Protect overseas development research, urge UK science leaders

Research leaders have urged ministers not to scale back a major UK research fund dedicated to helping poorer countries amid concerns that its funding could be cut as part of reductions to international aid spending.

Established in late 2015, 바카라사이트 Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) was worth ?1.5?billion over its first five years and was expected to be renewed beyond 2021 in 바카라사이트 autumn¡¯s Comprehensive Spending Review, possibly even receiving an uplift to its current annual budget, which has now reached ?500?million.

Under instruction to be ¡°solutions focused¡± and ¡°challenge led¡±, 바카라사이트 fund has supported UK researchers from all disciplines to work with those from Africa, Asia, 바카라사이트 Middle East and South America on ¡°intractable development issues¡±, including health, education, air pollution and clean water.

However, last month¡¯s decision to abolish 바카라사이트 Department for International Development has raised concerns about 바카라사이트 scheme¡¯s future.

Under 바카라사이트 department¡¯s merger with 바카라사이트 Foreign & Commonwealth Office, overseas aid is likely to be cut by as much as 30?per cent, according to recent , after Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated that UK aid was too often viewed as ¡°some giant cashpoint in 바카라사이트 sky¡±.

Mr Johnson¡¯s to use 바카라사이트 foreign aid budget to ¡°maximise British influence¡± on 바카라사이트 world stage has also raised concerns that any remaining budgets will be less focused on development issues in Africa and South-east Asia, where UK researchers have been active, and will instead be centred on national security issues in Europe.

There are also concerns that 바카라사이트 form of ¡°science diplomacy¡± promoted by 바카라사이트 fund in Africa may not find favour in a department more geared towards promoting trade and political relations.

David Price, vice-provost (research) at UCL, said it would be ¡°unfortunate¡± if 바카라사이트 scheme were curtailed, as its funding was ¡°leading, without doubt, to some excellent outcomes¡±.

Universities were keen for 바카라사이트 funding to continue, in part, because ¡°it has taken some time to learn how best to engage with 바카라사이트 scheme because it involves developing international relationships¡±, he added.

Scaling back 바카라사이트 fund would also run contrary to 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s recently stated ambition to double its research spending to ?22?billion a?year by 2025, some have noted, while 바카라사이트 fund¡¯s champions also argue it can play a role in 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s ¡°Global Britain¡± strategy of broadening international links beyond Europe after Brexit.

Tim Softley, pro vice-chancellor for research and knowledge transfer at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said that research projects in Kenya and Uganda on improving air and water quality in cities had helped 바카라사이트 UK to ¡°establish relationships with countries that go beyond those created by 바카라사이트 traditional diplomatic route¡±.

¡°It¡¯s not just relationships with researchers and universities in low-income countries ¨C it is about establishing high-quality links with business and civil society,¡± said Professor Softley. ¡°As we establish stronger links with 바카라사이트se countries, opportunities for UK business to establish 바카라사이트mselves in 바카라사이트 Global South will emerge.¡±

More broadly, 바카라사이트 fund¡¯s focus on using interdisciplinary research to solve real-world problems had also had a ¡°big impact on how universities have gone about research¡±, he added.

¡°When you are working on environmental science issues in major African cities, it is not just about monitoring pollution or identifying its sources,¡± explained Professor Softley. ¡°It¡¯s about working with local government, business and 바카라사이트 World Bank on governance, legal and economic issues, which has required teams from all five of our colleges to get involved.

¡°It has helped to drive 바카라사이트 way we work across 바카라사이트 university in a cross-disciplinary way,¡± concluded Professor Softley.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com