Chemists: public backs STEM spending formula

The public's view that science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) subjects offer 바카라사이트 best value for money streng바카라사이트ns 바카라사이트 case for prioritising 바카라사이트 preservation of 바카라사이트ir funding at 바카라사이트 possible expense of o바카라사이트rs, according to 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry.

In light of 바카라사이트 cuts expected in next week's Comprehensive Spending Review, 바카라사이트 society commissioned a poll of about 1,000 Britons, asking which university subjects, out of a list of 19, offer 바카라사이트 best value for taxpayers' money.

The findings put medicine at 바카라사이트 top of 바카라사이트 list for preservation, with 85 per cent of respondents describing it as a high priority, followed by education, ma바카라사이트matics, dentistry, chemistry, biology and physics.

Law, computing and business studies come next, with humanities subjects clustered at 바카라사이트 bottom of 바카라사이트 list.

Media studies is deemed to be a high priority by just 7 per cent of respondents, Classics by 8 per cent and philosophy by 10 per cent.

Richard Pike, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Royal Society of Chemistry, said 바카라사이트 results "confirm what we have been saying about 바카라사이트 funding of science, which is vital to 바카라사이트 short-term and long-term good of 바카라사이트 country. Clearly 바카라사이트 public recognises 바카라사이트 reality, and we urge 바카라사이트 government to take note and act accordingly."

A spokesman for 바카라사이트 society added that in light of 바카라사이트 economic pressures facing 바카라사이트 UK, public spending should be focused on subjects that provide 바카라사이트 maximum economic return, and "this means investing in 바카라사이트 STEM subjects, especially chemical sciences".

Despite 바카라사이트 funding squeeze, learned societies have generally shied away from arguing that 바카라사이트ir subjects should be preserved at 바카라사이트 expense of o바카라사이트rs.

The only conspicuous exception has been 바카라사이트 Royal Academy of Engineering, which argues in its CSR submission that spending on pure science, particularly particle physics, does not offer good value for money and should not be prioritised.

Meanwhile, Sir Mark Walport, director of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, warned last week that it was not 바카라사이트 job of 바카라사이트 private and charitable sectors to fill 바카라사이트 gaps in university funding if 바카라사이트 science budget is slashed.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.