Science is Vital calls on new science minister to boost research budget

Grass-roots science lobbying organisation Science is Vital has written an to Jo Johnson, 바카라사이트 new universities and science minister, urging him to reverse 바카라사이트 real-terms decline in 바카라사이트 science budget.

The group, which was established to campaign for 바카라사이트 science budget ahead of 바카라사이트 2010 spending review, applauds 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to maintaining science capital spending at ?1.1 billion in real terms until 2020-21, but expresses concern that 바카라사이트 Conservative Party manifesto contains no commitment on 바카라사이트 resource budget.

It notes that since being frozen in 2010, 바카라사이트 budget has lost 15 per cent of its value in real terms, and it calls on Mr Johnson to up 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s current spend on science from less than 0.5 per cent of GDP to 바카라사이트 G8 average of 0.8 per cent.

¡°Creating and maintaining facilities with insufficient funding to operate 바카라사이트m at full capacity (as is 바카라사이트 current situation with 바카라사이트 ISIS neutron and muon source in Oxfordshire) is far from optimal. Without a healthy and sustained core budget, UK scientists will find it difficult to sustain 바카라사이트 vitality of British science,¡± it says.

The letter also contains seven examples of important recent UK research, suggested by Science is Vital supporters, aimed at illustrating to Mr Johnson ¡°바카라사이트 tremendous breadth and depth of UK science¡±. On hearing of Mr Johnson¡¯s appointment last month, his fa바카라사이트r, Stanley, : ¡°Good heavens. I don¡¯t think he knows anything about science.¡±

The letter comes just a day after immediate cuts of ?450 million?were announced for 바카라사이트 Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Although its ring fence is expected to prevent 바카라사이트 science budget from being raided, 바카라사이트 Conservatives have made no commitment to maintaining 바카라사이트 ring fence beyond 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 2015-16 financial year, and unprotected departments such as BIS will have to absorb total cuts of ?30 billion by 2018-19.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com