Comments on: The Today programme shows its economic illiteracy again

By: a_young_scientist

a_young_scientist — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:27:09 +0000

It is also worth pointing out the cuts in funding will lead to a subsantial number of world class scientists being forced to move overseas to find work or change career if they wish to live in the uk. In either case their talent and expertise is lost to the UK science effort.

It is now estimated at least 25% of research grants in particle physics and astronomy will be lost.

Of course there is a goverment enquiry in late January, but by the time this reports back it may well be too late to save peoples careers and uk involvement in large international projects (which we have already announced we will withdraw from).

Lets not forget in future as a result other countries will question whether the uk should be involved in such international projects, given they seem quite happy to commit to being involved and then withdrawing all their expertise (which is needed).

So all in all it looks pretty bad for uk physics. As a young scientist myself even if my job survives I will question whether I am willing to continue working in the uk in such a climate, or whether I would rather move overseas to work in a country more committed to funding science consistently.

By: old school

old school — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 08:50:37 +0000

no mention of david cameron’s interview on mortgages which completely contradicts your competitiveness review recommendations though john?

By: Tony Makara

Tony Makara — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:08:34 +0000

Whenever I see many of the government’s backbenchers and spokesmen I wonder how on earth they have risen to such a level. Often they are bumbling, lack a knowledge of the subject matter at hand and seem to be parroting ‘facts’ off by rote. What is even more bizarre is how TV and radio presenters can’t seem to pin these characters down with tough questioning. I am just an ordinary member of the public yet I don’t think, but know, I could give the government spokesmen a much more difficult examination than most TV and radio interviewers. A rigorous interview is important in holding a politician to account, they get away with too much, as you say John, we never get proper analysis, rigorous interviewing or a sensible debate.

By: James Keates

James Keates — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:10:25 +0000

Hi John, I didn’t see the Today show in question, but the problem with the physics funding is a lack of joined-up-government in the recent CSR. There was an above inflation increase in funding, but spending commitments also increased, for example a decision to charge VAT on the Diamond synchrotron facility added around