Transcript ps700-15-L4-History

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THE FUNDING OF RESEARCH IN
UK UNIVERSITIES
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[email protected]
Top-Down Investment Bottom-up Innovation
Historically, advances have been initiated through
innovation, not investment. E.g. the Industrial
Revolution.
Investment may, however, accelerate the
subsequent development.
Research tends to evolve through ideas in a
bottom-up random-walk approach while the
funds come from the top down!
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HISTORY OF FUNDING
The history of research funding of science in
the UK falls into two distinct eras:
Pre World War II (up to 1939)
Post World War II (from 1945)
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Pre World War II (up to 1939)
The organisation of research in a university physics or chemistry
department was very different from the current structure.
Assistants: The research was centred on the professor who was the
head of the department. He would have working for him a number of
assistants, who would do the teaching and pursue research under his
guidance.
D.Sc: Doctorates: There was no such thing as research students. The
degree of Ph.D. was still unknown, it was only common in the U.S.A.
To progress an assistant would submit his papers, typically after about
10 years of research, for a D.Sc.
PhD: Universities shift towards research-orientated PhDs, 1917.
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Pre World War II (up to 1939)
Research funding was relatively small and went directly to the
professor. This came from:-
Private individuals
Companies
Government
Many of the famous scientists, such as Lord Rutherford, would
refuse money from companies as they felt this would mean they
would have to work on problems that did not interest them.
“We don’t have the money. So we have to think.”
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Post World War II (from 1945)
Boffins: The Second World War changed the government
and public view of science. It was clear in the UK that
scientists (‘boffins’) had played a major role in winning the
war. There are numerous examples, obvious ones being:1. Radar
2. The jet engine
3. Plastics (synthetic materials)
4. Atom bomb ( nuclear energy)
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Post World War II (from 1945)
France: It is interesting to examine what happened in France. The
French were shocked at how easily they were overrun by the Germans
at the start of the war. They had (falsely) believed that their science and
technology was the best in the world in 1938.
After the war de Gaulle vowed that France would not fall into this
trap again. The result was a complete overhaul of the education system
with the establishment of ‘Ecoles Superiore’ and a focus on science
and technology.
The benefit to France has been a far greater awareness of science
amongst managers and politicians and a respect for science by the
public.
In contrast the UK was stuck with the concept of ‘two cultures’
expressed in the writings of C.P. Snow. (scientists & non-scientists)
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Post World War II (from 1945)
After the Second World War the UK government began to give
serious financial support to science and into scientific training.
This involved:1
Establishing specialised research institutions and
centres
(The Royal Radar Research Establishment (Malvern, moved
from Swanage in 1942 to be safe from german commando raids,
spawned QinetiQ.
The Atomic Energy Authority set up in 1945 (RAF Harwell)
2
Providing funds for research in UK universities.
3
Providing grants for students to study of PhDs.
4
Encouraging research in nationalised industry
(British Gas, Coal Board, CEGB, etc.) and private
industry.
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ORGANISATION OF RESEARCH FUNDING TO UK
UNIVERSITIES
It is useful to understand:
how research has been funded by the UK government;
which department of government is responsible,
how it is decided for a given university department,
how do individual researchers get funds.
It has been quite complex and has changed again very recently.
Dual Support: Since 1945 to September 2005 the principle that has
been applied has been that of dual support. The two parts of the support
are:
infrastructure
and
projects
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RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
The research infrastructure are the basic requirements
needed to undertake the research. This means:Lab space
Lighting and heating
Technical support
Secretarial support
Postage
Telephones
Basic equipment
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PROJECTS
To undertake a specific research project then there will
be additional requirements on top of the infrastructure.
This could be:Specialised equipment
Consumables
Skilled manpower (postdoctoral or research students)
Travel funds
PCs
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THE MODEL OF FUNDING UP TO 2006
GOVERNMENT MONEY (TAXES)
INFRASTRUCTURE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY FUNDING SECTION
(UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMITTEE,
UGC, since 1904 )
HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND, HEFCE)
PROJECTS
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
RESEARCH COUNCILS
(SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COUNCIL,
SRC)
(SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING
RESEARCH COUNCIL, SERC)
AUTONOMOUS
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THE MODEL OF FUNDING UP TO 2006
GOVERNMENT MONEY (TAXES)
INFRASTRUCTURE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY FUNDING SECTION
(UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMITTEE,
UGC)
(HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND, HEFCE)
PROJECTS
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
RESEARCH COUNCILS
(SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COUNCIL,
SRC)
(SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING
RESEARCH COUNCIL, SERC)
UNIVERSITY X
DEPARTMENT C
DEPARTMENT A
DEPARTMENT B
RESEARCHER
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RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
FUNDING: RAE/REF
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
UNIVERSITY FUNDING SECTION
(UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMITTEE,
UGC) from 1945 to 1985
(HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING
COUNCIL FOR ENGLAND, HEFCE)
since 1985
The
amount
of
funding done mainly
on a historical basis
- number of staff,
number of students,
etc
Based on Research
Assessment
Exercise Grade(REF)
UNIVERSITY X
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PROJECTS FUNDING
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE
RESEARCH COUNCILS
Researcher puts in
application for a
specific
project;
judged by peers
(SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COUNCIL,
SRC)
(SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING
RESEARCH COUNCIL, SERC)
RESEARCHER
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FROM 2006: fEC
fEC: The research councils provide ‘ full economic
costings’. This means that an applicant applies for
BOTH infrastructure and project funds.
So, some money has been shifted from HEFCE to the
research councils.
HEFCE still provides some
infrastructure money, based on RAE or RAF: QR –
Quality-Related Research - funding is used to
support the research infrastructure
Present: 80% from RCs (100% of exceptional items, studentships).
But the long term view is that all research will be funded from the
research councils and that HEFCE will mainly fund undergraduate
teaching.
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