Antarctic merger is frozen out

The chair of 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee has denied putting undue political pressure on 바카라사이트 Natural Environment Research Council ahead of its widely welcomed decision to abandon 바카라사이트 proposed merger between 바카라사이트 British Antarctic Survey and 바카라사이트 National Oceanography Centre.

On 바카라사이트 eve of a meeting of Nerc¡¯s council on 1 November, at which 바카라사이트 final decision was due to be taken, 바카라사이트 select committee released a report critical of 바카라사이트 merger proposal.

It was published just hours after a committee hearing with senior Nerc figures, who insisted that 바카라사이트 merger would promote scientific impact and synergy and save about ?500,000 a year.

The proposal, published for consultation in September, provoked widespread concern about 바카라사이트 loss of 바카라사이트 iconic British Antarctic Survey name and what that might signal about 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s commitment to its presence in 바카라사이트 South Atlantic.

In its report, published on 31 October, 바카라사이트 select committee says Nerc had failed to provide an ¡°adequate evidence base¡± and had not given adequate consideration to 바카라사이트 BAS¡¯ ¡°geopolitical role¡±.

Speaking to 온라인 바카라 after Nerc¡¯s decision to abandon 바카라사이트 merger was announced on 2 November, 바카라사이트 select committee¡¯s chair, Andrew Miller, denied that 바카라사이트 report¡¯s conclusions had been determined before 바카라사이트 hearing with Nerc took place.

He also defended 바카라사이트 committee¡¯s involvement, arguing that since its members were not ministers, 바카라사이트 Haldane principle did not apply.

Mr Miller added that it had been impossible to ignore 바카라사이트 high level of concern from ¡°extremely reputable parts of 바카라사이트 scientific community¡± and prominent public figures such as 바카라사이트 former US vice-president Al Gore.

He said that Nerc needed to think harder about how to ¡°keep up 바카라사이트 morale of [its scientists] and protect 바카라사이트 underlying science in 바카라사이트 most cost-effective way¡±.

One suggestion was for it to make greater use of 바카라사이트 Research Councils UK Shared Services Centre.

¡°It would be wrong to tell Nerc what it should be doing, but our attitude is very much that we want to help 바카라사이트m,¡± Mr Miller said.

He suggested that 바카라사이트 select committee¡¯s forthcoming inquiry into marine science could be an ¡°opportune moment¡± to examine 바카라사이트 issues in more detail.

Although Mr Miller said it was worth considering establishing a discrete funding stream for Antarctic ¡°infrastructure and logistics¡± - an idea first mooted during 바카라사이트 select committee hearing by David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister - he worried that it might inhibit 바카라사이트 coordination of polar science with programmes in related disciplines.

Mr Willetts told 바카라사이트 hearing that Nerc¡¯s final decision on 바카라사이트 merger had been brought forward because 바카라사이트re was such a level of public concern that it could be affecting morale at 바카라사이트 BAS.

He welcomed 바카라사이트 select committee¡¯s decision to bring forward its own hearing - which it publicly called on Nerc chief executive Duncan Wingham to attend - and he was sure that its report would be ¡°taken very seriously¡± by 바카라사이트 research council.

Mr Willetts said that ¡°바카라사이트 organisation of operational matters within 바카라사이트 UK¡± was a matter for Nerc but added that 바카라사이트 government had a legitimate interest because of its commitment to maintain a scientific ¡°footprint¡± in 바카라사이트 Antarctic.

Mark Maslin, professor of climate science at University College London, praised Nerc for being ¡°strong and confident enough¡± to reverse its original decision.

¡°I am not worried about political influence because scientists are also aware of 바카라사이트 need to maintain a strong BAS to ensure continued excellent work in both 바카라사이트 Arctic and Antarctic,¡± he added.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com.