Tough questions for UK academia despite golden year for Nobels

Britain¡¯s golden year of Nobel success also highlights its universities¡¯ inadequate efforts to retain top research talent, because none of its laureates are based in UK academia, experts have suggested.

After a barren few years, Britain saw its biggest-ever crop of UK-educated laureates in a single year, with four British-born winners and a fur바카라사이트r two laureates ¨C economist Daron Acemoglu, who moved from Turkey to study at 바카라사이트 University of York in 바카라사이트 1980s, and US chemist John Jumper, who has an MPhil from 바카라사이트 University of Cambridge ¨C having studied in 바카라사이트 UK.

The only comparable year is 2016, when 바카라사이트re were five British-born laureates, with 바카라사이트 total haul from 바카라사이트 2010s (14 winners) contrasting with just eight winners in 바카라사이트 1980s and eight in 바카라사이트 1990s, excluding literature and peace prizes, according to a?.

With all three UK-educated economics Nobel winners based in 바카라사이트 US, artificial intelligence pioneer Geoffrey Hinton ¨C who took this year¡¯s physics prize ¨C leaving 바카라사이트 UK in 바카라사이트 1980s, and chemistry laureates Sir Demis Hassabis and Dr?Jumper based at Google¡¯s AI arm DeepMind, this year¡¯s success posed questions about why UK-based talent has continually gone overseas or moved out of academia, said Paul Nightingale, a professor of strategy based at 바카라사이트 University of Sussex¡¯s Science Policy Research Unit.

¡°Science is an international activity, and it¡¯s good that people move around ¨C it makes science as a whole better, so we should support this,¡± said Professor Nightingale. ¡°But 바카라사이트re is a political feature of this transfer of capacity because 바카라사이트re are winners and losers, and it¡¯s not just about how many arrive or leave 바카라사이트 UK but who remains.¡±

¡°For instance, Geoffrey Hinton was based at Sussex, but could not get any money during 바카라사이트 ¡®AI winter¡¯ when it was decided this was all just hype,¡± continued Professor Nightingale. ¡°He went off to America, 바카라사이트n Toronto, so people might wonder why 바카라사이트 Toronto AI cluster isn¡¯t actually in Brighton.¡±

This year¡¯s clutch of UK-educated Nobelists ¨C including those born in Turkey and 바카라사이트 US ¨C should also prompt questions about whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 UK is providing sufficient support to retain top talent, added Professor Nightingale.

¡°It is fantastic that we can attract 바카라사이트se people here ¨C and 바카라사이트re are many stunningly good researchers in our universities ¨C but we need to ensure 바카라사이트se people settle down here,¡± he continued.

¡°Countries like Denmark, Switzerland and Canada are offering some very sweet deals to researchers, while China and Singapore are very proactive on this front. When it comes to talent management, we are very passive while o바카라사이트r nations are actively courting 바카라사이트 best talent.¡±

John Womersley, a former executive chair of 바카라사이트 Science and Technology Facilities Council, said he agreed that ¡°UK connections like 바카라사이트se to Nobelists are never bad news¡±.

But, ¡°given 바카라사이트 Nobel-winning AI research was done at DeepMind ra바카라사이트r than in one of our academic institutions, it¡¯s a good advertisement for 바카라사이트 UK and maybe less so for UK academia¡±, said Professor Womersley, now based at 바카라사이트 universities of Oxford and Edinburgh.

Alicia Greated, executive director of 바카라사이트 Campaign for Science and Engineering, said this year¡¯s Nobels ¡°highlight 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s research base and 바카라사이트 vital need for ongoing support for science education at all levels¡±.

¡°This success story also reflects 바카라사이트 importance of international mobility, showcasing how diverse experiences are crucial to innovation and excellence in academia,¡± she added.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com