The Royal Astronomical Society (RAS) is disappointed by the response to its joint request with the Institute of Physics (IOP) for a full impact assessment of the proposed cuts to astronomy, particle physics and nuclear physics (PPAN).
In a letter to science minister Lord Vallance last month, RAS President Professor Jim Wild and the President of the Institute of Physics Professor Paul Howarth welcomed the plan by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) to engage with the scientific community but said the scope of its prioritisation exercise on the potential cuts to PPAN was "far too limited".
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, the Chief Executive of UK Research and Innovation, replied with the letter below:
Dear Professors Wild and Howarth,
Many thanks for your letter of 12 May on behalf of the members of the Royal Astronomical Society and the Institute of Physics concerning the ongoing work that the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and their many advisory bodies and community partners are currently undertaking as part of the funding prioritisation process across STFC.
As you are aware STFC’s Science Board PPAN have been reviewing engagement responses throughout the spring. This is expected to conclude over the summer, with communication of findings planned for the autumn.
STFC and their Science Board PPAN have worked collaboratively with the sector as this process progresses across many community meetings in recent months involving many thousands of research colleagues. Your letter and the points you raise are now a further part of this ongoing consultation process.
In the meantime STFC will continue to put UK investment into PPAN research throughout this spending review period whilst we deliver the UKRI mission to advance knowledge, improve lives and drive growth.
Kind regards,
Professor Sir Ian Chapman
Chief Executive, UK Research and Innovation
In response, RAS President Professor Jim Wild said: "The RAS and IOP wrote to Lord Vallance with a clear and constructive proposal to assess the inevitable wider societal and economic impact of cuts to the astronomy, nuclear and particle physics budget.
"Sir Ian Chapman’s response is astoundingly complacent given what is at stake – it fails to engage with our key points and offers no indication that our concerns are being taken seriously. We urge the minister to act now and initiate a comprehensive assessment of the impact of these cuts on research, universities, industry and wider society."