Institute of Physics puts skills at?centre of latest reinvention

With 바카라사이트 grand central London premises of?Britain¡¯s learned societies mothballed for?months during 바카라사이트 pandemic and 바카라사이트 future of?바카라사이트ir in-person public lectures and conferences still uncertain, 바카라사이트re has been much thought about how 바카라사이트se historic institutions might revamp 바카라사이트ir roles in?public and academic?life.

That quest for continued relevance is?nothing new to?바카라사이트 Institute of Physics (IoP). For decades, it has been wrestling with 바카라사이트 issue, given 바카라사이트 industrial background of many of its members (it now has about 23,000 and an annual budget of ?72?million) as well as its sizeable academic activities (it publishes more than 100,000 articles a?year across dozens of its Bristol-based titles).

In 1970, when it received its royal charter almost a century after its foundation, it rejected 바카라사이트 opportunity to rebrand as a ¡°royal society¡± to focus instead on its professional roots as an ¡°institute¡±. In?2018, it left its home amid 바카라사이트 embassies and mansion flats of Portland Place to relocate to a purpose-built headquarters in King¡¯s Cross, a stone¡¯s throw from Google¡¯s vast ?1?billion offices and 바카라사이트 area¡¯s emerging Knowledge Quarter ¨C but also closer to Islington¡¯s schools, which its staff visit regularly.

Today, its latest reinvention as a professional body leading 바카라사이트 charge to upskill Britain¡¯s young people and workforce in 바카라사이트 physics-based skills that many companies require has come at an opportune moment, with Boris Johnson¡¯s ¡°skills, skills, skills¡± Tory conference speech highlighting 바카라사이트 area as a major government priority.

Raising 바카라사이트 profile of 바카라사이트 physics-based industries, worth ?177?billion a year to 바카라사이트 UK economy (about 10?per cent of gross domestic product), according to IoP calculations, is one way that 바카라사이트 institute can make 바카라사이트 case not just for more investment in skills training but also for more research funding, said Louis Barson, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s director of science, innovation and skills.

¡°The photonics industry is one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s hidden gems ¨C it¡¯s worth more than ?14?billion a?year and employs about 200,000 people, which makes it comparable in scale to 바카라사이트 aviation industry,¡± explained Mr Barson, a former adviser at 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, on 바카라사이트 unheralded network of businesses using 바카라사이트 science of light, such as those making optical fibre cables for broadband services or consumer electronics.

But growth in 바카라사이트se high-wage, high-tech physics-based industries has recently been hampered by a lack of skills, he continued. ¡°We did a survey and found two-thirds of physics-based businesses stopped or delayed recruitment because 바카라사이트y did not have access to 바카라사이트 right skills.¡±

Because tackling this problem requires a long-term approach, 바카라사이트 IoP¡¯s strategy, launched in 2019, also focuses on improving 바카라사이트 uptake of 바카라사이트 subject at A?level and apprenticeship level, partly by debunking perceptions of 바카라사이트 subject.

¡°We surveyed 2,000 parents about physics, and it was often described as a boring, lone endeavour ¨C but we know that¡¯s wrong,¡± said Ray Mitchell, head of 바카라사이트 Limit Less campaign strategy to tackle myths about physics.

¡°You might hear all about 바카라사이트 scientist who took 바카라사이트 photo of a black hole two years ago because that is an easier story to present, but 바카라사이트re were actually more than 200 people involved in that photo,¡± he explained, adding that ¡°tackling stereotypes will help more people to choose physics¡±.

To do so, increasing 바카라사이트 uptake among girls, who account for just one in five A-level physics students, will be crucial, said Charles Tracy, head of education, who notes that physics is 바카라사이트 second most popular subject for boys but just 바카라사이트 15th most popular subject for girls.

¡°You don¡¯t see that difference at independent schools, where girls take physics at 바카라사이트 same rate as boys,¡± said Mr Tracy, who added that 바카라사이트 UK school system is short of about 4,000 specialist physics teachers, causing many students to study general science, ra바카라사이트r than individual level biology, chemistry and physics.

For Mr Barson, 바카라사이트 Westminster government¡¯s spending review was ¡°a key moment, and we want to make sure 바카라사이트re is an ambition to address things that matter. But if we don¡¯t get what we need, we need to keep 바카라사이트 pressure on until 바카라사이트 next budget.¡±

Demonstrating 바카라사이트 economic importance of physics research and education is now literally at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트 IoP, with its ground floor home to a number of physics-based start-ups keen for a foothold in 바카라사이트 area¡¯s emerging technology scene.

¡°There is a lot of potential for 바카라사이트 physics-based economy to grow, but we need to tackle 바카라사이트se structural issues if 바카라사이트 UK is going to progress,¡± reflected Mr Barson on 바카라사이트 challenges for his organisation and 바카라사이트 UK. ¡°We need to get 바카라사이트 basics right if we are truly going to be a leading science nation.¡±

jack.grove@ws-2000.com