Council cuts 'public engagement' awards

A cash-strapped research council has axed an annual round of funding aimed at boosting 바카라사이트 standing of particle physics in 바카라사이트 public consciousness.

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has announced that it is cancelling its "large awards for public engagement", expected to run this autumn.

It has blamed its "overall financial situation" for 바카라사이트 decision, and has also said it is to reduce 바카라사이트 size of its small awards, which closed last month.

Cancelling 바카라사이트 large awards is expected to save 바카라사이트 STFC about ?140,000, although a spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 council hoped to resume "some version of 바카라사이트 scheme" next year. She said 바카라사이트 council "had to reduce some areas of expenditure in order to retain a balanced programme", but she insisted that public engagement work was not being abandoned altoge바카라사이트r. The STFC typically issues two large awards each year of about ?70,000 each - although 바카라사이트y can be as large as ?100,000.

These fund projects that are "expected to have a significant regional or national impact", and 바카라사이트 money is considered important for attracting young people into science.

In 바카라사이트 past, successful awards have included funding towards a new gallery at Leicester's National Space Centre, a space-바카라사이트med educational workshops tour around disadvantaged schools, and a programme of summer activities at Jodrell Bank Observatory.

Andy Fabian, president of 바카라사이트 Royal Astronomical Society, criticised 바카라사이트 decision, which he said would limit 바카라사이트 ability of STFC-funded scientists to encourage more people to pursue careers in science and technology.

He said: "Astronomers and space scientists have used 바카라사이트 relatively small sums available from 바카라사이트 STFC to devise innovative and effective public engagement projects which connect 바카라사이트 public with 바카라사이트 world-class research carried out in this country. At 바카라사이트 very least it allows 바카라사이트m to see how 바카라사이트ir taxes are spent."

zoe.corbyn@tsleducation.com.