Recent Press Releases
Institute urges Reading Council to keep physics department open
PR35(06)
Tue, 22 May 2007
In light of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) announcement that it will provide an additional £75 million to support very high cost subjects, including physics, from 2007-08 over three years, the Institute of Physics makes a final plea today to Reading university’s council to keep its physics department open. The council will meet on Monday (20 November 2006) to make its final decision.
Philip Diamond, assistant director of education and science at the Institute said: “This positive change to the funding landscape means that the university’s proposal to close its physics department was made using data that is now out of date.”
“We have also recently learnt that the university’s Senate and Council were presented with and had approved a clear strategy for the continuation of physics as recently as March 2006. Reading has also received investment from HEFCE running into millions of pounds for departmental initiatives. By supporting the proposed closure, the university Council runs the risk of being seen as wasting large amounts of taxpayer’s money. The decision to close the department is too hasty, particularly in view of government plans for a longer term increase in the number of physics students.”
“In the meantime, the physics department has been doing an excellent job of educating undergraduates. It scored a maximum of 24 points when assessed by the Quality Assurance Agency; two members of staff have received the Institute of Physics Bragg medal for excellence in physics education; and the university has invested government money in funding an undergraduate laboratory upgrade.”
“We are also very concerned about the loss of Reading’s expertise to the Centre of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in which they are partners with the Open University and Leicester. It is the only CETL in Physics in the UK and a resource of national importance.”
Notes to editors:
For further information and interviews:
Helen MacBain, press officer
Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London. W1B 1NT
Tel +44 (0)20 7470 4815; +44 (0)7946 321 473
E-mail:helen.macbain@iop.org
The Institute of Physics is a scientific membership organisation devoted to increasing the understanding and application of physics. It has an extensive worldwide membership (currently over 35,000) and is a leading communicator of physics with all audiences from specialists through government to the general public. Its publishing company, Institute of Physics Publishing, is a world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics.
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