“Our research excellence will not survive a stop-go approach” – that is the stark message our Vice-Chancellor gave to national science journalists.
Professor Glynis Breakwell was speaking at a press conference on Friday to highlight the potentially devastating impact Government funding cuts could have on UK science research.
The Vice-Chancellor was joined by the heads of five other leading universities and the President of the Royal Society, Lord Rees, to call for the Government to take a long-term approach to science funding or risk facing the consequences.
Professor Breakwell told a packed room in The Royal Institution in London: “The UK is a world leader in terms of the quality and impact of its science and engineering research.
“One key factor in this success is the virtuous circle that has been supported by selective investment of public funding in research in our leading universities – this has led to a global reputation for research excellence which in turn enables us to attract the best academic minds from around the world.
“But our research excellence will not survive a stop-go approach which would cut off funding for a few years until we hope the public purse will be stronger.
“It is not just the lost research but the lost training of our researchers. It would mean dramatically reducing a whole generation of researchers and then standing by and watching the rest of the world thrust ahead in research areas where we currently lead.
“Playing catch up later would be expensive at best and at worst could even prove impossible. The national investment in our research base over the last decade or so could, in effect, be wasted.
“This would be particularly felt here in Bath if we allow any reductions to be translated into preferential investment in ‘large’ research universities rather than selectively being driven by excellence and efficiency.
“The UK’s medium-sized universities do generate a disproportionate amount of internationally excellent research.
“In short, the UK needs ideas to drive its economic revival. University research is one of the most efficient ways of generating those ideas, and a number of economic sectors have become increasingly reliant on the continuity, quality and ingenuity of this research. It needs to be supported properly.”
The Vice-Chancellor’s concerns were echoed by the other speakers including Professor Malcolm Grant, President and Provost of University College London. He said: “This is not abstract research. This is research that touches people’s lives.
“This is what universities in this country are doing today. This is what we fear we will not be doing tomorrow in the event that we fail to convey to the public and to our political leaders what it is university research achieves.”
The press conference generated headline news in The Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Independent and was covered on various national and international websites including New Scientist and Research Fortnight.
Professor Breakwell added: “A long term strategy by Government is needed or businesses may vote with their feet and relocate to countries where there is greater support.”
The outcome of the coalition Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review is due on Wednesday 20 October.