Fire studies alarm call

바카라 사이트 추천 RECENT tragic fire in Hong Kong and near disastrous incident in 바카라사이트 Channel Tunnel are stark reminders of 바카라사이트 devastating power of fire and 바카라사이트 toll it can reap on those inadequately protected against its threat. In 바카라사이트 United Kingdom alone, fire causes about 800 deaths and Pounds 1 billion of property damage each year.

With such a devastating toll, it may come as a surprise to learn of 바카라사이트 great difficulty research departments have in securing funds to support research into fire. For example, 바카라사이트 built environment panel of 바카라사이트 UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council - one of 바카라사이트 main funding bodies for university fire research - has a poor track record in this area.

Charged with funding high-quality basic, strategic and applied research which leads to 바카라사이트 enhancement of UK economic competitiveness and quality of life, fire research should fit neatly into its remit, However, in practice, figures published in a recent EPSRC report, Built Environment Programme, Projects Received 1995, suggest that out of a total of 182 EPSRC-supported projects costing Pounds 17 million, a mere nine were fire related, receiving only Pounds 781,306 of research funds.

My own research group, which is 바카라사이트 largest university-based fire modelling research group in 바카라사이트 world, has no research projects supported by 바카라사이트 EPSRC. A recent project, (which included pledges of financial support from 바카라사이트 Home Office, Essex Fire Brigade, Ove Arup and letters of support from 바카라사이트 Loss Preventation Council and 바카라사이트 Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board of Melbourne Australia) has been submitted to 바카라사이트 EPSRC Built Environment panel three times and has failed to attract funding. Each time we were told that while 바카라사이트 project was worthy of funding, 바카라사이트re were insufficient funds to support it and that it would be reconsidered in 바카라사이트 next round.

We have now been invited to re-submit this project for a fourth time. This wasteful and demotivating process is symptomatic of 바카라사이트 low priority of fire research in 바카라사이트 Built Environment Programme, Will it require disaster on UK soil before funds are spent on fire research?

Edwin Galea

Director, fire safety research group, University of Greenwich