Willetts announces delay in the REF impact assessment
Minister for Universities and Science, David Willetts MP gave his first major speech on science policy at the Royal Institution today, Friday 9 July. In an eloquent and broad review of the options the tricky issue of funding was avoided ahead of the outcome of the comprehensive spending review. In a welcome affirmation of the Government’s commitment to the dual funding approach to universities and the Haldane principles (scientists are best placed to direct the detail of science funding) he highlighted the difficult choices facing Government with borrowing at 11% of GDP compared to 6% in France and 1.6% in Germany, where public funding of science has recently seen very significant growth, signalling that some cuts in science funding may be inevitable.
Willetts praised the scientific method and evidence based approach which he believed should underpin all policy making whilst highlighting the need to take account of wider public concerns around ethical issues which needed to be addressed through engagement. The early debate around the opportunities and concerns surrounding synthetic biology was a great example, he said. To complete his broad overview the Minister concluded by confirming that the Government would push ahead with reform of libel laws to protect academic freedom.
The Minister set out three priority policy areas:
- Government backing for initiatives that created shared facilities, bringing scientists from all disciplines together;
- Smarter use of Government procurement of technical services;
- Open competitions led by Government, or others, to deliver solutions to specific technical questions
In a success for the Society and the wider Science community’s campaigning we welcomed the Minister’s key announcement that the inclusion of “impact measures” in the Research Excellence Framework exercise would be put back by one year to ensure more debate and to help facilitate agreement on the detail. In response to a question from Dr Mark Downs, CEO of the Society of Biology, on how the Government proposed to ensure the workforce will have the skills to underpin his vision for science driven growth in the economy, David Willetts pointed to the need to better train and equip the workforce with practical skills, especially in key technician roles, praising former Science Minister Lord Sainsbury for his work in the area.
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