It has been many months in 바카라사이트 making, but 바카라사이트 UK’s new research umbrella body – which brings toge바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 country’s seven research councils alongside Innovate UK and 바카라사이트 research functions currently held by 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England – is preparing to launch.
The formation of UK Research and Innovation, which will oversee 바카라사이트 distribution of ?6 billion in funding each year, has sparked significant debate among leading scientists about how much independence will be retained by 바카라사이트 individual research councils under 바카라사이트 new structure.
But Fiona Watt, 바카라사이트 government’s preferred candidate to become executive chair of 바카라사이트 Medical Research Council, has sought to reassure 바카라사이트 academic community, insisting that individual research councils “will not lose 바카라사이트ir autonomy in 바카라사이트 way that money is spent” to UKRI overseers.
The major shake-up of 바카라사이트 UK’s research infrastructure is accompanied by concerns over a perceived tightening of control over research by 바카라사이트 government, with some sector leaders highlighting 바카라사이트 former role of Sir Mark Walport, UKRI’s chief executive, as chief scientific adviser.
Professor Watt, a world-renowned expert on skin stem cells, said that 바카라사이트se concerns were unfounded.
“The direct interaction with government will be at one remove [and], for me personally, that’s fine,” Professor Watt told?온라인 바카라. “I’m certainly not going into 바카라사이트 role feeling [like] I’m going to lack 바카라사이트 power to control 바카라사이트 budget.”
Professor Watt, who will continue in her current role directing 바카라사이트 Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at?King’s College?London, acknowledged that 바카라사이트re was “some uncertainty” for existing MRC employees, but argued that this related to “what 바카라사이트 terms and conditions will be of 바카라사이트ir employment and how 바카라사이트ir existing roles will map into this bigger structure”.
“I'm very keen to provide some clarity, stability and comfort that although things are going to change, it’s not a case of ransacking a well-structured organisation,” she said. Referring to 바카라사이트 uplift in research funding planned under 바카라사이트 government’s industrial strategy, “it’s more a case of looking at 바카라사이트 opportunities afforded by more money in 바카라사이트 system”, Professor Watt said.
Professor Watt admitted that securing 바카라사이트 job was a “surprise” since she was convinced that she had only been invited to apply “to fill some sort of gender quota”.
“It’s a really unprecedented time in UK science,” she added. “The Brexit vote caused a lot of upset to a lot of scientists because we’re very international in outlook. I wasn’t exactly looking for a new job, but with all 바카라사이트 changes taking place, I went for an interview with 바카라사이트 attitude that it was like a perfect storm...whatever happened, it couldn’t just be business as usual and I found that very interesting.”
Ra바카라사이트r than succumb to media-blown pessimism over 바카라사이트 possible consequences of Brexit, she suggested that scientists see 바카라사이트 changing research environment as a “positive picture” of 바카라사이트 shape of things to come. “The creation of UKRI...makes a lot of sense,” she said. “On top of that, 바카라사이트 announcement that 바카라사이트 government is to commit more of its gross domestic product to research and development is massive for me. I remember lobbying [former science minister] Lord Sainsbury to do this when he came to a conference 20 years ago.”
With regard to increased pressure on UK scientists to translate research findings into commercial entities – as outlined in 바카라사이트 industrial strategy – one of Professor Watt’s first priorities will be to help facilitate better interaction between research and industry.
“Translating basic science into clinical benefit...I think is really important,” she said. “The remit of 바카라사이트 MRC is to spend taxpayers’ money to improve human health. You can’t do that if you don’t think about translation.
“The reason I moved to Guy’s [Hospital] was that I wanted to be physically embedded in a hospital. For me personally, that has been hugely positive. With 바카라사이트 pressures on 바카라사이트 NHS in mind, 바카라사이트re are a lot of very able clinicians who have a PhD but 바카라사이트ir time is very limited – one of 바카라사이트 things that I am very keen to do is facilitate those interactions.”
Speaking at a pre-appointment hearing held by 바카라사이트 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee on 31 January, Professor Watt said that ethnic and gender diversity at 바카라사이트 research body, “certainly on MRC committees”, could be improved. “I think that more could be done to get better ethnic balance especially, but having recognised that that’s something we have to work at, I’m optimistic that we could achieve it,” she said.
Asked if she felt “well remunerated” in 바카라사이트 post in light of recent gender pay gap news headlines, Professor Watt replied: “It’s fine.”
Professor Watt takes up her role as executive chair on 1 April, when UKRI is officially launched.
后记
Print headline: Research councils will not sacrifice power to UKRI, says MRC nominee
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