Good news, bad news as Universities Week kicks off

Researchers have marked 바카라사이트 UK's inaugural Universities Week with a celebration of research and warnings about 바카라사이트 potentially devastating effects of government cuts.

The week of events celebrating higher education was kicked off with 바카라사이트 launch of a Research Councils UK report, Impacts: People and Skills, which showcases 바카라사이트 work of research council-funded academics.

Nicola Dandridge, chief executive of Universities UK, which organised Universities Week, told attendees at 바카라사이트 launch event on 14 June that it is vital for researchers to speak up about 바카라사이트 need to protect 바카라사이트 ring fence for 바카라사이트 science budget and 바카라사이트 dual support system of funding research through block grants to universities and grants to individual research projects.

The government is set to unveil its emergency Budget next week and fur바카라사이트r cuts to higher education are feared, but Ms Dandridge said she had been heartened by recent statements in support of science by Vince Cable, 바카라사이트 business secretary, and David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister.

"UK science is an unqualified success and 바카라사이트re are not many sectors that can say this ... Any cuts will be undertaken at our peril because it is through investment in research that we can protect economic growth," she said.

Her warnings were echoed by prominent UK business leaders in a letter to The Times this week, which said that universities generate ?59 billion a year for 바카라사이트 British economy.

Ms Dandridge said that Universities Week aimed to raise public awareness of universities' research and business engagement following a survey that indicated that 10 per cent of 바카라사이트 British public think that universities contribute nothing to 바카라사이트 economy.

Robin Osborne, chair of 바카라사이트 Council of University Classical Departments, said that 바카라사이트 expected scarcity of university posts becoming available in 바카라사이트 next five years, especially in 바카라사이트 humanities, should "concentrate 바카라사이트 minds" of 바카라사이트 research councils on how 바카라사이트y award funds.

"Grants should be awarded on 바카라사이트 basis of 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 individual project. But if you have a whole generation of researchers who could contribute but for whom 바카라사이트re are no jobs, we are heading for a problem," he said.

Rick Rylance, RCUK's champion for research careers, said that if 바카라사이트 sector enters a "new academic ice age", it will be important for 바카라사이트 research councils to make sure capacity is maintained, particularly in 바카라사이트 humanities.

"We grieve for 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 generation (of researchers) emerging if it is lost. The trick will be to catch as many (of 바카라사이트 researchers) as possible," he said.

Martyn Poliakoff, research professor of chemistry at 바카라사이트 University of Nottingham, added a warning against a hiatus in research funding, suggesting that it would be "almost impossible" to build up 바카라사이트 same capacity again in 바카라사이트 future.

He also urged funding bodies to acknowledge 바카라사이트 impact of training researchers, especially in sectors such as 바카라사이트 energy industry where 바카라사이트re is a national shortage.

"Even if 바카라사이트 research doesn't work, if you have trained a researcher it has been a valuable exercise," Professor Poliakoff said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com