcript
- 26 Oct 10
Science question time at Royal Institution (7pm)
with David Willetts MP, Prof Colin Blakemore, Dame Janet Finch and Philip
Greenish - audio here
- 25 Oct 10 Government launches National Infrastructure Plan from
HM Treasury (read pdf) including "The Government will.. help fund
key international science facilities through international subscriptions
(such as CERN)" and " The Government will .. support the
development of Science and Innovation Campuses at Harwell and
Daresbury"
- 25 Oct 10 Visa curbs putting best scientists beyond reach, warn
universities from The Times (requires subscription)
- 24 Oct 10 Support for scientific research is key letter from Nigel
Gaymond (BioIndustry Association) in The Sunday Times (requires
subscription)
- 22 Oct 10 Particle Physics: Why we need it (pdf) flyer from
Particle Physics action group - see also
Particle Physics : CSR 2010 Material maintained by Prof Mark Lancaster
(UCL)
- 22 Oct 10 Relief as science is spared from Oxford Mail,
- 21 Oct 10
David Willetts talking about UK science after the Spending Review
on BBC radio 4 Material World - listen here
- 21 Oct 10 Best-case science scenario proves a commitment
commentary from Prof Martin Rees in The Times (requires
subscription) including " The Government has recognised that
science is a long-term investment. For this, the science community owes a debt of gratitude
to David Willetts and Vince Cable."
- 21 Oct 10 Medical research safe, but the sky could fall in on
astronomy from The Times (requires subscription) including
" If science, which accounts for most of BIS capital spending,
does badly when this is distributed, particle physics and astronomy are
particularly likely to be affected. Large parts of the international
subscriptions paid by the STFC, to bodies such as CERN and ESO,
are counted as capital spending."
- 21 Oct 10 First reactions to the Chancellor letter from Dr Evan
Harris in The Times (requires subscription) including "
scientists will want and expect all the political parties to agree that
any damage to our science base and economic wellbeing will be reversed
when the fiscal position improves."
- 21 Oct 10 Willetts wins funding battle with warning of 'brain
drain' from The Independent
- 21 Oct 10 Scientists vs engineers: this time it's financial from
Colin Macilwain in Nature News referring to 8 Oct 10
letter from Prof Martin Earwicker (RAEng) to The Times read here (requires
subscription). See also Spending on pure science 'needs to be protected' from
Times Higher Ed
- 21 Oct 10 How science was saved from the axe from Pallab Ghosh,
BBC Science News
- 21 Oct 10 UK space funding: Steady thrust ahead? from
Spaceman (BBC science correspondent Jonathan Amos' blog)
- 21 Oct 10 Government
recognises importance of science in CSR announcement from STFC's Prof
Keith Mason
- 21 Oct 10 What does the UK spending review mean for science? from
Imran Khan in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 20 Oct 10 Media previews here:
- 20 Oct 10 Spending Review - announcements from 12:30. Watch George Osborne MP
speech on
parliament tv or access HM treasury details
here, including Spending Review 2010(pdf). David Willetts
MP will take part in a press briefing at 2pm in the Science Media Centre.
Extracts from report:
- " The Government will also take measures to increase
the focus on
excellence, and will spend £4.6 billion [on Science] in each of the
Spending Review years. A ring-fence will be maintained by BIS to ensure
continuity of investment in science and research."
- " The Government will also increase the efficiency
of the science budget, saving £324 million a year by 2014-15. These
efficiency savings will be reinvested in science. " - see
Jun 2010 RCUK Financial Sustainability and
Efficiency in FEC of Research in UK HEIs report from Prof Bill Wakeham
- " The cutting edge
Diamond
Synchrotron facility in Oxfordshire will receive £69 million of
public funding over the Spending Review period in partnership with the
Wellcome Trust." - see News from Diamond Light Source
- " BIS will ensure that Medical Research Council expenditure
is maintained in real terms. "
- 20 Oct 10
RCUK position on the
spending review including " the overall cut in capital funding
will present significant challenges to research and we will work with BIS
to minimise the impact on affected disciplines."
- 20 Oct 10
BIS Spending Review Settlement including "
Overall resource budget for Higher Education, excluding research funding,
will reduce from £7.1 billion to £4.2 billion, a 40%, or
£2.9 billion, reduction by 2014-15. The Department will continue to
fund teaching for STEM subjects "
- 20 Oct 10
CaSE Response to the CSR including "
Out of the core £3.5bn `science budget', not including spending on
research by universities, £2.75bn has been preserved for next year.
The rest makes up `capital expenditure'. That part has not yet been
confirmed and we are expecting announcements in the forthcoming
weeks."
- 20 Oct 10
Spending Review: UK's science budget frozen in cash
terms from The Royal Society
- 20 Oct 10 Media
reactions here:
- 20 Oct 10 Question on science funding cuts from Chi Onwurah MP
during PMQ's.
- 20 Oct 10 Blue skies and small grants likely to be cut from
Research Fortnight (requires subscription) cover item (pdf) on speech
from Phil Sooben (ESRC, Director of policy/admin) from 23 Sep 10 -
watch here
- 20 Oct 10 We want our research council back! view from Prof George
Efstathiou in Research Fortnight (requires subscription) - pdf
- 19 Oct 10
Science funding: Back the boffins editorial from The
Guardian
- 19 Oct 10 Viewpoint: Science 'critical for UK economic future'
from Imran Kham (CaSE) and Viewpoint: Science cuts 'could lead to brain drain'
from Paul Crowther via BBC Science News
- 19 Oct 10 News from Science Board - October 2010 from STFC
- 19 Oct 10 UK science funds in limbo from Nature News
- 18 Oct 10 A Special Plea editorial from The Times (requires
subscription) including "
In 1997, William Waldegrave, left a note for his Labour successor. In
it he advised Alistair Darling that all lobbying should be ignored, with two
exceptions: the intelligence services and science. In 2010, Liam Byrne left
a note for his successor in which he confessed that there was no money left.
His note means it is impossible to take Mr Waldegrave's advice fully but
science has a serious case."
- 18 Oct 10 Science and the spending review: why it matters and what
lies ahead from Eureka Daily (Times Science blog, requires
subscription)
- 18 Oct 10 Top science facility to expand report from FT
(requires registration) and George Osborne to save capital projects from cuts from
The Guardian on Diamond Light Source, first announced
by George Osborne MP on Andrew Marr Show - watch on
iPlayer (56:20)
- 18 Oct 10 The age of scientific discovery is over from New
Statesman
- 18 Oct 10 Government spending by department, 2009/10: full data
and visualisation from The Guardian
- 18 Oct 10 Announcement of Commons Science and Technology Ctte
evidence session
with Sir John Beddington on 27 Oct 10 on the Government Office for
Science (GO-Science)
- 16 Oct 10 Cuts in defence research won't help science letter to
The Guardian
- 15 Oct 10
Spending Review town meeting at Institute of Physics including
representives from EPSRC and STFC.
- 14 Oct 10 Science and Innovation oral questions to
David Willetts MP, including new shadow science minister Gareth Thomas MP.
- 13 Oct 10
STFC budget
2010-11 from STFC courtesy of Prof Richard Wade - " We
are publishing our planned spend for this year to assist our research
community and the UK public to gain a fuller understanding of the balance
and breadth of investments made by STFC on behalf of the UK. "
- 13 Oct 10 Science funding question from Roger Williams MP to David
Cameron MP during PMQ
- 13 Oct 10 Cut military R&D, not science funding letter from 36
scientists and engineers plus report Military research should bear brunt of science cuts, say
leading scientists in The Guardian
- 13 Oct 10 UK
research
is key to business productivity and economic growth news item from
RCUK and Science cuts 'risk economic harm' from
BBC Science News highlighting report Research for our Future: UK business success through public
investment in research (pdf)
- 13 Oct 10 Scientists lobby parliament to halt cuts from
Science blog (The Guardian)
- 12 Oct 10 Government welcomes Lord Browne Review from BIS -
see Browne report website, Download report (pdf) and see oral statement from Secretary of State, Vince Cable
- 12 Oct 10 STFC input to Spending Review plans including slides (pdf) from Particle Physics, Nuclear Physics and
Particle Astrophysics meeting on 8 Oct 10
- 12 Oct 10 Gareth Thomas MP named as Shadow Universities minister.
(John Denham MP previously appointed as Shadow Business, Innovation and
Skills Secretary).
- 12 Oct 10 Science is Vital: Scientists protest against funding
cuts video from The Guardian. Lobby this afternoon, petition
deadline tomorrow at 1:30pm.
- 12 Oct 10 High-tech Britain? We could do much better column from
James Dyson in The Times (requires subscription), including "
To recover, the Government must take a Churchillian view of science, design
and engineering...While it's important to cut the budget deficit, we also
need to plan for the years ahead."
- 11 Oct 10 Session of Lords Science and Technology
Select Ctte with David Willetts MP at 3:30pm - watch via parliament tv
- 11 Oct 10 Scientists march on the Treasury from physics
world (blog), Scientists protest against planned funding cuts from
Chemistry World and Hey! Osborne! Leave our geeks alone from The S
Word (New Scientist blog), Science is Vital! Scientists rally against research funding
cuts from Political Science (Guardian Science blog) and When Governments Strangle Science from Forbes
(blog)
- 11 Oct 10 Second wave of extra science cuts may pay for Con - Lib deal
on student fees from Exquisite Life (Research Fortnight blog)
- 10 Oct 10 Science funding cuts will cost UK economy billions
preview of 'Research for Our Future' RCUK report (due for release
on 13 Oct 10) from
The Telegraph
- 10 Oct 10 Think Tank: Cuts can give us better science view from
Dr Terence Kealey (University of Buckingham, V-C) in Sunday Times
(requires subscription),
and There's an art to funding science after the cuts comment
from Independent on Sunday business editor, Margareta Pagano
- 10 Oct 10 Protesters claim
that science budget cuts will backfire from The Observer and British scientists rally to protest funding cuts from
The Great Beyond (Nature blog)
- 9 Oct 10 Science is
Vital rally at HM Treasury - podcast from Pod Delusion:
- 9 Oct 10
Saving science editorial from FT
(requires registration) including " ill-judged spending decisions
could threaten not just Britain's status as a hub of scientific research,
but also its growth prospects. The government's current proposals do
exactly that." and
" The government should not be tempted to let pure science bear
the brunt of cuts on the grounds that its economic pay-off is less obvious
than applied science."
- 9 Oct 10 Long-term growth is built on research letter from
Prof Martin Rees in The Times (requires subscription) including
" In the context of overall savings amounting to about £80
billion,
would it not be better to cut [science] by one billion less, rather than
jeopardise,
perhaps irreversibly, one of the key prerequisites for future prosperity?
"
- 8 Oct 10
Science cuts `will hit the recovery' comments by Sir
Paul Nurse and Sir Mark Walport, plus Scientific discovery, British graduates and R&D tax
credits letters in The Times (requires subscription)
- 8 Oct 10 Science funding cuts: We won't fill the gaps, say firms and
charities from The Guardian
- 8 Oct 10 Open letter to George Osborne: Why it's vital to protect
science funding from Dr Evan Harris in Political Science
(Guardian science blog)
- 8 Oct 10 Venture capital and the case for science funding from
Lucy Marcus in Eureka Daily (Times science blog, requires
subscription), alternatively read unedited text here: A Perfect Storm
- 8 Oct 10 Announcement of Lords Science and Technology
Select Ctte Meeting on 11 Oct at 3:30pm with David Willetts MP.
- 7 Oct 10 One Culture leading article, Keep Britain open to best researchers, say scientists
news item and UK must not isolate itself from research world letter by
Nobel laureates Sir Paul Nurse, Sir Martin Evans, Andre Geim, Sir Tim
Hunt, Sir Harry Kroto, Konstantin Novoselov, Sir John Sulston, Sir John
Walker from The Times (requires subscription) plus Visa stranglehold chokes recruitment from Times
Higher Ed
- 7 Oct 10 Science funding cuts: how many more Nobel prizes will
Britain win? from Roger Highfield in The Telegraph
- 6 Oct 10 Astronomy
Forum at RAS, including update on comprehensive spending
review preparations by Prof John Womersley. Minutes to follow.
- BIS 'internal review' following 20 Oct headline CSR figures, with
individual RC's settlements expected by mid-Dec.
- Separate STFC funding scenarios considered for CSR in each of: 1.
international subs; 2. UK facilities (incl RCUK input); 3. core programme
(grants, studentships, fellowships etc)
- Grant review panel recommendations embargoed. To be
considered at
Science Board next week, and expected to be made public after formally
approved by STFC Council later in month.
- Update from ESO Council on (gory details relating to) E-ELT, Brazil
and VISTA.
- 6 Oct 10 RAS endorsement for the Science is Vital
campaign
- 5 Oct 10 Rise up to defend UK science from The S Word (New
Scientist blog) and How vital is science? from Nature News
- 5 Oct 10 Nobel wins `exemplars' of UK excellence threatened by cuts,
scientists claim from Times Higher Ed
- 4 Oct 10 Cuts `would badly hurt' UK science letter
to The Times (requires subscription) from Prof
Robert Winston, Prof Brian Cox, Prof Colin Blakemore, Prof Harry Kroto,
Prof Sir Liam Donaldson, Prof Baroness Greenfield, Prof Sir Mark Walport,
Sir David King, Harpal Kumar, Nicola Dandridge, Dr Robin Jackson.
- 4 Oct 10 Science: It beats living in caves guest post from
Dr Jennifer Rohn in The Lay Scientist and Scientists: Keep calm, carry on, but don't keep
quiet from Prof Jon Butterworth in Life and Physics (Guardian
Science blogs)
- 2 Oct 10 Science funding cuts could lead to lost generation of
scientists, warns Krebs and letters Loss of science base will hurt economy from The
Guardian
- 1 Oct 10 Britain faces brain drain as cuts force top scientists to
leave country cover story in The Guardian and special
report:
- 1 Oct 10 Government cuts 'will trigger brain drain' from The
Telegraph
- 1 Oct 10 Professor Marshall Stoneham becomes IOP President
Sep 2010
- 30 Sep 10 News from STFC Council from 28 Sep 2010 strategy
meeting.
- 30 Sep 10 Cuts to research funding `could force university
closures' from Times (requires subscription)
- 30 Sep 10 Savings hit rock
bottom item about RCUK Shared Services Centre from Private Eye
- 30 Sep 10 Royal Society at the Labour Party Conference report from
In Verba (Royal Society blog)
- 29 Sep 10 RAS Fellowships 2011 - deadline for applications 10
Dec 2010
- 29 Sep 10 Interview with David Willetts MP in Astronomy &
Geophysics
- 29 Sep 10 Rally arranged for 2pm, 9 Oct 10 alongside HM
Treasury by Science
is Vital organisers
- 29 Sep 10 The effects of cutting QR in England by 15 per cent from
Exquisite Life (Research Fortnight blog) and Visualising UK science cuts from The Great Beyond
(Nature blog)
- 29 Sep 10 Research
Councils UK response about RCUK SSC Ltd in reply to Rocky start for Shared Services Centre from
Research Fortnight on 7 Sep 10
- 27 Sep 10 UK science: history tells us cuts would be a mistake
from Prof Keith Burnett (Sheffield V-C, STFC Councillor) in The S
Word (New Scientist blog) or V-C's blog(!)
- 7 Sep 10 Science Question Time with David Willetts MP, Dame Janet
Finch, Prof Colin Blakemore at Royal Institution on 26 Oct 10,
chaired by Mark Henderson
- 26 Sep 10 Tuition fees will rise to £10,000 from Sunday
Times (requires subscription) including "The current figure
under discussion .. is a
cut
of £3 billion, 64% of the £4.7 billion teaching budget.
State spending on research is also expected to be hard hit, with about
£1 billion of the £6 billion funding removed."
- 25 Sep 10 Science must be at the heart of our growth, not our cuts
from Colin Blakemore in The Times (requires subscription)
- 25 Sep 10 University heads warn of a new scientific 'brain drain'
from The Independent
- 24 Sep 10 Briefing by Prof Martin Rees and University
Vice-Chancellors' at Royal Institution
reported in Cuts to science funding will `irreversibly destroy UK's
potential' as world leader from The Guardian, `Double Whammy' of cuts and
migrant cap threatens British science from The Times
(requires subscription), Call for cap on migrant scientists to be scrapped from
BBC Science News, British scientists say cuts will cripple research from
Reuters, U.K. Research Leaders Makes Final Stand Against Science
Cuts from Science Insider, Game over for British science? from The Great
Beyond (Nature blog) and 20 per cent cuts to British science means 'game over'
from The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 23 Sep 10 David Willetts warned over science cuts by universities
from BBC Science News - read letter (pdf) from Lords Science and Technology
Committee Chair Lord Krebs, responses from 6 leading research universities or
listen to Lord Krebs on Radio 4 Today.
- 23 Sep 10 UK faces significant exodus from Chemistry
World, Universities step up science funding campaign from
FT, Science funding cuts 'could lead to brain drain' from
The Guardian, Scientists abandon Britain before research cuts
introduced from The Times and The brain drain begins: the House of Lords Science
Committee's letter to David Willetts from Eureka Daily
(requires subscription)
- 23 Sep 10 Cable: 'Something has to be cut - tell me what the
priorities are' from Times Higher Ed
- 23 Sep 10 How is
UK science and
engineering funded? briefing note from CaSE
- 2 Sep 10 University teaching funds in line of fire from FT
(requires registration).
- 22 Sep 10 Mission Impossible on Science Is Vital campaign from
Research Fortnight
- 21 Sep 10 Science funding cuts: UK scientists struggle to `do more
with less' from The Telegraph
- 21 Sep 10 Science funding cuts will devastate economy, warns Brian
Cox from Times Higher Ed
- 20 Sep 10 Transition plans on space science and exploration
for new UK Space Agency -
PDF describes contributions to LISA Pathfinder, GAIA,
BepiColombo, JWST plus instrument development for ExoMars.
- 18 Sep 10 University funding - keep it simple letter to The
Guardian
- 17 Sep 10 David Willetts ducks questions about the future of science
funding from Guardian Science blog
- 17 Sep 10 Science is Vital Campaign Early Day Motion (767) from
Dr Julian Hubbert MP, plus Science is Vital rally to be organized in central
London on 9 Oct 10
- 17 Sep 10Astronomy Forum at RAS on 6 Oct 10, including
update on CSR preparations from Prof John Womersley (STFC)
- 16 Sep 10 Grey-sky thinking from The Economist
- 16 sep 10Latest world university rankings should act as a
"wake-up call" from UUK, Russell Group comments on THE world university league
tables from Russell Group, 'Reality check': the UK clings on to second place in global
league, but experts warn of limits to doing more with less from
Times Higher Ed on THE World University Rankings 2010-11, and
interview with Prof Steve Smith (UUK) on Radio 4 Today.
- 16 Sep 10 Annual report from Diamond Light Source.
- 16 Sep 10 Cable's excellent research rationing scheme is under attack
from all sides from Times Higher Ed
- 16 Sep 10 UK Space Agency evidence published online from UKSA,
including Andrew Miller MP (ctte chair): " We are not at this
stage producing a report but the
Committee will follow the progress of the Agency, watch the concerns
raised by the wider community, and track the financial resources provided
to it by the CSR."
- 15 Sep 10 World view: Save British science, again from Nature
News
- 15 Sep 10 Don't let Britains politicians ruin science from Robert
May in the S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 15 Sep 10 Government funding for UK science Early Day Motion from
Mark Lazarowicz MP
- 14 Sep 10 Science cuts warning for government from Prof Brian Cox
in The Sun
- 13 Sep 10 Science
can't always be
measured by commercial success letter in FT (requires
registration) from Lucy Marcus (Mobius Life Sciences Fund, Chair)
- 13 Sep 10 Publication of evidence submitted to Commons
Science
and Technology Ctte for UK Space Agency inquiry - oral evidence from 8 Sep 10 session, plus
written evidence from a variety of
individuals/organizations (including BIS, ESA, STFC, NERC, RAS, RAEng)
- 11 Sep 10 Why it's irrational to ration science funding from
Richard Horton (editor of Lancet) in The Guardian
- 10 Sep 10 Underrating our scientists isn't clever, Dr Cable from
The Times (requires subscription)
- 10 Sep 10 The dangers of trying to pick winners leading article
and Scientists go on attack over reduced research
spending from
The Independent
- 10 Sep 10 Science Funding: Experimental thinking Editorial from
The Guardian
- 10 Sep 10 Vince Cable's wrong connection from Dr Evan Harris and
Stephen Curry in Political Science, Vince Cable's science speech praised by Lord Sainsbury
from Ian Sample in Science Blog and Is poor science advice betraying UK science and
engineering? from Prof Jon Butterworth in Life and Physics
(Guardian science blogs)
- 10 Sep 10How Vince Cable triggered a scientific rebellion from
William Cullerne Bown in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 9 Sep 10 Speech from Science Minister David Willetts at UUK
Annual Conference. Listen to David Willetts and Colin Blakemore on Radio 4
Today programme, following on from cuts to science funding set out by
Vince Cable, reported in Minister defends research funding squeeze from The
Independent, David Willetts defends science research cuts plan from
BBC Education News
- 9 Sep 10 Keynote speech from UUK President, Prof Steve Smith at
Universities UK Annual Conference
- 9 Sep 10 STEM straw man is a flimsy construct letter to Times
Higher Ed from Mark Downs (Society of Biology), Philip Greenish
(RAEng), Imran Kham (CaSE), Robert Kirby-Harris (IoP), Richard Pike (RSC)
- 9 Sep 10 Physicist Paddy Regan discusses science cuts on Radio
4's Material World
- 9 Sep 10 Flip flopping at the IChemE from Exquisite Life
(Research Fortnight blog) on Search for Higgs boson particle must wait from
IChemE
- 9 Sep 10 Prospect warns scientific cuts are 'dangerous' from
Prospect Union
- 9 Sep 10 The lunacy of cutting science budgets in From the
Cutting Edge (Daily Mail science blog)
- 8 Sep 10 Vince Cable, BIS Secretary of State, speech on Science, Research and Innovation at QMUL. Watch Channel 4 interview, or
listen to interview from Radio 4 Today programme, plus
report from Norman Smith "[Cable] doesn't want scientists any
longer wandering around in woolly cardigans ruminating about the state of
the Universe" (listen via iPlayer, 35 minutes into broadcast). Reports:
- 8 Sep 10 Britain
cannot afford to
save
on science from Martin Rees in FT (requires registration), Vince Cable will tell scientists
they must pay their way from The Guardian, Vince Cable to signal cuts to
science funding from BBC Science News and Government must beware
consequences if it cuts science research funding from The
Times (requires subscription)
- 8 Sep 10 Commons Science and Technology Ctte evidence session on 'The new UK Space Agency' at
9:30am, with Dr David Williams (Acting Chief Exec, UKSA),
Andy Green (Logica) and Richard Peckham (Astrium) - watch on
parliament tv reported in UK needs 'Minister for Space' to help drive sector's
dramatic growth, MPs told from The Telegraph
- 8 Sep 10 Rocky start
for Shared Services Centre cover story
from Research Fortnight - or see pdf
- 8 Sep 10 Where's Keith? 'interesting if true' backpage item
on STFC's CEO Keith Mason in Research Fortnight (requires
subscription) - or see
pdf
- 7 Sep 10 In Europe, science collides with the bottom line from
Washington Post on CERN, ESO, ESA, Diamond/ISIS budgets.
- 7 Sep 10 Is Vince Cable about to end Britain's research empire?
from William Cullerne Bown in The Guardian
- 6 Sep 10 Community Consultation on STFC grant funding mechanisms
review closes at 4pm. 84 responses received (mixture of individual and
group responses). Breakdown: 43 from astronomy, 24 particle physics, 9
nuclear physics, 2 particle astrophysics and 6 others. Panel meets on
8 Sep 10
- 6 Sep 10 What do researchers do? from RCUK and PhD: the gateway to employment from Times Higher
Ed
- 2 Sep 10 Making sure physicists' voices are heard from Institute
of Physics, citing letter (pdf) from IoP President to Chancellor.
- 2 Sep 10 Reach for the sky interview with Prof Roger Davies from
Times Higher Ed
- 2 Sep 10 From where I sit - STEMming the rate of decline from
Times Higher Ed
- 2 Sep 10 Gemini Transition Plan Released from AURA
- 1 Sep 10 The Diamond Light and Isis operations at Harwell threatened
by Government cutbacks from Herald Series (Didcot, Oxfordshire)
Aug 2010
Jul 2010
- 30 Jul 10 Scientists at war over Government funding from
The Independent
- 30 Jul 10 Joint letter from Institute of Chemical
Engineers/Institute of
Physics to Research Fortnight in support of basic
research - see Chemical engineers back physicists in row with RAEng
in Exquisite Life (Research Fortnight blog)
-
29 Jul 10 Changes to the peer review of space projects from
STFC/UKSA - see UKSA structure including membership (PDF) of Science Programme Advisory Ctte (SPAC)
- 29 Jul 10 Willetts appeals for hard evidence from committees in
effort
to stave off cuts from Times Higher Ed
- 29 Jul 10 Committee contribution to 2010 Spending Review
consultation from Commons Science and Technology Ctte chair - letter to Chancellor of the Exchequer(PDF)
- 29 Jul 10 The engineers take on the scientists editorial, Common room clashes with boardroom on science budget
and Fight for science funding disturbs cosy world from
Financial Times
-
28 Jul 10 RCUK Large Facilities Roadmap 2010 - download PDF
- 28 Jul 10 Astronomy
Forum meeting at RAS, to be
attended by Prof John Womersley (STFC Science Programmes Director) and
Prof Keith Burnett (STFC Council) - see slides (PDF)
- 28 Jul 10 UK Space Agency inquiry from Commons Science and
Technology Ctte. Written submissions from interested parties sought by
31 Aug 10
-
28 Jul 10 News from STFC Council from 27 Jul 10 meeting
including " Council noted that the CEO and Executive accepted
the
need for further improvements, as most recently communicated to the
Chairman by members of the particle and nuclear physics
and astronomy communities. Council agreed it would be helpful to
ensure
that the community's thoughts were specifically considered during the
process of selecting the next CEO, who would take office when
Professor Keith Mason's term expired at the end of March 2012."
- 28 Jul 10 United we stand, divided we fall cover item, RCUK: sustaining the UK research base by support
excelence with impact from Alan Thorpe (RCUK chair) and
There is no ideal measure of the economic impact of
research view from Research Fortnight (requires subscription).
Latter opinion piece discusses Public support for innovation, intangible investment and
roductivity growth in the UK market sector Imperial College Business
School Discussion paper from Haskal/Wallis.
- 28 Jul 10 Draft
Structural
Reform
Plan from Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (section
7:
universities, science and research)
-
27 Jul
10 Support for early career researchers from STFC. Details
of consultation here,
from which recommendations of ETC ctte were 220 PhD studentships, 12 AFs
and zero PDFs.
- 27 Jul 10 Setting the scene evidence session of Commons Science
and Technology Ctte with Martin Rees from 2:10pm - se transcript
- 22 Jul 10 House of Commons Science and Technology Ctte `setting
the scene` session with David Willetts and Prof Adrian Smith - see
transcript
- 22 Jul 10 STFC seeking input to Spending Review plans
- 22 Jul 10 Should 'blue sky' science be funded in an age of
austerity? from BBC Newsnight
- 22 Jul 10 Physicists defend coffers from a raid by engineers from
Times Higher Ed
- 21 Jul 10 Greenish must go, says Oxford physicist from
Exquisite Life (Research Fortnight blog)
- 20 Jul 10 New advisory committee members appointed by STFC,
including Profs Jon Butterworth and Steven Rose joining Science Board
and Profs Peter Butler, Alan Heavens, Dan Tovey and Alfons Weber
joining PPAN. Prof Jenny Thomas , Science Board chair steps down
to be replaced with (ex-deputy chair) Prof Tony Ryan.
- 20 Jul 10 UK government warned over 'catastrophic' cuts from
Nature
- 16 Jul 10
Submission to the 2010 Spending Review
from Royal Society including
" Short-term budget cuts will put our long-term prosperity at
risk.. The UK should maintain its breadth of research .. a flat cash
settlement will be painful but manegeable; a 10% cash cut will be damaging
.. while a 20% cut will be irreversibly catastrophic for the future of UK
science and economic growth.". Report in
Treasury cutbacks `could mean game over' for British
science from The Times (subscription), 'Game Over' for British Science? from Science
Insider plus Science cuts: the Royal Society takes the gloves off
and Sir Paul Nurse: Don't fight for funds by
attacking colleagues from Eureka Daily (Times blog,
subscription)
- 15 Jul 10 Value-adding enterprise editorial on UK science
advocacy from Nature
- 15 Jul 10 Evidence session for (Commons) Science and Technology
ctte with David Willetts and Prof Adrian Smith at 11am on 22 Jul
- 15 Jul 10 Higher Education speech from BIS secretary of State
Vince Cable, reported in Cable sets out radical plans for academy's future from
Times Higher Ed
- 15 Jul 10 REF panel chairs and timetable published by HEFCE.
- 14 Jul 10 Science cannot be the
sole basis for policy, Willetts says from Times Higher Ed
-
14 Jul 10 John Browne breaks ranks with scientists cover story and
Is good enough enough? view from Research
Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 13 Jul 10 House of Lords Science and Technology Ctte session with
David Willetts - watch here or read transcript (PDF) and see UK science minister quizzed on funding cuts report from
The Great Beyond (Nature blog)
- 13 Jul 10 Rebalancing the economy, starting with
research news item from Royal Academy of Engineering, including
submission (letter and Annex A) to Prof Adrian Smith (Director General Science
and Research, BIS) in response to
questions raised regarding 2010 Science and Research Budget, including
" Much of particle physics work .. makes a lower
contribution to the intellectual infrastructure of the UK compated to
other disciplines.. [particle physics] makes only
a modest contribution to the most important challenges facing society
today, as compared to engineering and technology where almost all of the
reearch
is directly or indirectly relevant to wealth creation. " - see Cut particle physics, engineers tell government from
Laura Hood in Exquisite Life (Research Fortnight blog)
- 13 Jul 10
2010 RAS Fellowship awards
- 9 Jul 10
Government's vision for science in the UK from David Willetts MP at
Royal Institution - see transcript or listen here. See also
'Science aids economy' David Willetts set to say from
BBC Science News, Willetts calls for `imaginative' science funding
interview from BBC Radio 4 Today. Plenty of comments:
- 9 Jul 10 Science and Technology committee members:
Gavin Barwell (Con), Gregg McClymont (Lab), Stephen Metcalfe (Con),
Andrew Miller (Lab, chair), David Morris (Con), Stephen Mosley (Con),
Pamela Nash (Lab), Jonathan Reynolds (Lab), Alok Sharma (Con), Graham
Stringer (Lab) and Roger Williams (Lib Dem).
- 8 Jul 10 REF postponed while Willetts waits for impact
'consensus' news item and Impact 'support' is shaky letter from Prof James
Ladyman in Times Higher Ed
- 2 Jul 10 Astronomy
Forum meeting scheduled for 28 Jul 10 at RAS, to be
attended by Prof John Womersley (STFC Science Programmes Director) and
Prof Keith Burnett (STFC Council) plus SCPP meeting scheduled at
IOP for
29 Jul 10 with representation from STFC and EPSRC.
- 2 Jul 10 Science is a great British success letter from Paul
Nurse to The Guardian.
- 1 Jul 10 Impact hostility is 'melting away' from Times Higher
Ed including " HEFCE's criteria for the [REF] impact
statements
needed to be clearer, and that some subjects - notably physics - were
harder to handle than others "
Jun 2010
- 30 Jun 10 Science's success is society's gain response from Imran
Khan in The Guardian
to Martin Rees makes a religion out of science so his bishops
can gather their tithe
view from Simon Jenkins.
- 29 Jun 10 Second tranch of Labour select committee elections
resulting in appointment of Gregg McClymont, Pamela Nash, Jonathan
Reynolds to Science and Technology Ctte
- 25 Jun 10 BBC Newsnight film: The
Future of British science (iPlayer, 21:30 into broadcast) - see Can Science be an engine of growth in an age of austerity? from Susan Watts'
blog.
- 24 Jun 10 Don't leave physics and chemistry departments with uncertain future from IOP
on IOP/RSC report Follow-up Study of the Finances of Chemistry and Physics Departments in UK Universities (PDF)
- 24 Jun 10 Conservative members of the Science and Technology Ctee announced (Stephen Metcalfe, David Morris, Stephen Mosley, Alok
Sharma). 3
Lab, 1 Conservative, 1 Lib Dem members are still pending.
- 22 Jun 10 Surviving the 21st Century interview focused on
astronomy and space science with Martin Rees, courtesy of Stephen Serjeant
(Open Univ).
- 22 Jun 10 Labour member of the Science and Technology Ctee
announced (Graham Stringer MP).
- 22 Jun 10 June Budget documents - see Britain's budget bloodshed from The Great Beyond
(Nature blog)
- 17 Jun 10
Material World (BBC Radio 4) discusses this week's
MPs and Science: Science, Uncertainty, Evidence and
Policy event for new MPs, plus How to turn politicians on to science view from
Chandrika Nath (POST) in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 17 Jun 10
UK Chair for ESA Council - Acting Chief Exec of UK
Space Agency David Williams to chair ESA Council from 1 Jul 10
plus BIS projects confirmed including International
Space Innovation Centre at Harwell.
- 15 Jun 10 New S&T Committee leader reveals his plans interview
with Andrew Miller, chair of Science and Technology Ctte, in Exquisite
Life (Research Fortnight blog)
- 15 Jun 10
Practical questions in scientific education letters
in The Times (requires registration)
- 14 Jun 10
University cuts will jeopardise Britain's economic
future letters in The Times (requires registration) and Securing our Economic Future with Science and
Engineering (PDF) pre-budget briefing from CaSE.
- Britain's cutting-edge synchrotron in Oxfordshire from
BBC Breakfast and 'Largest science project' using Diamond synchrotron from
BBC News
- 11 Jun 10
News from Science Board from STFC about 2-3 Jun 10 meeting.
Of the £10-15m savings for RCUK in 2010/11, only £200K will be sought from STFC.
- 11 Jun 10 It's go Mars - UK Space Agency funds international Mars Rover from UK
Space Agency
- 10 Jun 10
Unknown quantities editorial and Science economics: What science is really
worth from Nature
- 10 Jun 10
Andrew Miller MP elected
as chair of Science and Technology Committee - see full
results
- 10 Jun 10
Britain closes science-citations gap on US in Times
Higher Ed including "In space science, the US is ranked fourth
behind Canada, the UK and Germany ".
- 10 Jun 10 British scientists fear funding cuts item from BBC
News Channel including nuclear physicist Prof Paddy Regan
- 9 Jun 10
Vote on incoming chair of Science and Technology Committee.
Labour nominees are Graham Stringer MP and Andrew Miller
MP
- 9 Jun 10
Is Debt Putting British Science at Risk? at Cheltenham
Science Festival with Will Hutton, Prof Richard Jones
and Dr Evan Harris - see Packing a Pinch: a good way to frame the case for science
funding report and Is debt putting British science at risk? view from Prof
Jones in Eureka Zone (Times blog).
- 8 Jun 10
RCUK Project Board for implementation of Large Facilities Funding Model
- 8 Jun 10
Science in parliament: Where's the opposition? from
Imran Khan (CaSE director) in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 4 Jun 10
A minimalist Operating Mode for UKIRT (PDF) from Jan
2011 outlined by Prof Gary Davis (JAC Director).
- 4 Jun 10
The impact of astronomy (PDF)
2010 Presidential Address by outgoing president Prof Andy Fabian from
12 Feb 10 in Astronomy and Geophysics (with permission)
- 3 Jun 10
It is still time to "geek the vote"
including `The lack of MPs with scientific training need not be a
barrier to progress' and Evidence suggests that all is not lost from Dr
Evan Harris including `There are too few MPs who know about
science and engineering, and far too few who understand the scientific
method and basic statistics.. the science establishment must throw
off the shackles of deference and polity' from
Eureka (Science magazine from The Times, requires subscription).
- 3 Jun 10
Question on UK Science Spending from Nicholas Soames MP, and Speech from BIS secretary of state Vince Cable MP at
Cass Business School.
- 2 Jun 10
Two brains, no tweets item on David Willetts in
Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 1 Jun 10
Science in the New
Parliament(PDF) note from Parliamentary Office of Science and
Technology, and
MPs and Science: Science, Uncertainty, Evidence and
Policy event for new MPs on 15 Jun 10.
- 1 Jun 10
Research: So What? PR-based research, science communication
and the waste of £1.85m view from Jonathan Mendel and
Alexander Holmes in Eureka Zone (Times science blog)
May 2010
- 29 May 10
Cuts could drive the best scientific talent abroad, says
Lord Rees from The Times
- 28 May 10
Coalition
wants UK space lift-off from BBC Science News including `the [science] minister
said he would be talking to STFC to see how its "controversies"
in recent years could be resolved'. See also UK space doesn't have to return to `Year Zero' from
Jonathan Amos
- 28 May 10
Science Minister publishes membership of
UK's Space Leadership Council from UK Space Agency
- 28 May 10
Peerages, honours and appointments from Prime Minister's
Office, including life peerage for Phil Willis, former chair of
Science and Technology Ctte.
- 27 May 10
Prof Roger Davies warns further cuts to UK
astrophysics `could put in serious jeopardy this jewel in the crown of UK
science' in Times Higher Ed
- 27 May 10
A vision of blue skies shining on `clusters' report on
David Willetts' first week as science minister in Times Higher Ed
- 26 May 10
House of Commons order of business indicates that the
Science and
Technology Committee will be chaired by an MP from Labour, for which
nominees include
Graham Stringer MP and Andrew Miller MP
(announcement expected on 9 Jun 10).
Pat McFadden MP will be speaking for science and engineering until a
formal shadow science minister is appointed in the autumn
(see full front bench lineup).
- 26 May 10
Science funding: Science for the masses from
Nature (PDF)
- 24 May 10
Draft minutes from RAS Council 14 May 2010 meeting.
See new appointments to RAS Council - see
biographies
- 24 May 10
BIS' contribution to Government savings (£10-15m
administrative savings across RCUK), plus UK budget: Science wobbles, university places topple
from The S Word (New Scientist blog) and Government focus on STEM must remain from IOP
- 20 May 10
Willetts: I come not to impose, but to distil in
Times Higher Ed. See also keynote speech from David Willetts, plus new coalition
policy for Universities and Further Education
- 18 May 10
News from Science Board from Apr 2010, including
`There was general agreement that STFC needs a Science Board, and that
its role is crucial during the coming months of change, but there is some
sense that its future role may evolve within the STFC structure'
- 18 May 10
Willetts 'will argue for science' from BBC Science
News and David Willetts: "It's going to be tough" from
Eureka Zone (Times science blog)
- 14 May 10
Review
of STFC Grant Funding mechanisms. Panel members:
James Stirling (chair, STFC Council),
Mark Lancaster, Brian Fulton (PPAN), Mike Bode (Science Board) & Mike
Merrifield. Expected to deliver its report to the STFC Executive in Autumn
2010
- 13 May 10
Professor Roger Davies becomes President of the Royal Astronomical Society
from 14 May 10
- 13 May 10
First interview: David Willetts, new UK science minister from The S Word (New
Scientist blog) including `I do understand the importance of blue skies research and not trying to micromanage the activities of research
scientists,'
- 13 May 10
Scientists' turn to win votes (PDF) from Nature
- 12 May 10
Cabinet appointments include David Willetts as Minister for Universities, Science
and Skills plus Vince Cable as Secretary of State at BIS - see David Willetts becomes new science minister from BBC Science News, Willetts named as universities and science minister from Research Day UK (requires subscription),
New UK science minister: `two brains' Willetts from The S Word (New Scientist blog),
David Willetts named as UK science minister
from physicsworld.com, Thoughts on David Willetts, the new Science Minister from Eureka Zone (Times blog),
Coalition Commitments? from CaSE blog
- 12 May 10
News from Council - April 2010 from STFC
- 7 May 10
Election 2010: A terrible night for science from
Eureka Zone (Times science blog)
and UK election: science is the loser from The S Word (New scientist blog),
UK Election: Science is hung out to dry from The Great Beyond (Nature blog)
- 6 May 10
Notes from Astronomy Forum meeting held in April at NAM 2010
- 5 May 10
Lib Dems' plans for the STFC from Dr Evan Harris in The S Word (New Scientist
blog)
- 3 May 10 Labour answers questions about its science policy from
The Guardian
Apr 2010
- 29 Apr 10
UK Election Digital Debate question on Science Funding from MSSL's Dr Colin Forsyth: `There
has been a collapse in funding for young scientists in astronomy, space
sciences and nuclear physics. How will you protect the UK's investment in
these sciences, prevent a "brain drain" of talent and boost the
UK's position as a science leader?', answered by Labour, Conservative
and Liberal Democrat leaders.
- 29 Apr 10
Science is vital for growth letter in The
Telegraph from Prof Jocelyn Bell-Burnell (IoP, President), Lord
Browne (RAEng, President), Prof Dave Garner (RSC, President), Prof Martin
Rees (Royal Society, President),
Nancy Rothwell (Society of Biology, President) and Ian Shott (Institute of
Chemical Engineers, President)
- 29 Apr 10
Green party answers questions about its science policy
from The Guardian
- 28 Apr 10
High stakes for science in UK election and A guide for the scientific voter from Nature
- 28 Apr 10
Conservative party answers questions about its science
policy
from The Guardian
- 28 Apr 10
Labour response to letter from CaSE,
including
`We recognise the concerns over the Science and Technology Facilities
Council. We will learn the lessons from the structural difficulties faced
by the STFC. Grants will remain with the STFC to deliver investment
continuity.'
- 27 Apr 10
Ukip answers questions about its science policy from
The Guardian
- 27 Apr 10
Parliament will lose much scientific expertise after
election from The Times
- 26 Apr 10
Liberal Democrats answer questions about their science
policy in The Guardian
- 20 Apr 10
Pathways to Impact rebranded Impact Plan from
RCUK - see FAQ
- 20 Apr 10
Conservative and Liberal Democrat responses
to letter from CaSE,
asking them to set out policies for
science and engineering. Labour's response is still pending.
- 15 Apr 10
RAS community afternoon at NAM2010 to include `The future of UK
astronomy' panel discussion with Prof John Womersley (STFC)
plus contributions from FUAP and
NUAP. Dr Bill
Eason (NERC) and Dr Dave Parker (UKSA) unable to attend in person due to
Icelandic volcanic ash grounding UK flights.
-
15 Apr 10
Astronomy Grant's Panel Chairman's report 2009-2010
(html | pdf). By way of context, a historical
overview of AGP responsive
post-doc numbers are illustrated here, including projections for 60 PDRAs/yr from 2010
(assuming a flat-cash settlement for STFC in future spending rounds).
- 15 Apr 10
`Cool' science is still underfunded and undervalued
letter to The Guardian following How science became cool feature by Prof Martin Rees,
Prof Brian Cox etc. from 13 Apr 10
- 14 Apr 10
Liberal Democrat Manifesto 2010 (pdf) and extract relevant to research and education (courtesy of
CaSE)
- 13 Apr 10
Conservative Manifesto 2010 (low-res pdf, 3Mb) and extract
relevant to research and education (courtesy of CaSE)
- 13 Apr 10
Getting physical letter from Prof Jocelyn Bell Burnell
and Prof Marshall Stoneham in The Times
- 12 Apr 10
NAM
2010. Follow discussion via twitter with the #nam2010
hashtag.
- 12 Apr 10
RAS President Prof Andy Fabian
reveals
during NAM 2010 Opening Ceremony
that three 3 year RAS
fellowships will be awarded this year (13
May 2010 deadline, October 2010 start date). Application Form
- 12 Apr 10
PolicyNet Adam Afriyie, speaking at Royal Academy of
Engineering on conservative science policy. See summary courtesy of
British Ecological Society
- 12 Apr 10 Labour Party Manifesto 2010 (pdf), extract relevant to research and education (courtesy of
CaSE), and Labour
policy on Science and Innovation
- 9 Apr 10
Don't experiment with a vision-free UK zone letter to
The Times from Prof Ken Pounds and 27 other Fellows of the Royal
Society including Prof Andy Fabian
- 9 Apr 10
Would a Tory win jeopardise scientific advance? letter
to The Independent from Prof Alan Bull et al. and 21 other
scientists including Prof Sir Paul Nurse
- 8 Apr 10
Evan Harris on Lib Dem science policy from The
Engineer
- 6 Apr 10
Hansard question from Adam Afriyie MP to David Lammy MP
about UK Space Agency costs (£230m budget for 2010/11).
- 6 Apr 10
Who should a scientist vote for? from The
Guardian, UK election: Who will use the S word? from Nick Dusic
(CaSE) in The S Word (New Scientist blog) and The Election for Change leader from The Times
including `[The temptation] to cut back on spending on science,
research and higher education .. must be resisted'
- 6 Apr 10
European Telescope Strategy Review
Committee (ETSRC)
draft report (pdf), co-chaired by Prof Janet Drew and
Jacqueline Bergeron. Feedback views here before 1 May
10
- 4 Apr 10 Britain on the moon editorial in The Guardian
- 4 Apr 10 Opinion: Positive, but hardly logical view on REF
consultation in Times Higher Ed
- 1 Apr 10
Setting priorities for publicly funded research (html|
pdf) report from Lords Science and Technology,
discussed in When will concern over
science funding translate into action? from Nick Dusic (CaSE) in
The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 1 Apr 10
Forget party MPs, vote science MPs from Times
Online and The Big Cull: Where did all the scientists go? in The
S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 1 Apr 10 Synching Europe's big science facilities from
Nature
Mar
2010
- 31 Mar 10 New STFC Council members appointed Mr Will Whitehorn
(Virgin Galactic), Dr Michael Healy (Astrium), Mrs Gillian Ball
(Finance, University of Birmingham), increasing size of Council from 10
to 12 (independent scientists reduced from 5 to 4).
- 31 Mar 10 Website
of new UK Space Agency
- 31 Mar 10 The Legacy Report from Science and Technology
Select Ctte.
- 31 Mar 10 Statement on engaging with stakeholders in the Comprehensive
Spending Review
from STFC
- 30 Mar 10 Watch speech on science funding from Lord Mandelson,
BIS Secretary of State (or read transcript). See £100m for jewel in UK science crown from
BIS about capital investment of £97.4m for Phase III of
Diamond from LFCF (see 2010 roadmap) and RCUK welcomes government announcement of new investment in
research from RCUK
- 30 Mar 10 Speech on 29 Mar 10 about UK science funding from
S&T ctte chair Phil
Willis MP, who is stepping down at the election - also available via
Hansard
- 29 Mar 10 Slides from Prof John Womersley's presentation at
Particle Physics Town
Meeting 2010
- 28 Mar 10 Scientific research
is vital, not a luxury letter from Profs Brian Foster, Roger
Davies, Mark Lancaster, Phil Allport, George Efstathiou and Paul Crowther
in Mail on Sunday following Why i'm a convert to particle physics from 21 Mar
10
- 26 Mar 10 News from STFC Council - March 2010. See also Minutes from 23 Feb 10 meeting
- Prof Mike Edmunds (stepping down from Council) suggested that
STFC must continue to strengthen its attempts to engage with its science
communities in decision-making. He also urged a greater role for STFC in
provision of science advice to Government.
- Council tasked a
sub-group of Council to provide strategic direction and oversight of
STFC's CSR planning, with assistance from the Executive and regular
reports to the full Council.
- Of the eighteen groups in this (AGP
2009) round with current rolling grant support (three year plus two year
awards), six will not continue as rolling grants, though they will
receive standard three-year grants.
- The implementation of the
structural improvements announced in the Drayson Review following his
review of STFC was also discussed by Council, including the importance
of early agreement between the Research Councils on the funding model
agreed for the major UK based science facilities ISIS, Diamond and the
CLF, and clarity before the next CSR on the compensation mechanism for
foreign exchange risk.
- 26 Mar 10 Outcomes of second consultation on REF from
HEFCE and RCUK welcomes outcomes of REF Consultation from
RCUK
- Overwhelming support for research excellence to
continue to be assessed through a process of expert review.
-
Overwhelming support for the quality of research outputs to continue to
be the primary factor in the assessment, and the vitality of the
research environment also to be a significant factor.
- Widespread
support in principle for including an element for the explicit
assessment of impact (many qualified their support by emphasising the
need to develop a robust method for assessing impact, and suggested the
weighting for this element within the overall quality assessment should
be lower than the proposed 25 per cent).
- A significant minority of
responses objected to our proposals for the assessment of impact.
- 25 Mar 10 Volume II (PDF) of Sixth Report of 2009-10 session from
Science and Technology Ctte, The Impact of Spending Cuts on Science and
Scientific Research (oral and written evidence).
- 25 Mar 10 Review of Nuclear Physics and Nuclear Engineering
from Dame Dr Sue Ion and Action Plan from STFC/EPSRC.
- 24 Mar 10 Science Question Time at 10am with Lord Drayson -
watch via parliament tv
- Aurora - Exploring the Moon, Mars and beyond from
BNSC. Read report Aurora
2010 (PDF)
- 24 Mar 10 UK Space Agency announced from ESA and Where's the science in the UK's space agency? from
The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 24 Mar 10 Budget nods at importance of science to economy but proof
will be in the CSR from The Royal Society, What does the Budget mean for science? from Eureka
Zone (Times blog), Budget windfall for STEM places and spin-offs from
Times Higher Ed, Budget boon for science and industry from Chemistry
World, Science spending and advice: the dark art of spin from
The S Word (New Scientist blog), and UK budget: green cash but no long-term science clarity
from The Great Beyond (Nature blog) and response from CaSE
to the 2010 Budget
- 24 Mar 10 MPs express commitment to physics from Institute of
Physics (blog). Read Hansard transcript of debate.
- 24 Mar 10 Fixing a grant system in crisis about EPSRC from
Nature
- 23 Mar 10
New space agency and new international space centre for
UK from BNSC
and STFC welcomes the launch of the UK Space Agency from
STFC.
UKSA is reported in `Muscular' UK Space Agency launched from BBC Science
News, UK Space Agency launched in London from The
Telegraph, UK space agency launches in Swindon with Minister of
Ohter Space, Lord Mandelson from The Times, Lift-off for new space agency which aims to rocket UK out of
recession from The Guardian, Britain launches UK space agency from Financial
Times, UK launches space agency from physicsworld.com,
UK space agency and ISIC created from The
Engineer and UK creates space agency from The Great Beyond
(Nature blog)
- 23 Mar 10 Government response to the UK Space Innovation and
Growth Strategy 2010 to 2030 from BIS. Interview with Lord Drayson
features in A new name and a new logo for Britain in space from
Spaceman (blog from BBC reporter Jonathan Amos)
- 23 Mar 10 Private Members' Debate on the Future of Physics Research (Westminster Hall, 11am) -
watch on parliament tv
- 23 Mar 10 Volume I (HTML)
of Sixth Report of 2009-10 session from
Science and Technology Ctte, The Impact of Spending Cuts on Science and Scientific
Research (PDF). See Science cuts threaten economic recovery, warm MPs press
release. Conclusions
and recommendations include:
- We do not believe that the consideration of pathways to potential
impacts should be used
as a tie-breaker in grant applications (para 36)
- Given that reliable quantification of the economic impact of
investment in science and research is
deeply problematic at best, the suggestion that the Treasury is waiting
for `hard figures' on the
benefit of research causes us great concern (para 37)
- If there is even a perception that British science is suffering as a
result of cuts, the UK will
become a less attractive place for academics to work. With all the work
that has gone into increasing
the demand for science places within HE, it would be an enormous waste of
past effort and future potential
were cuts to be visited upon the sector (para 39)
- Maintaining a broad portfolio of excellent research need not be
mutually exclusive with the
Government identifying and seeking to capitalise upon areas in which the
UK has the potential for world-leading
science, provided that it is done in a transparent and accountable way
(para 43)
- The structure of the STFC as established in 2007 left much to be
desired (para 51)
- We are not satisfied with the outcome of the STFC's reprioritisation
exercise, and consider that
any withdrawals from programmes should be suspended at least until such
time as the next CSR allocations are
known. Otherwise the budgetary fall-out from the unsatisfactory merger of
CCLRC and PPARC will be set in stone
(para 52).
- We are concerned that academia is losing some of its brightest and
best to alternative careers. The
life of a young research scientist needs making more attractive when
compared to the bright lights of industry
and commerce (para 59)
- At a time when public investment in science should be increasing, the
prospect of cuts looms larger
over the UK's science base.
If the Government fails to properly support the science base, there will
be no companies to give tax breaks to
(para 72)
- Failure to continue to increase investment in science would be both
counterintuitive and counterproductive.
Much good progress will be lost and the size of cuts to science are
unlikely to make a significant dent in the
deficit. We cannot at present reconcile the Government's policy ambitions
with its actions, and call upon the
Government to increase spending on science within the next Budget, if it
truly is committed to the principle
of a knowledge-based economy (para 73)
- 23 Mar 10 The new report is discussed in Retrospective impact assessment an `insurmountable'
task from Times Higher Ed, MPs warn science cuts will harm economy from
Chemistry World, Science funding: it's the economy, stupid from The S
Word (New Scientist blog)
and UK government slammed over science cuts from The
Great Beyond (Nature blog)
- 18 Mar 10 New Space Agency is featured on today's BBC Radio 4
Material
World (13:45 into broadcast).
-
Ahead of publication of Impact of Spending Cuts on Science and Scientific
Research report from Science and Technology
ctte, see list of memoranda, including submissions from BIS, RCUK, RAS, IoP, PP Action Group, STFC Science Board
- 17 Mar 10 Budget cuts were necessary & no discipline was singled
out view from Prof John Womersley in
Research Fortnight (requires subscription) - alternatively view PDF
- 15 Mar 10
Announcement of Science and Technology Committee Science
Question Time with Lord Drayson on 24 Mar 10 at 10am.
- 12 Mar 10 Science
budget to be spared from cuts from Financial Times
- 12 Mar 10 `No
science cuts? I'll throw a party' report on science debate from
Times Higher Ed
- 11 Mar 10 Restructure aims to save grants about STFC, Dark
clouds threaten UK prosperity if blue-skies research not a priority
about Royal Society and CST reports from
Times Higher Ed
- Science
must be a major election issue from The Guardian
- 10 Mar 10 Science `is a key election issue' from
BBC Science News, reporting on last night's Science Debate (webcast
available here). Debate is also
reported in Tories start to fill in the blanks in science policy
from Exquisite Life (Research
Fortnight blog) and Science and the general election from
physicsworld.com (blog) and Science funding: less hot air and more specifics from
James Wilsdon (Royal Society) writing in
The S Word (New scientist blog)
- 9 Mar 10 Science and the General Election 2010 debate between
Lord Drayson, Adam Afriyie
MP and Dr Evan Harris MP from 7:30pm, organised by Royal Society of
Chemistry. Live streaming from 7pm.
Follow discussion on twitter with the #scidebate hashtag
- 9 Mar 10 Update from
UKIRT. STFC have agreed that UKIRT will
continue in a `minimal mode operation' from late 2010, enabling
continuation of UKIDSS until at
least Mar 2012
- 9 Mar 10 The scientific century:
securing our future prosperity from The Royal Society, reported in Former science ministers make joint investment call from
BBC Science News, Battling the axe-man from The Economist, Securing UK science from Nature, UK risks `relegation' from top scientific nations, warns
Royal Society in Times Higher Ed, Britain faces dropping down science league
from The Telegraph, Royal Society says research funding cuts will lead to
economic decline
and Cut science and the brain drain starts here from The
Times and Royal Society: Fund science to save the economy from
The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 8 Mar 10 Parties, tell us your science policies letter to The
Times from Advisory Council
at the Campaign for Science and Engineering.
- 6 Mar 10 STFC funding revamped to protect national facilities
from Times Higher Ed
- 4 Mar 10 New
arrangements for STFC from the Department of Business, Innovation
and Skills, plus Ministerial Review of STFC from STFC,
statement from RCUK,
response to restructuring of STFC from Institute of Physics, duplicate
response to restructuring of the STFC from RAS
- 4 Mar 10 Restructure is reported in Promise made on UK physics woes from BBC Science
News, Government moves to protect STFC grants line from
Research Day UK (requires
subscription), UK physicists welcome research council reforms from
physicsworld.com,
Could radical surgery save UK physics funding agency?
from The Great
Beyond (Nature blog), UK Research Council protected by funding changes from
ScienceInsider,
Lord Drayson's plan to save the STFC from Eureka
Zone (The Times blog), and
Have they fixed the broken STFC? from The S Word
(New Scientist blog)
- 1 Mar 10 A Vision for UK Research
from the Council for Science and Technology (CST)
plus response from RCUK and
Research faces `managed or neglected decline' without clear
strategy, says advisory body
from Times Higher Ed and UK science 'must meet challenge' of emerging nations
from BBC Science News
- 1 Mar 10 News
from Science Board from 11 Feb 10 meeting
Feb 2010
- 27 Feb 10 Thanks - but science funding is still at risk letter
from Prof John Dainton (in response to Phil Burnell) in The Guardian
- 26 Feb 10
Transcript of Science and Technology Committee inquiry The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research from 24 Feb 10. STFC discussed from Q275+
- 26 Feb 10
News from Council - 23 February 2010 from STFC including `Recommendations of the AGP had been agreed by PPAN.
Grants to astronomy groups were now being issued, and were expected to be completed by the end of the week [today]' Close
to 75 PDRA awards are anticipated from AGP 2009 (versus 135 from AGP 2006).
- 25 Feb 10 Science minister grilled on budgets and advisers from
Nick Dusic in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 24 Feb 10
Evidence session for Science and Technology Committee inquiry
The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research. Watch session with
Lord Drayson and David Lammy MP from 09:30am on
Parliament TV
- 24 Feb 10
Science being put at risk for a pittance letter from Prof John Dainton in The Guardian
- 23 Feb 10
Finding applications could help save science view from Lord Drayson in The S Word
(New Scientist Blog)
- 18 Feb 10
Research Intelligence: The standard model for science cash from Times
Higher Ed including view from Prof Michael Sterling about STFC's structural problems.
- 18 Feb 10
Transcript (uncorrected) of oral evidence from 10 Feb 10 Science and Technology
Ctte inquiry The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research.
- 17 Feb 10
Research careers: UK is losing its international science
appeal view from nuclear physicist Prof Ralf Kaiser in Research
Fortnight (Requires subscription) including `funding for nuclear physics has just been
cut by the STFC in a way that beggars belief. The UK has pulled out of a
series of large international projects (XFEL, FAIR). As a result the UK is increasingly losing credibility
as a collaborator in international research. UK research is giving up exactly those future projects that
attract young researchers, whether from the UK or abroad.'
- 16 Feb 10
Nuclear
physics and technology: Inside the atom report from Institute of Physics plus
The UK should take pride in its nuclear alchemy from Jim Al-Khalili in The
S word (New Scientist blog) and
Promoting nuclear physics
from physicsworld.com (blog)
- 15 Feb 10 Science and the General Election 2010
Announcement of debate featuring Adam Afriyie MP, Lord Drayson and Dr Evan Harris MP at 7:30pm on 9 Mar 10 (Portcullis House)
- 12 Feb 10
Showcasing the applications of physics from physicsworld.com
highlighting Physics for an advanced world report from Institute of Physics, launched
at House of Commons on 9 Feb 10.
- 12 Feb 10
Announcement of 235 PhD studentships from STFC for 2010 (10 per cent below
nominal 260 quota that was anticipated prior to 25% cut in ETCC funds). Full
quota of 12 Advanced Fellowships awarded.
- 11 Feb 10 Science: where now? Nairne Lecture from science minister Lord Drayson
- 11 Feb 10
Astronomer Royal tackles space, politics and scientific advice interview
with Prof Martin Rees in physicsworld.com
- 11 Feb 10 Manifesto
for UK General election of 2010 from Institute of Physics
- 10 Feb 10 Call for nominations to STFC's Science Board, Committees and Peer Review Panels including Science Board, PPAN and ETCC
- 10 Feb 10 Evidence
session for Science and Technology Committee inquiry
The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research. Watch session -
including Adrian Smith (Director General, Science and Research, BIS) - from 09:30am via
Parliament TV reported in Russell Group head grilled by MPs over claim cuts would set sector back 800
years from Times Higher Ed
- 10 Feb 10 Plans to expand Britain's space industry to create £40bn a year business from The
Guardian, Strategy to grow UK space sector from BBC Science News and Space report won't inspire the next generation from The S Word (New Scientist blog)
about Space Innovation and Growth Strategy for UK
- 9 Feb 10 Tories: prepare for major science cuts from The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 8 Feb 10 Transcript (uncorrected) of oral evidence from 3 Feb
10
Science and Technology Committee inquiry
The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific
research.
- 5 Feb 10 Release of Final report from PPAN
and Final report
from PALS for STFC Science Programme Prioritisation 2010-2015
- 5 Feb 10 UK will no longer boldly go in space letter
led by Prof Michele Dougherty and news item Cassini mission to Saturn is to lose British involvement
in The Times
- 4 Feb 10 Search for a positive signal letter to Times
Higher Ed from Prof Paul Crowther
- 4 Feb 10 RCUK's back-office blues as project blows budget while
delivering less from Times Higher Ed
- 4 Feb 10 The STFC: what went wrong from Prof Jon Butterworth in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 4 Feb 10
Cassini flies on but with UK involvement in doubt from Spaceman (BBC science blog)
- 4 Feb 10 Alarm sounded over demise of physics teaching from The Independent and A-level physics is not
available at one in four schools in The Times quoting Prof Peter Main (IoP) during Children, Schools and Families
Select Committee evidence session Teaching of STEM subjects from 3 Feb 10
- 3 Feb 10 Oral evidence session for Science and Technology Ctte
inquiry
The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific research.
Watch
on Parliament TV.
Witnesses are: 9:30am Lord Broers (Board Chair, Diamond Light Source), Prof Brian
Cox (Manchester), Nick Dusic (CaSE), Sir Peter Williams (Royal Society);
10:30am Ian Gray (Technology Strategy
Board CEO), Dr Tony Peatfield (Director of Corporate Affairs, MRC), Prof Michael Sterling (Chair STFC),
Prof Alan Thorpe (Chair RCUK) reported in Today in
Parliament from BBC Radio 4 (24 min into broadcast) and `Now is the time to invest in science, not to make cuts' news item in
Times Higher Ed
- 3 Feb 10 Cuts leave UK's world-leading physicists in the dark
view
from Dr Alex Murphy in Research Fortnight (requires subscription) or view PDF
- 3 Feb 10 The impact of research - so hard to pin down from
Jonathan Wolff in The Guardian
- 2 Feb 10 Transcript of Commons Liaison Committee evidence session with Rt Hon
Gordon Brown MP, including Q21-Q28 about the planned investment in science from Phil
Willis MP (chair of Science and Technology Ctte)
Jan 2010
- 29 Jan 10 Input to
review of STFC
from UK Nuclear Physics Community
- 29 Jan 10 Survey
of Academic Appointments in Physics from 2004-2008 (UK and Ireland)
from Institute of Physics.
The two most populated research areas are currently astro/cosmology/space
physics (23% of the total)
and high energy and particle physics (15%). Over the 5 year survey period,
the physics academic
community grew by 12% (for previous 5 year period see Survey of Academic Apointments in Physics 1999-2004).
- 27 Jan 10 Announcement of oral evidence session on Wed 3
Feb 10 for Science and
Technology Ctte inquiry The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific
research with
Lord Broers (Board Chair, Diamond Light Source), Prof Brian
Cox (Manchester/CERN), Nick Dusic (CaSE), Ian Gray (Technology Strategy
Board CEO), Dr Tony
Peatfield (Director of Corporate Affairs, MRC), Prof Michael Sterling
(Chair STFC), Prof Alan Thorpe (Chair RCUK)
- 27 Jan 10 False alarms editorial and
Debt crisis threatens UK science news feature from
Nature referring to STFC and wider UK research funding cuts looming
- 27 Jan 10 News from STFC Council from 26 Jan 10
- 26 Jan 10 Written Answer to Adam Afriyie MP about the STFC
review from David Lammy MP
- 25 Jan 10 Government not to blame for nuclear physics cuts, says
Drayson in Research Day UK (requires
subscription) citing 18 Jan 10 letter to community including
`The decisions regarding nuclear physics have been
taken by STFC and it is for STFC to implement them. I hope that you will
appreciate therefore that it would be
inappropriate for me to intervene now that the results have been
announced'
- 25 Jan 10 Letter to Lord Drayson regarding STFC Review from Prof
George Efstathiou
- 22 Jan 10 Recommendations for review of the Science and Technology
Facilities Council from IoP.
- 21 Jan 10 Minutes of 15 Jan 10 Astronomy Forum,
plus Submission to Drayson structural review of STFC
- 20 Jan 10 Cuts will cripple nuclear science view from Paddy
Regan and Physicists unite editorial from Research
Fortnight
(requires subscription - alternatively see lightly-edited version from blog)
including At times, government science strategy appears to amount to
keeping the dogs hungry, throwing them the occasional
bone, then watching the pack calmly negotiate gnawing rights. Managing the
scrap appears to have become the lot of the hapless STFC... Our
physical scientists deserve better.
- 18 Jan 10 Minutes of 11 Dec 09 RAS Council meeting
- 17 Jan 10 Lasers would never have shone if Mandelson had been in
charge from The Observer
- 15 Jan 10 Astronomy Forum. Minutes of Forum are now available
here. Emphasis of first half of Forum on
December Prioritisation Exercise
Emphasis of second half of Forum on Lord Drayson review of STFC structural
issues
- Prof Michael Sterling (STFC chairman). Introduction
- Prof Keith Mason (STFC CEO). Solution to structural problems
- Prof Paul Crowther. STFC's structural problems
- Q&A
Draft input to review will be circulated among Astronomy Forum members by
Jan 20, to be submitted shortly
thereafter. Provide input to Paul Crowther or Andy Fabian on that
timeframe.
- 15 Jan 10 Ministers
are entitled to sack advisers, say Tories from BBC Science News
and
We `just don't like them' is adequate reason to dismiss
advisers, claims shadow science minister
from Times Higher Ed following
CaSE Science and Engineering Policy Debate
- 14 Jan 10 Too many cooks, not enough cash from Times Higher
Ed revealing 14% increase
in number of full-time UK academic staff from 2003/04 to 2007/08
(Sustainability of the UK research workforce annual
report from RCUK - read PDF). UK astronomy
community increased by 12.6% over that period (PPARC/STFC studentship
quota exercise)
- 14 Jan 10 Tory government would postpone REF, Willetts reveals
from Times Higher Ed
- 14 Jan 10 The impact of spending cuts on science and scientific
research new inquiry from Commons
Science and Technology Ctte, including an invitation for written
submissions (before noon in Wed 27 Jan) on
issues including (a) the implications and effects of the announced STFC
budget cuts; (b)
the scope of the STFC review announced on 16 December and currently
underway.
- 14 Jan 10 UK parties' science spokesmen meet again from Nick Dusic
(CaSE director)
in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 13 Jan 10 CaSE Science and Engineering Policy
Debate between Lord Drayson, Adam Afriyie MP and Dr Evan Harris MP
from 7:30pm. Webcast will be available here
- 13 Jan 10 UK physicists warn of brain drain over funding freeze
from Physics World
- 12 Jan 10 STFC cuts will lead to `brain drain', claim scientists
from Times Higher Ed citing Open Letter from advisory panel chairs to Lord Drayson
(duplicated here)
- 12 Jan 10 Science needs more blue-sky thinking from Roger
Highfield in The Telegraph
- 12 Jan 10 Response to STFC
Prioritisation from MIST
- 12 Jan 10 Response from STFC Chairman Prof Michael
Sterling to letter from Prof Michele Dougherty (NUAP chair), reproduced here
- 12 Jan 10 UK facilities crisis: the fallout could be devastating
Part Two of view from Prof Brian Cox
in The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 12 Jan 10 Scientific Council Ruckus Continues from
ScienceInsider (Science Magazine, blog)
- 12 Jan 10 Don't blame financial crisis for STFC cuts, says Cox
from Research Day UK (requires subscription)
- 12 Jan 10 Joint Pain item on RCUK Shared Services
Centre from Private Eye including `The [SSC] project was
announced as a £40m deal with Fujitsu, with
internal documents showing £4m in further costs. RCUK now says
" The full cost of the project is planned
to be £120m.". Apparently costs are even more
(£132.5m, with STFC contributing 25-30 per cent of costs) - see Research Councils sign £40 million contract with
Fujitsu RCUK press release from Feb 2008
- 11 Jan 10 UK facilities crisis: cock-up or conspiracy?
Part One of view from Prof Brian Cox in
The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 7 Jan 10 UK facilities
cuts 'fair and balanced', says agency quoting Prof John Womersley
from The S Word (New Scientist blog)
- 7 Jan 10 Nobel laureates: don't put money before science from
The Independent
- 7 Jan 10 I'll leave - how's that for
impact? from Times Higher Ed and Penalties for 'non-productive
research' may prompt academic brain drain, says survey from The
Times. See also Third
of professors would quit UK over research row, warns poll from
UCU
- 5 Jan 10 Final report of
Ground-Based Facilities Review
- 4 Jan 10 STFC shake-up on the horizon from Research Day UK
(requires subscription)
- 1 Jan 10 UK Physicists Cry Foul At Major Budget Cuts from
Science
Dec 2009
- 31 Dec 09 STFC could lose oversight of international links from
Times Higher Ed
- 29 Dec 09 JAC statement
on
JCMT and UKIRT including `no decision has yet been taken to close
[UKIRT]' reported in Future of two telescopes on Mauna Kea uncertain from
Honolulu Advertiser
-
28 Dec 09 Today from BBC Radio 4, guest editor Prof Martin
Rees, including The future of space exploration item including Dr
Christopher Chyba
- 26 Dec 09 Our World Mission Makers feature on UK space industry (including EADS Astrium
role in Aurora programme) from BBC News Channel
- 23 Dec 09 Review of STFC structural issues. Note from STFC
Chairman, Professor Michael Sterling
- 22 Dec 09 FUAP
statement to PPAN and Response from
Advisory Panels to STFC Chair, available from FUAP webpage
- 22 Dec 09 51 years later we still undervalue research letter
to The Times and Biologists run ahead in research funding race news item
in The Independent
- 21
Dec 09 ING's Position Statement on STFC's 16 December Press
Release
- 21 Dec 09 STFC Education and Training Programme including
Education, Training and Careers Committee
(ETCC) has decided that its top priorities should be the PhD studentships
and advanced fellowship programmes, and has therefore decided to preserve as
far as possible the number of new awards in these two areas.
ETCC has accordingly recommended that STFC should not award any new
postdoctoral fellowship awards in 2010, rather than the 12 fellowships
initially proposed. The decision to not award new postdoctoral fellowships
applies only to 2010. ETCC believes this action will allow STFC to limit
the reduction in the number of new studentships and advanced fellowships
from 25% to around 15% in 2010.
- 21 Dec 09 Letter to Lord
Drayson on STFC
review from RAS President Prof Andy Fabian, and STFC
programme
prioritisation news item from Institute of Physics
- 21 Dec 09 Statement from LOFAR-UK on STFC Science Prioritisation
- 21 Dec 09What's in store in 2010? from Physics World
- 19 Dec 09
UK nuclear physics cuts will harm international research
letter to The Times
- 19 Dec 09 Slides from Prof John Womersley presentation at STFC Town Meeting during Annual Particle Physics Theory Meeting
-
18 Dec 09 Atomic
devastation? from Times Higher Ed
- 18 Dec 09 ESA Member States give green light
to ExoMars
programme
€850m award following ESA Council meeting - see ESA council gives go ahead for ExoMars from STFC. Reported in Europe's Mars missions get final go-ahead in BBC Science News
- 17 Dec
09 BBC Radio 4 Today item
with Prof Paddy Regan (Nuclear physicist, Univ of Surrey) and Prof John Womersley (STFC).
- 17 Dec 09 No more
booms, just
bust
from The Economist including The cuts, needless to say, have gone down like a cup of cold sick with many in the
scientific
community.
- 17 Dec 09 Funding decisions must be
based on
science needs not short-term cost cutting from Prospect Union,
STFC funding axe bodes ill for UK
science from
Chemistry World
- 17 Dec 09 Physics funding deeply cut from Telegraph (blog) and
UK physics budget slashed from Physics Today (blog)
- 17 Dec 09 Correction from Times Higher Ed about last week's news in brief item.
- 17 Dec 09 Submissions focus on the weighting of impact in REF - Concern that 25% is too high
is a theme among many of some 300 responses - from Times Higher Ed
- 17 Dec 09 Very brief post-announcement notes on these pages in FAQ section.
- 16 Dec 09 STFC: Investing in the future 2010-15
Outcome of 2009 STFC prioritization exercise
announced at 2pm. See
Media Conference Presentation Slides, Science board, PPAN,
and PALS News, plus FAQs, and discussion forum. Headline slide
and figures:
- Balanced budget from 2011/12 if flat cash allocation
- £14m from other Research Councils for 2010/11 to support existing grants;
- 10 percent cut for new exploitation grants thereafter, and 25 percent cuts to PhD studentships;
- Continued compensation for major subscriptions assumed, allowing continued membership of ESO, ESA, CERN
(flat cash assumed, any increases in ESO subscription for ELT would be found from astronomy programme)
- Strategic shift of £25m p.a. in
resources from PPAN to PALS to fully exploit Harwell facilities (including Diamond and ISIS) between 2010/11 and 2014/15, plus
ESRF and ILL (at Grenoble), although no money for NLS or XFEL;
- PPAN ground-based facilities R&D for E-ELT and SKA retained, JCMT and ING funded until 2012, withdrawal from
Gemini (Dec 2012),
UKIRT, LOFAR-UK, LT, while e-Merlin
survives for
strategic reasons;
- PPAN space facilities Funding for Aurora/ExoMars, Cosmic Vision (LISA Pathfinder, Solar Orbiter), GAIA, Herschel,
JWST-MIRI,
Planck, Swift, STEREO, Rosetta, Bepi-Colombo, but withdrawal from Cassini, Cluster, SOHO, XMM, Venus
Express.
- PPAN particle/particle astrophysics Funding for Advanced LIGO, ATLAS, CMS, GridPP, LHCb, MICE, SuperNEMO, T2K, but
withdrawal from
ALICE, Auger, MINOS, Boulby, UK Neutrino Factory
- PPAN nuclear physics Funding for NUSTAR (at FAIR) but withdrawal from PANDA, AGATA
- 16 Dec 09 RAS and IoP response to STFC Prioritisation
Exercise
- 16 Dec 09 Science and Technology Committee Press Notice about STFC, including We are hugely disappointed that any cuts have to be made to
the science research budget. We are hugely disappointed that studentships and fellowships will be cut.
It is clearly unacceptable that any Research Council has to bear the brunt of increased cost as a
result of the vagaries of currency fluctuations. The Government needs to establish a centrally-driven, robust system for funding
international subscriptions based on scientific peer review.
- 16 Dec 09 Statement from Science Minister Lord Drayson, including `However, it has become clear to me that there are
real tensions in
having international science projects, large scientific facilities and UK grant giving roles within a single Research Council. It
leads to grants being
squeezed by increases in costs of the large international projects which are not solely within their control. I will work
urgently with Professor
Sterling, the STFC and the wider research community to find a better solution by the end of February 2010.
- 16 Dec 09 A statement from the Particle Physics
Community on STFC
announcement
- 16 Dec 09 UK science faces funding cutbacks from BBC Science
News, UK physics hit by savage cuts from
Physics
World, Funding
cuts mark `sad day for British science' from The Guardian and STFC slashes funding for astronomy and physics from
Times Higher Ed
- 16 Dec 09 Prof Brian Cox science funding film and studio debate on BBC2 Daily Politics programme
- 16 Dec 09
Russell Group deplores funding cuts for young scientists from Russell Group
including We are deeply concerned about the impact of STFC's decision to cut 25% of its studentships and fellowships, to reduce
funding for particle physics and astronomy research in UK universities, and to withdraw from a number of international projects
and
facilities.
- 16 Dec 09 British physics faces up to cuts from Nature
(blog), Astronomy and nuclear physics face more cuts from
FT (science blog), Nuclear physics hit hardest by STFC cuts from New
Scientist (blog), The axe falls from Research Research (blog) and
British Science Funding Cuts Strike Nuclear Physics, Astronomy, and More from Science (blog)
- 16 Dec 09 UK nuclear
physics research at
risk
letter and Funding cuts `threaten
to kill UK's
nuclear research programme' news item from The Times
- 16 Dec 09 Pre-announcement briefing notes on these pages in FAQ section.
- 16 Dec 09
Space agency excitement tempered by money worries and Scientists fear the worst
is
to come at STFC from Research Fortnight (requires subs)
- 16 Dec 09 Protest over research funds
plan about REF from BBC News and UK research funding proposal is 'irresponsible' from Nature
- 15 Dec 09 An atomic catastrophe comment from Prof Jim Al-Khalili in The Guardian
- 15 Dec 09 Under
the radar
opinion about REF from Prof Donald Braben in Times Higher Ed. Consultation ends at lunchtime on 16 Dec 09.
17,570
people have signed the UCU statement on
the REF
proposals.
- 12 Dec 09 The Brit
stuff from Times Higher Ed about BNSC Space Exploration Review.
-
11 Dec 09 UK physicists prepare for `deep'
budget
cuts
news from Physics World, plus RAS appeals of Drayson ahead of STFC cuts and Space agency is a go in Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 10 Dec 09 Science Minister Announces New Executive Agency For UK Space and
Satellite Industry from BNSC - read Speech from Lord Drayson at RAL- and New executive agency to be created from STFC. RAS welcomes UK space agency from RAS. Agency reported in
UK
to have dedicated space agency from BBC News (plus brief item 23 min
into Radio 4 BBC Six O'Clock News), UK space agency is go from The Guardian, from The Telegraph,
coinciding with publication of Space Exploration Review from BNSC highlighting
role of bilateral MoonLITE mission.
- 10 Dec 09 STFC Prioritization Exercise letter from RAS President
Prof Andy Fabian to Lord Drayson
- 10 Dec 09 STFC deficit nears £70m news in brief from Times Higher Ed
- see Correction
- 9 Dec 09
2009 Pre-Budget Report includes £600m cuts
to higher education, science and research budgets (p.110), although science budget unchanged for 2010/11 according
to Lord Drayson via Twitter. See Science and education budgets face `bleak'
£600m cuts from BBC, report from Education Guardian plus response from CaSE and UUK
- 4 Dec
09 Top scientists attack funds plan
from BBC Science News about proposed
REF impact metric (consultation deadline is on 16 Dec 09).
- 4 Dec 09 Upcoming Science and Engineering Policy Debate featuring Lord Drayson, Adam Afriyie
MP and Dr Evan Harris MP organised by CaSE in London on 13 Jan 2010
- 3 Dec 09 Lord Drayson defends REF's principles in Times Higher
Ed and Lord Drayson, Lord Rees, and the impact agenda in
Eureka Zone (Times Online)
- 3 Dec 09 Science Matters: It pays to fund research from
Times
Online
- 3 Dec 09 Thousands of academics call for impact to be axed and The worst of all worlds view from Sally Hunt (UCU, general secretary)
in Times Higher Ed
- 2 Dec 09 Science and Technology Ctte session with Prof Alan
Thorpe (Chair RCUK) on `The work of the Research Councils' - watch via
Parliament TV from 10:00 or read transcript.
Session reported in RCUK chairman warns against funding cut from Research Day UK
- 2 Dec 09 What price the secrets of the universe? comment on `blue skies'
debate in The Guardian
- 2 Dec 09 Britain losing top scientists to 'brain drain', economists warn in The Telegraph
-
1 Dec
09 Science, we have a problem report on Blue Skies Ahead?
debate from Times Higher Ed, Drayson grilled over impact and STFC from Research
Day UK (subscription), Drayson grilled over impact from Exquisite Life (Research Research blog),
UK science minister in the stocks from The S Word (New Scientist blog) and Putting a value on fundamental
research
from Physics World (blog)
- 1 Dec 09 Physicists fear CERN costs are a threat to nuclear energy research from The
Times and Nuclear physicists air their worries on STFC from The Great Beyond (Nature blog)
Nov 2009
- 30 Nov 09
Research funding cuts could jeopardise UK nuclear power
programme in The Guardian
and Is British nuclear physics doomed? from The S
Word (New Scientist blog)
- 30 Nov 09
Blue
skies ahead? debate,
including science minister Lord Drayson, streamed live from 7pm here. Podcast to be available from 6pm GMT on 1 Dec
09
- 26 Nov 09 News
from 24 Nov 09 STFC Council meeting, reporting upcoming decisions
on programme prioritisation
by PPAN (30 Nov/1 Dec 09), Science Board (7-8 Dec 09) and
Council (15 Dec 09)
- 26 Nov 09 NERC takes responsibility for
Earth-related STP, including research grants and support for
EISCAT
- 26 Nov 09 Universities `could live with' 20 per cent impact
weighting in Research
Day UK. Universities UK will ask HEFCE to reduce the weighting given
to impact in its
response to the REF consultation according to UUK President Steve Smith.
- 26 Nov 09 They're not unreasonable opinion piece about economic
impact from Prof Dave Delpy (EPSRC
CEO) in Times Higher Ed
- 25 Nov 09 UK physics council
sees grim future from Nature News
- 25 Nov 09Fears over future of science ring-fence from Times
Higher Ed
- 24 Nov 09 What's in store for UK science? report from The
Great Beyond (Nature blog) and UK science policy thrashed out - gently from The S
Word (New Scientist blog) following Cross-party debate on Science Policy in the UK in
Cambridge on 23 Nov 09
- 20 Nov 09 STFC Programme Prioritisation exercise, setting out core
goals and a timeline including key dates between now and Spring
2010
- 19 Nov 09 Revised strategy document from NUAP
- 18 Nov 09 Don't panic editorial about proposed REF impact
assessment in Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 17 Nov 09
Gemini
Board Announcement following Nov 09 Board meeting, reporting
UK intention to withdraw from partnership in Dec 2012 (see
STFC Statement)
- 12 Nov 09
Council cuts 'public engagement' awards from Times
Higher Ed
- 5 Nov 09
Letter to RCUK from 48 senior academics (including 10
Nobel laureates) against the use of economic impact
in research proposals, reported in Managers and scholars divided as resistance grows to impact
agenda news item in
Times higher Ed
- 5 Nov 09 Announcement of Blue skies ahead?
The prospect for UK science BIS/THE/Wellcome Trust debate on 30 Nov
09, featuring Lord Drayson,
reported in Roll up for blue-skies battle in Times Higher Ed
- 3 Nov 09 No to REF proposals from RAS, encouraging members
to sign the UCU
petition to withdraw the current REF proposals
relating to impact (REF consultation from HEFCE is
open until
6 Dec 09).
Oct 2009
- 30 Oct 09 The £1m expenses bill for quangos from Channel
4 News
- 30 Oct 09 News from 27 Oct 09 STFC Council meeting.
- 29 Oct 09 The wrong kind of STEM: UK needs fewer psychologists and
more physicists news item in Times Higher Ed
- 28 Oct 09 News from 19-20 Oct 09 Science Board meeting
- 27 Oct 09 Response from RAS to
cancellation of Large Awards Scheme for public engagement from STFC
- 26 Oct 09 News from 28-29 Sep 09 PPAN meeting, outlining
new prioritisation exercise.
- 26 Oct 09
Response from the Government Office for Science (GO-Science)
to Jul 09 `Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of
Government Policy' report
from IUSS Committee
- 26 Oct 09
Department for BIS is seeking applications for three non-exec members of STFC Council;
two senior industrialists and one finance director.
- 22 Oct 09 Nobel laureates join fight against impact-based research
funding news item and Objectors to impact are not few, but many letter
(pdf format) from Prof Philip Moriarty in
Times Higher Ed referring to a Stand up for research statement from UCU plus
an ongoing e-petition against the use of `impact' for assessment
of research funds.
- 22 Oct 09 RAS Council minutes from 9 Oct 09 including a
question and answer session with Prof Keith Mason.
- 20 Oct 09
STFC submission to consultation on UK civil space
activities, which outlines its investment of £72.2m (£10.3m)
for 2008/09 and £90.5m (£12.3m) in 2009/10 towards mandatory
(optional) ESA programmes. See new Space: A key asset for Europe to face global challenges
brochure from ESA.
- 16 Oct 09 Notepad entry from Lord Drayson confirming that
STFC is due to repay £40m of the £90m additional payments
received in 2008/09 and 2009/10 before the end of CSR07 (i.e.
during 2010/11).
- 14 Oct 09 New Questionnaire from NUAP as part of ongoing prioritization exercise.
Deadline 4 Nov 09
- 14 Oct 09
Deadline for
consultation on funding and management of UK civil
space
activities. Read BNSC consultation document.
- 14 Oct 09
Deadline for feedback on report from Ground-based Facilities Review.
- 14 Oct 09 Inaugural session of
Science and Technology Committee
with Lord Drayson and Prof John Beddington at 9:45am,
broadcast on Parliament TV. See transcript including Q27-Q36 from Dr Evan Harris MP
about STFC's budget, reported in news item from Research Day UK,
followed by Q37-Q40 from Ian Cawsey MP and Phil Willis MP
on the issue of a proposed space agency.
- 13 Oct 09 Transcript
of 23 Apr 09 STFC Community Forum from JENAM09 (published in
The
Observatory, Oct 2009)
- 8 Oct 09 Five-year grants? Try 12 months and
Top countries in space sciences from Times Higher
Ed
- 8 Oct 09 What's space ever done for me? from Tim Bestwick (STFC
Innovations, formerly-CLIK)
in The Independent Science News.
- 7 Oct 09 Particle physics grants to last only one year cover
story from Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 7 Oct 09 STFC, The
Sunday Times and CERN notepad entry from Lord Drayson plus Drayson firm on CERN plans from Research Day UK
(requires subscription)
- 7 Oct 09 Britain's Nobel winner condemns science funding reform
from The Guardian
- 5 Oct 09
Institute of
Physics statement about Cash cuts hit space science, plus STFC denies CERN pullout rumours from Research Day UK (requires
subscription)
- 5 Oct 09 STFC Advisory Panel Reports to PALS and PPAN
- 4 Oct 09 Cash cuts hit space science from Sunday Times and
response from STFC's Chief Executive Prof Keith Mason
- 3 Oct 09 In search of the next Stephen Hawking in The
Guardian
- 2 Oct 09 Performance of the UK Research Base from
BIS, reported in UK research`G8's most efficient' from BBC Science
News
- 2 Oct 09 A Conservative approach to British science from Nature news
- 1 Oct 09 Report from Ground-based Facilties Review. Deadline for
further feedback is 14 Oct 09
- 1 Oct 09 Science and Technology Committee re-established, chaired
by Phil Willis MP. Inaugural session with Science Minister Lord
Drayson and Chief Scientific Advisor Prof John Beddington on
14 Oct 09
- 1 Oct 09 Hands off our boffins! and `Only excellent science has survived thus far' - but not
for long from The Register
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
- 31 Jul 09 STFC Annual Report 2008-09
- 30 Jul 09
Prof Michael Sterling appointed as Chair of STFC Council (from 1 Aug
09 for four years).
- 30 Jul 09 Space agency needed to drive, if not fund, work, professor
says from Times Higher Ed
- 30 Jul 09 Minutes from Astronomy Forum 23 Jun 09 meeting
- 29 Jul 09 MPs lament government `contempt' of parliament and
Space agency needs budget to have clout, scientists
warn from Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 25 Jul 09 In praise of .. astronomers editorial from The
Guardian
- 24 Jul 09 Notes from GBFR Town Meeting from 9 Jul 09.
Deadline for responses to questionnaire is 31 Jul 09
- 24 Jul 09 Will the next House of Commons be a science-free zone?
from Times Online
- 23 Jul 09
IUSS committee Eighth report from 2008/09 session `Putting Science and
Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy' and Science reduced to political bargaining chip: MPs say Government must
raise is game press notice, reported in Scientists `kept at arm's length' and Science is now `bargaining chip' from BBC Science
News, MPs want
science anchored at the heart of government from FT, Science being sidelined in Britain, report says from The Telegraph, Ministers who ignore science
facts should be exposed say MPs from The Times, Abandon `out-of-date' Haldane principle on research priorities from Times Higher Ed
- 22 Jul 09 A new vision for new times from STFC - see
Vision Brochure
- 22 Jul 09 12-week consultation on creation of UK Space Agency - see
consultation document from BNSC
- 22 Jul 09
ESA touches down in UK as part of ambitious vision to
strengthen Britain's space economy - see also launch
event speech from Lord Drayson and Europe eyes `innovative UK space' from BBC
Science News and ESA establishes its first research centre in UK from
The Guardian
- 21 Jul 09 A new space age for Britain beckons as BIS launches
consultation on creation of a British Space Agency press release.
- 21 Jul 09 Report from IUSS committee on pre-appointment hearing with the Chair-elect of the STFC
Prof Michael Sterling (candidature approved on 30 Jul 09).
- 20 Jul 09 Consultation on 'UK space agency' item from BBC Science News, It's blast-off Britain as ban on space flight ends from The Times and Government could set up space agency to boost chances of a Briton going to Mars from The
Telegraph - see response to consultation from IUSS committee chair Phil Willis MP
- 16 Jul 09
Announcement of publication of IUSS Committee report `Putting Science and Engineering
at the Heart of Government Policy' at 00.01am on 23 Jul 09, plus report on
`Pre-appointment hearing with the Chair-elect of the STFC, Prof Michael Sterling' at 11am on 21 Jul 09
- 15 Jul 09 Britain may leave Gemini, after all cover story from
Research Fortnight (requires subscription) - alternatively view PDF
- 13 Jul 09
NUAP call for further community input following
9 Jul 09 open meeting (see summary).
Deadline for input: 24 Jul 09
- 13 Jul 09
Pre-appointment hearing for Prof Michael Sterling (candidate for
incoming Chair of STFC Council) with IUSS committee (4:15pm, Committee Room 8, Palace of
Westminster) - watch via
Parliament TV or read transcript of session.
- 12 Jul 09
Transcript of interview with Lord Drayson about British
space policy from BBC Politics Show
- 10 Jul 09 Update on STFC corporate strategy including feedback report on consultation process
- 10 Jul 09 Deadline for FUAP
questionnaire and PAAP
questionnaire (latter now extended to 31 Jul 09).
- 09 Jul 09 Ground-based Facilities Review town meeting (09:30)
and Near-Universe Advisory Panel community meeting (13:30)
at Royal Astronomical Society, reported in Astronomers face tough choices on ground-based
facilities from Research Day UK (requires subscription)
- 09 Jul 09 RAS concern at cut in STFC Advanced Fellowships from RAS
- 03 Jul 09
Candidate for STFC Chair post announced - Prof Michael
Sterling (Brunel V-C from 1990-2001; Birmingham V-C from 2001-2009)
selected as preferred candidate for STFC Chairman, to replace Peter Warry.
Pre-appointment hearing with IUSS
committee on 13 Jul 09 (4:15pm, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster)
- 03 Jul 09 Response
from The Prime Minister's Office to e-petition to repeal the EPSRC policy of scientific blacklisting.
- 02 Jul 09
Right where it belongs
view from Science Minister Lord Drayson and Master of our Universe view from Dr Kevin Fong in Times Higher Ed
- 01 Jul 09
ISIS
and Diamond hit in latest STFC cutbacks
news item from Research Fortnight including " Some neutron scientists have privately criticised the
composition and outlook of the STFC's Science Board, saying it is dominated
by particle physicists and astronomers and neglects neutron science."
- 01 Jul 09
Weak pound set to hit home in year ahead
news item from Research Fortnight including " The weakness of the pound is taking time to work
through the system, and its full impact will only be felt
next year... [Research] Councils could be in line for a £100m hit in 2010-11: £65m for international
subscriptions
and £35m to other payments made in foreign currencies"
- 01 Jul 09 Interview with ESA Director-General Jean-Jacques Dordain
on BBC HARDtalk, including debate about cost increases for
ExoMars and ESA's manned space programme
Jun 2009
- 29 Jun 09 STFC cuts hit research centre budgets
from Times Higher Ed
- 25 Jun
09 STFC Budget 2009/10
including "
The programme maintains funding for standard and rolling grants at the
level previously forecast for 2009-10.
The 2009-10 programme includes some rephasing of funding for a small
number of programmes, reduced allocation to Diamond, and reductions in
facility operations at ISIS
and the CLF" from Prof Keith Mason, plus reduced support for CASU
and WFAU, and deferred spending on MoonLITE until Apr 2010 - see response
from
Institute of Physics plus news item UK
physics
hit by new cuts from Physics World and STFC cuts funds to key facilities from Chemistry
World
- 25 Jun 09 Science and tech commmittee reborn news item from
BBC Science News. "We look forward to taking science
and technology back into the premier league this autumn."
according to Phil Willis MP (who will chair the new committee) from an
IUSS committee press release.
- 25 Jun 09 The case for investment in science comment from Prof
Jocelyn
Bell Burnell in Times Online
- 25 Jun 09 UK launches most ambitious review of space industry to
date quoting Science Minister Lord Drayson " The strategy will
look at how to make our society more space aware and how to help the next
generation of engineers, scientists and even lawyers to get involved in
space"
-
24
Jun 09 FUAP questionaire with
deadline of 10 Jul 09 for
community responses - see also initial FUAP
Science Strategy document (PDF)
-
23 Jun 09 Flagship ISIS facility to go `part-time' in wake of
funding cuts from Times Online (STFC Council meeting held today
at Daresbury Lab)
- 23 Jun 09 It's not rocket science: we must raise our game comment
from Prof Martin Rees in The Times
- 23 Jun 09 Written answer by David Lammy MP to question from Adam Afriyie MP
about additional Government funding to Research Councils, including £51M in 2009/10
for international subscriptions (£42M for STFC and £9M for NERC) plus loans of
£26M (08/09) and £20M (09/10) to STFC to be repayed before
end of CSR07 (Mar 2011).
- 23 Jun 09 News from Science Board from 20-21 May 09
meeting.
- 18 Jun 09 Commons questions to Harriet Harman MP
about reformation of a science and technology committee from David
Heath MP, Dr Brian Iddon MP and Phil Willis MP,
views also supported by shadow science minister Adam Afriyie MP (PDF). Select Committee announcement expected during
Commons debate on 25 Jun 09
- 17 Jun 09 Drayson joins push for science committee news item, Sinking ship editorial and Why science should be properly funded and
curiosity-led view from Prof Brian Cox (PDF), all from
Research Fortnight
- 16 Jun 09
Europe's Mars mission scaled back item on ExoMars and
Drayson supports oversight call from BBC
Science News
- 16 Jun 09 Mandelson's mission to build knowledge and creativity
and Science minister wants select committee only for science
news items from Times Higher Ed, Education and business hand in hand view from
Lord Mandelson Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and
Skills
and How long will this one last? analysis in
Education Guardian
- 13 Jun 09 Research priorities are confused letter to The Times from
Prof Ken Pounds in response to Research has a huge impact on society letter from RCUK
Chief Executives on 11 Jun 09.
- 12 Jun 09
MPs call for Government to establish a House of Commons science and
technology committee following DIUS/BERR merger press release from IUSS committee, and
release of special report
The future of science scrutiny following the merger of DIUS and BERR,
a proposal supported by CaSE and the RAS and
reported in Science policy scrutiny `at risk' from BBC
Science News. In addition, further reaction to merger Lords condemn `retrograde' department merger in Times Higher Ed
- 11 Jun 09 House of Commons Questions to Minister for Business, Innovation and Skills, Pat
McFadden MP about the lack of either `universities' or `science' in the title of his
new Department from Dr Evan Harris MP, Sir Patrick Cormack MP and Adam
Afriyie MP
- 11 Jun 09
Questionnaire from Particle Astrophysics Advisory
Panel (PAAP)
- deadline 10 Jul 09
- 11 Jun 09 Into the arms of Mammon leader and 'Universities' out as DIUS is succeeded by business ministry news item
from Times Higher Ed plus Scientists fear Mandelson's wider empire from FT.
- 10 Jun 09
Announcement of publication of Fourth Special Report
of 2008/09 from IUSS Committee on The Future of Science Scrutiny
following the merger
of DIUS and BERR on Fri 12 Jun 09 at 11am, UK science shuffled again from Nature,
Universities 'delighted', not horrified, by new ministry,
Mandelson claims from Times Higher Ed, plus Education, education, education leader and Dismantling DIUS could cost millions from The
Guardian.
- 9 Jun 09
Defence job for science minister from BBC Science
News plus Mandelson says new department will put science at centre of
vision of Britain's future prosperity from Department of Business,
Innovation and Skills.
- 8 Jun 09
Astronet/Opticon European Telescope Strategy Review Forum for
panel (chaired by Janet Drew and Jacqueline Bergeron) considering how
to cost effectively use European 2-4 m telescopes. Forum is open for
comments - deadline 31 July 09
- 8 Jun 09
Fears over fundamental science as Mandelson takes over
from Research Day UK (requires subscription) quoting Royal
Society response to government changes.
See also IUSS committee chairman responds to news that DIUS is to be disbanded press release from Phil Willis MP
including " I will be writing to the Leader of the House asking for consideration to be given to the creation of a Committee on Science and Engineering when the
IUSS Committee is itself disbanded", From DIUS to DBIS: an exchange on what it means for science from The Times
Blog: Science Central and UK government simply sees science as a tool for profit from Guardian:
Science Blog
- 7 Jun 09
Quango executives'
expenses bills obtained under FoI from Sunday Times including
" The official with the biggest expenses bill over the two years was Keith Mason, head of the STFC,
who claimed £76,705. His role involves extensive travel, which accounted for the bulk of his claims. "
- 5 Jun 09
Deadline for response to consultation
questionnaire from NUAP (Near Universe Advisory Panel).
Community consultation from FUAP (Far Universe Advisory Panel)
is anticipated shortly.
- 5 Jun 09
Changes
to the machinery of Government reporting new Department for
Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), representing merger of DIUS
and BERR headed by Lord Mandelson (John Denham MP is promoted to
Communities Secretary), reported in
Universities merged into business from BBC
Education News, Universities 'side-lined' by creation of new super-ministry from Telegraph, Mandelson takes charge of universities from
Education
Guardian, UK science pulled back to business from Nature
and Universities department abolished from Times Higher
Ed, the latter reporting "The real casualty of this
ill-thought out
re-organisation is the nation's strategic science base" from
Phil Willis MP. See reaction from Science Minister Lord Drayson, CaSE press release, and concerns about DBIS from
The Ethical Palaeontologist in her blog.
- 5 Jun 09 RAS Council minutes from 8 May 09
- 3 Jun 09
Ground-based Facilities Review Panel
release consultation document -
questionnaire (
deadline 31 Jul 09) - and announcement of open meeting on 9 Jul
09 in London (at RAS to coincide with NUAP consultation meeting)
- 3 Jun 09
How can science help build a better future? speech from
Science Minister Lord Drayson at Cheltenham Science Festival
- 3 Jun 09
Why particle physics? editorial from Research Fortnight including
" Should it ever come, the day Britain pulls out of it [CERN] will be the last day on
which she pretends to exercise any useful influence on European civilisation. "
- 2 Jun 09
Audit aims to plug black hole in STFC funding news
item from Times Higher Ed
- 2 Jun 09
e-petition to promote discovery and innovation in
UK science
May 2009
- 28 May 09STFC update to science community on consultation process
from Prof John Womersley
- 28 May 09 Particle physics - It Matters
report from IOP/STFC. See IOP Particle
physics is not just black holes and antimatter press release and
Particle Physics - It Matters, says UK policy makers
news report from Physics World
- 22 May 09 Letters to The Guardian (including from Prof
George Efstathiou) in response to comment from Lord Drayson on 18 May 09
- 21 May 09 Physics to feel pinch as STFC comes up short from
Times Higher Ed referring to STFC Council minutes from 24 Mar 09
- 21 May 09 Physicists collide with Austria over CERN pullout from
Times Higher Ed, including "The STFC, on behalf of the UK,
has no plans to pull out of CERN. " (see
update from 19 May 09)
- 21 May 09 On
the verge of a paradigm shift - space science in the UK news item
from Institute of Physics.
- 20 May 09 Haldane principle intact, says next RCUK chairman
reporting interview with Alan Thorpe (NERC, Chief
Executive) in Research Fortnight (requires subscription) - see
link
- 20 May 09 ESA news announcing six new astronauts, reported in Europe unveils British astronaut and Understanding the UK's space `anomaly' items from BBC
Science News
- 18 May 09 IUSS Committee: Final evidence session for
inquiry into `Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government
Policy'
with Science Minister Lord Drayson and Chief Scientific
Advisor Prof John Beddington at 4:15pm (Thatcher Room, Portcullis
House) - read transcript especially Q366 to Q379 -
followed by Science Question Time with Lord Drayson - read transcript especially Q45 to Q54. Watch session on Parliament TV
- 18 May 09 RCUK
announces five areas of reprioritisation news item from RCUK - see
presentations by Research Council chief executives
from RCUK
Research
for our Future event from 6 Apr 09
- 18 May 09 Built on brainpower from Lord Drayson in The
Guardian plus letter in response about social and economic impact.
- 18 May 09 Message
from Gemini Observatory Director regarding the termination of WFMOS
- 15 May 09 Community
consultation
questionnaire from NUAP (Near Universe Advisory Panel).
Deadline for response is 5 Jun 09, in advance of community meeting
on 9 Jul 09.
Minutes from 16 Apr 09 NUAP meeting.
- 14 May 09 'Blacklist' fear remains despite EPSRC's moves news item
in Times Higher Education
- 11 May 09 These men would've stopped Darwin comment in The
Guardian
- 6 May 09 Budget 2009-10 update from STFC, including review
of major neutron and light source
facilities (Diamond, ISIS, CLF, ESRF, ILL)
- 6 May 09 Amendments to Policy for Repeatedly Unsuccessful
Applicants. New EPSRC grant submission rules will now apply from
Apr 2010 plus one application per annum will be accepted from
all investigators - see UK scientists get funding ban reprieve from
Nature and UK research council backtracks on funding ban from
Physics World News
- 6 May 09 Future shock editorial, Budget deals harsh blow to DIUS news item in
Research Fortnight (requires subscription) - see Feeling the pinch graphic
- 6 May 09
STFC set to avoid cutting external awards news
items in
Research
Fortnight including `I think there's a genuine desire to not close
the grants line down.. its always going to be tight but I don't think its
going to get worse' from Prof Martin Barstow - see link
- 6 May 09 Learn when to quit on pricey projects, advises ESA news
item in Research Fortnight quoting Prof David Southwood
referring to BepiColombo, plus `Europe could be better
served by running fewer, communal projects' according to Jean-Marie
Hameury (Astronet coordinator)
- 6 May 09 UK misses a competitive trick view from Nick
Dusic (director of CaSE) and Budget supports today's science, but what about the
future? view from Martin Taylor (Royal Society,
vice-president) in Research
Fortnight
- 1 May 09 STFC announces review of ground-based astronomy
chaired by Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson. Review membership includes
Prof Rob Fender, Dr Melvin Hoare, Prof Rob Ivison, Dr Richard McMahon,
Prof Don Pollacco. Review will need to
report in Autumn, ahead of decisions over UK involvement in Gemini
beyond the current agreement (required at Nov 09 Gemini Board)
- 1 May 09
Clover and out for UK telescope from Physics World (requires
subscription)
Apr 2009
- 30 Apr 09
Now you see it, now you don't leader, State demands £106 million research refocus, news
item including opinion piece from Prof Martin Rees in response to
budget 2009 plus FEC review calls for tighter governance and monitoring
news item about RCUK/UUK Review
of the Impact of FEC in Times Higher Ed
- 30 Apr 09 Submission to IUSS Ctte for inquiry `putting
science and engineering at the heart of Government policy' from
Royal Society
- 30 Apr 09 Basic researchers protest UK budget news item from
Nature
- 29 Apr 09 memo to
STFC staff from Prof Keith Mason following 28 Apr 09 Council
meeting
- 27 Apr 09 Presentation from Prof John Womersley at STFC
Town Meeting during High Energy Particle Physics meeting at IoP on 7
Apr 09
- 27 Apr 09 Near Universe Advisory Panel (NUAP) Plan of Action.
The Panel will
inform the community via the Astrocommunity/MIST/UKSP and Planetary Forum
mailing lists. A Web based questionnaire will be made available in
mid-May 09 to solicit inputs on future scientific challenges and
requirements. A community meeting will be held on 9 Jul 09 in
London. The Panel Chair, Michelle Dougherty, will make a presentation to
PPAN in Sep 2009.
- 27 Apr 09 Minutes of RAS Council meeting from 12 Mar 09
including report on Astronomy Forum meeting with Prof
Keith Mason from 11 Mar 09
- 23 Apr 09
- Community Forum at JENAM 2009 featuring panel
discussion
including Prof Keith Mason and Prof Mike Cruise
moderated by RAS President Prof Andy Fabian. Confirmation
of ground-based astronomy facilities review chaired by Prof Michael
Rowan-Robinson looking ahead to 2020. Community consultation
anticipated from May-Jul 2009.
Review is of relevance to
decisions on UK Gemini involvement post-2012 (needed in advance of
Nov 09 Gemini Board meeting).
This session was reported in a Falling pound forces further cuts at STFC news item
in Research News UK on 24 Apr 08 (requires subscription).
Alternatively, see here
- 23 Apr 09 STFC 2009-10 Funding Allocation following 2009
Budget (Memo to STFC staff from Prof Keith Mason)
- 22 Apr 09
2009 Budget, outlining £400 million savings for
DIUS in 2010-11, including £118 million savings by reducing Research
Council admin costs and refocusing spend on research priorities, plus
£106 million Research Council savings to be re-invested to support
key areas of economic potential (Table 6.1). See letter from DIUS Secretary of State John Denham MP
including `The (Research) Councils will be developing plans over
the
next few
months to refocus their research programmes for 2010-11 into new
priority areas.'
- 22 Apr 09 Royal Society response to budget press release,
including `It is important to `ringfence` rather than erode an
adequate budget for top-grade innovative researchers in any field: the
value of our universities lies in the transformative discoveries that
emerge unpredictably and unplanned' from Prof Martin Rees. Budget refocuses the Science Budget from
Campaign for Science and Engineering press release, and IUSS Committee Chairman responds to Budget press
release.
- 22 Apr 09 Disappointment greets Budget announcement from
Times Higher Ed, Industrial R&D tops basic science in Budget news
item from Research Day UK (requires subscription)
- 22 Apr 09 Scientists to present vision for world-leading light
source news item and Changes to EPSRC funding rules undermine scientific
merit view from Research Fortnight (requires subscription)
- 22 Apr 09 UK to bid for Mars sample centre including
greater involvement in ExoMars by the US and other partners.
- 21 Apr 09 Economic Impact in Peer Review. STFC rolling and
standard grant
applications will be required to produce a plan identifying potential
economic impacts
- 20 Apr 09 Speech from Science Minister Lord Drayson
opening JENAM 2009
- 16 Apr 09 Advisory Panels to PPAN membership announcement
- 16 Apr 09 The stimulus of science from Prof Martin Rees in
The Guardian
- 15 Apr 09 Bank chief `wrong` about science interview with
Prof Roy Anderson (Rector of Imperial) from BBC Science News
- 14 Apr 09 News from Science Board including appointment of
new
board members Prof Tim Wess (Cardiff), Prof Neville Greaves
(Aberystwyth) and Prof Neville Harnew (Oxford), in part replacing
Board members Prof Sir Peter Knight (Imperial College, now STFC Council)
and Prof Douglas Kell (Manchester)
- 6 Apr 09 Current Status of Clover statement from CLOVER team in
Cardiff (duplicate statement from Oxford)
- 3 Apr 09 £2.8m shortfall shuts down telescope research news
item on CLOVER from Times Higher Ed
and Facilities council calls time on major astronomy project
from Research Day UK (requires subscription)
- 2 Apr 09
Joint society statement pushing for a sustained investment in research
from
Institute of Physics, Royal Academy of Engineering, EPSRC, Royal Society
of Chemistry, Royal
Society and Council for the Mathematical Sciences
- 1 Apr 09 Various STFC funding shortfall items, following on
from the 2008
Programmatic Review. New review of current ground-based
optical/IR facilities, chaired
by Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson (for discussion
see e-Astronomer blog).
- 1 Apr 09 The Clover experiment has been cancelled despite being highly rated in Prog Review - reported in It's all over for Clover news item from Physics
World (for discussion see telescoper blog and
e-Astronomer blog).
- 1 Apr 09 Science Minister Lord Drayson is due to open
JENAM 2009.
Russell Group VC's intend to invite Prof Adrian Smith to their next
meeting to discuss issues surrounding funding by STFC.
- 1 Apr 09 Royal Society
launches inquiry into the long-term prospects for UK science and
innovation news item on `The Fruits of
Curiosity' inquiry, due to be published in Mar 2010.
Mar 2009
- 26 Mar 09 A cut too far editorial and UK funding ban sparks protests news item from
Nature about new EPSRC grant application policy
- 26 Mar 09 Chemists up in arms over EPSRC's exclusion policy news
item and EPSRC grant policy endangers UK science letter in
Times Higher Ed
- 24 Mar 09 Call for supplementary evidence from IUSS
committee no later than 20 Apr 09, relating to Lord Drayson's
recent
proposals on strategic science funding (outlined during his 4 Feb
09 speech to the Foundation for Science and Technology).
- 24 Mar 09 Ask John Denham a question about research, education,
innovation and their role in economic recovery. Deadline for questions
is 28 Mar 09 (responses now posted)
- 19 Mar 09 Minutes of Astronomy Forum meeting of 11 Mar 09
including submission to STFC Strategy
consultation
- 19 Mar 09 Blue skies or no sky at all view from Dr Kevin
Fong and Serial failures barred from further bidding for grants
news item in Times Higher Ed
- 18 Mar 09 Much left for newly interactive facilities council to
do
opinion piece from Prof Paul Crowther and news story Research councils seek £1 billion stimulus
in Research Fortnight
-
17
Mar 09 ESO
Questionnaire for input to ESO User's Committee. Responses needed
before 3 Apr 09
- 17 Mar 09 Interview on BBC Radio 4 Today with
Nick Dusic (Campaign for Science and Engineering) on proposed
extra
spending on science research from DIUS, reported in
Ministers' £1bn UK science plea from BBC
Science News
- 16 Mar 09 Watch or read transcript of IUSS evidence session for inquiry
`Putting Science and Engineering at the Heart of Government Policy' from
3:45pm,
including Prof Adrian Smith (DG for Science and Research) and
Nick Dusic (Campaign for Science and Engineering).
Read transcipt or watch earlier session from 25 Feb 09
including evidence from Prof Martin Rees.
- 12 Mar 09 Reducing the Pressure on Peer Review announcement from
EPSRC. From 1 Apr 09, EPSRC will no longer accept uninvited
resubmissions of proposals. See RCUK Efficiency and Value for Money of Peer review
Projects where the original consultation and responses are available,
plus e-petition asking the Prime Minister's Office to
repeal this policy.
- 11 Mar 09
- Astronomy Forum meeting - see minutes
- 9 Mar 09 STFC Strategy Consultation Meeting organised by
Institute of Physics. A second strategy workshop is planned for 18 Mar
09, organised by
STFC (invited participants only). Strategy feedback welcome until 20 Mar 09.
- 6 Mar
09 RAS
Council minutes from 12 Feb 09
- 4 Mar 09 Focus on strategic choices comes with development, not
research view from Prof Martin Rees and Pioneering vision - not letter from Prof Ken
Pounds in Research Fortnight. Prof Rees comments on recent
statements by ministers about the balance between basic and targeted
science, while Prof Pounds responds to the RF
view from Prof Thomas on 18 Feb 09
- 2 Mar 09
STFC Council - Role and composition
announcement about changes to membership of
STFC Council
Two STFC Executives resign from Council with immediate effect (Prof Richard Wade and
Prof Colin Whitehouse) plus Prof Annelia Sargent resigns from 31 Mar 09, to be replaced by
Prof Martin Barstow, Prof Sir Peter Knight and Prof James Stirling. See also Council
statement
on its role and relationship with the Executive.
Feb 2009
- 27 Feb 09
Debate about science funding between Lord
Krebs and Prof Don Braben on BBC Radio 4 Today
programme, pre-empting Romanes Lecture from Rt Hon Gordon Brown MP
- 26 Feb 09
Backing for appliance of science to UK strengths from Times Higher Ed
- 19 Feb 09 Staying ahead:
Investing in research in the down-turn speech from Secretary of State John Denham MP at
Royal Academy of Engineering, reported in news item Denham endorses call for extensive review of science budget in Research
Day UK quoting Prof Martin Rees as being `perplexed' by
its contents.
- 19 Feb 09 Learn to convince politicians view from Ian Taylor
MP in Nature, plus hear his comments on today's BBC
Radio 4 Leading Edge programme, together with view of Roger
Highfield on content of John Denham's speech.
- 19 Feb 09 Particle physicists fear PhD funding 'disaster' news
item about proposed changes to PhD studentship allocations in Times
Higher Ed
- 18 Feb 09 Particle physicists next in line for STFC cuts news
item and views When the bank gets billions.. from
Prof Jenny Thomas and ...what is the value of science? from
Prof Luke Georghiou in Research Fortnight
- 12 Feb 09 Modest revolt to save research from red tape letter,
Scientists call for a revolt against grant rule they claim
will end blue-skies research news item plus Short-term outlook, no blue skies leader in
Times Higher Ed
- 12 Feb 09
Academics warn against policy of 'picking winners' to
fund news items in Times Higher Ed,
following up Foundation for Science and Technology Lecture by
Lord Drayson at the Royal Society on 4 Feb 09 - watch his speech
To what extent should UK funding for science and
innovation be focussed? plus response by Prof Martin Rees
- 4 Feb 09
IUSS committee evidence session with Prof Keith Mason at
9:30am in Portcullis House, following up Science Budget Allocation
report from 2007-08 session - Watch via Parliament Live or read transcript. In response to Q127 from Graham
Stringer MP, Prof Mason acknowledged that £3M of the extra £9M (announced in
Oct 08) which had been freed up by DIUS reducing STFC's
liabilities to exchange rate variations would now be used for special
'technology transfer'
schemes, with the remainder to alleviate planned reductions for the 2009
and 2010 grant rounds.
This session was reported in a news item
from Mason to reveal STFC allocation letter in Research
Day UK including Phil Willis MP suggesting that the Grant
Organisational Review was a `total whitewash' and `If it
[the Review's reliance upon STFC's self-assessment] happened to a group of
MPs we'd be laughed out of court'.
- 2 Feb 09
Chairs for new STFC Advisory Panels include Prof Michele
Dougherty for Near Universe Advisory Panel
(NUAP) and Prof Bob Nichol for Far Universe Advisory Panel (FUAP). Terms of Reference for these advisory panels to PPAN have also been made available.
- 2 Feb 09
New signs of life detected at Jodrell Bank as telescope enters future of space exploration
about e-Merlin in The Guardian
Jan 2009
- 29 Jan 09
Science Minister calls for a focus on research that boosts economy from Times
Higher Ed
- 28 Jan 09
Minutes of inaugural Astronomy Forum meeting from 21 Jan 09
-
27 Jan 09
Announcement of IUSS committee evidence session with
Prof Keith Mason on Wed 4 Feb 09 at 9:30am in Portcullis
House, following up Science Budget Allocation report from 2007-08
session.
- 27 Jan 09
Drayson calls for science strategy
in Research Day UK - Speaking at his first Science Question Time with the House of Commons IUSS
Committee, [Lord] Drayson said that tough decisions would need to be
made about which areas of science would
yield economic benefits for the UK as funding restrictions begin to bite.
Drayson said that he wanted to open a debate about which disciplines
should be considered strategically important for the country, noting that
the UK has the potential to become a `world leader' in life sciences,
thanks to the information held within the NHS, the funds available to
researchers from charitable funders and the strong support shown by the
public for their work.
- 26 Jan 09
Putting science and engineering at the heart of Government
policy IUSS committee evidence session with Lord Drayson
from 4:15pm, followed by Science Question Time at 5:15pm.
Listen here or wait for transcript to be made available within a few days.
- 26 Jan 09
A DIUS memorandum (see Memorandum 1 from full set of memoranda, including submissions from STFC and IoP) released to coincide
with the IUSS inquiry includes an item detailing how the Director General of Science and
Research (DGSR) has committed to wider consultation in the run up to the next
Spending Review, including formal advice from (i) The Royal Society; (ii)
Royal Academy of Engineering; (iii) the British Academy; (iv) the Council for
Science and Technology; (v) Chief Scientific Advisors Committee; (vi) The
Confederation for British Industry. Early in the process the DGSR would
attend a Council meeting of each of the above bodies, who would publicly
submit advice both before the departmental submission to the Treasury and
after the allocation is received, but before the allocations to each
Research Councils are made.
- 26 Jan 09
CIHE
Policy Group briefing note The Demand for STEM Graduates and Postgraduates
made available during IUSS evidence session.
- 23 Jan 09
RAS Council minutes from Dec 08
- 22 Jan 09
News from Science Board from 14-15 Jan 09
- 21 Jan 09 Call for nominations to STFC's Science Board, Committees
and Peer Review Panels. STFC are looking for two new members of
Science Board to start immediately - deadline for applications is 6 Feb
09 - plus 4 new members of Science Board due to normal rotation of
membership, 5 for PPAN, 8 for PPRP, 4 for ETCC - deadline for applications
is 28 Mar 09
- 21 Jan 09
STFC review fails at it core view from Prof Ian
Halliday including `I am extremely worried that since the
destructive tensions of the past 15 years have not been explicitly
addressed, debated and resolved, with the agreement of the appropriate
players, we will soon have yet another restructuring or funding
crisis' and
Unified, in theory editorial about STFC
Organisational Review including `Prompt action on several fronts
will clearly be necessary in order to convert the STFC into an
effective and prestigious research agency' from Research
Fortnight
- 21 Jan 09
STFC offers fresh start with strategy consultation
news item about Organisational Review and Strategy Consultation from
Research Fortnight and End of the affair `interesting if true' item over
release of Organisational Review just before Christmas.
- 16 Jan 09
Second report of 2008/09 from IUSS parliamentary Ctte The work of the Committee in 2007/08,
including paragraph 28-29 in Section 2 on the Science
Budget Allocations: `We were highly critical in our report of
DIUS and the STFC and took the view that they had both handled the
situation in a cavalier and unprofessional way and that there are
fundamental issues relating to the allocation of budgets, the
setting of priorities and the Haldane principle which need further
consideration. This is an issue in which we continue to take a
close interest and we will take further evidence from the STFC
early in the new year' plus criticism of DIUS in paragraphs 47-48 in
Section 4 on Relations with the Government
- 15 Jan 09 IYA2009 opening ceremony at UNESCO, Paris
- 15 Jan 09 Europe expects busy year in space from BBC Science
News
- 8 Jan 09
UKIRT Switching to Wide Field Mode from Feb 09
- 8 Jan 09
Review warns `much to be done' news in brief from
Times Higher Education
- 5 Jan 09
Review calls for changes at the top at STFC news item
about STFC Organisational Review from
Research Day UK (requires
subscription - alternatively view html)
- 1 Jan 09 Announcement of the Resignation of the Chairman of Science
Board from STFC. Sir Peter Knight steps down as Chair of
Science Board, to be replaced by Prof Jenny Thomas (until
Jul 09)
Dec 2008
Nov 2008
- 28 Nov 08
Space agency funding defies downturn in Nature
News, including ``No final decision was reached on ExoMars .. but
cancellation .. was avoided. Ministers .. gave the programme
€850
million, enough for work to begin, while capping ESA's overall
contribution at €1 billion up to its launch. A final funding
decision will be taken in September 2009 following a technical review
and discussions of how much NASA and other international partners can
contribute to make up the shortfall in the programme's [€1.2
billion] budget''
- 28 Nov 08 RAS President welcomes new commitments to astronomy and
space science from Royal Astronomical Society
- 27 Nov 08
New ESA cenrre in United Kingdom from ESA News
- 26 Nov 08
Europe's 10bn-euro space vision from BBC Science
News, Britain's first space facility will monitor the health
of
planet Earth from The Guardian, also reported in STFC
Press Release European Space Centre at Harwell and BNSC news
release
Deal Struck on UK-ESA research centre and GMES. STFC
investment in the mandatory ESA science programme will be €234.5
million over the next three years, plus €110 million for the
general
infrastructure budget (STFC and NERC), an increased contribution of
€165 million for the Enhanced ExoMars Mission, and €6.5
million for the Mars Robotic Exporation Preparation Programme.
- 25 Nov 08
Europe debates space station cost in BBC Science
News including `The British delegation has not released any
details about the status of the negotiations [on ExoMars]'
- 25 Nov 08 Minister calls for UK space facility from
The Guardian -
read speech by Lord Drayson at ESA Ministerial Council
- 24 Nov 08
Europe meets to set space goals from BBC Science
News
about
2008 ESA Ministerial
- 24 Nov 08
Final hurdle for UK's Moon shot from BBC Science
News about MoonLite, also reported in Britain's
first mission to the Moon to probe mysterious moonquakes in The
Telegraph
- 24 Nov 08
The case for investment in science from STFC
Chief Executive Prof Keith Mason, addressing Foundation for
Science and Technology meeting on 19 Nov 08
- 21 Nov 08
Letter to RAS Fellows from President Prof Andy
Fabian
- 19 Nov 08
Neutron users to Drayson: say `yes' to European
Spallation Source cover
story and Forward with Europe editorial in
Research Fortnight (requires subscription), following up
on Sep 08 STFC Council minutes `The indication from the
neutron community at the recent Annual Neutron Users Meeting and
during
the Programmatic Review was not to proceed with the ESS, but to
concentrate on ISIS and ILL', views denied by members of the
community at a neutron users meeting on 17 Nov 08, chaired
by Prof Don Paul
- 19 Nov 08 MPs question EPSRC priorities news item and
Universities find slim pickings at EPSRC analysis in
Research
Fortnight (requires subscription) following up concerns from
members
of the IUSS committee about the redirection of funds away from
responsive mode grants, following a 12 Nov 08 evidence session with EPSRC Chief Executive David
Delpy
- 19 Nov 08
A taste of the entrepeneur interview with Lord
Drayson in Research Fortnight (requires subscription) -
alernatively read html
- 18 Nov 08
Europe space plans face `crunch' in BBC Science
News about next week's ESA Ministerial
- 17 Nov 08
Vacancies for two academics or individuals from
industrial/commercial sector to STFC Council - deadline 3 Dec
08.
Further particulars, together with details of the
timetable for these positions are available through
BERR (Appointment Panel includes Peter Warry, Prof Keith
Mason and Prof Jocelyn Bell-Burnell)
- 16 Nov 08
Paul Drayson: He's Buzz Lightyear of the cabinet
from
Sunday Times
- 14 Nov 08
Why is
science important? project, funded by Wellcome Trust, featuring
comments by scientists
including Prof John Womersley.
- 5 Nov 08 Protesting physicists scolded by Wakeham
from Research Fortnight (requires subscription). Alternatively
read html version of news item.
-
5 Nov 08 What should the STFC do next? opinion piece from
Prof Brian Foster from Research Fortnight (requires
subscription). Alternatively read html version.
- 4 Nov 08 News from STFC Council from 24 Oct 08 including
recommendations about Aurora programme for ESA Ministerial on 25-26
Nov, plus minutes from 23 Sep 08 Council meeting
- 3 Nov 08
transcript of 29 Oct 08 IUSS committee evidence
session considering the DIUS Departmental Report, including witness
testimony from Ian Watmore and John Denham MP - see
questions 203-205 about the Haldane Principle and responsive mode physics
grants.
- 1 Nov 08
Future of physics 'under threat' from BBC UK News -
including interviews with Prof Brian Foster,
Prof Jocelyn Bell Burnell and Prof Andy Fabian
Oct 2008
- 31 Oct 08 STFC Corporate Strategy. Formal consultation on
Strategy to begin in December. Until then, the Strategic Framework has now been released
- 31 Oct 08 RCUK Review of UK Physics meeting at IoP.
Speakers included Prof Ian Diamond , Prof Bill Wakeham,
Prof Peter Main. Presentations are due to be made available
shortly.
- 30 Oct 08 Physics is too male and middle class, Wakeham says in
Times Higher Education
- 22 Oct 08 BAE eyes Daresbury for robotics centre (link requires
subscription) - alternatively view cover story from Research Fortnight
- 22 Oct 08 Physicists claim victory in STFC turnaround (link
requires subscription) - alternatively view news item from Research Fortnight
- 22 Oct 08 Bubbling retorts (link requires subscription) -
alternatively view interview with shadow science minister Adam Afriyie
MP in Research Fortnight including `I think that merger [to
create the STFC] was
botched. We now are where we are...hopefully, the situation will
stabilise. At the moment, we don't feel any great urgency to unpick the
STFC'
- 22 Oct 08 Unless we get smarter, we'll get poorer opinion
piece from Royal Society President Prof Martin Rees in The
Telegraph
- 21 Oct 08 Minister of vroom interview with the new science
minister Lord Drayson in Education Guardian - see also
Science miniser urges investment in BBC Technology News
- 21 Oct 08
Letter
from RAS President
Prof Andy Fabian (copied to all RAS fellows)
to chair of STFC organisational review Dr David Grant
- 21 Oct 08
Maths and science `end decline' in BBC Education News - see
HEFCE
press release
and link
to interview with Prof David Eastwood on BBC Radio 4 Today
programme.
- 17 Oct 08 Europe delays its ExoMars mission in BBC
Science News reporting a launch delay from Nov 2013 until
2016, with ExoMars' leading contributor Italy not prepared to put any
more cash into the €1.2 billion mission (see also The UK's search for life on Mars article about ExoMars
in A&G - link password protected)
- 17 Oct 08 Question about funding for
astronomy/particle physics versus climate change during BBC Radio
4 Any Questions? debate. Panel includes Jack
Straw
MP and Prof Brian Cox - read transcript
- 17 Oct 08 Deadline for comment on DIUS
Vision for Science and Society strategy document.
- 16 Oct 08
Britain should not abandon curiosity-driven research
letter from Prof Andy Fabian in Nature (requires
subscription) including 'The drastic budgetary measures in the
STFC took place while [David] King was still advising the government, and
the UK continues to make contributions to the ESA at little more than half
the levels of France and Germany... King seems to want to move researchers
from `curiosity-driven' science, such as space exploration and particle
physics, into `driven' science. This does not
make sense and is not how scientists are motivated.'
- 16 Oct 08 Q&A about UK manned space flight by Adam Afriyie
MP during DIUS debate, answered by Secretary of State John
Denham MP, and Q&A about university physics and astronomy teaching by
Michael Fabricant MP answered by Minister of State David Lammy
MP
- 16 Oct 08 RAS President welcomes additional resources from STFC
including `Astronomy groups up and down the country have been extremely
concerned at the decimation of their funding that resulted from last
year's CSR. It is good to see STFC and the Government acting positively to
address this gap - I very much hope that astronomers receive their fair
share of this extra money. The RAS continues to urge that the remaining
£16m is found, before serious damage is done to the rest of the
astronomy research base'
- 15 Oct 08
Grants update from STFC including `STFC has worked
hard, in conjunction with DIUS, to identify how best to manage risks
elsewhere in the programme, and it believes that, as a consequence, it is
now able to increase its planned spend on research grants by a total of
£9m
over the next two years. Details of how this will be applied in the most
effective and appropriate
way will be developed over the next few months, but it should reduce the
original shortfall in grants funding over the next two years by about
half.' reported in STFC funds extra money for grants news item in
Research Day UK and STFC gives extra money for grants blog from
physicsworld.com
- 15 Oct 08 Deadline for grant application for IYA 2009 support
activities (see
UK IYA website
and 1st UK e-Newsletter)
- 14 Oct 08 Where have our nobel physics prizes gone? article in
The Times
- 10 Oct 08
Interview with science minister on BBC Radio 4 Today - listen
here - see also
Minister wants astronaut 'icon' from BBC Science
News, including interview with Lord Drayson, Let's put a Brit in space, says minister in The
Times and Scientists urged to leave finance in Financial
Times
- 10 Oct 08 Call for nominations for advisory panels to STFC's Science
Committee for PALS. A photon panel and a neutron panel are being
established. Closing date for nominations is 7 Nov 08
- 10 Oct 08 Open letter to new science minister from RAS President
Prof Andy Fabian including `The community represented by the
RAS may have given the impression in recent months that it was at
loggerheads with DIUS. This is not the
case. Rather we have articulated and vented the feelings of scientists at
the way in which STFC negotiated and allocated its settlement...
The report of the IUSS Committee on the Science Budget and the more recent
review of the health of physics by Professor Wakeham, coupled with
budgetary re-profiling within STFC, have gone some way to recognising and
rectifying the damage caused, though we remain deeply concerned about
grants. I hope that the organisational review of STFC will lead to
significant restructuring so that it better understands and engages with
working scientists.'
- 9 Oct 08 UK physics strong, but funding still vulnerable and Drayson back in Whitehall with science portfolio from
Times Higher Ed
- 8 Oct 08 Editorials
about the Wakeham review and the appointment of Paul Drayson from
Research Fortnight
- 8 Oct 08
Physicists to
take Wakeham's advice and cast net wider news item
from Research Fortnight
including
`I welcome this initial move (to add two more scientists to STFC
Council) but i'd have liked to
have seen more than that' from Prof Martin Barstow, while
Prof Ian Halliday
argues that the problem (of tensioning expenditure across the whole range
of STFC's activities)
will eventually lead to its downfall, predicting that the STFC can last no
longer than two years
with its current structure.
- 8 Oct 08
RCUK physics review
opinion pieces in Research Fortnight entitled
`Holistic review provides for the future of physics' from Prof Bill
Wakeham,
`Hardly worth the wait..' from Prof Ken Pounds and `.. though
contribution recognised'
from Prof Phil Allport.
- 8 Oct 08
Message to stakeholders from Secretary of State, John
Denham, about recent Government changes DIUS announcement
- 7 Oct 08
STFC experts visit ESA including 'The insights into the
technological and organisational requirements of a space mission
will allow us to make more informed decisions on the future space
missions forming oart of the STFC scientific programme' from Iain
Bertram (PPAN)
- 3 Oct 08
Lord Drayson takes science brief from BBC
Science News. The new
minister - who replaces Ian Pearson MP (now economic secretary to the
Treasury)
- holds a PhD in robotics, and resigned as defence procurement minister
in 2007 to
pursue a career in motor racing (read Paul Drayson's profile), said: `Young people need to be inspired
into opting for science and engineering careers. Look at me - I have had a
blast. I am out here racing cars because I was a successful biotech
entrepreneur. That depended on me studying for a PhD, and that depended
on me studying maths, physics and chemistry at A-Level. I was also
inspired by cool projects in the 60s and 70s like the space
programme, and we now need to inspire the next generation with similar
cool projects.' Phil Willis MP adds
`We desperately need a champion like him in the run-up to
the next spending review'
- 2 Oct 08
UK physics 'damaged' by £80m funding shortfall
news item at physicsworld.com
- 2 Oct 08 Physics research in good health from Financial
Times
- 2 Oct 08 RAS Council responds to Wakeham review - see also
RAS welcomes Wakeham support for astronomy and
geophysics press release
- 2 Oct 08 UK physics gets a health check commentary from Prof
Bill Wakeham and independent panel passes judgement on UK physics news
item in Nature
- 2 Oct 08 Britain's reputation as physic leader 'harmed by £80m
crisis' in The Times including `The panel believes that
significant damage has been done to the UK's international reputation in
some areas of the discipline of physics following the furore that was
generated by the manner, timescale of changes and announcement of recent
STFC funding decisions' from the report.
- 2 Oct 08 Physics in rude health in
Education Guardian quoting incoming IOP President - Prof Jocelyn
Bell Burnell - who said the review was not expected to resolve the
concerns raised over funding of physics research. If the recommendations
for greater consultation with the science community on funding and for
specific funding for particle physics and astronomy facilities and
research grants were acted upon, they `should go a long way to ensure
that we do not encounter similar difficulties in the future', she
said - see also Institute of Physics' new President responds to the
publication of RCUK's Physics Review
- 2 Oct 08
UK physics 'damaged' by budget blunder bloodbath from
The Register - Not enough boffins at the top, says top
boffin
- 1 Oct 08
UK physics in good health - study in BBC Science
News quoting Prof Martin Rees `Recent government funding for
science has been positive, and this review serves as a good reminder that
to deliver on the potential of science the government must maintain that
support'
- 1 Oct 08 Listen to
mp3 of interview with Prof Wakeham, including
`Everybody in the community must take some responsibility for a very
considerable worry in the international community about the state of
British
physics and its engagement with the international community. That means
not
just the Research Council but the individual researchers.
And I think we need to rebuild that trust in the international
community'.
- 1 Oct 08 Wakeham review slams STFC operations in Research Day
UK
- 1 Oct 08 The RCUK Review of Physics is published - read pdf. Executive Summary
includes:
- The Panel concludes that physics research in the UK is in a
generall
good
state of health, with departments performing curiosity-driven research of
the highest international quality and having benefited from a significant
increase in research expenditure in recent years. This expenditure has not
kept pace with the increase in the overall science budget.
- The Panel concluds that UK physics research is performing strongly,
and this is reinforced by the UK's strong performance in research
outputs.
- The Panel believes that the funding arrangements for STP are not
optimised to the benefit of the sub-discipline. The Panel recommend that
funding for STP be transferred from the STFC to the NERC.
- The Panel found that access to research facilities on local, national
and international levels is vital for the continued competitiveness of
UK physics.. Additionally the Panel highlight the importance of HPC to the
physics discipline. The Panel also feels that there may be a case for
greater involvement of universities in the management of STFC national
support facilities
- The Panel also believes that the Director General of Science and
Research would benefit from the advice of a small, but well informed
advisory group from outside DIUS during the CSR allocation process to
ensure there are no unintended consequences of allocations and to ensure
appropriate accountability to the science community. This does not need
to be a large bureaucratic body.
- Finally, the Panel expresses concern at the structure of STFC
Council,
in terms of the impact it may have in the Council's ability to engage with
the broad community it serves. The Panel recognises the issues STFC has
with regard to fluctuations in the costs of international subscriptions.
In view of the strong connection between facilities and science
exploitation in particle physics and astronomy, the Panel recommends that
fnding for these two sub-disciplines should remain within STFC but that
this funding should be clearly separated from that for other national
facilities managed by STFC.
- 1 Oct 08
RCUK Response to the Review of UK Physics - read pdf - including specific responses to
recommendations
- 3.1.1 The Government accepts this recommendation (to continue to
fund research in both basic and applied physics across a broad spectrum of
sub-disciplines, a the level required to retain international
competitiveness) and intends to continue to provide funding to the
Research Councils at a level that would allow them to fund research in
both basic and applied physics, and other major disciplines, across a
broad range of sub-disciplines. It is for the Councils themselves to
determine how precisely they deploy this funding.
- 3.6.1 (STFC be required to bid for and allocate specific funds
to former PPARC facilities and grant funding together) DIUS already
requires Research Councils to identify clearly
as part of the Spending Review bids the funding they propose to allocate
to major activities under different funding scenarios.
- 3.6.2 (the existing structure should be allowed time to develop,
given it was founded on the basis of extensive positive consultation)
DIUS
welcomes the reports recognition of the positive support given to the
creation of STFC at the time of the public consultation in 2006. It agrees
that the existing structure should be given time to develop, but that, in
due course, a review of progres would be appropriate.
- 3.7.1 DIUS accepts this recommendation (membership of STFC's
Council
be broadened to include more of the stakeholders in the science activity
at the highest level, and to redress the balance between executive
presence and non-executive oversight). Details of an open competition
to recruit two additional scientists as non-executive members of
Council will be published shortly.
- 3.8.1 RCUK accepts this recommendation (in developing large
facilities priorities, consideration should be given to distinguish
between those that serve a range of Councils, and those which are
germane to a single Council) and agrees that distinguishing
between these types of facilities should help build confidence in
relevant stakeholders concerning the strategic decisions made by RCUK.
- 3.9.2 DIUS accepts this recommendation (DGSR would benefit from
advice from a small, but well informed, advisory group from outside DIUS
during the CSR allocation process). In future Spending Rounds the DSR
will
frmally seek the advice of a number of national bodies able to provide
a high-level strategic overview of a broad range of science and research
funding issues.
- 3.12.1 RCUK agrees with the issue raised by the review Panel with
regard to STP (responsibility be transferred to NERC for those parts of
STP most relevant to the NERC mission). As a result NERC and STFC will
need to consider the
implications of the recommendation and evaluate options for the way
forward. NERC and STFC will publish the results of these deliberations
later this year.
- 3.17.1 (STFC should, as a matter of urgency, develop and implement
a long-term
sustainable policy for HPC for its community within the overall context
and strategy
of RCUK). STFC is in the final stages of a new round of HPC support
for its communities.
Once this is in place, STFC will work with those communities to develop a
roadmap for HPC in the
science areas it supports. This task is included in the terms of reference
for the new
advisory panels that STFC has established.
- 1 Oct 08
Summary of Wakeham review submissions from stakeholders, research councils, witnesses,
statistics, bibliometric
analysis and resulting `physics impacts'
- 1 Oct 08
Feature on BBC Radio 4 Today programme
following up David King's emphasis of "applied" versus "blue-skies"
research incuding interview with Martin Rees
(listen here at 2hr 32min) - see also Royal
Society to fund blue skies
thinking press release
- 1 Oct 08
Expanding International space connections
press release from STFC
Sep 2008
- 29 Sep 08
Science Minister reveals new figures on growth in UK space industry
press statement from BNSC (read
The Size and Health of the UK Space Industry 2008
report) released at International
Astronautical Congress - read Space Congress: Orbiting Glasgow report from BBC
Science News
- 25 Sep 08 News from Science Board following 4 Sep 08
meeting
- 25 Sep 08 Blue skies and clouds letter from Prof Philip
Moriarty in
Times Higher Education regarding criticism of blue-skies research
by David King
- 24 Sep 08
Hunt
for Higgs .. or two pints of lager and a packet of crisps
opinion item from Prof
David Wark and UK blue skies need particle physics letters from Prof
Sir
Chris Smith, Prof Phil Allport and Prof Donald Braben in
Research Fortnight
- 24 Sep 08
RCUK
Deadline for view on impact of FEC - see
Survey website
- 18 Sep 08 Don't knock knowledge opinion piece from Dr Kevin
Fong in Times Higher Education responding to David King's
criticism of blue-skies research (see also Physicists hit back at king after call for scientists to
focus on 'immediate' problems and Denham goes back to basics on funding for science news
items)
- 17 Sep 08
Politics of proton smashing in New Statesman and
`LHC day' was highest profile physics event in history
item in New Scientist
- 15 Sep 08
Review of Physics report due to be provided to
RCUK Executive Group this week
(see RCUKEG membership).
Recommendations may be made public on 1 Oct 08 (see
e-Astronomer
blog)
- 15 Sep 08 Large Hadron Collider: Scientists plan upgrade to `Super
LHC' in The
Telegraph
- 14 Sep 08
Sit tight, a bigger bang
is coming article about ILC in Sunday Times
- 12 Sep 08
A scientific lesson in life leading article in The Independent
- US space woes felt by Europe item in BBC Science
News
- 11 Sep 08 Two tiny dots flicker - the great CERN adventure is on
in The Times, Secrets of the hidden universe: first hurdle cleared in hunt
for dark matter in The Guardian, LHC: Biggest ever science experiment starts
with fuzzy white dot in The Telegraph, Cern experiment: Machine switched on. No Big Bang. It
works in The Independent, Off into the wild, blue yonder in The Economist,
and The race to break the standard model in Nature
- 10 Sep 08
LHC First Beam. See also STFC
LHC website, BBC News LHC Guide, plus BBC Radio 4 Big Bang
Day programmes, BBC Science News
In
defence of particle physics viewpoint from Prof David
Wark, and BBC
Newsnight discussion featuring Sir David
King and Prof Brian Cox (Skip to 41:00 on iPlayer or view on YouTube)
- 10 Sep 08
King questions place of particle physics cover story
in Research Fortnight, Large hype collusion editorial and Academics wary of RCUK impact statement news item.
- 10 Sep 08
The 9 billion dollar question feature and Will the earth move for you? leading article in The Independent, plus Into the unknown feature in The Guardian, We must be wary of scientific research opinion item and the LHC won't hold all the answers leader in The Telegraph and Big Bang opinion piece in The Engineer
- 10 Sep 08
Science on a collision course letter about STFC
funding shortfall from Prospect Union Vice-president Nigel Titchen
in The Guardian
- 9 Sep 08
Collisions large and small editorial in The Guardian,
and On the hunt for the Higgs boson
item from BBC Radio 4 Today including interview with Prof Stephen Hawking
- 8 Sep 08 Reach for the stars
response from Martin Rees in The Guardian to comments by David King
- 8 Sep 08 Hadrons and Humanity leading article about LHC in The Times,
LHC: Particle accelerator to recreate birth of universe item by Martin Rees in The
Telegraph and Was Higgs right
about the Big Bang? film by Susan Watts on BBC Newsnight
- 7 Sep 08
`Climate crisis' needs brain gain in BBC Science News.
`Its all very well to demonstrate that we can land a craft on Mars,
it's all very well to discover whether or not there is a Higgs boson;
but I would just suggest that we need to pull people towards perhaps the
bigger challenges where the outcome for our civilisation is really
crucial' according to Sir David King -
link includes interview on BBC Radio 4 programme on 8 Sep 08 (see
also BA Festival of Science News item)
- 5 Sep 08
LHC switch-on fears are completely unfounded from
Institute of Physics, Scientists look to the spin-offs of a minature `big bang' in Financial Times, A big bang at CERN? letters and The LHC: how the press demeans science comment
in The Times, plus Scientists get death threats over LHC and The LHC will revolutionise how we understand the
universe in The Telegraph including `Anyone who thinks the
LHC will destroy the world is a twat' according to Brian Cox
- 1 Sep 08
First a tragedy, then farce forum item from Prof Brian Foster
in Physics World (requires IOP subscription - view PDF) including
- `The STFC management team
was .. presented with an impossible timescale to fashion a functional
organization from a shotgun wedding of two disparate councils.'
- `The saddest and most farcical aspect of the whole sorry tale
is that the UK government had nothing but the best intentions .. there
is no indication that ministers had any intention of precipitating a
crisis at the STFC.'
- `Reforms should include making the structure of the STFC much more
like that of the other research councils so that it can really oversee
the executive. Currently, and uniquely, almost a third of the places on
the STFC council are taken by members of the executive.'
- ` Some
organizations forget that communications is a two-way process; the
STFC remarkably could not even manage one-way communication.'
- `The UK is unique among the major European nations in not finding
a rational way to pay international subscriptions without squeezing the
organizations seeking to use them. Other European nations do things
differently, but the Treasury simply refuses to consider alternative
models.'
- 1 Sep 08
A programme to be proud of forum item from Prof Keith Mason
in Physics World (requires IOP subscription - view PDF) including
- `Our initial consultation with the science community was not as
visible
as it could have been, and some of our communications was found to be
lacking. All of these issues were recognized at a senior level in the
STFC, and we have since put a great deal of effort into building relation
with the research community by developing and implementing an open
consulation process.'
- `Next month the STFC will start consulting with the community and
its staff about its corporate vision and strategy, which we hope to
finalize early in 2009... We are committed to engagement with the
science community, and to working together to build a common agenda
that lets us look forward with confidence.'
Aug 2008
Jul 2008
- 30 Jul 08 The road ahead: Down-to-earth planning for blue-skies
research opinion item from Prof Keith Mason in Research
Fortnight (requires subscription, alternate copy)
- 30 Jul 08
RAS Council minutes from 18 Jul 08.
Report on current situation and discussion with Prof Keith Mason
includes
- Was the settlement a surprise? Communication
between DIUS and STFC during the CSR could have been better.
- Where is the STFC science vision? The draft
Science and Technology Plan will be out for consultation in
the autumn
- The balance between facilities and exploitation seems way
out of kilter? There may have been too much protection of grants
in the past
- Many feel STFC is run in a very autocratic way - why not
have an astronomy division advised by senior active researchers which
could tension priorities within its field? The formal structure
may seem autocratic but STFC is the least autocratic of all the research
councils. An astronomy division is an option but `science in silos' could
have the effect of marginalising astronomy when HM Government's priorities
stress applied and inter-disciplinary science.
- Only one ad hoc panel (ground-based astronomy) had not had
its advice accepted by PPAN. That was because its aspirations
exceeded the budget; decisions were ducked.
- Consultation over the Organisational Review of STFC
had been very poor The Organisational Review follows Cabinet
Office procedures which actually don't require any outside consutation!
- Would you welcome community comments on the new
advisory panels? Yes, send them to John Womersley. But note
that PPARC also proposed a near-universe committee but dropped the
idea because the topics to be covered were too broad.
- How can the community influence the next CSR? The
community can help create a positive `climate' during the protracted
process, particularly if it can demonstrate how astronomy uplifts the UK
skills base. As a result of the public campaign since November 2007
the stock of astronomers with Government currently is not high.
- Should we invite the Science Minister to key astronomy
projects? The key priority is to make the macroeconomic case
for astronomy. We need to talk to policymakers, opposition parties
and business and persuade the media to report positive stories.
- If despite best endeavours the next CSR is unfavourable,
STFC's communications with the community must be better than they have
been in the last year We will need to jointly manage the press
effectively to achieve this.
- 24 Jul 08
Discussion on Radio 4's Leading Edge science programme
featuring Prof Andy Fabian and Prof Brian Cox, plus
comment by BBC Science reporter Jonathan Amos. Listen via iPlayer
- 24 Jul 08
STFC programmatic review implementation news item
in Astronomy and Geophysics
- 23 Jul 08 Memoranda regarding IUSS Science Budget Allocations
report - Letter
from Phil Willis MP to Prof Keith
Mason from 25 Jun 08 (including 11 Jul 08 response), and
letter from Phil Willis MP to John Denham
MP from 25 Jun 08 (including 8 Jul 08 response)
- 23 Jul 08
Call for nominations for advisory panels to STFC's Science
Committee for Particle Physics, Astronomy and Nuclear Physics. Five
advisory panels to PPAN are being established, involving Particle Physics
(PPAP), Nuclear Physics (NPAP), Particle Astrophysics (PAAP), the Near
Universe (NUAP) and Far Universe (FUAP). Deadline for nominations is
30 Sep 08 (read draft terms of reference)
- 21 Jul 08 Written response from Ian Pearson MP to questions
from Nigel Evans MP about the financial value of the UK space
industry
- 18 Jul 08
Vision for Science and Society Strategy
consultation website from DIUS - read consultation
documents - including the following questions
- 17 Jul 08 An uneasy peace editorial in Nature (requires
subscription, or view
PDF) including
`Last week's meeting showed that the STFC has gone some considerable
way towards repairing its relationship with the community. Resentment
remains, especially towards Keith Mason, the council's sometimes truculent
chief executive. But by and large, the researchers [..] seem ready to
accept a programme that includes some cuts'
- 17 Jul 08> Super microscope and sensors scoop cash news item about
the LFCF announcement in Times Higher Education
- 16 Jul 08
A lingering sense of struggle in the slog to learn physics lessons
opinion piece from Prof Steve Schwartz in Research Fortnight
including
`What lingers in the air [..] is a sense of struggle, a perception that
there is
no clear direction or strategy, no transparent means for priorities to
percolate
up from the grassroots, nor for the peer review process to be viewed with
confidence
from below [..] It is to condemn a top-down management style that is
trying to operate
a `one-size-fits-all' approach for the funding of both science and
facilities within
a financial straitjacket'
- 16 Jul 08
Astronomers are from Mars in Research Fortnight,
noting that STFC has now hired PR firm
Proof Communication for advice on how to communicate better(!).
-
15 Jul 08
Stephen Hawking `mulling over' invitation to quit Cambridge
University for Canada in The Telegraph
-
15 Jul 08
£236.5 million pound investment earmarked for STFC
science press release, also reported in £65m for `cutting edge'
research centres at Darebury campus in Liverpool Daily Post
-
14 Jul 08
The science funding war is not yet won letter from
Prof Andy Fabian in The Times
-
14 Jul 08 £397 million investment for world leading research
facilities press release from DIUS,
listing approved projects through Large Facilities Capital Fund (LFCF),
including £15M for SKA, £92.5M for
Diamond Phase III, £25M for ISIS Stage 2, plus £102M for
imaging/detector/computational centres at Daresbury and Harwell
(see also Large Facilities Roadmap 2008 from RCUK including
E-ELT, SKA)
- 11 Jul 08
Yellow light for British Science in Science
- 10 Jul 08 Top projects lose out in STFC cuts in Times Higher
Education
- 10 Jul 08 UK physicists discover full scope of budget cuts
in Nature
- 10 Jul 08 Respect Media Studies letter from Dr Vincent
Campbell in The Independent including `I have the utmost
respect and admiration for
the sciences, and maybe if more people in the sciences reciprocated that
respect, and paid attention to media and communication research in this
area, they might be
able to do more about their constant concerns about the communication of
science, and its consequences for science policy and funding'
- 9 Jul 08 Deadline for community feedback through web-based questionnaire forming part of STFC organizational review
- 9 Jul 08 Open session of MoonLITE
Peer Review meeting (review is independent of PPRP). Dr Ian Crawford appointed as MoonLITE
project scientist, `[MoonLITE] will provide knowledge
that will be of central importance in the planning
of
future human missions to the Moon, and ... offers the potential for
enhancing public interest in science and technology'
according to Dr Crawford in Times Higher Education
- 9 Jul 08 Some improvements for astronomy in STFC Programmatic
Review, but real concern over grants news item from RAS
including `the situation with projects has improved significantly since
the spring NAM, but grants remain a major concern. STFC needs to involve
more senior active astronomers in the astronomy decision-making process,
so that the community can see and be confident that funding is allocated
on the basis of scientific merit' from Prof Andy Fabian
- 9 Jul 08
Funding secured for observatory in BBC Science
News
- 9 Jul 08 Deal to rescue Jodrell Bank helps Britian see its future in
the stars in The Times, Jodrell Bank saved in Liverpool Daily Post
and Jodrell Bank's future secure after STFC agree on funding
in Research Day UK
- 8 Jul 08
Written answer from Ian Pearson MP to question
from Gordon Prentice MP about the science budget between 1997-2011,
and written answer to questions from Mr Evans MP
about UK employment from ESA projects and the UK contibution to ESA in
2007 (€ 259M).
- 8 Jul 08 Nuclear industry undermined by savage science cuts in
The Telegraph (see STFC response )
- 8 Jul 08 Spending plan appeases UK physicists in Nature,
Jodrell Bank safe - for now in Education
Guardian and Jodrell Bank: Saved! in Manchester Evening News
- 8 Jul 08 Open science community meeting from 10:30am at Royal Society
following
outcome of Programmatic Review
- 8 Jul 08
BBC Radio 4 Today programme item at 06:38am and
interview with Prof John Womersley at 07:50am (listen via iPlayer or MP3)
- 7 Jul 08
Estimates day debate in Commons from 7-10pm (watch via
Parliament
TV) on the IUSS Committee Science Budget Allocation report.
Read Hansard Transcript including:
- `The way both the Government and the STFC handled the budget
process was, to put it mildly, deeply flawed. Disappointingly, rather than
engage with the
criticisms, the Government have rejected almost all of the conclusions and
recommendations that followed' Phil Willis MP
- `The community itself has now lost what confidence it had in the
senior management of the STFC and it might only be regained by a radical
reconstruction of its
leadership' David Howarth MP
- `[STFC's] inability to communicate properly with its own community
will, I hope, be put right in the future. In redressing the balance, the
STFC clearly has
some difficult times ahead, but the fact that it has listened-albeit
belatedly-not only to the Committee, but to its community, is a positive
step' Phil Willis
MP
- `The Government rejected the bulk of our conclusions and
recommendations, and we acknowledge that they have every right to do so,
but they do not have the
right to traduce what the Committee said or to produce a response that was
impolite, inaccurate and, at times, incomprehensible. That is unacceptable
and should be
challenged' Phil Willis MP
- `The Government were hasty in rejecting our recommendations
regarding the transparency of the allocations process, and in particular
our suggestion
that
documents prepared for bilateral negotiations between the Government and
the research councils should be published as a matter of course, which
goes to the heart of
the issue of transparency and communications with the community.'
Phil Willis MP
- `Surely, if the Government follows their own guidelines and the
Haldane principle, they should not be putting pressure on research
councils to invest money in
any specific location, as they have done by repeatedly voicing a desire to
see world-class science facilities at Daresbury and by outlining their
specific vision for
the Daresbury Campus to be a partnership between the STFC and others'
Phil Willis MP
- `The Government assured us that there would be no legacy issues
associated with the merger. They got it wrong and they should take
responsibility for that,
rather than hiding behind other people's decisions. Will the Minister
consider a modest STFC uplift to prevent significant grant cuts if
Professor Bill Wakeham
recommends that when he reports in the autumn?' Phil Willis MP
- `Despite the depth of the inquiry, we still have not got to the
bottom of the extent to which the issue arose from the initial funding
problems of STFC, as the
Government response was inadequate in that respect. They simply refute
allegations made by the Committee, instead of establishing detailed
evidence about the funding
of CCLRC and PPARC when they were disbanded, and when STFC took over from
them'
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
- `I would have thought that [Govt] must at least see the STFC's
actions as a PR disaster. It was most unfortunate that neither the
Government's response nor
that of the STFC acknowledged the damage that has been done to the trust
of students and the academic community in general, and more needs to be
done to bring that
back into being'
Roberta Blackman-Woods MP
- `The Committee is chaired by a Liberal Democrat, a genuine
Liberal, and for him to use words such as ``deplore'', ``inaccurate'' and
``unconvincing'' to
describe the evidence given by the chief executive of the STFC is about as
strong as it gets. Frankly, I am surprised that, having had that level of
public criticism, the chief
executive is still in his position. That criticism did not come from
nowhere, but was based on evidence.'
Graham Stringer MP
- `[STFC] did not inherit a deficit, but it did not have the money
to fund ongoing commitments. That is a very fine distinction and it is
really not worthy of my
Government to say that they honoured a commitment. What the commitment
meant in plain English was that there would not be any cuts to future
programmes; but what the
funding situation meant was that such cuts were likely'
Graham Stringer MP
- `In the final analysis, however, on such big issues, I should know
whether the decision [about Jodrell Bank] has been taken by the chief
executive of the
STFC or by a Minister. Unfortunately, throughout this process lines of
accountability have been breached, and nothing is clear.' Graham
Stringer MP
- `Questions are always raised in Select Committee inquiries about
who is to blame, and the temptation is to blame the research council
staff-and we strongly
criticised
them. However, the danger is that that is seen as scapegoating someone who
has to make difficult decisions. It is true that the Committee said that
those decisions
were made badly, but sacking the management is not necessarily the answer,
because the problems will live on.' Evan Harris MP
- `I was concerned that the STFC may have misinterpreted one of our
recommendations, which was to improve communications. I do not think that
that meant that it
should improve its spin.' Evan Harris MP
- `Why have the Secretary of State [..] and the Minister for Science
and Innovation been on the back foot, instead of on the front foot where
they should proudly be? The simple explanation, in my opinion, is that the
two major reviews that I have just mentioned [Sainsbury, Cooksey],
combined with the significant shift in research priorities to meet the
needs of a modern society, have resulted in significant cuts in some
research programmes. Let us not forget that other research programmes
have benefitted significantly. There has been a significant shift in the
MRC research budget and the BBSRC research budget - a shift towards the
life sciences, perhaps, and away from the physical sciences. Let us not
believe that the money is not there; it is just being moved around'
Brian Iddon MP
- `Astronomy has been hit quite hard [..] The overall headline
figure that the STFC gave for reductions in new commitments to research
grants was 25 per cent.
That means fewer astronomers, fewer particle physicists and fewer nuclear
scientists. However, the Government appear to be contradicting the
research councils [..] Will
the Minister explain how the level of rolling grants can be reduced and
unaffected at the same time? Adam Afriyie MP
- `The recent crisis represents either departmental
incompetence-missing the cuts that were self-evident in what was presented
to it-or a deliberate decision to
provide the research councils with less than was needed [..] Will the
Minister admit that there has been a shortfall in funding for the STFC and
say that he accepts some
responsibility?' Adam Afriyie MP
- `The Government are working with the STFC to review the way in
which its allocation was handled, and to ensure that all the relevant
lessons are learned for
the future. In particular, the STFC has recognised that it could have
communicated its plans better, and it is taking steps to address that. The
STFC will take
account of these lessons as it takes forward the organisational review,
which will cover strategy and planning, customer and stakeholder
engagement, governance and
risk-management processes, delivery, value for money and the management
of change' Ian Pearson MP
- 7 Jul 08 UK Mars rover hopes face set-back
in BBC Science News
- 7 Jul 08 What David [King] did next in Chemistry World
including David King commenting on CSR07: `What we're
actually talking about is the distribution and the management of the cake,
not the size. And I'm one of those who thinks tough decisions have to be
made. The priorities of the 21st century are different from the priorities
of the late 20th century. Historical budgets, and the distribution of
money within and between research councils, shouldn't be engraved in
stone' (cited by Brian Iddon MP during Commons debate)
- 4 Jul 08 Jodrell Bank observatory plans abandoned in The
Telegraph,
Astronomy projects hit by £80m cuts in The
Times,
Government backs down over plans to close Britain's 'eye in
the sky' Jodrell Bank observatory in Daily Mail, Ray of hope for Jodrell in Manchester Evening
News, Jodrell Bank has brighter future in Liverpool Daily
Post and STFC announce winners and losers in
Research Day UK
- 3 Jul 08 Physics names winners and losers in BBC Science
News,
UK physics funding plans are approved in Physics World
- 3 Jul 08 STFC announces ambitious £1.975 bn science funding
programme listing the final Programmatic Review outcome approved by STFC
Council. `STFC has balanced its budget and agreed on a
very ambitious and scientifically sound programme of funding. STFC is
funding an exciting portfolio of projects which will deliver excellent
research and maintain the UK's scientific leadership' according to
Prof Keith Mason
- 2 Jul 08 Announcement: Commons debate on 7 Jul 08 from
approximately 7.00pm on the IUSS Committee Science Budget Allocation report.
- 2 Jul 08 Reprieve hope for Daresbury scientists' jobs in
Liverpool Daily Post
- 1 Jul 08 STFC Council meeting deciding final outcome of
Programmatic Review
- 1 Jul 08 France plans revolution in space in BBC Science
News: `[France] wants to kick-start a revolution in space by
letting EU
politicians not bureaucrats decide on priorities for ESA.
According to the French, the UK is their model partner in this
endeavour.'
Jun 2008
- 30 Jun 08 Written answer by Ian Pearson MP to question
about UK support for space science in 2006/07 (£88M) and 2007/08
(£95.6M) from Mark Pritchard MP
- 30 Jun 08 STFC admits fears over currency costs in
Research Day UK
- 30 Jun 08 Supply and Retention of Teachers report on physics
in schools from University of Buckingham reported in
Physics teachers shortage warning in BBC Education
News, Physics teachers dying out in some state schools, report
says in The Guardian, Physics teaching under threat in England's schools
and comment Physics teachers are not an optional extra
in The Telegraph
- 28 Jun 08
Jodrell Bank focuses on fresh hope for lost funds in
The Times
- 26 Jun 08 Oral Answers by Ian Pearson MP to questions
about University Science Funding by Ben Wallace MP and STFC
post-docs by Adam Afriyie MP
- 26 Jun 08 Written Answer by Ian Pearson MP to
parliamentary question from John Barrett MP about STFC's budget
- 26 Jun 08
Unbalanced portfolio editorial in Nature
including `They [Research Councils] have trimmed investigator-led
grants, and slashed funding for fundamental fields such as
astronomy and high-energy physics in favour of innovation campuses
and government initiatives',
plus Payback time special report, including `I think
[the redirection of funds] is happening by stealth. These are worrying
trends that need to be addressed' from Phil Willis MP
- 26 Jun 08 Bankrolling Jodrell letter to The Times
from Prof Keith Mason and STFC response to Jodrell Bank future in balance after glowing report is
ignored
- 26 Jun 08 STFC statement to Wakeham Review, including `We
believe that structural changes are required in the approach to
delivering
economic impact, the exploitation of (inter)national facilities, and
the
mechanisms by which physics enables the other sciences and
multidisciplinary research'
- 25 Jun 08 Web-based questionnaire to provide feedback on STFC's
effectiveness in communication, stakeholder engagement and service
delivery, forming part of Organizational Review
- 25 Jun 08 Gordon Brown: Happy Anniversary? in the
Telegraph including `The [STFC] crisis has been prolonged and
deepened by a failure to admit that a mistake was made. Honestly, in the
world of astronomy and particle physics in which the UK was world
leading, we have
gone from brain-gain to brain-drain in less than a year' from Prof
Brian Cox - on this topic see also Parliamentary Office of Science and
Technology (POST) briefing note International Migration of Scientists and Engineers
- 24 Jun 08 Evidence sessions for RCUK Review of Physics
(Wakeham Review) - witnesses from the community
today, followed by Societies and Research Councils tomorrow.
-
21
Jun 08 Jodrell Bank: Cosmic Myopia leading article in The
Times including `Real science at Jodrell Bank is at risk of being
choked off by wilful myopia cloaked in bureaucratic jargon, and all for a
trivial sum by the standards of modern ``big science'' and
`Professor Keith Mason, the STFC's chairman [sic], has
said he gets ``fed up'' with people saying British astronomy is on its
last legs. He has only himself to blame.'
- 20 Jun 08
Open science community meeting on 8 Jul 08
presenting
STFC Council's decisions following the Programmatic Review and
consultation.
- 20 Jun 08
Comment on the government response to IUSS report from
Particle
Physics action group
- 19 Jun 08
Jodrell Bank future looks better in BBC Science
News including `It's not much different to what was there before,
but there are a few notable changes which we welcome.
And it's notable for the number of things they have not taken up
from the ad hoc panels rather than the things they have' according
to Andy Fabian
- 19 Jun 08 RAS Council reacts to PPAN panel report and Government
response to IUSS Select Committee including `The RAS has serious
reservations about the Government response, which appears to reject many
of the criticisms made by the Committee and members of the astronomical
community, but does so without presenting new evidence' and
`The RAS also welcomes the organisational review of STFC, a review
necessary to re-establish community involvement and to rebuild trust
in the research council's senior management'
- 19 Jun 08 Government rejects call for STFC chief to be sacked in
Times Higher Education including Phil Willis MP commenting
`This is the Secretary of State basically telling (the STFC) to pull
its finger out' and
excellent article Cheques and balances about Full Economic Costs.
- 18 Jun 08
Radio 4 Today programme item on Government
response to IUSS report, including interview with Prof Brian Foster
- 18 Jun 08
Government pledges fresh STFC 'review' in Research
Fortnight including `When you read this response, it is very
clear from the underlying language that the department is not happy
and that it feels it should not have been put in this position'
from Phil Willis MP
- 18 Jun 08
Pressure still on government over science funding report
in Research Day UK including `The STFC funding crisis has
cast light on the science budget allocation process. The Government should
have responded by agreeing to make the process transparent by publishing
any guidance to Research Councils. Without this information we do not know
if the Haldane Principle is being applied in practice and who should be
held accountable when problems arise' from Nick Dusic
- 18 Jun 08
No extra cash for UK physics in Physics World
including
`There are no plans to move money around' according to a DIUS
spokesperson and `Like much of its response to the Select Committee,
the government view
regarding the ILC is actually very measured. But it is a nonsense to say
that the way the STFC announced we were pulling out of the ILC has not
damaged our
international standing' from Prof Brian Foster and `Overall
there is still a lot of uncertainty about how much money physics
departments are going to
lose from existing grants, which is making it very difficult to plan
ahead' according to Prof Mike Green
- 18 Jun 08
Government's Response To The IUSS Select Committee Report On Science
Budget Allocations
in Medical News Today including
`Mistakes have clearly been made in relation to the process of the most
recent STFC allocation. The comprehensive
organisational review to be conducted by STFC is to be welcomed. The
important thing is to use the experience of past failings to avoid similar
problems in the
future' by Peter Cotgreave (Royal Society, Director of Public
Affairs)
- 17 Jun 08
Physics agency instigates review in BBC Science
News including `I am somewhat disappointed that the government has
shelved responsibility for the whole affair to the STFC. But to balance
that, I am pleased with the general tone of their response - that they
accept that all is not well at the council, and that they have put the
chief executive and the board on notice.' from Phil Willis
MP
- 17 Jun 08
Government `turns blind eye to science funding
criticism' in Telegraph including `I am deeply disappointed
that
what appears to be a major problem with science funding has been brushed
under the carpet by internal reorganisation which may or may not deliver
results' according to Phil Willis MP to which Adam Afriyie
MP adds `Boasting about more investment in science will fall on
deaf ears when researchers across the country face redundancy. The
shortfalls
highlight either departmental incompetence in allocating the budget, or a
deliberate decision to allocate less funding than is needed'
- 17 Jun 08
STFC to undergo review, but management positions safe in
Research Day UK
- 17 Jun 08
TUC on science select committee report response TUC
press release including `DIUS is in danger of losing the
confidence of the science community, as well as that of trade unionists
working in laboratories. Planned cuts in science funding should be put on
hold until the Wakeham Review has reported in September. If Wakeham finds
that the funding shortfall would significantly damage UK physics, then the
Government must think again' from General Secretary Brendan
Barber
- 17 Jun 08
STFC
Organisational Review.
- 17 Jun 08
Draft minutes of RAS Council from 9 May 08
including `It appeared on close inspection .. the proposed `rebuild'
would result in astro-projects ending up at roughly constant volume. The
net outcome would be a cut of about £33m, of which all but £1m
would fall on grants. The President added if this had been known earlier
.. he might not have portrayed
the situation as a crisis for UK astronomy'
- 17 Jun 08
Written answer by Ian Pearson MP to a question
about STFC's programmatic review by Vince Cable MP
- 17 Jun 08
Government Response to the IUSS Committee's
Science Budget Allocations Report (PDF version) including:
- (6) [..] The allocation of the CSR07 science budget has been
consistent with the Haldane Principle.
- (26) Government accepts that information flows between Research
Councils and their communities could be improved, as could information
flows between Research
Councils and Government. [..]
- (40) A number of eminent scientists have assisted STFC in its peer
review process. [..] The Government regards the Committee's criticism of
the outcome of STFC's peer review process, and of those researchers who
have
undertaken it, to be unhelpful and damaging.
- (41) [..] Ministers do not, and should not in any way, micromanage
Research Council budgets.
- (50) There has been much speculation about an alleged £80
million reduction in STFC's budget. This figure appears to have been
derived from STFC's aspirations for
the three-year CSR period (2008/9-2010/11), which it drew up before it
received its budget from the Department. These aspirations never
constituted an agreed set of
activities or funding for them. The suggestion that £80m has been
cut from its budget is simply wrong.
- (56) STFC is a single Council, and has to manage its commitments
across the full range of its activities, and it is under no obligation to
maintain the balance
between the expenditure of its two predecessor Councils. It would be
natural to expect that this would change over time, as priorities change.
That said, it is not
accurate to contend, as the Committee has done, that increased commitments
inherited from CCLRC have had to be funded from the PPARC research
programmes. [...]
- (60) The Government notes that proposed expenditure on particle
physics, astronomy and nuclear physics, including the facilities
that underpin these, such as the UK investment in CERN, ESO and the ESA,
will continue to rise over the CSR period. The
increased emphasis on facilities such as those provided through our
membership of CERN reflects their key role in ensuring the continued
excellence of UK science, and
the UK's strong performance in these areas.
- (76) Ministers recognise the importance of predictable funding
trajectories to ensure the research base can provide the best value for
the nation. Ministers also
recognise the anxiety in the astronomy and particle physics communities
about STFC's plans and have already commissioned the Wakeham Review to
look at the health of
physics as a whole. STFC has made it clear that its rolling grants to
universities for astronomy research will remain broadly unchanged for
2008-09, and the level of
rolling grants for particle physics will be unaffected until at least
2010-11. [..] The Wakeham Review will be available in September 2008,
which gives STFC time to
consider its conclusions before its next review of astronomy grants in
late 2008.
- (77) STFC has recognised that it could have communicated better
with its community. [..] It has completed
external reviews to identify how best improve its communications structure
and capability and stakeholder engagement and are producing an action plan
for early
implementation. It has also implemented a number of changes to improve
internal communications.
- (79) The Committee is rightly keen that STFC should do robust
peer review and consultation where possible before reaching decisions.
However, that puts an
onus on the community to treat the process responsibly and to try to
avoid fomenting media headlines which undermine the consultation process
and damage the
presentation of their science.
- (90) The Committee repeats criticism made by Professor
Chattopadhyay to the effect that the process the CCLRC adopted when
setting up the review of its light
source strategy was `flawed'. STFC strongly disagrees with this
criticism. [...] The Council is concerned that the
Committee's remarks may make it more difficult in future to secure the
participation of eminent scientists in similar reviews in future.
- (92) STFC regrets that, in the case of Gemini, it had to make an
early announcement of its intentions for future participation. However,
peer review of
Gemini, in both 2005 and 2007, concluded that the productivity of the
telescopes was such that funding at existing levels was no longer
justified. [..]
- (103) The Government is working closely with STFC on the lessons
learnt from this allocations process. Changes to the leadership of the
STFC, at this formative
stage,
would only be disruptive. STFC agreed with DIUS, that it should undertake
an organisational review in the near future. The review will cover
strategy and planning,
customer and stakeholder engagement, governance and risk management
processes, delivery, value for money and management of change. The review
will also include
scrutiny by a panel independent of STFC. In addition to the organisational
review, the Government has asked STFC to consider how it can consult and
communicate more
effectively with its stakeholders and make demonstrable improvements in
these areas over the coming months.
- (106) The independent members of STFC Council have considered the
Committee's observations about the Chief Executive, and have publicly
stated that Council is
determined that STFC continues to move forward in addressing these
challenges. It fully supports the Chief Executive and his management team
in doing so.
- 16 Jun 08
The Government is selling science short in
Telegraph including `despite protests and petitions by thousands
of physicists, and the clear embarrassment of John Denham,
there seems little sign of movement regarding the £80m deficit, or
indeed a recognition that there even is a shortfall' and `Despite
repeated claims by Tony Blair and now Gordon Brown that science and
innovation are the key to the countrys economic future, research funding
fails to live up to the political rhetoric'
- 16 Jun 08
News from Science Board following 22-23 May 08
meeting (update)
- Expert panels report back to STFC in Research Day
UK
- 15 Jun 08
Stephen Hawking: ministers' £80m error puts
science at risk in Sunday Times including `This bookkeeping
error has
disasterous implications. There is a possibility that very severe cuts
will be made in the grants awarded to UK research groups. These grants
are the lifeblood of our research effort; cutting them will hurt young
researchers and cause enormous damage both to British science and to our
international reputation.' according to Prof Stephen Hawking
to which Ian Pearson MP responded with `There was no deficit at
the time of the merger; nor were there arithmetical errors.'
- 15 Jun 08
Stephen Hawking warns Government over 'disasterous' science
funding cuts in Telegraph
- 13 Jun 08 Ad-hoc panel reports, together with
PPAN and PALS responses, including a revised grading
system (alpha 5: high, to alpha 1: low), for which the majority of
alpha 1 programmes are likely to be withdrawn:
- Alpha 5
Advanced LIGO,
GEO600 ,
Herschel PLS,
JCMT/SCUBA-2,
JWST-MIRI,
KMOS,
Planck PLS,
- Alpha 4
CLOVER , DES,
E-ELT R&D,
ExoMars,
GAIA,
Hinode,
HPC Band 1 (Exeter, MIRACLE, UKMHD, UKQCD1, Virgo),
LISA/LISA
Pathfinder,
SKA R&D,
Solar Orbiter
STEREO,
Swift PLS,
Venus Express;
ZEPLIN-III
- Alpha 3
ALMA
regional centre,
Auger,
Cassini, Cluster,
HPC Band 2 (Horizon, UKQCD2),
ING,
Inverse Square Law ,
Liverpool Telescope,
Roadmap to
XEUS,
SOHO,
UKSSDC,
XMM Newton
- Alpha 2
e-Merlin/JIVE,
Gemini,
HESS,
UKIRT
- Alpha 1
AstroGrid,
BiSON Operations,
Bepi-Colombo ,
CASU/WFAU
,
EISCAT,
HPC Band 3 (Leicester, COSMOS),
INTEGRAL,
VERITAS
- 12 Jun 08 First space ad targets hungry aliens in New
Scientist Space
- 11 Jun 08
Announcement: Government Response to the IUSS
Committee's Science Budget Allocations Fourth Report of Session
2007-08, to be published at 11am on 17 Jun 08. Embargoed copies of
the reports will not be available in advance.
- 10 Jun 08 PPAN Meeting
- 10 Jun 08 News from Operations Board. Memo to staff from Prof
Richard Wade announcing an internal STFC review.
- 6 Jun 08 Britain's Moon shot takes shape in BBC
Science News about MoonLITE. `We want to do it on a
very small budget [£100m], but it's still going to take some money,
and so
we're talking with the STFC and looking into commercial opportunities to
see how we can raise the money to fund that' according to Sir
Martin Sweeting
- 5 Jun 08 Physicists to target neutrinos news item about
a report setting out a roadmap for US particle physics in
Nature
- 4 Jun 08
Sterling's slide sets fresh challenge for facilities
council in Research Fortnight
including `As we know from the current situation at the STFC, the
nature of the council is such that if you have any gains or losses
they get concentrated in the bits of flexible money they have. This is
generally the money they supply
to people to exploit facilities - the money given to do research'
according to Prof Peter Main
- 4 Jun 08 Written answer by Ian Pearson MP to question
by Mark Hunter MP about the effect of STFC's cuts to physics
departments.
- 2 Jun 08
Plain English? editorial in A&G and
news item about IUSS report, plus feature on
MoonLITE: A UK-led mission to the Moon from project
scientist Dr Ian Crawford and Phase A study principal investigator
Prof Alan Smith.
- 2 Jun 08 Written answer by Ian Pearson MP
to question by Helen Southworth MP
about retention of key skills at Daresbury Laboratory
- 2 Jun 08 Written answers by Ian Pearson MP to questions
by Mark Hunter
MP about the effect of the reduction in physics and astronomy funding
on the UK's industry and economy, plus the STFC shortfall
- 1 Jun 08
Failing Science letter from biophysicist Prof
Roger Ekins in Sunday Times, including `The appointment of
career politicians
(and others) without scientific backgrounds as science ministers, the
lack of funding for scientific developments, and the financial insecurity
of university scientists are merely symptoms of this failure',
in response to Top physicist to quit `amateur' Britain after Stephen
Hawking snub
May 2008
- 30 May 08
Hard up editorial in Physics World
including `Many in the UK physics community would no doubt be delighted
to see Mason step down or be sacked, which could help to restore their
faith in the STFC.. even if Mason were to go, his successor would still
face huge problems. The simplest solution would be for the government to
make good the £80m shortfall, although that seems unlikely'
- 30 May 08
Institute of Physics response to Wakeham Review -
see summary
- 30 May 08 Royal Society of Engineering response to Wakeham
Review
- 29 May 08
RAS response to Wakeham Review - see
summary
- 28 May 08 News from Science Board following 22-23 May 08
meeting
-
27 May 08
Call for nominations to STFC's advisory committees and peer
review panels - vacancies for Science Board, PALS,
PPRP,
PPGP plus new advisory Facility Research and Development Panel . Deadline
for nominations 15 Jun 08.
- 27 May 08
Southern bias letter about NLS
in Education Guardian from Prof Peter Weightman
(chair 4GLS steering ctte):
`Might the very pointed exclusion of the 4GLS
team leaders from the management of NLS .. be something to do with STFC's
regional policy of locating all facilities in the south?'
- 25 May 08
Top physicist to quit `amateur' Britain after Stephen
Hawking
snub. `It is ludicrous that Britain's participation in some of the
greatest scientific projects of today .. is subject to the whims of
people with no special competence and little experience of these
matters...
Advanced research drives the quality of higher education, science and
technology and generates invaluable spin-offs' according to
Neil Turok
in Sunday Times
- 22 May 08
Blue skies here to stay, Esler says . According to
physicist Prof Philip Moriarty the increased emphasis on economic
return by Research Councils was reducing academics' freedom to undertake
blue-skies research. Philip Esler (AHRC, chief executive)
disagrees: `It is not correct to suggest that what we are trying
to do is to divert scientists (from fundamental research)' in
Times Higher Education, plus Art of science management letter from Paul
Crowther
- 22 May 08
DIUS Annual Report including Case Study
Attracting a European Space Agency
- 21 May 08
From the Knowledge Economy to the false economy in one go
. Dr Ben Davies (RIT astro post-doc) writes
`The UK is spending £300m on facilities, but with a
research workforce slashed by £10m of grant cuts - a figure
that seems small change by comparison - there won't be anyone left to
use them' in Research Fortnight, plus
Would Haldane mind, in principle? analysis
from Nick Dusic (Director, CaSE) and
Move strengthens BNSC letter from David
Williams (Director General, BNSC) in response to 23 Apr 08
BNSC: to Swindon and beyond report
- 20 May 08
Should the golden triangle get all the research cash?
- item about Daresbury including
`It all very well the government and the research councils saying they
do support research and science facilities outside the golden triangle,
but when push
comes to shove, this does not seem to be the case' according to
Gordon Marsden MP in Education Guardian
- 20 May 08 Gravity Probe B scores 'F' in NASA review in New
Scientist. In parallel with UK Programmatic Review, NASA has ranked
its astrophysics
missions currently in operation - excellent news for
Swift, mixed for (warm) Spitzer , but very bad news for Gravity
Probe B - see blog for implications.
- 19 May 08
Chairs of ad-hoc panels present recommendations to PPAN,
including Prof Martin Ward (Ground-based astronomy); Prof Steve
Schwartz
(Space science and exploration); Prof Mike Thompson (Solar physics
and STP); Prof Carlos Frenk (Computation and theory).
According to their terms of reference, ad-hoc panel reports were not due
to be made
public until July but these will now be released within the next
week.
- 19 May 08 STFC particle physics e-newsletter notes a visit to
CERN on 16 May 08 by Alun Evans the interim Director
General
for Science and Research (read his profile) until Prof Adrian Smith takes up the
position in Oct 08
- 16 May 08 Science's finest recognised by the Royal Society
including Prof Nick Kaiser (Pan-STARRS) and Prof Brian
Foster (ILC, European Regional Director):
`I feel that [the FRS award] represents a welcome recognition from
the UK's premier science organisation of the importance of the
ILC on the future of particle physics' according to Prof Foster
in interactions.org
- 16 May 08 Sky is no limit for these city scientists feature
about ATC in Edinburgh Evening News
- 15 May 08 'This is a big job needing to be done very quickly'
interview with Prof Bill Wakeham in Times Higher Education.
Apparently ministers would like to know the Wakeham review's `direction
of thinking' in July, suggesting it could have some sway over the
STFC's current funding decisions. Prof Wakeham plans to examine whether
astronomy and particle physics are genuinely important for attracting
students into undergraduate physics, and comments on physics departments:
`Having all your business relying mostly on two sources of money
[home undergraduates and the STFC] is very dangerous.'
- 15 May 08 'Giant microscope' that peers into the heart of a structure
item about ISIS in The Guardian
- 15 May 08 DIUS debate including
question
about e-Merlin by Sir Nicholas Winterton
MP (response by Bill Rammell MP on STFC consultation
exercise), plus a related question by Ann Winterton MP (response by
Ian Pearson MP).
Response to written question from Adam Afriyie MP on 7 May
08 asking what steps have been taken to safeguard Research Council
budgets against the effects of currency fluctuations (see here).
- 14 May 08 Written answer to question from David
Heathcoat-Amory MP about research expenditure in
astronomy (£71M in 2008/09) and space science (£108M).
-
13 May 08
Response to 10 Apr 08 Freedom of Information act request by
PhD student Krispian Lowe motivated by comments during
STFC's community session at NAM.
-
10 May 08
Cambridge scientist to take Canada to cutting edge of
physics theory - `The entire physics community in the UK have
been frustrated by the narrow-minded philosophy of the funding councils
for quite a long time' according to Dr Neil Turok in
Globe and Mail (Canada)
- 9 May
08 Royal Observatory can focus on a future without job losses
in the Scotsman, quoting Prof Ian Robson (ATC Director) `It
means we won't have any compulsory redundancies
this calendar year and if we get things right, we won't have any full
stop'
- 9 May 08 Prof Andy Fabian becomes President of the RAS -
`In todays uncertain funding climate, astronomers, space scientists and
geophysicists need the support of a professional body more than ever.
Our science has a bright future provided we receive the support we need.'
Prof Fabian
-
8 May 08 Science funds must be accountable letters
from Phil Willis MP and Dr Ian Corbett
in response to letter from Prof Grant in The Times,
including `Professor
Mason is a public figure,
paid by the taxpayer and appointed by the Secretary of State. He is
therefore wholly accountable to the public and to Parliament for his
actions.' according to Mr Willis
- 8 May 08 Stark message in the sky in The Independent
-
7 May 08
How to wreck a nation's scientific credibility
editorial in New Scientist
- 7 May 08
MPs criticise Mason and STFC over funding shortfall news item
from Research Fortnight including `I was disappointed with Keith
Mason's response
to our report.. What is now needed is a proper action plan
to say how these issues are being addressed and how he and
the council intend to win back the confidence of the community,
because if he can't do that then his position at that point becomes
untenable.'
according to Phil Willis MP
-
7 May 08
MPs wrong on STFC, say 'forgotten' physicists cover story
in Research Fortnight, including
`For all the committee's criticism of Keith Mason, he has done a
better job than the committee in grappling with, and
caring about, the whole large scope of the STFC programme'
according to Richard Nelmes (senior condensed matter physicist)
-
7 May 08
Physics funding becomes a farce opinion item by
Prof Andy Fabian in Research Fortnight
including 'The community consultation
exercise, which the STFC appears proud to emphasise, is close
to a farce'
-
7 May 08
RAS deadline for input to Wakeham review - see letter to RAS fellows
- 6 May 08
Politicised science will harm UK according to a letter from
Prof Malcolm Grant (UCL Provost) in The Times - also
reported in article Professor Keith Mason was a `scapegoat for the Governments
failures'. Prof Grant writes `The scapegoat is
given no prior notice of the charge, no opportunity to reply, no
right to legal representation, no appeal, no recourse to judicial
review, and members of the committee enjoy immunity from defamation
proceedings. Not only is this process deeply unfair, this committee's
proceedings will make it impossible in the future for the UK to recruit
to leadership positions on our research councils the high-quality
scientists that the country needs'
- 6 May 08 Another letter to The Times from Zoe Matthews
(PhD student) includes `As I work frantically towards final
preparations with my colleagues from all over the world [for LHC/ALICE]
... it is difficult to comprehend the uncertainty that I face in my own
country.'
-
2 May 08
RAS Council Statement `The RAS welcomes the Report
on the Science Budget Allocation published by the Innovation Universities
Science and Skills Select Committee which encapsulates well the criticisms
we have been making of STFC and its management of the allocation..'
- 2 May 08
Here funds the sun letter in The Times from
Sir Arnold Wolfendale `If it comes to the crunch, some of the
long-term projects in less immediately relevant areas can surely be
delayed slightly to allow the solar [terrestrial physics] work to
continue.'
- 2 May 08
The view frow Westminster
from Scenta quoting John Denham MP `We will continue
to argue the case for fundamental and applied research. As
ministers, we will take only those strategic decisions which, in the
modern world, have to be the responsibility of government. Beyond that, it
is for the research community itself - research councils and researchers
- to set priorities and to distribute funds.'
- 1 May 08
Of budgets and black holes in The Economist -
`More fancy toys, fewer physicists to play with them'
- 1 May 08
MPs decry government influence on budgets in Times
Higher Education
- 1 May 08
UK government slammed for underfunding research in
Nature
- 1 May 08
Hopes of saving observatory rise in The
Scotsman
- 1 May 08
Restructuring plan outlined from (unofficial)
FoI documents plus (official) News from Council on 29 Apr
08 (further details presented to STFC staff by Keith Mason and
Richard Wade at RAL).
April 2008
- 30 Apr 08 Science needs more cash and a higher public profile says
TUC from Trades Union Congress launching a new science report
Hybrid
Cars and Shooting Stars . According to Brendan Barber
(General Secretary) `The Government needs to make up the £80
million [STFC] shortfall or many world-beating science projects may close
and their scientists leave to work elsewhere. At the very least, there
should be no job losses among scientists until an independent study into
the long term health of UK physics has reported.'
- 30 Apr 08 Report on Science Budget Allocations from the IUSS Committee -
Read
IUSS press release.
The report's
conclusions and recommendations
include
- (8) `We remain
concerned that the former PPARC community has been saddled with a
£75m
funding deficit derived from CCLRC to meed the additional running costs
of Diamond and ISIS TS2, despite assurances from the Government that STFC
would not be formed without any legacy issues... We believe that the
Government should ensure that its original commitment to leave no
legacy funding issues from the previous Councils is honoured.'
- (17) `Given the anxiety that grant cuts are causing to the physics
and astronomy community, we are dismayed that STFC has been attempting to
play down the effects of the cuts on the grounds that reductions in future
grants are not problematic. We consider cuts to grants that have already
been promised a major problem. We urge STFC to take immediate steps to
communicate clearly and comprehensively to its research community the
impact of its grant cuts.'
- (28) `STFC's problems have their roots in the size of the
CSR07 settlement and the legacy of bringing CCLRC and PPARC together,
but they have been exacerbated by a poorly conceived Delivery Plan,
lamentable communication and poor leadership, as well as major
senior management misjudgements. Substantial and
urgent changes are now needed in the way in which the Council is run in
order to restore confidence and to give it the leadership it desperately
needs and has so far failed properly to receive. This raises serious
questions about the role and performance of the Chief Executive,
expecially his ability to retain the confidence of the scientific
community as well as to carry through the necessary changes
outlined here.'
- 30 Apr 08 Oral and Written Evidence from report, including
`This is
a short term situation with enormous long term repercussions. The
lasting
national and international damage to UK physics that will result from
the STFC
Delivery Plan requires prompt action if the situation is to be
retrieved.'
from Dr Ian Corbett (ex-Deputy Chief Executive at PPARC)
- 30 Apr 08
Initial STFC response from Chief Executive Prof Keith Mason:
- `A number of issues
highlighted by
the report have already been recognised by STFC and I have taken decisive
actions to address them over the past few months.'
- `I would hope that the difficulties will not overshadow the
considerable advances and successes that we have achieved during our
first 12 months.'
- `STFC announced in February that it would defer decisions on
its investment programme until the Wakeham Review reports in the
summer'
- `The report calls for changes to STFC's management structure.
This was addressed in February when our new executive board was
announced.'
- `Internal consultation with staff and external consultation with
our scientific community are areas where we need to do better.'
- 30 Apr 08 Second STFC response includes
'Council is determined that STFC
continues to move forward in addressing these challenges. It fully
supports the Chief Executive and his management team in doing so' -
read News from Council meeting on 29 Apr 08
- 30 Apr 08 Press Release from Particle Physics Action Group -
including `I believe that the Chief Executive's position is now
untenable' according to Prof Mike Green.
- 30 Apr 08
Listen to MP3 of interview with Prof Brian Cox,
MP3 of interview with Phil Willis MP
on BBC Radio 4 Today programme
- 30 Apr 08
Press release from Institute of Physics quoting
Prof Peter Main `It is now up to DIUS to clarify whether the
Wakeham
Review will address the issues affecting STFC, and for DIUS and STFC to
agree
arrangements which will allow substantive changes to be delayed.. Only
with real
honesty about events since the formation of STFC and more considered
methods for
consultation in the future, will we be able to reconstruct prosperous
working
relations.'
- 30 Apr 08 Press release from MIST Council
- 30 Apr 08 Science cuts 'hit UK reputation' in BBC Science
News, including `There is a recognition that some things could have
been done differently and that the programme could have been communicated
differently to the
scientific community. I think the issue now is actually moving on from
that and the STFC showing over the next couple of months it has the
ability to address the
issues raised in the report.' from John Denham MP
- 30 Apr 08
MPs berate UK government and funding agency over research
cuts
in Chemistry World,
UK science looks 'incompetent' after funding fiasco
from New Scientist, plus
Report slams UK's leading physics funding agency
in Physics World - According to Phil Willis MP `It is
very rare and rather sad that an individual or organization comes under
such strong criticism in a report like this - So serious is the damage
that appears to have been done to STFC that committee members took nearly
four hours to agree on the wording'
- 30 Apr 08 Top physicist is urged to quit over failings, flaws and
secrets in The Times, plus Commentary including `Four months ago Britain
enjoyed a priceless reputation, earned over many decades, as a world
leader in pure physics. Not any more... An
ill-judged merger of two physics research councils last year has led to a
series of disastrous decisions since then by the hybrid quango that this
merger has produced...The damage done to physics in the country of Newton
and Rutherford is not irreparable, but it will take swift action, at a
high level, to reverse.'
- 30 Apr 08 MPs report blames Government and a quango for science
funding crisis in Telegraph
- 30 Apr 08 MPs criticise handling of research funds in
Guardian
- 30 Apr 08 Science spending a 'PR disaster' in FT
-
30 Apr 08 Other reports focus on regional issues.. Report slams observatory job cut threat in The
Scotsman, Government has left Daresbury `hanging in balance' warn
MPs in Liverpool Daily Post, Jodrell decision slammed in Manchester Evening
News
- 30 Apr 08 Prospect calls on physics head to face his staff from
Prospect union
- 30 Apr 08 UK physics chief next for the chop in funding bloodbath?
in
the Register and Facing the Black Hole comment in The Engineer
- 29 Apr 08
Science Funding Speech by John Denham MP
to Royal Academy of Engineering - including `When it became clear how
the STFC priorities might affect two areas of physics grants, I initiated
the process which led to Bill Wakeham being asked to review the health of
the discipline. Again, I'm grateful to the STFC for working to ensure that
no precipitate decisions on grant funding are taken before Bill
reports.'
- 28 Apr 08
Letter from RAS
President Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson to fellows asking for input
to the Wakeham Review (spin-off companies, non-STFC facility resources,
significant non-STFC resources, funding spanning physics and non-physics
departments) to be sent to David Elliott (RAS Executive Secretary) before
7 May. Prof Andy Fabian becomes his term as President on 9 May
08.
- 28 Apr 08 The
IUSS Committee make its Fourth Report of Session 2007-08,
Science Budget Allocations, available to press and
witnesses at 11am - see The waiting game in "Interesting If True"
section of current RF. The rest of us will have to wait until
midnight tomorrow.
- 24 Apr 08 Blue skies and sterling support: our innovators need
facilitators by Prof Keith Mason in Times Higher
Education
- 23 Apr 08
British National Space Centre: to Swindon and beyond
news item
plus Trail of ineptitude analysis by Prof Paul
Crowther in Research Fortnight, the
latter in response to misleading claims that the 'astronomy
[academic] community has grown by 40 per cent in the last two years'
from the 27 Feb 08 IUS Science Budget evidence session (Q341-344) and re-iterated at
NAM
- 22 Apr 08 Save Jodrell Bank: the song in Guardian Blog
- JB itself was never under direct threat, but
The Jodrell Bank Song from Silk FM
is still well worth a view.
- 21 Apr 08
Written answers by Ian Pearson MP
to questions about withdrawal from ground-based STP from Peter Soulsby
MP and astronomy research by Mr Hollobone MP,
Written answers by Ian Pearson MP
to questions
about Jodrell Bank from Paul Rowen MP and Laurence Robertson
MP, and
Written answer by Ian Pearson MP to
request (from 25 Mar 08) for STFC Science Board minutes from
Adam Afriyie MP
- 18 Apr 08 Deadline for Astronomy and Space Science Facilities
Questionnaire
hosted by University of Leicester. Over 200 responses received so
far
(results will be passed onto mini-panels). According to the RAS,
`this
is in no sense a substitute for expert peer-review of the
detailed
science cases for the different facilities, or other indicators
of
impact. However it may produce additional data of value to the
community
and to STFC.'
- 18 Apr 08 Summary of main points from 1 Apr 08
Particle
Physics Town Meeting (from John Fry in consultation with
John
Womersley)
- 18 Apr08 Royal Society president's anti-astronaut comments
sparks UK
backlash in Flight Global - see related story British astronauts may hit cash barrier in EU
space
programme in Guardian on 19 Apr 08
- 17
Apr 08 Slides from Prof Keith Mason's 3
Apr
08 NAM presentation
- 16 Apr 08
Demand for Europe space rethink in BBC Science News
- 16 Apr08 Gravity 'ripples' hunt upgraded in BBC
Science News on
Advanced LIGO
- 16 Apr 08
DIUS appoints new Director General of Science and Research -
Prof
Adrian Smith to succeed Sir Keith O'Nions
- 14
Apr 08
British space policy gets revamp in BBC Science
News in which BNSC
is set to move to Swindon to bring organisational and programmatic
benefits
- 14 Apr 08 Brian May attacks science research cuts in
Telegraph
- 13 Apr 08
Up to 300 scientists are facing job losses item about
Daresbury Laboratory in Warrington Guardian
- 11 Apr 08 An astronomer's view of funding cuts and
Science cuts: Funding chief has his say on BBC Science News
- 10 Apr 08 Gemini Opportunity - Update from NOAO Currents
reporting `Discussions that have been reported suggest that the UK
will seek to sell 12% of the total Gemini time [half of its 24%
allocation] and that Australia would like 4%, leaving up to 8% of the
total Gemini time as a possible increment to the US share.'
-
10 Apr 08
The driving force behind the effort to halt cuts to
physics
in Times Higher Education about the PP Action Group's
campaign against cuts to particle physics.
- 10 Apr 08
Peer review informed ILC pull-out in Physics
World quoting Prof Brian Foster's reaction to the Government's
response to the STFC decision to withdraw from ILC - `I think
the statement about peer review is government spin at its worst'.
-
9 Apr 08
Black hole in funding say scientists from BBC
Newsnight science editor Susan Watts. Her film includes interviews
with Prof Keith Mason, Ian Pearson MP and Prof Michael
Rowan-Robinson, plus `There was poor management and poor
planning and we depend on our high reputation for being efficient in the way we
manage as well as the quality of our science and this has been damaged
by
this ineptitude' from Prof Martin Rees - see
Newsnight blog
- 9 Apr 08
Daresbury scientists unimpressed by £25m,
Facilities council appoints advisory panels plus
OHMSS from Research Fortnight
- 8 Apr 08
Prime Minister's Office response to physics funding e-petition
-
7 Apr 08
Sky At Night including `initial efforts
to set priorities were clearly controversial and were not handled
optimally' during interview with Prof Martin Rees who reflected
upon
a `quite unnecessary muddle over the past few months' and
`the priorities have been set in a rather premature way'
(view through iPlayer).
-
7 Apr 08
Euro-net could be key to Jodrell Banks future in
Liverpool Daily Post
- 4 Apr 08
Astronomers `must make own case' from BBC
Science News
- 4 Apr 08
MP3 of 3 Apr 08 STFC Community Session,
chaired by Michael Rowan-Robinson, with
panelists Keith Mason, Walter Gear, Monica Grady, John Womersley and Mike
Bode (plus questions from Andy Fabian, Carlos Frenk, Paul Crowther, John
Peacock, [communication] , Jim Wild, Pierre Maxted, Nicholas Owen).
- 4 Apr 08
Clarification on astro academic numbers,
Gemini and GTC mentioned at community forum.
- 4 Apr 08
Massive extension for Daresbury planned but ALICE
still under threat in Research News UK
- 4 Apr 08
Final
NAM blogs
and official NAM
press releases.
-
3 Apr 08
STFC and community forum at NAM. Presentations include: `the s?*t
would
have been plenty deep even without the merger' and `I would
be happy to continue to receive [consultation] material' from Prof
John Womersley plus `There was a lot of panic in the peer-review
structure, even in the Executive and Council' from Prof Walter
Gear - see Crisis, what crisis? blog.
-
3 Apr 08
NASA vision not getting funded, experts say in
News Daily plus statement by Prof Kathryn Thornton (ex-NASA
astronaut)
-
3 Apr 08
Cuts threaten UK role in LHC in Physics World
-
3 Apr 08
Extension for science park in Manchester Evening
News
-
3 Apr 08
ALICE loss would `waste £25m' in BBC
Science News
- 2 Apr 08
Science Board minutes now publically available.
- 2 Apr 08
Feedback from PPAN now `details' on 63 projects -
see Update on UKIRT from Prof Gary Davis (JAC
Director)
-
2 Apr 08
Ministers won't help Jodrell Bank in Manchester
Evening News, quoting Ian Pearson MP before a
visit to Daresbury Laboratory today.
-
2 Apr 08
Ministers announcement of £25m laboratory expansion
and hope for 1,000 jobs fails to calm fears in Liverpool Daily
Post
-
1 Apr 08
Facilities council appoints advisory panels in
Research News UK
-
1 Apr 08
Advanced LIGO project funded by NSF from
Caltech
- 1 Apr 08
Debate on the Future of Daresbury Science and
Innovation Campus in Westminster Hall (initiated by Mike Hall MP,
starts 1:30 into
stream)
-
1 Apr 08
NAM 2008,
including
Revealing the multi-wavelength sky with AstroGrid and
GCSE Astronomy: A rising star for school children
-
1 Apr 08
STFC Particle Physics Town Meeting including
presentations by John Womersley, Jenny Thomas and Jordan Nash.
March 2008
- 31 Mar 08 News From STFC Council meeting on 26 Mar
08 noting decisions on the forward evolution of the
[science] programme shortly after the 1st July Council meeeting
- 31 Mar 08 Panel membership mostly complete for consideration of
programmatic review feedback from community. Ground-based astronomy
and Space Science and Exploration panels both include 8 members, while
Solar Physics/STP and Theory/computation/data panels each include 6
members. See
updated comment on next steps by John Womersley
- 31 Mar 08 Nuclear
Physics - STFC Community Meeting including John Womersley,
Jenny Thomas and Jordan Nash.
- 31 Mar 08 Blame Gordon for Jodrell's woes according to
Terence Kealey (V-C of Buckingham University) in Times
Online
- 30 Mar 08
Europe-wide radio net in aliens search item in The
Observer on LOFAR,
referencing Jodrell Bank as a potential location for the first UK array.
- 28 Mar 08
'Funding stranglehold' on science - according to
Shadow Chancellor George Osborne MP during visit to Jodrell Bank
from BBC News - also reported in Government 'stifling scientists' from Press
Association
- 27 Mar 08
A ray of hope for astronomers in Prospect (requires
subscription) - full text here
- 26 Mar 08 Response from Gordon Brown MP to question
(Q10) about Daresbury Laboratory by
Helen Southworth MP
- 26 Mar 08 Written response from Ian Pearson MP to
question on STFC subscription
payments for 2008/09 from Mr Wallace MP - £205m total (47% of
near-cash budget) including
£81.6m for
CERN, £72.4m for ESA,
£24.3m for ESO,
£14.9m for
ILL, £7.3m for
ESRF, £3.6m for Gemini and £0.3m for
EISCAT.
-
26 Mar 08 Following 25 Mar 08 meeting between Prof Steve
Rawlings
and Prof Ken Peach with Ian Pearson MP and Paul Williams
(Director, Research Councils), anyone with direct
experience of cuts resulting from STFC's CSR07 settlement is encouraged
to send relevant documentation (PDF format) to Steve Rawlings no later
than 27 Mar 08 at 11am, to be forwarded to the Minister of
Science. (115 astronomy post-docs were planned for 2008, versus
82 actually awarded)
- 23 Mar 08 STFC FoI Request by Prof Mike Green reports
that Science Board minutes have been released to him.
- 22 Mar 08 Situations vacant: applicants should be fit, fearless - and
have a head for heights in The Guardian plus Brits in Space by UK-born NASA astronaut Dr Piers
Sellars in Guardian Science Blog - `the only effective way
to counter fears that funds will be stripped from the British astronomy
and physics budgets to support manned spaceflight is to set in place
separate funding lines for these activities.'
- 21 Mar 08 Formal deadline for feedback on Consultation exercise for STFC's Programmatic Review
(in fact web form closed prematurely at midnight on 20 Mar
08). See Project feedback from PPAN (plus further updates for
Gemini,
UKIRT). Input from
UKIRT users can be sent via email to stfc_feedback at
jach.hawaii.edu no later than 8am GMT on 25 Mar
08.
- 21 Mar 08 Iconic UK telescope faces closure in Physics
World
- 20 Mar 08 EPSRC cuts to blue-skies funding raise concern
in Times Higher Education noting ` a reduction in
investigator-led funding at the 12-15% level' (overall 3-5% drop in
research volume to be more closely aligned to managed science via key
themes)
- 19 Mar 08
Critics say White Paper sells science short -
DIUS accused of sidelining basic
research and engineering,
The innovation game (editorial) and comment
it's pie in the blue skies by Prof Andrew King in Research
Fortnight, plus Facilities council kicks off search for a better UK light
source , Research councils to review FEC (to be
chaired by Alan Alexander) and
Exploring space letter by Chris Lee (response to 20 Feb
08 RF editorial We are not going to the moon )
- 18 Mar 08 Update on the Consultation process - (most) small
panel chairs announced: Prof Martin Ward (ground-based
astronomy); Prof Mike Thompson (Solar physics and STP); Prof
Carlos Frenk (Computation and Theory), with chair of Space Science
and Exploration still pending.
- 17 Mar 08 Project feedback from PPAN from STFC (includes
Advanced LIGO, AstroGrid, BiSON, Cassini,
Gemini, GEO600, JCMT, JWST, LT, SOHO,
Stereo, UKIRT, XMM).
To be updated as further agreement is given for release of information
by PI's
- 17 Mar 08
Good night Jodrell Bank in New Statesman
- 17 Mar 08
British space policy on life, the universe, and everything commentary
in The Space Review
- 15 Mar 08
Save
Jodrell Bank website by University of Manchester students, discussed
in Students campaign for Jodrell in Manchester Evening
News - see also Author joins Jodrell battle
- 14 Mar 08 Statement on STFC Programmatic Review Consultation
from RAS Council
- 14 Mar 08
Statement of Prof Jack Burns (Chair, AAS Ctte on Astronomy and
Public Policy) before the US Science and Technology Committee
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
- 14 Mar 08 Little star of Jodrell Bank in Manchester Evening
News
- 13 Mar 08 John Denham defends science cuts at White Paper launch
in Telegraph.
- 13 Mar 08
Read webchat involving John Denham MP
to mark Science and Engineering week - also read
Innovation Nation white paper on Science and Innovation
(if 101 pages is 100 too many, try the DIUS
press
release instead)
- 13 Mar 08
Innovation `starts in education' item from BBC News
- 13 Mar 08 TUC welcomes Innovation White Paper from TUC
including Brendan Barber (General Secretsry) commenting `we
remain concerned at the shortfall of
£80m in the budget of the STFC, which
has alarmed the physics community and could result in the loss of highly
skilled scientists in UK laboratories. We hope that funding can be found to keep these
scientists, whose skills are so important for our economy and
society'.
- 13 Mar 08 'Brain-drain' into the UK offered by Studentships and
Fellowships from STFC commenting on full Studentship
and Fellowship allocations for 2008 (and 2009 for Studentships)
- 13 Mar 08
STFC response by Sir Peter Knight and Peter
Warry to 12 Mar 08 article in The Times (also see
Letter from Particle Physics Action Group to PPAN noting
`weak and inadequate management and a flawed peer-review structure,
resulting from the ill-advised haste with which the two progenitor
research councils were merged.')
- 13 Mar 08
Q&A: Boosting UK science interview with John Denham MP in New
Scientist
- 13 Mar 08 Freedom of information act request to DIUS
by Prof Ken
Peach on
correspondence between STFC and DIUS regarding CSR07
so far refused
- 13 Mar 08 MPs back Jodrell Bank battle in Manchester
Evening News noting
three new commons EDM's Jodrell Bank's future (David Crausby MP), Jodrell Bank and the e-MERLIN project (Nicholas
Winterton MP) Jodrell Bank (Paul Rowan MP)
- 12 Mar 08 Material from Freedom of Information Act request
by Prof Mike Green, providing edited minutes from PPAN/PALS
committee meetings.
- 12 Mar 08 Is the future of American science at risk? from
Medill Reports (Chicago). According to Robert Rosner
(Director, Argonne National Lab) `European countries are
much better at consistent funding' than the US(!)
- 12 Mar 08 Response to Budget 2008 from Campaign for Science And
Engineering (CaSE)
- 12 Mar 08
Jodrell Bank to close because scientists voted for own
plans and Peer review may not be perfect but alternatives are worse
commentary in The Times.
- 11 Mar 08 Science council still not giving the full picture, say
scientists in Research Day UK
- 11 Mar 08 Someone mischeviously put
Jodrell Bank up for sale on
eBay , as reported in
The Register but has been withdrawn, at least
temporarily, subject to the outcome of the ongoing Consultation exercise .
It is expected that the following will be on offer in due course.. UKIRT (one
careful owner),
AstroGrid
(mint in the box), astro-surplus store observing time with
Gemini (a snip at US$25K/night), and
ground-based STP (apart from EISCAT,
everything must
go)
- 11 Mar 08 Boost for `save Jodrell' campaign in Manchester
Evening News
- 10 Mar 08 Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 by Rev
Dr
Alan Billings about Jodrell Bank (and other stuff).
- 10 Mar 08 Launch of New UK Light Source Project
from STFC This is a great opportunity to develop a world-leading facility in the UK that builds upon the considerable
expertise we have at the Daresbury and Rutherford Laboratories, Diamond Light Source Limited and the universities according
to Dr Frances Quinn (NLS project manager)
- 10 Mar 08 Jodrell Bank's closure proves we no longer tread boldly
toward frontiers of science comment by Bruce Anderson in
Independent including A country which allows its education
priorities to drift away from hard science is a country which is embracing
decadence.
- 10 Mar 08 Funds increase is science function according to
Prof Brian Foster writing in The House
Magazine
- 8 Mar 08
Star Wars fight to save Jodrell Bank in Manchester
Evening News and The visionary whose faith in science is focused on
infinity about Sir Bernard Lovell and Star-gazing ban (more) letters
about Jodrell Bank in the Times
- 7 Mar 08 Professor Sir Bernard Lovell condemns 'disastrous' plan to
close Jodrell Bank in the Times plus
Closing Jodrell Bank for the sake of 4p a head letters
including Prof Ken Pounds
- 7 Mar 08 For 50 years, it has watched the stars. Now, to plug a
black hole in the budget, Jodrell Bank may close in the
Independent
- 7 Mar 08 World-famous Jodrell Bank telescope could close to save
Government £2.7million a year in Daily Mail
- 7 Mar 08 UK astronomers to broadcast adverts to aliens in
Daily Telegraph including concern that the STFC consultation is
too brief since UK Government guidelines on public consultation suggest
a
minimum period of 12 weeks
- 7 Mar 08 Founders plea for Jodrell Bank
in Manchester Evening News quoting Nick Clegg MP
To scrap a prestigious and important project such as Jodrell Bank would
show a worrying lack of foresight. For this to be planned shortly after
awarding £8m to upgrade the telescopes is nothing short of
madness.
- 7 Mar 08
Arctic
spectacle may remain mystery on Sky News (video), including
report from Svalbard and interview with Lisa Baddeley, plus Northern Lights Science 'May Fade Away' item
- 6 Mar 08 BBC Radio 5 Live interview with Dr Melvin
Hoare on e-Merlin - listen via iPlayer radio (item starts 1:07:45 into broadcast)
- 6 Mar 08 BBC Radio 4 Today
programme interview with Phil Diamond (Director,
Jodrell Bank Centre for
Astrophysics) on Merlin - listen
to MP3
- 6 Mar 08 World-leading telescopes face being shut down to save
£2.5m in The Times - including
The
Government has failed to appreciate the damage that is being done to
the science community and needs to think again from David
Willetts MP (Shadow Innovation Secretary) -
see also Turning a blind eye to a magic kingdom of marvellous things
- 6 Mar 08
email
from RAS President Prof Michael Rowan-Robinson to RAS members,
including I will continue to lobby DIUS to try to help STFC
financially. Officials in DIUS seem to be genuinely
surprised that the settlement has been such a problem for
STFC and sympathetic to the situation for pure science.
- 6 Mar 08 Minutes of Wakeham Review Panel 29 Feb 08
first meeting - read statement including
The panel will be commenting
on whether the current funding structure affects the long-term strength of
physics in the UK.
- 5 Mar 08 STFC science board bears brunt of lost confidence ,
Council accused of mixed messages over Daresbury ,
Wakeham panel to invite submissions from physicists
and Goals must balance curiosity in Research
Fortnight
- 4 Mar 08 RAS welcomes consultation, but remains dismayed at cuts to
UK astronomy The RAS does not accept the classification of many of
the projects classified as `lowest priority', including Gemini, e-MERLIN
and Hidone. Alongside the risks to these is a 25% cut in the STFC research
grants to universities that will see numbers of post-docs fall to their
lowest level for 7 years.
- 4 Mar 08 Deadline looms for science cuts in BBC Science
News
- 4 Mar 08 Scientists demand transparency during facilities council
consultation in Research Day UK
- 4 Mar 08 Astronomers see stars in Education Guardian
discussing an Investors in People external assessment saying reforms at
STFC are needed to ensure a more robust and transparent management
process and quoting anonymous interviews with STFC staff including
[This] shows incompetence. Accountability sits at executive level. Some should
expect their P45s
- 3 Mar 08 EDM tabled by Adam Afriyie calling on the
Government to include in the Wakeham review of physics an assessment
of the impact of the current funding crisis on the capacity and international
reputation of UK science
- 3 Mar 08 Transcript from third IUS committee session held on
27 Feb 08 released
- 3 Mar 08 Science Board Town Meeting in which Sir Peter Knight (Science
Board, Chair) and Prof Jenny Thomas (Science Board, Deputy Chair)
present long-awaited announcement on Programmatic Review 2008 - see Consultation exercise .
- 3 Mar 08 STFC Council response to the 14 Feb 08 RAS Council statement is announced
- 2 Mar 08 Interview
with Sir Martin Sweeting (SSTL) and Dr Ian Crawford
about MoonLITE during Return to the Moon on BBC Sky at Night
(watch via iPlayer until 14 Mar 08)
February 2008
- 29 Feb 08 News from STFC Council.
Minutes of 2007
Council meetings are now available -
02Apr07,
24Apr07,
25Jun07,
25Jul07,
04Sep07, 19Oct07,
02Nov07,
21Nov07,
07Dec07.
- 29 Feb 08 Britain's scientists are mad as hell
item by Prof
Andrew King in Prospect magazine (item recalls Prospect
article from Prof Steve Eales in January
Reaching for the stars ), cited in editorial ..
The law of unintended consequences continues to stalk Brown, whether
it is the sudden crisis in science funding arising from the apparently
routine merger of two science quangos last year .. a threat to Britain's
role as a magnet for clever, mobile people.
- 28 Feb 08 Minister puzzled by AHRC bid to cut research grants
from Times Higher Education
including comments by Steve
Chapman (Edinburgh vice-principal) in response to remarks
by Ian Pearson MP on ATC at Second IUS Committee session
- 28 Feb 08 Daresbury cuts 'mean it must close' say scientists in
Liverpool Daily News and
Expertise we must not lose (editorial)
- 28 Feb 08 UK to remain full partner in Gemini Observatory from
RAS and
STFC comes full circle on Gemini in Research Day UK
- see also UK astronomers on 'rollercoaster' (BBC Science
News)
- 27 Feb 08 Science research council under fire for cuts
(Education Guardian)
- 27 Feb 08
Facilities Council admits problems in management and consultation
(Research Day UK)
- 27 Feb 08 Third (and final)
evidence session in Science Budget Allocations inquiry in
Committee Room 8 by
IUS Select Committee. At 9:30am witnesses were: Prof Swapan
Chattopadhyay (Director, Cockcroft Institute,) .. peer-review flawed ..
and Prof Richard Holdaway
(Director,
Space Science and Technology, RAL) .. cuts not
compatible with encouraging science and technology ...
At 10:15am witnesses were:
Prof Keith Mason (CEO, STFC) .. 25% cuts bring us back
to zero increase, flattening it out ..
and Peter Warry (Chair, STFC Council)
.. new facilities in this CSR .. some science as
well..
Listen via
Parliament TV or
MP3 .
Transcript to follow next week.
- 25 Feb 08 Transcript from 20 Feb 08 IUS Select Committee
session - ..very few other countries could identify that as a crisis
but, instead, rather a nice problem to have.. (Prof Sir Keith
O'Nions)
- 25 Feb 08 House of Commons question on FEC from Dr Brian
Iddon MP to
Ian Pearson MP (read Hansard Q&A )
- 22 Feb 08
Science budget inquiry continues with input from affected institutes
(Research Day UK) quoting Prof Swapan Chattopadhyay of
accusing
STFC of wanting to turn Daresbury into a call centre.
- 22 Feb 08
Panel picked to review UK physics in Physics World
According to Prof Bill Wakeham
the review [to be published in September] will
explicitly not revisit the decision of the STFC (over Gemini and the
ILC). It will be looking into the longer-term future of the subject.
- 21 Feb 08 Don't sacrifice basic science for research, say MPs
(Education Guardian)
- 21 Feb 08 Top scientists at troubled Daresbury campus threaten to
quit article following Evidence session of IUS Select Ctte (Liverpool
Daily Post)
- 21 Feb 08 Physics' funding furore (New Scientist)
- 20 Feb 08
Third
evidence session in Science Budget Allocations inquiry by
IUS Select Committee to be held on 27 Feb
08 - Witnesses include Prof Swapan Chattopadhyay
(Director, Cockcroft Institute,), Prof Richard Holdaway
(Director,
Space Science and Technology, RAL), Prof Keith Mason (CEO, STFC)
and Peter Warry (Chair, STFC Council)
- 20 Feb 08 Science Board Town Meeting to be held on
3 Mar 08 at 2:30pm at the Cumberland Hotel involving Sir Peter Knight
and Prof Jenny Thomas
- 20 Feb
08 We are not going to the moon (editorial)
plus Dance to the music of stars by Prof Paul
Crowther
(including the RAS statement and email from Prof
Michael
Rowan-Robinson to Prof Keith Mason), Stars in their eyes by Prof Andrew King
(including an interview with Prof Keith Mason from Oct
05
on transparency, plus news items Scientists wary of costly human space flight plans
and
Researchers and politicians demand changes at top of
facilities council (Research Fortnight)
- 20 Feb 08
Second
Evidence session of IUS Select Committee, with
testimony from Ian Pearson MP (Minister for Science and
Innovation)
and Prof Sir Keith O'Nions (Director General, Science and
Innovation). Watch/listen via Parliament TV or read transcript
- 20 Feb 08
Wakeham Review panel
Prof Martin Barstow
(Leicester), Prof Donal Bradley (Imperial), Prof Sir
Michael
Brady (Oxford), Prof Christine Davies (Glasgow), Prof
Carlos Frenk (Durham), Prof Sir Richard Friend
(Cambridge),
Prof Jørgan Kjems (Danish Technical Uni), Prof
Richard
Peltier (Toronto).
- 19 Feb 08 Are the UK's space goals beyond its means? (New
Scientist Space Blog)
- 19 Feb 08 More than 17000 people sign petition against STFC cuts
(Royal Astronomical Society) -
e-petition on funding receives 17489 signatures
- 19 Feb 08
The big bang implosion of Physics (Spiked)
- 19 Feb 08 UK still hopeful of participating in Gemini project
(Education Guardian)
-
18 Feb 08 Early Day Motion by Peter Soulsby MP
calls for a change in the structure and leadership of the STFC
- 18 Feb 08 Item on
LHC and reliability of US/UK over ILC at the 2008
AAAS Annual Meeting -
listen to
mp3 (BBC Radio 4 Today programme)
- 18 Feb 08 Letter from Ian Pearson MP responding to Death of big physics (New Statesman)
- 15 Feb 08 Particle Physics Action Group email
to Prof Keith Mason, Peter Warry and Prof
Sir Peter Knight in support of statement from RAS Council
- 15 Feb 08 `Pessimism and anger' over science funding crisis in
(Daily Telegraph)
- 15 Feb 08
Lunar exploration - Potential UK and US collaboration
from BNSC- see NASA-BNSC Joint Working Group Report on Lunar Cooperation
- 14 Feb 08
Statement (RAS)
Council expressing a lack of confidence in STFC's handling
of the funding crisis - Download
here
- 14 Feb 08 Physics review brought forward as cuts bite (Times
Higher Education)
- 14 Feb 08 Ministers consider UK astronauts (BBC Science News).
Listen to
MP3 of interview with Prof
Andrew Coates and Ian Pearson MP (BBC Radio 4 today
programme)
- 14 Feb 08 British manned space flight is 'wishful thinking'
(Daily Telegraph)
- 14 Feb 08 UK carves out its place in space, but hopes for Britons
on moon dashed (The Guardian)
- 14 Feb 08 Let's forget NASA's fancy ideas from Prof Martin
Rees
(The Times)
- 14 Feb 08
UK Civil Space Strategy 2008-2012 - download
here (British National Space Centre)
- 14 Feb 08
RAS President welcomes reprieve for UK involvement in Gemini Observatory
(Royal Astronomical
Society)
- 12 Feb 08 More jobs `to be lost at Daresbury' (Liverpool
Daily Post)
- 12 Feb
08 Astronomers given Gemini reprieve (BBC Science
News)
- 12 Feb 08 Cautious welcome for UK Research Council U-Turn on Gemini
Observatory Funding (Universe Today)
- 12 Feb 08 Prospects look up for UK astronomers (New Scientist,
Space Blog)
- 11 Feb 08 Update on UK status in Gemini 2008A programs
reinstated!
- 11 Feb 08 Particle physics action group response to STFC
Media Release
-
8
Feb 08 Makeover for Europe's Mars robot (BBC Science
News). Plans to double(!) costs for
ExoMars - see
Aurora
section
- 7 Feb 08
UK confirms withdrawal from ILC (Physics World)
- 7 Feb 08
STFC accused of spin tactics (Research Day UK)
- 7 Feb 08 News from Council following 28/29 Jan strategy
meeting, plus `clarification' on university research grants,
Daresbury
and Programmatic Review: Next Steps.
Full announcement to STFC staff is
here
- 7 Feb 08 EPSRC announces a reduction in grants (Times
Higher Education)
- 6 Feb 08 Editorial plus items on MIST resolutions and Gemini withdrawal (Research Fortnight)
- 6 Feb 08 Minister takes fight to save observatory to Westminster
(The Scotsman)
- 5
Feb 08 Physicists go nuclear with online protest at funding
cuts (the Register)
-
4 Feb 08 In the gutter looking at the stars (Education
Guardian)
- 4 Feb 08 NERC deal could rescue ground-based solar
physics (Times Higher Education)
January 2008
- 31 Jan 08 SCIENCE BUDGET ALLOCATIONS evidence from Prof
Sir Keith O'Nions and Ian Pearson MP on 20 Feb 08
- 31 Jan 08 Death of big physics (New Statesman)
- 31 Jan 08
UK physics cuts bite deep (New
Scientist, editorial)
- 31 Jan 08
Physicists call for heads to roll over cash cuts
(New Scientist)
- 30 Jan 08
Communication from RAS president Prof Michael
Rowan-Robinson to members
- 29 Jan 08 STFC Council consider
Programmatic Review recommendations from Science
Board. Outcome to be made public after next Council meeting on 27
Feb 08 - see item on Programmatic Review in
FAQ
- 29 Jan 08 UK shut out of Gemini telescope (Nature)
- 29 Jan 08
Space weather science rues cuts (BBC news)
- 29 Jan 08 Pay up
article on FEC (Education Guardian)
- 28 Jan 08
UK astronomers lose prime access to northern sky
(New Scientist)
- 28 Jan 08
News from STFC Science Board/PPAN/PALS
- 28 Jan 08
update
on Gemini from RAS and UK NGO
- 28 Jan 08 UK withdraws from Gemini telescope programme (The
Register)
- 28 Jan 08 UK astronomy community deliberately sabotaged by
funding
cuts to Gemini Observatories (Universe Today)
-
27 Jan 08
Item about Gemini on BBC1 Evening News - video clip at UK telescope funding crisis
- 26 Jan 08 Skies dim for British astronomers
- BBC News item on withdrawal -
comment
- 25 Jan 08 Special Session of the Gemini Board Resolves UK Partnership
Issue
- controvertial
Resolutions
- 25 Jan 08 UK withdrawal from Gemini - UK proposal to retain
access to Gemini North rejected by Gemini Board - UK access lost from
G08A (liable for £7m withdrawal penalty)
- 25 Jan 08
Discussions ongoing over science funding
Liverpool University story - comment by V-C Prof
Drummond Bone and Universities UK
- 24 Jan 08
Resolutions from the MIST
(Magnetospheric Ionosphere and Solar-Terrestrial) community
in response to the STFC Delivery Plan - see Press Release
- 24 Jan 08 Institute reaction to funding council crisis
IoP statement following IUS Select Committee session
- 24 Jan 08
Physicists fail to stall cuts despite subject
review (Times Higher Education)
- 24 Jan 08
UK woes could impact Euro physics (BBC news)
ESRF upgrade
- 23 Jan 08 Science Board meeting to consider
recommendations from PPAN and PALS regarding implementation of priorities from
Programmatic Review
- 23 Jan 08
Two into one don't go article by Prof Ken Pounds about
physics funding crisis (Research Fortnight)
- 23 Jan 08
Wakeham can't save you, physicists told
article about IUS Select Committee
testimony
in (Research Fortnight)
- 23 Jan 08
Insult to injury article about initial
response from Science Minister Ian Pearson
MP to the letter led by
James Jackson from 559 young researchers - revised
response (Research Fortnight)
- 23 Jan 08 Letter `Folly of cutting science research funds as
Olympic costs soar' (Yorkshire post)
- 22 Jan 08
UK physics has 'brighter future' (BBC news) -
response from Prof Ken Peach
- 22 Jan 08 UK science research 'the loser' in spending review
(Education Guardian)
- 22 Jan 08
Hopes for UK funding-cut reversal dashed news item (Physics
World)
- 22 Jan 08 Huge jobs cut at science laboratory 'preparing lab for
closure' MPs warned (Liverpool Daily Post)
- 21 Jan 08 Testimony to Commons
IUS select committee as part of their
inquiry into the Science Budget allocations -
listen to testimony from Prof Michael
Rowan-Robinson and Prof Keith Mason plus IoP/Prospect/RCUK -
A full transcript is available
here
- 21 Jan 08
Research Councils UK launches review of physics (RCUK)
- 21 Jan 08 (BBC Radio 4)
Six
O'Clock News programme about
IUS Select Committee inquiry - listen via BBC iPlayer (2 minute item 26:20 into broadcast)
- 21 Jan 08 Terms of reference for Wakeham review announced -
RCUK
press release
- 21 Jan 08
MIST meeting, with Prof Richard Wade
- 21 Jan 08
Prospect to present case against physics cuts
(Prospect Union press release)
- 19 Jan 08 Physics reels as the financial axe falls
article on ILC and Gemini,
editorial and
Commentary (New Scientist)
- 19 Jan 08 Who's to blame for government science cutbacks?
(The Scotsman)
- 18 Jan 08 Report from Dr Brian Cox about Daresbury
(BBC North West Tonight) - watch
BBC broadcast or MP4
- 16 Jan 08
Criticism of physics cuts by Lord Winston at
Science and Society: bridging the gap' - listen
here (plus
response
by John Denham MP on
budget allocation within STFC following
question from journalist John Bailey)
- 16 Jan 08 Secretary of State John Denham MP gave
evidence to the IUS Select Committee on the `Formation of DIUS' -
listen to minutes 40-50 of this broadcast, or read
transcript
- 16 Jan 08 BBC Radio 4 Today programme Interview with
Dr
Brian Cox plus dialogue from debate by Ed Vaizey MP and
Ian Pearson MP
- listen to MP3
- 16 Jan 08 UK Particle Physics
press release
on material
released
under
Freedom of Information Act - available courtesy of
Prof Ken Peach here .
- 16 Jan 08 Government was warned of physics crisis (Nature)
- 16 Jan 08 Tories attack physics funding (The Guardian)
- 16 Jan 08 Ministers ignored physics crisis warnings
(Daily Telegraph, editorial)
- 15 Jan 08 Funding cuts threaten scientific research (Daily
Telegraph, article by Prof Martin Rees)
- 14 Jan 08 University faces losing millions in research grants
(Liverpool Daily Post)
- 11 Jan 08
Physicists make plea to halt research council delivery plan
(Institute of Physics/Royal Astronomical Society)
-
10
Jan 08 10,500 sign petition to reverse cuts to science (Times
Higher Education)
- 10 Jan 08 Lights out: funding changes
raise fears for the future of aurora (Times Higher Education)
- 10 Jan 08
Don't Panic (Nature, editorial)
- 8 Jan 08 Scientists wait to see where axe will fall (Education
Guardian)
- 7 Jan 08 Funding bombshell hits UK physics (Physics World)
- 4 Jan 08 Future at risk as Daresbury sacrifices hundreds of jobs
(Liverpool Daily Post)
- 3 Jan 08
UK physics could be irreparably damaged by an £80M funding
shortfall (Physics World, editorial)
- 3 Jan 08 Jobs fears for telescope centre (BBC News)
- 2 Jan 08 Scientists face axe in physics research shake-up
(Prospect union)
- 01 Jan 08
Reaching for the stars article from Prof Steve Eales
(Prospect magazine, full text
here)
December 2007
- 31 Dec 07 Lobby your MP about the STFC budget cuts (Royal
Astronomical Society)
-
27 Dec 07 Stephen Hawking joins attack on science cuts (Daily
Telegraph)
- 27 Dec 07 Government hits back at funding claims
(Northern Echo)
- 21 Dec 07
UK cutbacks rattle physics, astronomy (Science)
- 21 Dec 07
Science cuts may harm UK's international reputation
(New Scientist)
- 21 Dec 07
Funding changes defy the workings of physics (Times
Higher Education Supplement, article by Prof Ken Pounds )
- 21 Dec 07
Funds crisis 'putting research in jeopardy' (Northern Echo)
- 21 Dec 07 Clarification on STFC Delivery Plan (STFC)
- 21 Dec 07
Clarification on media coverage (Diamond)
- 21 Dec 07 Royal Society statement to the IUS Select Committee on
the science budget allocations (Royal Society)
- 20 Dec
07 Letters from Prof Paul Crowther,
and Dr Eduard Zuiderwijk (The Guardian, response to leader
article)
- 20 Dec 07 A policy of drift (Nature, editorial)
- 20 Dec 07 Observatory jobs go as budget cut (Edinburgh Evening
News)
- 20 Dec 07
Thousands fighting science cuts (Channel 4 news)
- 19 Dec 07 Letter led by Prof Stan Cowley from the
STP group at Leicester (The Times)
- 19 Dec 07 Newton's law of funding (Economist, editorial) - see
correction from 10 Jan 08
- 19 Dec 07 Institute to provide evidence on science budget to
Parliamentary Committee (Institute of Physics)
-
17 Dec 07,
In praise of .. Britain's astronomers and particle physicists
(The Guardian, leader)
- 16 Dec 07 Interview with PhD student Rosie Willis
on
letter to John Denham MP (BBC Radio 4 Today programme)
- listen to
MP3
- 14 Dec 07 RAS `dismay' at deep cuts to UK astronomy research
(Royal Astronomical Society)
-
14
Dec 07 `Sad day for physics' as funding is decimated (Times
Higher Education Supplement)
- 14 Dec 07 Interview with Phil Willis MP
(BBC Radio 4
Today) - listen to MP3
or read
transcript
- 14 Dec 07
Institute of Physics responds to STFC delivery plan (Institute of
Physics)
- 13
Dec 07
UK to pull out of atom smasher project (Daily Telegraph)
- 13 Dec 07 UK astronomy faces funding crisis as physics pays the
price for STFC overspends (Research Europe)
- 13 Dec 07
UK pulls out of key physics and astronomy projects (New Scientist)
- 12 Dec 07 Physics and astronomy research face "catastrophic" cuts
(Nature)
- 12 Dec 07 Lab faces £30m shortfall (Oxford Mail)
- 12 Dec 07 Science
council struggles with cuts (Education Guardian)
- 12 Dec 07
Union slams plans to axe physics research and skills
(Prospect union)
-
12
Dec 07 STFC Delivery Plan 2008/9 - 2011/12 (STFC)
- 11 Dec 07 Interviews with Dr
Brian Cox and
Ian
Pearson MP (BBC Radio 4 Today program)
- Listen to
MP3
or read
transcript.
- 11 Dec 07 Universities UK respond to science and research
budget announcement (Universities UK)
- 11 Dec 07 Interviews
Prof Keith Mason and Prof Martin Rees
(BBC Radio 4 PM news) -
Listen to
MP3.
- 11 Dec 07 Ministers review physics funding (BBC News)
- 11 Dec 07 Physics professors criticise cuts in budget
(Daily Telegraph)
- 11 Dec 07
Academics warn of physics funding crisis (Education
Guardian)
- 11 Dec 07 Boffins slashed in big-science budget blunder
bloodbath (the Register)
11 Dec 07
UK pulls out of plans for ILC (Physics World)
- 11 Dec 07 Science must be funded properly (Conservatives[!])
- 10 Dec 07 UK Astronomy set for savage cuts, warns RAS president
(Royal Astronomical Society)
- 6 Dec 07
The skies are never the limit (Glasgow Herald, article on
Prof John Brown)
- 5 Dec 07 The Sound of
Silence (Research Fortnight, article from Dr Matt
Burleigh )
- 5 Dec 07 Physicists fear worst as STFC and DIUS eye cuts cover
story (Research Fortnight)
November 2007
Paul.Crowther@sheffield.ac.uk
______________________