Memorandum submitted by Alan Wood (FC
51)
1. Science and scientific research benefits
the UK economy in three key areas. Firstly scientific advances
drive the economy as knowledge is transferred from the research
sector to industry. Secondly the research generates a highly skilled
workforce who are useful to the UK in many other sectors, for
example numerous researchers who were originally trained in ionospheric
physics (part of the upper atmosphere of the Earth) went on to
work in medical physics whilst others went to work for QinetiQ,
BAE or GCHQ. They can perform these useful roles because they
acquired the appropriate skills while working in "blue-skies"
research. The Royal Astronomical Society can provide full details
of careers pursued by researchers trained in astronomy and solar
system physics. Thirdly, the inspirational nature of certain areas
of research is extremely effective at engaging and enthusing children
and young people about STEM subjects. Each of these benefits (economic,
skills, outreach) are vital and it would be a serious mistake
to emphasise one at the expense of the others.
2. To maintain an active and vibrant research
community that can deliver these benefits there is nothing more
important than maintaining the grants line. This means maintaining
jobs and PhD studentships at the expense of the research infrastructure.
The reasoning behind this is perfectly simple. Excellent science
can be conducted by good researchers on a tight budget; however
excellent infrastructure cannot be exploited without world-class
research teams. If world-class researchers lose their jobs in
the UK our international competitors WILL employ them. As many
of our international competitors offer higher salaries and greater
job security it will be difficult, or impossible, to attract researchers
back to the UK. This model has been successfully applied in Finland
where funding for researchers is prioritised at the expense of
the research infrastructure. It is vital to maintain PhD studentships
as part of this programme—much of the UK research effort
is undertaken by PhD students who advance their field at international
level.
3. In these challenging economic conditions
the UK should fully exploit its existing investments. The cost
of building and deploying these instruments is large compared
to the staff costs of exploiting the data.
4. Declaration of interests: I am currently
a researcher in a UK Higher Education Institution.
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