Professor Ian Diamond, chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), has been re-elected as chair of Research Councils UK (RCUK) Executive Group. Professor Diamond has served as chair for the past three years and was re-elected for 2007 by the other seven Research Council chief executives that make up the RCUK Executive Group.
Professor Diamond said: "Research Councils UK faces a challenging year in 2007. We need to work together effectively to argue the case for a good settlement for the Science Budget in the comprehensive spending review to be announced next summer. We will also be assisting our colleagues in the newly created Science and Technology Facilities Council to integrate into RCUK. The Research Councils will also be continuing to find greater efficiencies in order to invest the highest possible proportion of our funds in frontline research."
Professor Diamond continued: "I am grateful to my colleagues, the other Research Council chief executives, for the opportunity to continue as Chair of Executive Group and provide continuity for the coming year."
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Contact
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Matt Goode
Tel: 01793 413299
Notes to Editors
The RCUK Executive Group provides the forum through which Research Council chief executives collectively own, drive and monitor the strategic and operational activities that deliver the RCUK mission.
The Chair of the RCUKEG is selected annually from among serving Research Council Chief Executives.
RCUKEG meets monthly. Meeting agendas and reports of the main discussions and actions agreed are published shortly after each meeting.
RCUK works with the Office of Science and Innovation to discuss high-level strategic issues and provide advice to the Director General of Science and Innovation through the Joint Strategy Group. This group is chaired by the DGSI and meets quarterly.
The eight UK Research Councils are:
- Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
- Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC)
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC)
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
- Medical Research Council (MRC)
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
- Particle Physics & Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)
From 1 April 2007 the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC) and the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC) will merge to form the new Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).