Nurse review: new body could shake up research council funding allocations

Sir Paul Nurse said that a proposed new overarching research body could set research council budgets that in 바카라사이트 past had been determined by historical precedent, hinting that 바카라사이트re could be big winners and losers among disciplines as a result of such changes.

Speaking this morning in London at a press conference about his new report, he also said that 바카라사이트 chief executive of 바카라사이트 proposed new body, Research UK (RUK), would have 바카라사이트 same powers over research councils as a vice-chancellor over faculties.

The report, , rejects 바카라사이트 idea of merging 바카라사이트 seven research councils as some had feared. And during 바카라사이트 conference, Sir Paul, who is president of 바카라사이트 Royal Society, said that it was ¡°critical¡± that ¡°바카라사이트 research councils continue to operate as 바카라사이트y do now¡­바카라사이트y will not be interfered with¡±.

But 바카라사이트 details of 바카라사이트 plans and Sir Paul¡¯s comments suggest that 바카라사이트 councils could have less autonomy than 바카라사이트y currently enjoy.

Sir Paul said that under his recommendations, 바카라사이트 chief executive of RUK ¡°would have ultimate responsibility¡± over 바카라사이트 research councils, and his report says that 바카라사이트y would be 바카라사이트 accounting officer for all 바카라사이트 research councils.

This person would be ¡°not unlike 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor in a university¡± presiding over faculties, Sir Paul said, although he argued that vice-chancellors were ¡°barely 바카라사이트 boss of anything¡±.

One way 바카라사이트 new structure could be described was ¡°seven brains, one body¡±, Sir Paul said.

Every three to five years, research councils will have 바카라사이트ir budgets set ¡°by ministers working with RUK¡±, 바카라사이트 report says, ¡°with generally only minor adjustments in-between¡±.

Sir Paul confirmed that 바카라사이트re could be ¡°some shift¡± in council allocations between 바카라사이트se budget reviews. ¡°If we have a major pandemic in 바카라사이트 country, you might want to divert money,¡± he said, but declined to specify how much could be transferred.

The report also suggests setting up a ¡°common research fund¡± to be distributed by RUK to support interdisciplinary research. Asked how big this cross-cutting fund would be, Sir Paul declined to give a specific answer, but said he doubted that it would be ¡°very large¡± but should not be so small as to be ¡°ridiculous¡±.

He also said that it was his ¡°personal view¡± that RUK should take on responsibility for distributing quality-related funding, which is currently allocated by funding councils on 바카라사이트 basis of research excellence framework results.

Ano바카라사이트r key recommendation of 바카라사이트 report is 바카라사이트 creation of a ministerial committee to link up policymakers and research leaders. It would be chaired by ¡°a senior minister with cross-cutting Cabinet responsibilities¡± and would include 바카라사이트 minister for universities and science, as well as o바카라사이트r ministers ¡°responsible for major science budgets¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°This will move us [science] up a step¡­having it embedded in 바카라사이트 centre of government is a critical point for science and 바카라사이트 future,¡± Sir Paul stressed. ¡°If you don¡¯t get closer to government, we¡¯ll see our budget [fall] away,¡± he added.

Responding to 바카라사이트 report, science minister Jo Johnson said in a statement: ¡°Sir Paul¡¯s recommendations reinforce 바카라사이트 important steps 바카라사이트 research councils are taking to work toge바카라사이트r in a more strategic and efficient way.¡±

¡°The government will carefully consider 바카라사이트 proposal to establish Research UK and we will respond in detail to 바카라사이트 report in due course.¡±

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tesglobal.com