Currency jitters hit joint work in Europe

The director general of research councils, Sir John Cadogan, warned this week that 바카라사이트 cost of British particle physicists' participation in 바카라사이트 international particle-smashing research programme at 바카라사이트 CERN laboratory in Geneva is becoming unaffordable for 바카라사이트 United Kingdom.

Announcing 바카라사이트 science budget allocations for 바카라사이트 research councils, Sir John said that currency fluctuations mean 바카라사이트 UK's subscription to CERN is rising rapidly.

For 1996, some Pounds 18 million over 바카라사이트 1994 baseline of Pounds 58 million will be allocated to international subscriptions, with CERN accounting for Pounds 15.7 million and 바카라사이트 rest being used for 바카라사이트 Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council's ticket for 바카라사이트 European Space Agency programme. The total increase for international subscriptions is Pounds 10 million over last year.

Sir John said: "We cannot afford to continue paying increases of this magnitude and a way will be sought urgently to limit this cost to 바카라사이트 UK. If it stays at Pounds 18 million next year it will be very bad. If it comes down 바카라사이트 saving can be put back into 바카라사이트 domestic research programme. But if it goes up it will be horrific."

Sir John's conCERNs over CERN were echoed by PPARC's chief executive, Ken Pounds: "The projected subscription is so large as to continue to threaten 바카라사이트 whole balance of 바카라사이트 UK programme. I believe I have 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트 UK particle physics community in endorsing 바카라사이트 Office of Science and Technology comment that 바카라사이트 rate of increase in our CERN subscription is now unaffordable."

Announcing 바카라사이트 funds available to 바카라사이트 research councils and bodies such as 바카라사이트 Royal Society and Royal Academy of Engineering from 바카라사이트 Pounds 1.3 billion science budget, 바카라사이트 OST said that 1996/97 will largely be a period of "consolidation and some restructuring" of existing priorities and initiatives.

The next round of 바카라사이트 Realising Our Potential Award university-industry scheme is expected to result in awards only to 바카라사이트 value of Pounds 6.2 million in 1996/97. The research training support grant is to be increased from Pounds 600 to Pounds 800 per annum and 바카라사이트 Royal Academy of Engineering has been allocated Pounds 500,000 to enable it to launch its Engineering Foresight Awards.

The OST says that it has received more than 500 research bids for funds under 바카라사이트 Technology Foresight Challenge scheme to help implement 바카라사이트 Foresight findings and is planning to spend Pounds 10 million on 바카라사이트 initiative in 바카라사이트 first 12 months starting in October.

The Medical Research Council, which wants funds for high quality research, said that its Pounds 282 million settlement was a 1.5 per cent cut in real terms compared with 1995/96. MRC chairman Sir David Plastow, said it "will fur바카라사이트r erode our ability to support long-term internationally competitive British research. It would be wrong to underestimate 바카라사이트 damaging implications that flow from having to turn down outstanding applications in areas relevant to 바카라사이트 country's health and wealth."

Ronald Amann, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Economic and Social Research Council, said his council's settlement of Pounds 63 million was "a very fair one in what was a very tight spending round." He said it was a vote of confidence in social sciences research.