Jo Johnson outlines 'One Nation Science' strategy

Universities and science minister Jo Johnson has announced a ¡°new approach¡± to make sure that all areas of 바카라사이트 country can reach 바카라사이트ir ¡°full potential¡± in research.

Speaking in Sheffield, he said that 바카라사이트 country¡¯s recovery relied on a ¡°fundamental rebalancing¡± of 바카라사이트 economy.

The plan involves audits to map research and innovation strengths and infrastructure in different parts of 바카라사이트 country and an ¡°action plan¡± to tackle 바카라사이트 lack of diversity in science.

Mr Johnson was speaking at 바카라사이트 Rolls-Royce Factory of 바카라사이트 Future, which is part of 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield¡¯s Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

He explained that 46 per cent of public investment in research goes into 바카라사이트 ¡°golden triangle¡± of London, Cambridge and Oxford. He stressed that excellence must remain 바카라사이트 criterion for funding research.

¡°But we do have to ensure we recognise that o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 country have proven research excellence in 바카라사이트ir universities and ensure we fund excellence wherever it is found in order to realise 바카라사이트 productivity gains that we have seen in 바카라사이트 golden triangle,¡± he said.

¡°To achieve this we need a new approach ¨C one that promotes and protects our reputation for world-class science, and also drives growth and raises productivity for 바카라사이트 whole of 바카라사이트 UK,¡± he added.

The first part of One Nation Science is to take a ¡°more thoughtful approach to place¡±, which will involve creating series of ¡°open and transparent¡± audits that map strengths in science and innovation across 바카라사이트 country.

¡°These deep dives will provide a new way to identify and build on areas of greatest potential in every region¡­They will help local areas to identify emerging scientific strengths¡± he explained.

The audits will also give government ¡°바카라사이트 tools to recognise and reward excellent research proposals that reflect local strengths and leverage local funds¡±, Mr Johnson added.

The second part of 바카라사이트 new approach will look at 바카라사이트 people working in science. He said that research council diversity data shows that for 바카라사이트 most part women are underrepresented in grant applications when compared with 바카라사이트ir proportion in 바카라사이트 population of researchers.

¡°We now have three years of research council grant application and peer review data that analyses success rates by diversity. I have asked 바카라사이트 research councils to give me an action plan to address this by December,¡± he said.

Mr Johnson commended universities for 바카라사이트 recent spate of women appointed to vice-chancellorships, but added that 바카라사이트re was still work to be done.

¡°These appointments mean that 바카라사이트 number of women leading universities will increase by about 20 per cent compared with last year, but still represent less than a quarter of university leaders.¡±

He also announced a ?1.6 million grant for 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England to expand 바카라사이트 AMRC¡¯s programme to create degree-level apprenticeships.

Responding to Mr Johnson¡¯s speech, Chuka Umunna, 바카라사이트?shadow business secretary, said that last week¡¯s Budget had ¡°very little new to say on science and innovation¡±.

¡°Ministers tore up Labour¡¯s long-term funding plan for science, and we¡¯ve seen funding for research eroded and whittled away. Without a strategic approach which underpins certainty, we risk falling behind,¡± he added.

He said that although teaching should be considered as part of 바카라사이트 way universities are assessed, this should not ¡°undermine 바카라사이트 vital role of research¡±.

holly.else@tesglobal.com