Strategic science provision in English universities : a follow-up : second report of Session 2005-06 : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence / House of Commons, Science and Technology Committee.

  • Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Select Committee on Science and Technology.
Date:
2006
Catalogue details

Licence: Open Government Licence

Credit: Strategic science provision in English universities : a follow-up : second report of Session 2005-06 : report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence / House of Commons, Science and Technology Committee. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    9. PRESS REPORTING On evening of Friday 10 March, following the first meeting with chemistry staff, the University received a call from a national daily newspaper asking about restructuring plans in relation to chemistry. We had a press notice ready to release, but the newspaper decided it was past deadline and we did not release the statement. On Saturday morning we received a call from the press association saying they had seen a press statement from the Royal Society of Chemistry reporting rumours about the closure of chemistry, and strongly criticizing that decision if true. Calls from Sussex to the Royal Society of Chemistry press officer revealed that the RSC had on Friday issued a press statement without any notice or discussion with the University. The RSC press office were unable to send a copy to the University, but read the statement to the University. Faced with a partial public statement from the RSC, the University immediately placed fuller information on the internal website for Sussex staff and students and then issued a statement to those media outlets which had contacted us (PA, Sunday Times, Observer, Mail and Sunday Telegraph) setting out our position in relation to the investment plans and the position in relation to chemistry. Thankfully, because we had actively communicated first with our own staff and students, and with student applicants, we were able to ensure the Sussex community received a clear picture from the University, could access initial information on the website and had access to full information internally from Monday. However, because of the speed of events over the weekend, precipitated by the RSC statement, some staff and students first read information in the press. The approach taken by RSC to release partial and misleading information unchecked with the University and without consideration or reflection as to its impact on staff, students and potential students is at best thoughtless. March 2006 ANNEXES: SUMMARY OF FACTUAL INFORMATION Attached to this document are annexes which set out detail on the research position of chemistry at Sussex, student intakes and applications, staffing numbers and the financial position of the department. Research position — Table 1: research income for chemistry at Sussex 2000-01 to 2004-05. — Table 2: research indicators for chemistry at Sussex. Student numbers — Table 3: undergraduate applications admissions 2001—2006 (not printed). — Table 4: chemistry student numbers 2000-01 to 2005-06. — Table 5: chemistry HEU intake 2000-01 to 2005-06. — Table Sa: full-time first degree chemistry numbers at UK HEIs. Staffing numbers — Table 6: chemistry faculty numbers 2000-01 to 2005-06. Finance — Table 7: summary chemistry income and expenditure 2000-01 to 2004-05 (not printed). — Table 8: full economy statement for chemistry 2005-06 (not printed). Table 1: CHEMISTRY RESEARCH INCOME (£000s) Sussex Sussex UK as %UK 2000-01 2,149 110,191 2.0 2001-02 2,425 119,788 2.0 2002-03 2,380 121,853 2.0 2003-04 1,557 121,116 13 2004-05 809 120,000 0.7 % change — 62% 9% all data from HESA, UK 2004-05 estimated