Recent Press Releases
IOP’s response to ‘The Race to the Top’
IOP
PR37(07)
Fri, 5 October 2007
The Institute of Physics (IOP) has responded to Lord Sainsbury’s ‘Review of Government’s Science and Innovation Policies’ by wholeheartedly endorsing its conclusions, while stressing the need for full and coherent implementation of the enhanced Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI); a continued government drive to get more specialist physics teachers in the UK’s classrooms; and raising concern about the possibility of basic physics research being side-tracked for a government-led agenda to increase public expenditure return on research investments.
The review examines the role of science and innovation in the UK and makes recommendations to ensure that the UK remains globally competitive by restructuring UK companies into high-value goods, services and industries.
The review was wide in scope – looking at school and further education; higher education and funding for research departments; and how to encourage research and innovation in business.
Dr Robert Kirby-Harris, Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, said, “The review has made a number of very welcome suggestions, with particular focus on the enhancement of the SBRI which, in its lifespan thus far, has failed to encourage innovative R&D because enterprises wishing to undertake research lacked a long-term financial commitment from the government.
“The contracts that Lord Sainsbury has suggested could remedy this but there also needs to be a change of culture. At present much of the research and development commissioned is prescribed by the government. For truly innovative breakthroughs, the government needs to be more open to ideas from science-based businesses when they award procurement contracts. Time will tell whether the departments can allow this to happen.”
The review also places an onus on the need to get more students taking the three single sciences at GCSE. IOP was commended for their Physics Enhancement Project, which provides support to teachers wishing to specialise in physics teaching, as a way of strengthening teaching resources in UK schools.
Dr Kirby-Harris continued, “The continued emphasis on promoting separate sciences at GCSEs and the drive to train more specialist science teachers is commendable but clearly unless there are specialist teachers available then it cannot be made reality. At present, the UK is drastically short of physics teachers and immediate plans need to be put in place by the government to roll out projects like our Physics Enhancement Project.”
Science research in higher education institutions has recently been the subject of a range of reviews including the Research Council UK’s report on Economic Impact. Lord Sainsbury’s Review follows a similar line to that of RCUK’s, suggesting that funding should be readily available for research which is going to have early economic impact.
On trends in research, Dr Kirby-Harris said, “While it is important that the economic impact of science research can be considered during funding applications, there is a danger that basic research in more speculative areas could be neglected. Some of the most important scientific innovations in the past century and a half have been the result of basic research that had no specific economic end in mind.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
1. For further information, please contact:
Joe Winters, Press Officer, Institute of Physics, 76 Portland Place, London. W1B 1NT Telephone: +44 (0)20 7470 4815
Mobile: 07946 321473
E-mail: joseph.winters@iop.org
2. 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 34,000) 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 and the electronic dissemination of physics.
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