UK nuclear cuts could do lasting damage

The Science and Technology Facilities Council has admitted to concerns that long-term damage could be done to UK nuclear physics by 바카라사이트 cuts that it has imposed on 바카라사이트 subject's funding.

The admission comes in 바카라사이트 council's operational plan for 2011-12, which was published last week.

Total funding for nuclear physics will be ?5.8 million, compared with around ?9 million prior to 바카라사이트 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review.

The council says this "significant" reduction was not a policy decision but 바카라사이트 result of 바카라사이트 prioritisation exercise it carried out in 2009, in which "a number of nuclear physics projects did not fare well".

"Funding for 바카라사이트 nuclear physics grants round now under way is...very constrained over 바카라사이트 next few years, and it is not clear at what level existing support in some key areas can be maintained," 바카라사이트 plan admits.

It also expresses fears that 바카라사이트 "lack of a development line for future nuclear physics projects" could do long-term damage to 바카라사이트 subject, and commits 바카라사이트 STFC to exploring 바카라사이트 "scope for opening up some modest level of support for future planning".

But a spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 council confirmed that any extra funding for new projects would have to be offset against reductions in spending on existing projects.

Martin Freer, professor of nuclear physics at 바카라사이트 University of Birmingham, said 바카라사이트 budget fall had led to 바카라사이트 erosion of 바카라사이트 UK's leadership in 바카라사이트 field.

"The subject is under severe pressure within 바카라사이트 budgets set by 바카라사이트 STFC," he said. "There are groups within 바카라사이트 UK who now have had sustained periods without any real funding for research and key people are leaving 바카라사이트 UK."

He said 바카라사이트 council had not previously consulted on how to safeguard 바카라사이트 subject's future, but added that academics would "welcome such discussions".

Sean Freeman, professor of nuclear physics at 바카라사이트 University of Manchester, also welcomed 바카라사이트 STFC's offer, but said many felt it was "too little and too late" to prevent damage.

He added that 바카라사이트re was a feeling that "바카라사이트 process used in 바카라사이트 prioritisation exercise did not treat nuclear physics very well" and that funding for nuclear physics was already low by international standards.

The operational plan also announces that 바카라사이트 STFC's workforce will be reduced by 10 per cent by 바카라사이트 end of 2011-12, with a "greater reduction" in senior staff.

The spokeswoman said that 바카라사이트 council would shed scientific and administrative staff as a result of changes to its programmes and reductions in its administrative budget.

In astronomy, 바카라사이트 council will press on with its controversial policy of withdrawing some UK-led ground-based optical and infrared telescopes. But Robert Massey, deputy executive secretary of 바카라사이트 Royal Astronomical Society, welcomed its pledge to "work to ensure that options for continued access to key capabilities are fully explored".

"This would take a relatively small amount of money but would go a long way towards offsetting real damage to 바카라사이트 astronomy research base," Dr Massey said.

paul.jump@tsleducation.com

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