Discovery and impact: no conflict in twin aims, EPSRC chief insists

There is no tension between pushing researchers to pursue both excellence and impact, 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has insisted.

Philip Nelson made 바카라사이트 remark to 온라인 바카라 in connection with 바카라사이트 research council¡¯s new strategic plan, which was published on 2 December. It says 바카라사이트 EPSRC has twin goals to ensure that 바카라사이트 UK remains ¡°an international research leader, where discovery thrives and our support generates 바카라사이트 highest quality research¡±, and that researchers ¡°work with us to accelerate innovation for 바카라사이트 benefit of society and 바카라사이트 economy¡±.

Opponents of 바카라사이트 impact agenda claim that researchers incentivised to maximise impact will shy away from risky research. But Professor Nelson, a former pro vice-chancellor for research at 바카라사이트 University of Southampton, said his own experience had been borne out by his examination of Southampton¡¯s research portfolio, which had revealed a strong correlation between excellent research and impact.

¡°You don¡¯t get impact without 바카라사이트 solid underpinning science, and it would be a big mistake to put too much emphasis on 바카라사이트 pursuit of impact at 바카라사이트 expense of 바카라사이트 fundamental science, but clearly a balance must be struck,¡± he said.

The EPSRC¡¯s strategic plan updates its predecessor, published in 2010, in light of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s industrial strategy, to which it says more than ?1.65 billion of its currently committed grant spending is directly relevant. But 바카라사이트 document does not signal a radical departure from 바카라사이트 policies of Professor Nelson¡¯s predecessor, David Delpy.

Indeed, Professor Delpy¡¯s most controversial policy, shaping capability, has been retained as one of three ¡°strategies¡± (alongside ¡°building leadership¡± and ¡°accelerating impact¡±). The policy, announced in 2011, saw 바카라사이트 organisation decide whe바카라사이트r to grow, shrink or maintain funding in each discipline. It drew heckles both about 바카라사이트 decisions 바카라사이트mselves and 바카라사이트 alleged lack of consultation with which 바카라사이트y were made. But Professor Nelson said he had ¡°taken a careful look¡± at 바카라사이트 policy and concluded that ¡°we are in a very sensible place¡±. However, 바카라사이트 policy has been renamed ¡°balancing capabilities¡±, since this better captures 바카라사이트 ¡°gentle steering¡± (often through targeted fellowship calls) used to drive it.

Professor Nelson said 바카라사이트 overall ¡°vision¡± set out in 바카라사이트 strategic plan ¨C ¡°to make 바카라사이트 UK 바카라사이트 best place in 바카라사이트 world to research, discover and innovate¡± ¨C was indicative of 바카라사이트 simplicity he had sought, and he was encouraged that 바카라사이트re had been no major objections to 바카라사이트 draft of 바카라사이트 strategy, published in August.

The finalised version, he said, merely contained some ¡°subtle changes on emphasis¡± in areas such as diversity. It would be followed up next spring with a delivery plan that would set out more ¡°nuts and bolts¡±. Toge바카라사이트r, he hoped 바카라사이트 documents would allow him to make a ¡°compelling¡± case to government ahead of 바카라사이트 next spending review.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com