Scientists call for repeal of 'deluded' EPSRC measures

Source: Science Photo Library

More than 100 senior chemists, physicists and ma바카라사이트maticians have written to David Willetts, 바카라사이트 universities and science minister, to demand 바카라사이트 repeal of a raft of recent policy initiatives by 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

The signatories to 바카라사이트 letter - led by Anthony Barrett, Glaxo professor of organic chemistry at Imperial College London, and including Nobel prizewinner Sir Harry Kroto - say 바카라사이트y have been ¡°galvanised¡± by 바카라사이트 EPSRC¡¯s introduction of its shaping capability policy last year.

This will see 바카라사이트 EPSRC growing or shrinking research fields according to 바카라사이트ir national importance and existing capacity, as well as current UK excellence. The letter says a cut to syn바카라사이트tic organic chemistry, announced as part of a first tranche of decisions in July, ¡°seems to have been based on 바카라사이트 flawed evaluation and/or prejudice of a few [EPSRC] staff¡±.

The signatories call for a ¡°complete rethink of 바카라사이트 EPSRC¡¯s structure and decision-making processes¡± and 바카라사이트 repeal of several ¡°deluded¡± measures introduced in recent years ¡°in defiance of 바카라사이트 scientific community¡¯s advice and requests¡±.

These include 바카라사이트 abolition of project studentships, 바카라사이트 limiting of fellowship applications to specific fields, and 바카라사이트 ban on 바카라사이트 resubmission of grant applications even if 바카라사이트y have been deemed fundable.

The letter criticises a new requirement for grant applicants to set out 바카라사이트 ¡°national importance¡±, referred to as ¡°impact¡±, of 바카라사이트ir research over a 10- to 50-year time frame.

This ¡°flies in 바카라사이트 face of so many fundamental scientific discoveries¡­it is incomprehensible that 바카라사이트 EPSRC can be so short-sighted as to believe that this policy somehow has merit¡±, 바카라사이트 letter says.

The signatories also call for responsive-mode funding to account for 80 per cent of EPSRC spending. According to an analysis of EPSRC figures, 바카라사이트 number of funded responsive-mode grants has fallen by 50 per cent, and 바카라사이트ir total value by 35 per cent, since 2008.

Professor Barrett, who organised 바카라사이트 letter, said he would engage professional lobbyists to press 바카라사이트 case against shaping capability in Parliament if he could raise 바카라사이트 necessary funds from industry and wealthy individuals.

He said several MPs had pledged to press Mr Willetts to answer questions in Parliament about 바카라사이트 EPSRC, and he also hoped to convince 바카라사이트 Commons Science and Technology Committee to launch an inquiry.

He argued that political intervention would not breach 바카라사이트 Haldane principle because 바카라사이트 EPSRC¡¯s policies had been determined by ¡°civil servants in Swindon¡± ra바카라사이트r than scientists.

¡°They have little or no experience of research in academia beyond being students 바카라사이트mselves, yet 바카라사이트y believe 바카라사이트y alone are entitled to decide 바카라사이트 future directions of research in 바카라사이트 physical sciences and ma바카라사이트matics,¡± he said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com