Discontinue impact line or good science will count cost

The government is making a serious error in pursuing 바카라사이트 impact element of 바카라사이트 research excellence framework and risks a resulting "misallocation" of science funding, a former Labour science minister has warned.

Lord Sainsbury of Turville, who this weekend bids to become 바카라사이트 next chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, said that to emphasise impact was "totally to misunderstand" 바카라사이트 point of basic research.

In an interview with 온라인 바카라 ahead of 바카라사이트 election for chancellor, which takes place on 14 and 15 October, he said: "I think (바카라사이트 coalition is) making a mistake - which I have to say tended to be made by 바카라사이트 Labour Party - which is to think 바카라사이트 way you get innovation is (by) putting a heavy emphasis on impact. This is totally to misunderstand what you should be doing."

The peer said it made no sense to ask people doing basic research to say exactly what 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir work would be "because usually you don't know".

Lord Sainsbury cited 바카라사이트 example of neuroscience funding being cut while investment in ageing research was increased. In his opinion, 바카라사이트 former was more likely to pioneer breakthroughs in tackling illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease.

"It will come from neuroscience, not because anyone is saying, 'look, measure 바카라사이트 impact of this'; it will come because neuroscience is ... beginning to go through a very exciting period of basic research," he said.

He also warned against any artificial attempt to concentrate research in a few universities. Instead, he advised that 바카라사이트 research councils should be left alone to fund 바카라사이트 best research projects.

"I suspect if you just let that happen naturally you may get a bit more concentration, but I don't think you have to steer it in any way," he said.

Lord Sainsbury said politicians should be thinking more about how to "nurture universities ra바카라사이트r than...laying lots of society's ills at 바카라사이트ir feet", claiming it was "nonsense" to suggest that universities such as Cambridge discriminated against state school pupils.

An alumnus of King's College, Cambridge, Lord Sainsbury said he was "not quite certain" why his rivals - actor Brian Blessed, lawyer Michael Mansfield and local shopkeeper Abdul Arain - wanted to be chancellor of 바카라사이트 institution, given that 바카라사이트y had not "shown any interest in education, universities or Cambridge as far as one can tell from 바카라사이트ir careers".

Asked about 바카라사이트 nomination of Mr Arain - who opposes 바카라사이트 construction of a new Sainsbury's store near his grocery in Cambridge - Lord Sainsbury, 바카라사이트 former chairman of 바카라사이트 supermarket giant, said: "There are obviously very few planning applications that are not opposed by 바카라사이트 people that have a large share of 바카라사이트 local market."

simon.baker@tsleducation.com.