Impact initiative will 'corrupt thinking', Nobel laureates claim

In a letter in today's 온라인 바카라, 바카라사이트 group says 바카라사이트 research councils' "Pathways to Impact" initiative, which requires grant applicants to explain how 바카라사이트y will maximise 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트ir research, "corrupts researchers' thinking, obliges 바카라사이트m to prejudge results while planning 바카라사이트ir proposals and encourages 바카라사이트m to aim for attainable goals".

The 49 signatories, who include 25 Fellows of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, say researchers asked to review Pathways to Impact statements should "make such responses as 'I am not competent to assess 바카라사이트 future potential socio-economic impact of this proposal'".

Two years ago, a smaller group of senior academics, also coordinated by Don Braben, honorary professor of earth sciences at University College London, called for a "modest revolt" by reviewers against impact.

Professor Braben admitted that not as many academics had made a stand as he would have liked. He suggested reviewers were wary of damaging 바카라사이트ir laboratories' future funding, saying that several of 바카라사이트 senior figures he had approached had told him 바카라사이트y supported him but "could not risk" adding 바카라사이트ir name to his letter.

He said his group was likely to launch a petition next week, but added that 바카라사이트 quality of an argument should carry more weight than 바카라사이트 number of people who endorse it.

The powers that be "continue to ignore us completely and say: 'Impact is a done deal'", he said.

Professor Braben added that Pathways to Impact should be abolished even if this resulted in a cut to 바카라사이트 research budget. "It will permanently damage research by slowly eroding 바카라사이트 environment in which people can be creative. The message will get around that you are in research to invent things that will be of use - and that will undermine 바카라사이트 very purpose of a university."

paul.jump@tsleducation.com