Institute of Physics new President responds to the publication of RCUK’s Physics Review

The Institute of Physics

1 October 2008

The Wakeham Review

The Institute of Physics (IOP) welcomed today’s publication of the Physics Review, commissioned earlier this year by Research Councils UK (RCUK) and conducted by a panel chaired by Professor Bill Wakeham of the University of Southampton.

The IOP’s new President, Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell DBE, commented, “I would like to congratulate Bill Wakeham and all the members of the review panel on producing a comprehensive report. On my first day in the job as President of the IOP, I could not have hoped for a clearer statement of the importance of physics - with the definite recognition of the strength of physics in the UK and the significant impact it has on the economy and society. Indeed, the report recognises that trained physics graduates are highly sought after in many sectors of the economy.

“I particularly applaud the report for its clear overview of the state of physics research and higher education in the UK and also its clear prescription for the means to strengthen the system and deal with some areas of concern.

“In particular, the IOP strongly supports the report’s recommendations that:

The Review’s recommendation:

• 'The STFC be required at each CSR to bid for and allocate specific funds to former PPARC facilities and grant funding together.'

IOP’s response:

“Through the allocation of specific funds for particle physics and astronomy facilities, the UK can maintain a leading international role in these branches of fundamental physics research.

The Review’s recommendation:

• ‘The panel recommends to DIUS that the membership of STFC’s council be broadened to include more of the stakeholders in the science activity at the highest level, and to redress the balance between executive presence and non-executive oversight.’

IOP’s response:

“While the distinct nature and multiple missions of STFC led to the over representation of executives in STFC’s council, it is the IOP’s view that recent events have shown that greater dialogue with and better representation of the science community are necessary to avoid misconceptions.

The Review’s recommendation:

• ‘The Director General of Science and Research would benefit from advice from a small, but well informed, advisory group from outside DIUS during the CSR allocation processes to ensure there are no unintended consequences of allocations and to ensure appropriate accountability to the science community.’

IOP’s response:

“The CSR allocation process determines the health of science in the UK, and while the physics research base is strong in the UK, future allocation processes will in our view benefit greatly from the objective advice of a well-informed advisory group with strong representation of senior scientists from every major discipline."

Professor Bell Burnell continued, “The Wakeham Review was announced in a time of difficulty for UK physics as many of our members raised concerns over STFC funding levels. The Review was not intended to resolve these issues directly but the IOP believes that if the recommendations for greater consultation with the science community, both generally and during the CSR process, and for a specific funding allocation for particle physics and astronomy facilities and research grants are all acted upon, these should go a long way to ensure that we do not encounter similar difficulties in the future.

“We are also very pleased to see key recommendations emphasising the need to continue funding both basic and applied research, to encourage more young people to study physics through the provision of more physics–trained teachers and to undertake research into the factors influencing the relatively low take up of physics from wider social and ethnic backgrounds and from women.“

^ To the top ^