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A Brighter Future for Physics

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A Brighter Future for Physics The newspaper of the physics community September 2004 CONTENTS 2 News Abrighter future for physics ● Institute awards Farewell to chief executive ● Paperclip Institute chief executive Julia King reviews the government’s new science strategy. physics finalists on film From the discovery of the electron to 4 Council the development of today’s handheld Interactions reports on the computers took more than a century. Institute’s AGM and elections The benefits of fundamental, blue- skies research take time to filter 5 People through, but they can be world-chan- Terry Winterton explains why ging. But this is a message that scien- he wants to teach physics tists have difficulty conveying to politicians, for whom a week is a long time and five years, forever. So when, in March 2004, the Institute was asked for its input into the government’s 10- year investment framework for sci- ence and innovation – a strategy for science over the next decade – I was 6 Letters intrigued. When the final document Einstein Year needs you ● was published in July, I was also im- Your reactions to Interactions pressed; there is plenty in its 200 or so pages to cheer the physics community. 7 Event horizon In our response, we explained that What’s on in physics physics is central to the government’s vision for the UK as a “key knowledge 8 Antimatters hub in the global economy”, but that Literature to inspire we face a challenging future. In the last physics students decade the number of students taking physics A-level fell by 20%, and 30% of the country’s physics departments closed. While UK physics research remains strong, the recent shift in funding towards the biomedical sci- Physics education in schools is in need of a boost as fewer students are taking the subject at A-level. ences is having an impact. Reading the investment framework BY THE NUMBERS The Institute first highlighted the efforts on physics teaching in schools. proposals, I was encouraged that our problem of these “physics deserts” in Sensibly, the 10-year strategy also “It’s not about lobbying has had some influence: ● Total R&D spending should increase 2003, and we’ve been lobbying hard has a strong focus on science educa- there are positive measures on science from 1.9 to 2.5% of GDP by 2014. for it to get the recognition it deserves. tion. More money will be offered to winning. It’s about funding and support for teachers and Public-sector spending to increase from I was gratified to read in the invest- those training to be science teachers, university departments in priority 0.62 to 0.8%. ment framework that extra money as well as those starting out on their learning more subject areas. The investment frame- ● Investment in science base to increase will be available for departments science teaching careers. This is a work promises an additional £1.1 bn by £1.1 bn to £5 bn by 2008, an average where there is a “powerful case that good starting point, but it must be about physics.” for science over the next three years, annual growth rate of 5.8%. weakening provision in a particular recognised that all science subjects are Paperclip Physics finalist, p3 and spending will continue to rise ● A dedicated capital fund of £500 m for region would hinder student access to not the same – biology, for example, over the decade. The ultimate aim is to the renewal of universities’ research disciplines that are important to eco- has not suffered as physics and chem- “Pullman has take total spending on R&D from infrastructure. nomic development”. However, I also istry have. So we’re also pushing hard 1.9% of gross domestic product (GDP) ● An extra £80 m a year until 2008 for worry about those physics depart- for this extra money to be targeted at acquired a close to 2.5% by 2014. That’s an ambitious research councils to increase the ments that can’t make that case but subjects-in-need, like physics. target, not least because it includes a proportion they pay towards the are already in the red and under threat Better science education in schools familiarity with large increase in private investment. overheads of research projects. Close to of closure. isn’t just about training more scien- Investors in this country don’t always 100% of costs to be paid by early in the tists. These days, scientific issues are cutting-edge see the value of R&D, and share values next decade. Focus on schools issues for the whole of society. I physics.” ● often fall when companies spend £70 m for research councils to spend To me, the heart of the problem is believe that children who are inspired John Gribbin, p8 more on research. “to ensure the health of disciplines”. school physics education. Most of us by science at school are more likely A big increase in R&D activity also Physical sciences and engineering given remember being inspired by great to grow into adults who engage in means training and recruiting thou- special mention. teachers, but approximately two- informed debates about new tech- “I’m a firm believer sands more scientists. Simply put, an ● Teacher-training bursary for science thirds of those currently teaching nologies – or even into future inves- increase of 30% in the proportion graduates to increase from £6000 to physics to 11 to 14-year-olds are non- tors who don’t shy away from firms in continuous spent on R&D implies 30% more £7000, and Golden Hello for new physics graduates. Without proper engaged in R&D. It all begins with education.” researchers. Contrast this with the science teachers to increase from training and support for those teach- education. In recognising this, the Terry Winterton, p5 closure in the last decade of 30% of £4000 to £5000. ers, we’ll see a further fall in the num- government’s investment framework UK physics departments. Right now, bers taking physics A-level and, as a could be the thrust that pushes there are parts of the country where consequence, in the numbers choos- physics out of reverse and into for- no university teaches undergraduate ing to study it at university. More ward gear for this century. We’ll con- physics. With the advent of “top-up” departments will close, there will be tinue working to ensure that it is. UPDATE YOUR fees, it is even more important that fewer opportunities for those who do MEMBERSHIP young people who are fascinated by want to study physics, and fewer There will be a Key Insight Business physics have the opportunity to study physics graduates to take part in the Briefing on 29 November for the Business RECORD AT it close to home, which is usually a R&D that our economy needs. That Partners Network to follow up on themes members.iop.org cheaper option. is why the Institute has focused its from the10-year investment framework. Interactions September 2004 2 news INSTITUTE AWARDS 2005 Industry must get more flexible DIRAC MEDAL & PRIZE. John Ellis, CERN. For his highly influential work on particle-physics By Michelle Cain tion rate for the industrial sector as a try is losing out on valuable workers,” phenomenology; in particular on the properties of A survey of the Institute’s member- whole was particularly high – 34% of she said. “Scientists are expensive to gluons, the Higgs boson and the top quark. ship has shown that physics-based respondents worked in the sector train, so it is not a good investment to industries must adopt more flexible before their career break, while just let them leave their profession just working practices if they are to retain 14% did so afterwards. because of an old-fashioned attitude GUTHRIE MEDAL & PRIZE. William Frank Vinen, the University employees who take career breaks. Wendy Kneissl, the Institute’s to working practices.” of Birmingham. For his outstanding contributions to superfluids and The survey report Career Breaks 2004 Diversity in Physics programme lea- The survey revealed a clear demand superconductors; in particular for the observation and was launched on 28 July at a meeting der who commissioned the research, for part-time work following career measurement of quantized vortices in superfluid helium, the first of senior figures in science and engi- told business leaders that the lack of breaks – 20% of respondents worked direct confirmation of the application of quantum mechanics to a neering-based industry. They were flexibility in industry was at the heart part-time before their career break, macroscopic body. told that many women who had of the problem, as many returning compared with 60% afterwards. worked in industry left the sector mothers prefer to work part-time. Just Offering part-time work may be one once they had children. 55% of physicists in industry returned way for companies to hold on to GLAZEBROOK MEDAL & PRIZE. Peter Williams, the Around 300 Institute members had to work part-time, compared with highly skilled workers, Kneissl told Engineering and Technology Board. For his outstanding responded to the survey, 95% of them 85% in academia. business leaders. “It is not the magic contributions to physics-based industry through his women. Of these, 70% had taken a This is as much a problem for indus- bullet, but it is part of improving the leadership of world-class companies such as Oxford career break to have children. Overall, try as it is for women, says Kneissl. work–life balance for employees.” Instruments and through his work with government, the the survey found that just 40% of “Clearly, if highly skilled women such At the end of the year the Institute research councils and professional bodies.
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