Community News Archive

Institute of Physics responds to STFC delivery plan

IOP

14 December 2007

On Thursday, December 13, the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) announced its delivery plan for 2008-11.  The government’s science budget for the same period has made it necessary for STFC to make some significant changes.

Dr Robert Kirby-Harris, chief executive of the Institute of Physics (IOP), said: "Now we have seen the delivery plan published by the STFC, we are deeply concerned about the impact that some of the proposals for savings will have on the viability of key physics departments, and the availability of experimental facilities.  We are asking our members for more information about the way in which they expect to be affected individually which we hope will be useful for the review of physics funding announced by the minister.

"It is our hope that the findings from the review are available before irretrievable damage is done to the physics base through cuts made to meet short-term funding problems."

The government review of funding for physics research was announced on Tuesday, December 11.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1.  If you would like further information please contact the IOP Press Officer by calling 020 7470 4815 or email joseph.winters@iop.org

2.  The Institute of Physics is a scientific membership organisation devoted to increasing the understanding and application of physics. It has an extensive worldwide membership (currently over 34,000) and is a leading communicator of physics with all audiences from specialists through government to the general public. Its publishing company, Institute of Physics Publishing, is a world leader in scientific publishing and the electronic dissemination of physics. 

^ To the top ^