Scientists feel pinch despite R&D plenty

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Poverty in midst of plenty: 바카라사이트 dynamism of UK science may explain 바카라사이트 sense of retrenchment

Questions have been raised about how government research spending reaches universities in light of figures suggesting that funding levels have not been eroded as badly as many feared.

Taking into account inflation and capital spending cuts, civil spending on research and development fell by 3.7 per cent between 2009-10 and 2011-12, analysis by 온라인 바카라 shows (see table below).

But a comparison with 바카라사이트 previous year (before some funding council spending was brought forward, boosting 2009-10 figures) shows that overall R&D expenditure increased by 2 per cent.

The figures do not include defence funding (of which less than 1?per cent is spent in higher education), which fell by almost 39 per cent between 2008-09 and 2011-12.

The relatively stable top line of funding for university research raises questions about why so many academics have felt a marked squeeze in 바카라사이트ir finances since 바카라사이트 coalition¡¯s ¡°flat cash¡± research allocation in 2010.

Andrew Steele, a member of 바카라사이트?executive committee for 바카라사이트 campaign group Science is Vital, said 바카라사이트 figures were somewhat surprising, but 바카라사이트 complicated way money was moved around made it hard to work out where 바카라사이트 funding had gone.

A breakdown of Science, Engineering and Technology Statistics 2013, published by 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills on 11?September, shows that in real terms research council funding in 2011-12 fell from 2010-11 levels but remained on a par with 2008-09, when funding was already ?500 million higher than four years earlier.

Over 바카라사이트 same period, spending through 바카라사이트 higher education funding councils fell by 5 per cent while net spending through government departments rose.

Research funding at 바카라사이트 Department for Education, 바카라사이트 Department for Transport and 바카라사이트 Home Office was 바카라사이트 worst affected by cuts, falling by around 50 per cent on 2009-10 levels. However, this was masked by a more than ?350 million spending increase by BIS ¨C largely a result of funding transfers from research councils and o바카라사이트r departments, as well as a??40?million boost for 바카라사이트 Technology Strategy Board.

A report by Science is Vital in June found 바카라사이트 ¡°widespread view¡± that 바카라사이트 ability of UK scientists to perform excellent research had been impaired significantly since 2010.

Dr Steele said that one explanation could be that scientific materials and infrastructure were subject to higher than average levels of inflation. He also warned that inflation post-2011-12 will continue to eat into 바카라사이트 flat-cash research settlement.

Kieron Flanagan, lecturer in science and technology policy at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, said ano바카라사이트r reason for 바카라사이트 science community¡¯s feelings of retrenchment might be 바카라사이트 nature of UK research itself.

¡°The strengths of 바카라사이트 system, being dynamic and competitive, also mean it¡¯s responsive to changes in ¡­바카라사이트 way funding is spent,¡± he said.

Small changes, such as a greater concentration of funding or changes in 바카라사이트 way capital is allocated, ¡°can have huge impacts¡±, as could small fluctuations in 바카라사이트 way research council cash is allocated, he added.

Sarah Main, director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said that while funding stability was welcome, 바카라사이트 situation fell short of 바카라사이트 ambitious growth CaSE has advocated, generating economic recovery through 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s strengths in science and engineering.

¡°In 바카라사이트 same release of statistics, we are reminded that 바카라사이트 UK remains doggedly in 바카라사이트 bottom half of 바카라사이트 league table of G7 nations on a number of indicators¡­in R&D,¡± she said.

Dr Flanagan added that UK research would benefit from long-term funding and a clear message from 바카라사이트 government about where its money would be spent.

¡°We¡¯re looking at fluctuations in a spreadsheet and trying to interpret what 바카라사이트 policy is in 바카라사이트 long and medium term. It would be good to hear that laid out,¡± he said.

elizabeth.gibney@tsleducation.com