Chemistry for the Next Decade and Beyond INTERNATIONAL PERCEPTIONS OF THE UK CHEMISTRY RESEARCH BASE Medical Research Council Chemistry for the Next Decade and Beyond International Review of UK Chemistry Research 19 - 24 April 2009 “If the victory at Waterloo, which set the stage for Britain’s pre-eminence in the century that followed, was ‘won on the playing fields of Eton’ as the Duke of Wellington famously observed, it may be equally true to say that the contest for pre-eminence in the 21st century will be won on the campuses of the world’s research universities.” “Research Universities: Their Value to Society Extends Well Beyond Research.” Robert M. Berdahl, President, American Association of Universities, April 2009 Foreword Foreword This is an exciting time for Engineering and the Physical Sciences, when the UK seeks to extend both its economic and social impact and international reputation for cutting edge fundamental research. This is the second International Review of Chemistry and reflects the important contribution of this area to the UK. This contribution enables progress by bringing a fundamental knowledge and understanding of chemistry which drives advances in many areas. Chemistry research underpins a wide range of activities that benefit society including discoveries that lead to new industries, materials and technologies as well as helping to conquer diseases. Chemistry will be indispensable in attacking the challenges of climate change, energy and sustainability. The preparation for this review has been ongoing for over a year and we would like to thank our colleagues on the Steering Committee, which included representation of the Royal Society of Chemistry, the Institution of Chemical Engineers, the Chemistry Innovation Knowledge Transfer Network (CI-KTN), the Biochemical Society, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and the Institute of Physics. We also thank our colleagues from the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) who also supported and helped to guide the review. Specific thanks must go to the EPSRC staff for their unwavering support and hard work which enabled the panel to do its work so effectively. This report, the culmination of these activities, is entirely the work of the International Review Panel to whom we are very grateful – their expertise, team work, enthusiasm and capacity for sheer hard work impressed all those who came into contact with them. To Professor Mike Klein, Chair of the International Review Panel, we are hugely indebted; his commitment and leadership were vital to both the review and the completion of this report. We also warmly thank all those in the academic research community, together with their collaborators in industry who are so vital to the health of UK chemistry research, for rising to the challenges and opportunities that this review presented. We are especially grateful to those who coordinated and participated in each visit, often travelling some distance to meet the panel. Due to the way in which the community worked so well together, the panel interacted with a great many researchers and witnessed a wider range of exciting advances in the short time available to them than would have otherwise been possible. We hope this report will stimulate further debate around the findings and recommendations highlighted and we genuinely welcome your feedback on any issues raised. Comments should be sent to the Chemistry International Review team at [email protected] Professor David Delpy Professor Jim Feast Chief Executive, EPSRC Steering Committee Chair International Perceptions of the UK Chemistry Research Base 1 Executive Summary Executive Summary The 2009 Chemistry International Review Panel Centres (DTCs). Chemists in the UK have definitely completed a week long review of chemistry research shed their ivory tower attitudes and are better throughout the United Kingdom. Although sponsored prepared than in the past to tackle society's by the EPSRC the Panel was charged to include the challenges. The panel was impressed with the calibre whole chemistry research base that is funded by the and intellectual strength of some of the ECR scientists Research Councils, charities and industry. This they met. However, the general situation for some of document presents the Panel’s perceptions, embodied the ECRs gives cause for concern. Another concern in the form of findings and recommendations, was the degree of communication and engagement of culminating from their high-level review. Importantly, the chemistry community in both implementing policy the Panel offers a number of suggestions to sustain and dialogue with decision makers. and improve the excellent chemistry research that is occurring throughout the UK. The main findings and The following perceptions (findings and recommendations of the Panel are given below and in recommendations) were developed by the Panel on the body of the report. the basis of presentations and discussions during the week-long review. The review took place during the week starting Sunday, April 19, 2009 and involved an International A. Recommendations Panel consisting of 18 scientists. The Panel convened in Manchester for background briefings from Professor The following recommendations were developed by David Delpy, FRS (Chief Executive, EPSRC) and other the Panel on the basis of presentations and stakeholders, as well as an overview of the RAE discussions during the review. Other recommendations exercise from Professor Jeremy Sanders, FRS. The Panel are contained in the main body of the report. was then divided into two groups, each of which visited four separate locations (one per day). The 1. Nurture & support ECR chemists - Create viable whole Panel then reconvened near London to share mechanisms to encourage research independence1. information and formulate the findings and recommendations contained in the report. The focus 2. Develop a viable strategy for sustaining the of the review was centred on eight Framework excellent infrastructure, shared facilities and Questions (see Annex A), formulated by the Steering national facilities. Committee, chaired by Professor Jim Feast, FRS. However, the Panel did not feel overly constrained by 3. Build on regional strengths: pooling, as these and used the format of town hall meetings at appropriate, between local universities to create each location to hear the voice of the community, centres of excellence, alliances with research albeit briefly. The Panel made a point of engaging councils and regional development agencies. early career research (ECR) scientists at each location. 4. Open a dialogue between research funders and In brief, the overall health of chemistry research in the the research community to review the balance of UK is good. There are significant changes of research funding allocated to responsive mode versus emphasis across the UK since the last International programme/platform grants and mechanisms for Review. There are pockets of truly outstanding (world- sustaining high risk research. leading and world-class) work going on and numerous examples of very well-supported research groups. The 5. PhD to reflect achievement (education versus community is aggressively utilising all of the funding training). streams available through the Research Councils, charities, Europe and industry. Importantly, the top- level research is not confined to just one location. There are excellent examples of international collaboration, especially via EU programmes and a number of good examples of cooperation with 1 industry. Multi-disciplinary research efforts are In the US, NIH is taking aggressive action; see Encouraging Early Transition to Research Independence: Modifying the NIH New expanding. Pockets of excellent multidisciplinary Investigator Policy to Identify Early Stage Investigators: research are being nucleated via Doctoral Training http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/notice-files/NOT-OD-08-121.html International Perceptions of the UK Chemistry Research Base 3 Executive Summary Areas in need of emphasis and encouragement: • Examples of fully funded industrial studentships are a strength. 6. The following three areas (underpinned by chemical synthesis and by characterisation, UK chemistry derives enormous strength from utilising state-of-the-art facilities and recent large investments in infrastructure, shared instrumentation) offer enormous potential for UK equipment & national user facilities chemistry to make a significant contribution to worldwide societal challenges: • Overall outstanding NMR, mass spectroscopy, analytical facilities, etc. • Energy (The USA has finally acted boldly with funding • Seemingly equipped at a level that Max Planck of 46 Energy Frontiers Research Centres2) Institutes are the only near equivalent in Europe. • Drug Discovery Early career researchers (There is a role/opportunity for Universities – spinouts and big Pharma) • Large number of ECRs (diverse in gender and culture) across the UK is a strength. • Materials for Medicine (Nanomedicine and more) • The number and diversity of ECRs offers a clear opportunity to define and build a more equitable In addition, the relevant stakeholders in the chemistry system for career advancement. community need to address: Instrument development 7. Integration of Computational Chemistry (Need to enhance the participation of theory and • Pockets of excellence exist where unique computation