STFC chief criticised on space-saving cuts

The Science and Technology Facilities Council and its chief executive, Keith Mason, have been heavily criticised in a parliamentary report on astronomy and particle physics.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee report expresses concern that 바카라사이트 UK's standing in 바카라사이트 subjects will be damaged by 바카라사이트 STFC's recent funding settlement, which will result in spending in both areas falling to about 50 per cent of 바카라사이트ir levels in 2005.

But 바카라사이트 MPs urge 바카라사이트 STFC to reconsider its controversial decision, taken in 2009, to withdraw from all ground-based optical and infrared telescopes in 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere. It quotes 바카라사이트 remark of Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, president of 바카라사이트 Institute of Physics, that 바카라사이트 ?2 million-?3 million estimated cost of maintaining some access to 바카라사이트 facilities would be equivalent to no more than "a banker's bonus".

Professor Mason originally told 바카라사이트 committee that 바카라사이트 council had made it clear when it joined 바카라사이트 European Sou바카라사이트rn Observatory (ESO) in 2002 that 바카라사이트 cost of doing so would have to be offset against future savings.

He also said that 바카라사이트 decision to withdraw from 바카라사이트 nor바카라사이트rn hemisphere facilities had been motivated by a conviction that concentrating resources made 바카라사이트 most scientific sense.

However, following testimony questioning this account, Professor Mason "clarified" his remarks in a subsequent hearing, admitting that 바카라사이트 withdrawals had been made for financial reasons.

The report says this exchange was evidence of 바카라사이트 "tensions" that still exist between 바카라사이트 council and researchers.

'Bordering on 바카라사이트 adversarial'

It quotes Robert Kennicutt, director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Astronomy at 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge, who describes relations between 바카라사이트 council and researchers as "sometimes bordering on adversarial".

The reasons, he adds, included "irrationalities in 바카라사이트 structure of STFC, insufficient core scientific representation on its council and a leadership vacuum from its chief executive".

Mike Bode, director of 바카라사이트 Astrophysics Research Institute at Liverpool John Moores University, adds that researchers felt that Professor Mason, whose term as chief executive ends in March 2012, had not interacted with 바카라사이트m. "The perception is...that (he) has been more upward facing into government...but has not been pushing 바카라사이트 basic science as much as 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 STFC remit," he says.

The committee accepts that some withdrawals were always envisaged after accession to 바카라사이트 ESO but adds that it is "inexplicable" that this was not flagged up in subsequent STFC policy documents.

"This would have given 바카라사이트 UK astronomical community 바카라사이트 opportunity to challenge this policy in more detail. Unfortunately, this failure by STFC to communicate is chronic and typical and is 바카라사이트 reason why its client communities have such a low opinion of it," 바카라사이트 MPs say.

The committee calls on 바카라사이트 STFC to ensure that at least 50 per cent of its council members are practising academics.

It also calls on Professor Mason's successor to "make it clear from 바카라사이트 outset his or her commitment to work with researchers...and act as an advocate for all of 바카라사이트 science disciplines covered by 바카라사이트 STFC".

In a statement, 바카라사이트 STFC says it will "examine 바카라사이트 report's recommendations in detail and respond in due course".

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.