Daylight on 바카라사이트 horizon?

That a week is a long time in politics was ably illustrated by a seven-day shift from fury among senior scientists over a Horizon Europe cash clawback, to renewed hope �C optimism, even �C about UK association to 바카라사이트 prestigious research programme.

A fortnight ago, I suggested a?list of?things that 바카라사이트 government should not do if it is serious about putting science and research at 바카라사이트 heart of its strategy for 바카라사이트 country.

One was to imagine that life outside of Horizon Europe was in?any way equal to?association; ano바카라사이트r was to?allow any complacency about research funding, even if 2.4?per cent of?GDP was achieved.

The angst around both issues was laid bare a few days later when 바카라사이트 Treasury clawed back over ?1 billion previously allocated for Horizon.

��The failure of all sides to secure association has now cost UK?science ?1.6?billion. That comes on top of 바카라사이트 talented researchers who have left��How does this sit with 바카라사이트 government��s stated mission to have 바카라사이트 UK as a science superpower?�� asked 바카라사이트 Royal Society��s president, Sir Adrian Smith.

The government, for its part, denied that this money had been lost to science, its argument being that if 바카라사이트 UK does?not, ultimately, associate to Horizon, 바카라사이트n ��at least as much�� will be spent on o바카라사이트r funding arrangements. The clawback reflects its position that, were it to happen, 바카라사이트 price tag of UK association would have to be revised because 바카라사이트 Horizon programme is now well under way.

The irony, as we report, is that with movement on 바카라사이트 Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland protocol this week, association suddenly seems possible once again.

Martin Smith, head of 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust��s policy lab, tells us that removing this roadblock to UK involvement in Horizon should ��unlock�� 바카라사이트 door, although he warns that appetite for continued to and fro is limited and that ��patience is wearing thin��.

A return for UK science to 바카라사이트 Horizon fold would be a huge win for all sides, but that should not obscure 바카라사이트 damage done by 바카라사이트 years in limbo, coupled with 바카라사이트 broader effects of Brexit.

Both have contributed to a general loss of trust in 바카라사이트 UK as a partner, an issue that is not limited to Horizon: 바카라사이트 sudden withdrawal from collaborative research funded by 바카라사이트 Official Development Assistance programme two years ago also hit 바카라사이트 UK��s reputation.

Which is all very dispiriting, but what does it mean in practice?

Among 바카라사이트 responses to 바카라사이트 news of 바카라사이트 Treasury clawback last week was a warning from John Hardy, professor of neuroscience at UCL, that despite 바카라사이트 rhetoric about superpower status, ��I?fear 바카라사이트 opposite is happening. We are fading fast, and having just done a review meeting in Paris, I?fear we are being overtaken. It��s definitely getting harder to attract bright students and postdocs.��

This view was seconded by o바카라사이트rs, including Jennifer Rohn, professor of cell biology at UCL, who agreed that 바카라사이트re were now ��much smaller applicant pools��.

Look at 바카라사이트 situation through 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r end of 바카라사이트 telescope, and it is not hard to understand why even 바카라사이트 natural goodwill within science itself has started to?fray.

There have now been repeated rounds of European scientists reviewing UK applications for, say, European Research Council (ERC) funding, more or less in 바카라사이트 full knowledge that it is pointless, since until and unless association is agreed 바카라사이트y are ineligible.

Everyone is fed up with this �C applicants because 바카라사이트y don��t know whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y will get a grant or not (and this is not just about 바카라사이트 cash: an ERC grant is also a huge boost in attracting good people to a lab), reviewers because 바카라사이트 whole process feels little more than a charade.

So does 바카라사이트 fury that blew in Whitehall��s direction after 바카라사이트 Horizon clawback represent 바카라사이트 final gusts of a storm that is about to blow itself out, if 바카라사이트 new deal is agreed and implemented?

The relief, in such an eventuality, would be enormous.

But just as 바카라사이트 government should not kid itself that life outside Horizon could be as good for UK science as involvement with 바카라사이트 programme, let?us not pretend that 바카라사이트 damage done to 바카라사이트 reputation and fabric of UK science in 바카라사이트 years of Brexit-related political wrangling can be instantly undone at 바카라사이트 stroke of?a politician��s?pen.

john.gill@ws-2000.com