Physical Sciences Programme Visit
ENGINEERING AND PHYSICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH COUNCIL
Physical Sciences Programme Visit
Dr Andrew Bourne, Head of Physical Sciences
Meet the Team Andrew Bourne Clare Bumphrey Sharon Burns (University Interface Contact) Nico Guernion Claire Higlett Alex Peden Martin Sweet Jonathan Williams
Communicate key messages
Dialogue should continue beyond today
Get community feedback on physical sciences issues
Visit Objectives Answer burning questions
Build relationships
Time for discussion
Constructive & mutually beneficial
Outline of Presentation Wider Context Physical Sciences Objectives and News International Reviews Grand Challenges Research Plans People Plans Strategic Plan 2010
Questions
Research Issues 08-11
Then Tighter Financial Environment Tougher Global Competition Crowded Landscape BIS/government focus H.E. Framework RAE Æ REF
Physical Sciences Programme Commitment Physical Sciences research commitment: 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11
£100M £92M £86M
Training 2009/10 2010/11
£32M DTA £28M DTA
2008-13
£36M CDT
Fellowships funding 2009/10 2010/11
£17M £17.5M
Physical Sciences Programme Vision To enable the very best UK physical scientists to be world-leading in research and training ensuring that they are central in meeting the scientific challenges across the EPSRC remit.
Physical Sciences Programme Objectives Supporting a high quality investigator-led research portfolio: Longer larger grants to support key research leaders Signposting in topical areas to strengthen the UK capacity Funding international partnerships
Promoting multidisciplinary research that builds upon and stretches heartland disciplines
Supporting researchers at pivotal points in their career through Leadership Fellowships, etc.
Physical Sciences Programme Reviews International Review of Materials 2008 – Prof Jim Williams RCUK Review of Physics 2008 – Prof Bill Wakeham International Review of Chemistry 2009 – Prof Mike Klein Common themes: Early Research Careers including PhDs Infrastructure & facilities Strength vs. breadth
Action Plan public dialogue for Chemistry closes 12 March 2010
Physical Sciences Grand Challenges Update Chemistry Sciences and Engineering – 4 clusters identified: Utilising CO2 in synthesis and transforming the chemicals industry (Network Funded) ‘Dial-a-molecule’ 100% synthesis (Network Funded) Directed Assembly of extended structures with targeted molecules (In Progress) Systems Chemistry: Exploring the chemical roots of biological organisation (in Progress)
Physical Sciences Programme News Peer Review New Peer Review Forms Economic Impact Implementation of new panel structure - summer 2009 Should enable closer integration of chemistry, materials and physics research funding Feedback from early panels…
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 Big Pitch – Call now live Chemistry and Beyond (building on International Review of Chemistry 2009) 30 March 2010
New Signposts from 1 April 2010 Control of Self Assembly Matter Far from Equilibrium
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 NSF Calls from late 2010 Chemistry Materials
Ongoing procurement of Mid Range Facilities that have been previously prioritised: National Service for Computational Chemistry Software Free Electron Laser Facility (FELIX) Solid State NMR
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 Grand Challenges Embedding current Grand Challenges Grand Challenges 2 – Physics and Physical Sciences
Maintaining a Healthy Portfolio Monitor portfolio Landscapes
Focus on People Balance of People Support (September/October 2009) Postgraduate – impact of Centres for Doctoral Training and project studentships Early Career – role of fellowships and encouraging cross-disciplinary working Established Career – leadership of the subject, cross-disciplinary working and creativity Evidence/data – building on International Reviews
What’s New – People Plan 2010/11 Challenging Physical Sciences – engaging across disciplines Potential workshop Build on outputs through research application
Gap Analysis of PhD training support Pseudo Training Centres Potential requirement for New Training Centres…?
What’s New – People Plan 2010/11 Dream Fellowships Maintain/Grow support for Career Acceleration/ Leadership Fellowships
Maintain support for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at current levels
EPSRC Strategic Plan 2010 Three Goals Delivering Impact Shaping Capability Developing Leaders
What does this mean for Physical Sciences?
The Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH) A new multidisciplinary space that will provide laboratory facilities adjacent to the Diamond synchrotron, ISIS neutron source and the Central Laser Facility
“Research Hotel” open to university groups with RC funding Wide range of possible residence periods (days-years) 50/50 split between life and physical sciences Joint venture of STFC, MRC, EPSRC, NERC and Diamond See current call closes 22 April 2010 (26 March 2010 – Info Day) www.rc-harwell.ac.uk
The ‘IMPACT!’ campaign will reach out to new audiences to communicate the impact that research has on the economy, quality of life, culture and knowledge, public policy and much more. To receive the IMPACT! e-newsletter please email [email protected] Impact World www.impactworld.org.uk
Concluding Remarks Winning research funding will continue to be very competitive where outstanding science research proposals are required
Physical Sciences has been subject to a number of external reviews which should help us all improve the health of discipline
Physical Sciences will continue to support the community via a mixed portfolio of approaches
Looking to work more closely with the community during these challenging times
Role of a Portfolio Manager ‘To act as a focal point between EPSRC and both academic and user communities’
Programme Development
Corporate Activities
Portfolio Management
Portfolio Manager University Interface Contact
Sector Work Peer-review
Demand Management Context 1: Rising Cost, Rising Volume… 2500
45%
40% 2000
35%
30% 1500 value demand %
£M
25%
20% 1000 15%
10%
500
5%
0
0% 1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004 – 75% Referees response rate 2009 – 55% Referees response rate
2005
2006
2007
2008
EPSRC Budget success by no.
Demand Management Context 2: Rising number of applicants… Chart 5: Number of EPS Research Active Staff Returned Under RAE2008 .v. Number of Unique Investigators Applied to/Funded by EPSRC "Sum of Unique Investigators" at 1st April are those w ith Start Date =01/04 "Unique Applied Investigators" represents the number of investigators that w ould have held "current" grants if EPSRC had funded them.
14000
12000
Num ber of P eople
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0 1996
2001
2008
Year FTE Number of Staff in RAE
Sum of Unique Investigators (Funded) at 1st April
Sum of Unique Investigators (Applied) at 1st April
Physics
Materials
Chemistry
Number of People Supported Across the Career Path - Current Portfolio 2009 Physical Sciences Undergraduate
Total
Vacation Bursaries
Postgraduate
Postdoctoral
Total 1902.2
807.4 Project Students
Total 1309.0
1293.1 Postdoctoral Researchers
Established Career
Early Career
Total 130.0
110.0 First Grants
Total 88.3
78.3 Advanced Fellows**
10.9 Senior Fellows**
10.0 Leadership Fellows (2008/09)
1.0 Other Senior Champions e.g. Research Chairs, Senior Media Fellows
4.0 EURYI 15.9 Postdoctoral Fellows 1094.8 Training Students
0 Other
16.0 Career Acceleration Fellows (2008/09)
Total 11.9
1,223.2 Research Grants
Physical Sciences Programme Visit
Dr Andrew Bourne, Head of Physical Sciences
Meet the Team Andrew Bourne Clare Bumphrey Sharon Burns (University Interface Contact) Nico Guernion Claire Higlett Alex Peden Martin Sweet Jonathan Williams
Communicate key messages
Dialogue should continue beyond today
Get community feedback on physical sciences issues
Visit Objectives Answer burning questions
Build relationships
Time for discussion
Constructive & mutually beneficial
Outline of Presentation Wider Context Physical Sciences Objectives and News International Reviews Grand Challenges Research Plans People Plans Strategic Plan 2010
Questions
Research Issues 08-11
Then Tighter Financial Environment Tougher Global Competition Crowded Landscape BIS/government focus H.E. Framework RAE Æ REF
Physical Sciences Programme Commitment Physical Sciences research commitment: 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11
£100M £92M £86M
Training 2009/10 2010/11
£32M DTA £28M DTA
2008-13
£36M CDT
Fellowships funding 2009/10 2010/11
£17M £17.5M
Physical Sciences Programme Vision To enable the very best UK physical scientists to be world-leading in research and training ensuring that they are central in meeting the scientific challenges across the EPSRC remit.
Physical Sciences Programme Objectives Supporting a high quality investigator-led research portfolio: Longer larger grants to support key research leaders Signposting in topical areas to strengthen the UK capacity Funding international partnerships
Promoting multidisciplinary research that builds upon and stretches heartland disciplines
Supporting researchers at pivotal points in their career through Leadership Fellowships, etc.
Physical Sciences Programme Reviews International Review of Materials 2008 – Prof Jim Williams RCUK Review of Physics 2008 – Prof Bill Wakeham International Review of Chemistry 2009 – Prof Mike Klein Common themes: Early Research Careers including PhDs Infrastructure & facilities Strength vs. breadth
Action Plan public dialogue for Chemistry closes 12 March 2010
Physical Sciences Grand Challenges Update Chemistry Sciences and Engineering – 4 clusters identified: Utilising CO2 in synthesis and transforming the chemicals industry (Network Funded) ‘Dial-a-molecule’ 100% synthesis (Network Funded) Directed Assembly of extended structures with targeted molecules (In Progress) Systems Chemistry: Exploring the chemical roots of biological organisation (in Progress)
Physical Sciences Programme News Peer Review New Peer Review Forms Economic Impact Implementation of new panel structure - summer 2009 Should enable closer integration of chemistry, materials and physics research funding Feedback from early panels…
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 Big Pitch – Call now live Chemistry and Beyond (building on International Review of Chemistry 2009) 30 March 2010
New Signposts from 1 April 2010 Control of Self Assembly Matter Far from Equilibrium
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 NSF Calls from late 2010 Chemistry Materials
Ongoing procurement of Mid Range Facilities that have been previously prioritised: National Service for Computational Chemistry Software Free Electron Laser Facility (FELIX) Solid State NMR
What’s New – Research Plans 2010/11 Grand Challenges Embedding current Grand Challenges Grand Challenges 2 – Physics and Physical Sciences
Maintaining a Healthy Portfolio Monitor portfolio Landscapes
Focus on People Balance of People Support (September/October 2009) Postgraduate – impact of Centres for Doctoral Training and project studentships Early Career – role of fellowships and encouraging cross-disciplinary working Established Career – leadership of the subject, cross-disciplinary working and creativity Evidence/data – building on International Reviews
What’s New – People Plan 2010/11 Challenging Physical Sciences – engaging across disciplines Potential workshop Build on outputs through research application
Gap Analysis of PhD training support Pseudo Training Centres Potential requirement for New Training Centres…?
What’s New – People Plan 2010/11 Dream Fellowships Maintain/Grow support for Career Acceleration/ Leadership Fellowships
Maintain support for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships at current levels
EPSRC Strategic Plan 2010 Three Goals Delivering Impact Shaping Capability Developing Leaders
What does this mean for Physical Sciences?
The Research Complex at Harwell (RCaH) A new multidisciplinary space that will provide laboratory facilities adjacent to the Diamond synchrotron, ISIS neutron source and the Central Laser Facility
“Research Hotel” open to university groups with RC funding Wide range of possible residence periods (days-years) 50/50 split between life and physical sciences Joint venture of STFC, MRC, EPSRC, NERC and Diamond See current call closes 22 April 2010 (26 March 2010 – Info Day) www.rc-harwell.ac.uk
The ‘IMPACT!’ campaign will reach out to new audiences to communicate the impact that research has on the economy, quality of life, culture and knowledge, public policy and much more. To receive the IMPACT! e-newsletter please email [email protected] Impact World www.impactworld.org.uk
Concluding Remarks Winning research funding will continue to be very competitive where outstanding science research proposals are required
Physical Sciences has been subject to a number of external reviews which should help us all improve the health of discipline
Physical Sciences will continue to support the community via a mixed portfolio of approaches
Looking to work more closely with the community during these challenging times
Role of a Portfolio Manager ‘To act as a focal point between EPSRC and both academic and user communities’
Programme Development
Corporate Activities
Portfolio Management
Portfolio Manager University Interface Contact
Sector Work Peer-review
Demand Management Context 1: Rising Cost, Rising Volume… 2500
45%
40% 2000
35%
30% 1500 value demand %
£M
25%
20% 1000 15%
10%
500
5%
0
0% 1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004 – 75% Referees response rate 2009 – 55% Referees response rate
2005
2006
2007
2008
EPSRC Budget success by no.
Demand Management Context 2: Rising number of applicants… Chart 5: Number of EPS Research Active Staff Returned Under RAE2008 .v. Number of Unique Investigators Applied to/Funded by EPSRC "Sum of Unique Investigators" at 1st April are those w ith Start Date =01/04 "Unique Applied Investigators" represents the number of investigators that w ould have held "current" grants if EPSRC had funded them.
14000
12000
Num ber of P eople
10000
8000
6000
4000
2000
0 1996
2001
2008
Year FTE Number of Staff in RAE
Sum of Unique Investigators (Funded) at 1st April
Sum of Unique Investigators (Applied) at 1st April
Physics
Materials
Chemistry
Number of People Supported Across the Career Path - Current Portfolio 2009 Physical Sciences Undergraduate
Total
Vacation Bursaries
Postgraduate
Postdoctoral
Total 1902.2
807.4 Project Students
Total 1309.0
1293.1 Postdoctoral Researchers
Established Career
Early Career
Total 130.0
110.0 First Grants
Total 88.3
78.3 Advanced Fellows**
10.9 Senior Fellows**
10.0 Leadership Fellows (2008/09)
1.0 Other Senior Champions e.g. Research Chairs, Senior Media Fellows
4.0 EURYI 15.9 Postdoctoral Fellows 1094.8 Training Students
0 Other
16.0 Career Acceleration Fellows (2008/09)
Total 11.9
1,223.2 Research Grants
