The Review of UK Physics has concluded that UK physics is in a healthy state.
The Review, led by Professor Bill Wakeham, Vice-Chancellor of the University of
Southampton, looks into the international status, funding arrangements, university
provision, school education, careers and skill supply of physics in the UK.
Many positive aspects of UK physics were identified by the panel, such as a modest
increase in undergraduate numbers between 2002 to 2005, high average citation rates
within academic publications, and high global standing in areas including astrophysics
and solar system research.
Professor Wakeham, who chaired the review panel, commented: "UK physics is strong
but faces important challenges. Physics in the UK has seen significant changes over
the last 20 years, and the community must be confident that the current configuration
serves the best interests of the UK.
"UK physics enjoys excellent international standing and the role of physics and
physicists is vital for other disciplines. A significant proportion of physics research
takes place in non-physics departments. This provides evidence of both the pervasiveness
of the discipline and the flexibility of physicists, but physics departments need
to make sure that they maintain intellectual ownership of some parts of their discipline.
"The value of physics to the UK is such that relative weaknesses in its structures
and in the skills pipeline must be addressed. We have identified these areas, so
it is now a case of strengthening them so that UK physics can continue to grow in
stature."
Professor Ian Diamond, Chair of the RCUK Executive Group, thanked Professor Wakeham
for his involvement: "We are extremely pleased that such an in-depth report has
been produced, as it will be invaluable in assessing the future direction for UK
physics.
"The past few years have seen substantial investment in physics by the UK government,
particularly in international scale facilities which provide a strong bridge to
other disciplines and which are well placed to make a significant impact on the
nation's economy."
- ends -
Notes
Additional resources
Copies of the review and the Research Councils UK response are available on request.
An interview with Professor Bill Wakeham is available here.
A commentary by Professor Bill Wakeham will appear in the 2 October issue of
Nature.
Contact Ruth
Francis at Nature for more information.
Notes for editors
Background to RCUK Review of UK Physics
On 11 December 2007, the Secretary of State of Innovation, Universities and Skills,
John Denham, invited Professor Ian Diamond to commission a review of UK physics
research under the chairmanship of Professor Bill Wakeham, Vice Chancellor of Southampton
University. At the same time he also commissioned Sir Tom McKillop to assess the
current and potential contribution of the Daresbury campus to science and innovation
in the UK.
Professor Wakeham’s panel was asked to consider actions that might be taken to
ensure the continued health of physics research and postgraduate training in the
UK. It has reported to the RCUK Executive Group, which is making recommendations
to the Secretary of State. The Review of UK Physics forms part of RCUK's continuing
oversight of health of disciplines and is the first in a series of such reviews.
Data gathering and reports
During the course of the review, a large quantity of data was accumulated from
both new and existing sources.
The Panel undertook an extensive consultation with stakeholders, including learned
societies, physics departments, companies, vice-chancellors and subject groups.
Please note that in addition to the summary, the Panel also received copies of each
submission in full.
The Panel requested detailed information from the Research Councils on the support
of physics.
During the course of its evidence gathering, the Panel met with numerous witnesses
drawn from various aspects of the physics community.
As part of the evidence collection, a quantity of statistical data on student
and staff numbers, post-16 education and research funding was accumulated.
Finally, the review also commissioned a bibliometric analysis from CTWS, University
of Leiden. Appended to the report is some additional analysis whereby research output
volumes are normalised to population, and normalised in relation to UK output.
General information
The number of active physics researchers (as submitted to the RAE) rose by 2%
between 2001 and 2008, from 1754 to 1795.
An Institute of Physics study found that physics-based industries account for
6.7% of UK GDP.
Research Councils’ physics funding has increased by 34% in the period 2001/02
to 2006/07.
With the exception of 2004, applications for undergraduate courses in physics
and astronomy have increased over the past six years and are 19% higher in 2007
than in 2001.
The University of Leiden's bibliometric analysis considered publications in a
defined set of journals, largely used by the physics community worldwide, and looked
at total publication numbers and their citations for a group of comparator countries
including the UK. The analysis found that the UK achieves a higher average rate
of citations for each publication. Combining the physics and space sciences categories
places the UK second to the USA.
About Research Councils UK
The seven Research Councils are independent non-departmental public bodies, funded
by the Science and Research Budget through the Department of Innovation, Universities
and Skills (DIUS). They are incorporated by Royal Charter and together manage a
research budget of around £3 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 & Humanities Research Council (AHRC);
- Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC);
- Economic & Social Research Council (ESRC);
- Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC);
- Medical Research Council (MRC);
- Natural Environment Research Council (NERC);
- Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC).
Chair of Review Panel, Professor Bill Wakeham (University of Southampton)
Bill Wakeham has been Vice-Chancellor of the University of Southampton since
October 2001. His research fields are thermophysical properties of fluids, intermolecular
forces, and thermodynamics.
Contact
Chloë Somers
RCUK Press Officer
Tel: 01793 444592