Research Councils UK (RCUK) today began a fundamental review of the strength
and role of UK physics under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Wakeham, Vice Chancellor
of the University of Southampton. The review, announced by Science and Innovation
Minister Ian Pearson alongside the Science Budget allocations on 11 December, seeks
to provide a comprehensive picture of the health of UK physics and its role in underpinning
research in many other disciplines.
Professor Wakeham said "I'm delighted to be asked to chair the RCUK Physics Review.
This will be one of the most wide-ranging reviews of a research discipline ever
undertaken in the UK. We are assembling an authoritative panel from the physics
community from the UK and beyond to take on this challenging task. In doing so,
we will be informed by the report on International Perceptions of UK Research in
Physics and Astronomy but hope to broaden the scope of their coverage of the role
of physics in our science base, the economy, society and healthcare."
Speaking on behalf of Research Councils UK, Professor Ian Diamond said, "The
Research Councils collectively spend around £500 million each year on physics, in
many cases as part of multidisciplinary projects with the life and environmental
sciences. It is therefore important that we take a long-term view of the subject's
vitality. It will be the first of a series of reviews that will build on our existing
work in monitoring the health of disciplines."
The panel will seek the views of a range of individuals and organisations both
inside and outside the physics research community. An announcement on how this will
be undertaken will be made shortly.
The Review expects to be able to report in autumn 2008 to the RCUK Executive
Group, comprising the chief executives of the seven Research Councils, who will
make recommendations to the Minister of State.
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Contact
Alun Roberts,
RCUK Communications Manager. Tel: 01793 444474
About the RCUK Review of Physics
Terms of reference
The review will:
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Consider the priorities for investment across physics as a whole, taking
account of the need both to maintain the health of discipline, and to strengthen
its wider, including economic, impact in the future;
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Identify the contribution physics makes to other areas of research and explore
how these contributions can be enhanced, with the view to strengthening the
health of the UK research base as a whole;
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Identify options for strengthening research leadership, and enhancing the
opportunities in physics for young researchers;
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With resources coming from more than one funding organisation, examine ways
to improve the coherence of the UK physics programme.
-
Examine the provision of physics-based facilities, their application across
the science base, and appropriate means of sustaining their operation;
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Comment on any other issues that have implications for the health of physics
in the UK.
Panel membership
RCUK will appoint a panel of 10, in consultation with Professor Wakeham.
Working alongside the chairman will be:
- Three members from the UK.
- One from the US.
- One from mainland Europe.
- Four members drawn from nominations made by the Institute of Physics, the
Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Astronomical Society and the Royal Society.
Review website
A microsite for the review has been set up at
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/review/physics/
International Perceptions of UK Research in Physics and Astronomy
The 2005 review of International Perceptions of UK Research in Physics and Astronomy
was coordinated by the Institute of Physics on behalf of EPSRC, PPARC, the Institute
of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society. It can be downloaded
here.
The exercise had been previously undertaken in 2000.
About Research Councils UK
The seven Research Councils are independent non-departmental public bodies, funded
by the Science Budget through the Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills
(DIUS). They are incorporated by Royal Charter and together manage a research budget
of around £2.8 billion a year.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) is the partnership between the UK's seven Research
Councils. Through RCUK, the Research Councils work together to champion the research,
training and innovation they support.
The seven UK Research Councils are:
- Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).