The science base : research in universities / Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service and Science), Advisory Council on Science and Technology.

  • Great Britain. Office of Public Service and Science.
Date:
1992
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: The science base : research in universities / Cabinet Office (Office of Public Service and Science), Advisory Council on Science and Technology. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    FOREWORD The ‘Science Base’ is defined in this report as the research and research training supported by the resources of the five Research Councils! and by the resources awarded to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) by all other sources — including the Universities Funding Council (UFC), the Polytechnics and Colleges Funding Council (PCFC), Government departments, other public sector organisations, industry and other private bodies such as charities and overseas organisations. In the United Kingdom (UK), much of the research contributing to the Science Base is carried out in HEIs, with the appropriate support of central facilities. Research is also undertaken in the Institutes and Laboratories of the Research Councils. International science, particularly within the European Community (EC), is of growing importance to the Science Base in the UK. However, the value of international scientific collaboration depends crucially on the presence of an adequate national effort in the field of interest. This report concentrates on the national Science Base and in particular on the research carried out in the university institutions of the UK. The report does not include a study of Science Base research conducted in Polytechnics and other Higher Education Colleges. Research in these institutions was the subject of a separate study by the PCFC in September 1990. The data used in the compilation of this report were accurate as of November 1990 and do not, therefore, reflect the 1991/92 and 1992/93 public expenditure settlements. The broad effect of the settlements is, however, reflected in the discussion. In the course of the final preparation of this report the Government announced, in April 1992, the creation of an Office of Science and Technology (OST). The OST, which is headed by the Chief Scientific Adviser, assumed responsibility for the science budget and the five Research Councils. As a result of these changes in responsibility for science the former Department of Education and Science (DES) became the Department for Education (DFE), with responsiblity for the UFC. Under the Further and Higher Education Act 1992, the UFC (and the PCFC) will be succeeded, on 1 April 1993, by a Higher Education Funding Council for England, a Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and a Scottish Higher Education Funding Council. ‘Agricultural and Food Research Council (AFRC); Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC); Medical Research Council (MRC); Natural Environment Research Council (NERC); Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC).