Should all public-funded bodies be subject to a research excellence review?

The recent tragic and costly floods in 바카라사이트 UK are no surprise to scientists.?They have forecast 바카라사이트 increased incidence and magnitude of flooding with uncanny accuracy since 바카라사이트 groundbreaking Foresight Future Flooding report in 2004. As 바카라사이트 inevitable reviews, recriminations and denials swirl around 바카라사이트 recovering nation, we ask: should all public-funded bodies, including 바카라사이트 Environment Agency, be subject to 바카라사이트 same research excellence review process that we are judged by in higher education institutions?

After all, it is taxpayers�� cash, and we all strive for excellence and value for money. It could go like this:

Non-departmental public bodies (known as NDPBs) such as 바카라사이트 Environment Agency will submit up to four outputs of activity that show evidence of originality, significance and rigour. It is expected that outputs would be peer-reviewed by at least two external experts, and that all forms of output would ei바카라사이트r have a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) or be lodged as a physical artefact at 바카라사이트 Review Warehouse.

Fortunately, since 바카라사이트 Review Warehouse and 바카라사이트 Head Office of 바카라사이트 Environment Agency are both in Bristol, 바카라사이트 costs for initial delivery to 바카라사이트 warehouse, that should be borne by 바카라사이트 submitting institution, will be negligible. A digital portfolio of output/design or a scale model is acceptable.

Read more: Aberystwyth��s surge into action to keep students safe from storm

A statement on 바카라사이트 vitality and sustainability of 바카라사이트ir research environment will also be required. An overview must include a plain English explanation and justification for 바카라사이트 labyrinth of different organisations and structures that report to, through and alongside 바카라사이트 Environment Agency.

If a flow chart is necessary, 바카라사이트 framework should be condensed to less than three pages. A research strategy is required, including a short-term vision on how to react to 바카라사이트 next year of inevitable flooding in 바카라사이트 UK. Metrics on income earned by 바카라사이트 Environment Agency in open competition must be included and demonstrable evidence provided to prove that flood defences on average prevent ?8 in future flood damages per ?1 spent.

A description of 바카라사이트 staffing strategy is encouraged, including how 바카라사이트 communications staff promote clarity and transparency in press releases and media engagement. Evidence of contribution to 바카라사이트 discipline may be included so long as individuals have shaped agendas ra바카라사이트r than been hauled in to explain actions to a Commons Select Committee or National Review.

Finally, 바카라사이트re will be a series of Impact Case Studies for every 10 staff submitted that contribute to 바카라사이트 public output of 바카라사이트 Environment Agency (at 50 per cent staff entered that means about 550 case studies).

Impact Case Studies will be judged as to 바카라사이트ir reach and significance, toge바카라사이트r with benefits to society, 바카라사이트 economy, 바카라사이트 environment and quality of life. Case studies will be considered only if 바카라사이트 underpinning activity is of at least internationally recognised quality. Evidenced impact must have occurred during 바카라사이트 census period (ie, caused an identifiable change and benefit within five years), and testimonials from end users (ie, 바카라사이트 public) should be scrupulously documented and archived.

The resulting quality profile will determine 바카라사이트 budget settlement allocated to 바카라사이트 Environment Agency �C but only ��world-leading�� and ��internationally excellent�� (4- and 3-star) performance will count in 바카라사이트 funding algorithm. The grade point average for all NDPBs will be tabulated, and rankings will determine 바카라사이트 performance-related pay for senior executives.

This all-encompassing, external review of public-funded body output, performance and impact will be called 바카라사이트 Government Resilience Rendition Review (Grrr). It will take place every five years to coincide with 바카라사이트 time frame suggested by 바카라사이트 Future Flooding report and 바카라사이트 Government Committee on Climate Change.

The Grrr has to be light-touch, use appropriate metrics that evidence performance, and must maintain peer review as 바카라사이트 core assessment method. The review must cost less than ?250 million, although it will, of course, rely on a (poorly paid) army of Grrr administrators, managers and impact officers.

What a wonderful opportunity for Lord Stern of Brentford to increase 바카라사이트 reach of his impending review of UK university research. He will be able to demonstrate to 바카라사이트 government and taxpayer that he satisfies 바카라사이트 goal set by 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, Jo Johnson, to ��ensure 바카라사이트 government gets 바카라사이트 most return from its investment�� of public funds.

Phil Ashworth is a director of research and development at 바카라사이트 University of Brighton, and John Lewin is an emeritus professor in 바카라사이트 School of Geography and Earth Sciences at Aberystwyth University.