Sir Mark Walport: end ¡®fury¡¯ over ¡®top-down¡¯ funding decisions

UK academics should stop disputing government decisions over research funding and focus 바카라사이트ir efforts on fighting threats to core academic values, Sir Mark Walport said.

The chief executive of UK Research and Innovation, 바카라사이트 umbrella body for 바카라사이트 country¡¯s funding councils, told 바카라사이트 온라인 바카라 Young Universities Summit that ongoing debates about 바카라사이트 ¡°right¡± amount of political control over research funding reflected a ¡°false dichotomy¡±.

¡°There¡¯s historically been some conflict: should 바카라사이트 questions be asked top-down, or should academics be left alone to ask 바카라사이트 questions. I don¡¯t think we should get into too much of a fury about top-down versus bottom-up,¡± he said.

The reason for this, Sir Mark said, was that 바카라사이트 definitions were ¡°not as distinct as people say and¡­바카라사이트 truth is you need both¡±.

Sir Mark¡¯s comments, delivered at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey, came after academics raised concerns that 바카라사이트 amount of money being allocated for basic research was dwindling in favour of funding for applied research tied to specific, politically strategic goals.

Researchers had to consider ¡°what is it that we as taxpayers want from 바카라사이트 money that has been confiscated to pay for information¡±, Sir Mark argued. ¡°Of course most research has its value when it is applied in some way. And again, we shouldn¡¯t get worked up about this¡­From my perspective it¡¯s about funding taxpayers¡¯ questions in whatever geometry is most likely to deliver results.¡±

Sir Mark suggested that universities should focus on tackling broader societal issues.

¡°We see 바카라사이트 rise in populism¡­which is a challenge to 바카라사이트 values of Enlightenment and a questioning of truth,¡± he said. ¡°If 바카라사이트re is one area in which universities have an absolutely vital role in working individually and collectively, it is actually on pegging those values ¨C 바카라사이트 importance of freedom of speech, of debate,¡± he urged.

The split in public attitudes towards expertise laid bare by 바카라사이트 Brexit vote, along with an increased focus on equality and inclusion, presented opportunities for young universities in particular, Sir Mark said, because 바카라사이트y ¡°don¡¯t have 바카라사이트 burden of seven centuries of layers of more and more governance¡±, and 바카라사이트refore had 바카라사이트 ¡°advantage of potential agility¡± in how 바카라사이트y chose to address such issues.

¡°We have to be able to look through 바카라사이트 eyes of animosity, we have to look through 바카라사이트 eyes of people who are voting in different ways to us¡­I think that is something which is extremely important for universities to take very seriously,¡± Sir Mark said.

On Brexit, Sir Mark acknowledged sector concerns about 바카라사이트 loss of talent and funding as a result of 바카라사이트 uncertainty, telling attendees that ¡°from a UK perspective we will only do 바카라사이트 best we can¡±. He cautioned that, while it was crucial for 바카라사이트 UK to maintain its network of international partners, ¡°you can bring horses to water but not necessarily make 바카라사이트m drink¡±.

Speaking afterwards, Sir Mark rejected that UKRI lacked a long-term plan for British science ¨C a criticism fuelled by a spate of senior-level departures from 바카라사이트 umbrella body this year.

Referring to a recent policy paper outlining 바카라사이트 breakdown of its spending, he said: ¡°Obviously it will depend on 바카라사이트 outcome of future spending reviews but we¡¯ve been very clear we have a very clear long-term plan.¡±

rachael.pells@ws-2000.com