Research and Teaching Funding

The Society of Biology closely follows teaching and research funding.

Science underpins much of what we value but take for granted in society. It is essential for advanced societies competing in a globalised world and is too important to be left to short-term market interests alone. Long-term public sector investment is necessary to generate new knowledge, some of which may have commercial potential; to provide ideas and inspiration for all; to support strategic and innovative research that the market doesn’t provide; to train a skilled workforce; to sustain a critical mass of activity and expertise in key areas (e.g. taxonomy) which the private sector does not supply; to nurture multi- and interdisciplinary research; to inform public policy and risk assessments; to meet our international obligations, and to create and maintain long-term datasets.

The higher education sector will be significantly affected by cuts in funding. In this context it is vital that there is adequate support for teaching within the sciences, including biology, where costs are justifiably high.  Clear understanding and recognition of the costs of delivering high quality programmes is needed and it is vital that quality is not compromised. We believe that an explicit link between quality of provision and funding incentives is important.

Recent activities

Recent Consultation Responses

July 2010
HEFCE review of the teaching funding method
A response to the Higher Education Funding Council for England

June 2010
The Research Excellence Framework
HEFCE

September 2009
Setting funding priorities for Scientific and Technological Research
A response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee